James Flavin
Acting
Born: May 14, 1906 · Portland, Maine, USA
Died: April 23, 1976 (aged 69)
Highest Rated
Biography
American character actor whose career lasted nearly half a century. James Wilson Flavin Jr. was the son of a hotel waiter of Canadian-English extraction and a mother, Katherine, whose father was an Irish immigrant. (Thus Flavin, well-known in Hollywood as an "Irish" type, was only one-quarter Irish.) Flavin was born and raised in Portland, Maine (a fact that may have enrichened his later working relationship with director John Ford, also a Portland native). He attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, but (contrary to some sources) did not graduate. Instead he dropped out and returned to Portland where he drove a taxi. Then as now, summer stock companies flocked to Maine each year, and in 1929 he was asked to fill in for an actor. He did well with the part and the company manager offered him $150 per week to go with the troupe back to New York. Flavin accepted and by the spring of 1930 was living in a rooming house at 108 W. 87th Street in Manhattan. Flavin didn't manage to crack Broadway at this time (his Broadway debut would not occur for another thirty-nine years, in the 1971 revival of "The Front Page," in which Flavin played Murphy and briefly took over the lead role of Walter Burns from star Robert Ryan). He worked his way across the country in stock productions and tours, arriving in Los Angeles around 1932. He quickly made the transition to movies, landing the lead in his very first film, a Universal serial, The Airmail Mystery (1932). He also landed his leading lady, marrying the serial's female star Lucile Browne that same year. However, the serial marked virtually the last time that Flavin would play the lead in a film. Thereafter, he was restricted almost exclusively to supporting characters, many of them without so much as a name. He specialized in uniformed cops and hard-bitten detectives, but played chauffeurs, cabbies, and even a 16th-century palace guard with aplomb. Flavin appeared in nearly four hundred films between 1932 and 1971, and in almost a hundred television episodes before his final appearance, as President Dwight D. Eisenhower in Francis Gary Powers: The True Story of the U-2 Spy Incident (1976). Flavin died of a heart ailment at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles on April 23, 1976. His widow Lucile died seventeen days later. They were survived by their son, William James Flavin, subsequently a professor at the United States Army War College. James and Lucile Brown Flavin were buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.
Known for
King Kong
1933
The Grapes of Wrath
1940
The Twilight Zone
1959
Laura
1944
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
1963
Saboteur
1942
Mildred Pierce
1945
You Can't Take It with You
1938
The Addams Family
1964
In Cold Blood
1967
My Man Godfrey
1936
The Most Dangerous Game
1932
Photos (2)
Movies (277)
The Grapes of Wrath
Guard (uncredited)
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
Patrolman (uncredited)
King Kong
Mate Briggs
Western Union
Deputy Sheriff
Ziegfeld Girl
Buck (uncredited)
Night Passage
Tim Riley
Saboteur
Motorcycle Cop (voice) (uncredited)
The Roaring Twenties
Policeman (uncredited)
Mildred Pierce
Detective (uncredited)
Anchors Aweigh
Radio Cop
Heaven Can Wait
Policeman (uncredited)
In Cold Blood
Clarence Duntz
Test Pilot
Pilot (uncredited)
Union Pacific
Paddy (uncredited)
Remember the Night
Court Attendant (uncredited)
Jesse James
Cavalry Captain (uncredited)
My Man Godfrey
Detective (uncredited)
The Wings of Eagles
MP at Garden Party (uncredited)
You Only Live Once
State Trooper (uncredited)
Johnny Apollo
Prison Guard In Library (uncredited)
Mister Roberts
Military Policeman
Broadway Melody of 1940
Clancy (uncredited)
The Ghost Breakers
Hotel Porter (uncredited)
The Long Voyage Home
Dock Policeman
Laura
Det. McEveety (uncredited)
Gentleman Jim
George Corbett (uncredited)
Francis in the Haunted House
Police Chief Martin
Mighty Joe Young
Schultz
Buck Privates
Recruiting Sergeant (uncredited)
Cloak and Dagger
Col. Walsh
Oh! Susanna
Capt. Worth
Cheyenne Autumn
Ft. Robinson Sergeant of the Guard (uncredited)
Nightmare Alley
Hoatley / First Carnival Owner (uncredited)
The Most Dangerous Game
First Mate on Yacht (uncredited)
Song of the Thin Man
Policeman Reardon (uncredited)
Nora Prentiss
District Attorney
Hold Back the Dawn
Immigration Guard (uncredited)
Nobody Lives Forever
Shake Thomas
Trouble Along the Way
Coach Buck Holman
Uncertain Glory
Captain of Mobile Guard
Million Dollar Mermaid
Conductor
Unconquered
Villager (uncredited)
You Can't Take It with You
Jailer (uncredited)
It Ain't Hay
Cop (uncredited)
The Plunderers
Sergeant Major
Rhubarb
O'Leary, Manhattan Police Chief (uncredited)
The Fighting 69th
Supply Sergeant (uncredited)
'G' Men
Agent with Jean (uncredited)
Belle Starr
Sergeant
Operation Pacific
SP Commander
Texas
Abilene Fight Announcer
One Touch of Venus
Kerrigan
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff
Insp. Wellman
Charlie Chan at the Race Track
Detective
The Strange Love of Martha Ivers
Police Detective #1
Sleep, My Love
Lieutenant Mitchell
When the Daltons Rode
Annabella's Brother
Too Hot to Handle
Young Reporter (uncredited)
Christmas Holiday
Policeman (uncredited)
Each Dawn I Die
Policeman (uncredited)
My Favorite Brunette
Det. Lt. 'Mac' Hennessey (uncredited)
Shockproof
Policeman in Park (Uncredited)
Dishonored Lady
Police Sergeant Patella
Reap the Wild Wind
Girl's Father (uncredited)
Young Widow
Subway Conductor (Uncredited)
Abbott and Costello Go to Mars
First Policeman in Bank
North West Mounted Police
Mountie
Desert Fury
Pat Johnson
Angel on My Shoulder
Dan Bellamy
The Noose Hangs High
Traffic Cop (uncredited)
The Last Hurrah
Police Capt. Michael J. Shanahan (uncredited)
Carrie
Mike - Bartender (uncredited)
Step by Step
Woods
The Daring Young Man
Informant on Telephone
Never Say Goodbye
Timmy
It Happened on Fifth Avenue
First Policeman (uncredited)
So Proudly We Hail
Captain O'Brien (Uncredited)
Corvette K-225
1st Lt. Bill Gardner
Affectionately Yours
Tomassetti
It All Came True
Roaring 90's Club Doorman (uncredited)
Wives Under Suspicion
Jenks (uncredited)
Castle on the Hudson
Death Row Guard (uncredited)
Sailor Beware
Petty Officer (uncredited)
Life Begins at Eight-Thirty
Policeman
Rock Island Trail
Railroad Workman
Wild Is the Wind
Wool Buyer
And One Was Beautiful
McRafferty
Tough as They Come
Process Server
Confidentially Connie
Harry (uncredited)
Fingers at the Window
Police Lieutenant Schaeffer
O. Henry's Full House
Cop (segment "The Cop and the Anthem") (uncredited)
Air Force
Maj. A.M. Bagley
When Willie Comes Marching Home
Gen. Brevort (uncredited)
Live, Love and Learn
Marine Who Likes Painting (uncredited)
Once Upon a Time
Man in Subway (uncredited)
Brother Orchid
Parking Attendant at Fat Dutchy's (uncredited)
Mr. Wong in Chinatown
Police Sgt. Jerry
Follow the Sun
Henry Gibbs
I Wake Up Screaming
Detective (uncredited)
Joe and Ethel Turp Call on the President
Policeman
Blondie
Policeman in Accident Car (uncredited)
Woman Wanted
Mac - Policeman (uncredited)
Girl in 313
Det. Carvin
Knute Rockne All American
Army Assistant Coach (uncredited)
Action in the North Atlantic
Merchant Marine School Lieutenant-Commander (uncredited)
Mr. Winkle Goes to War
1944
Back Street
Reporter (uncredited)
Hello, Sister!
Fireman
Flamingo Road
1949
Hot Water
Policeman (uncredited)
God Is My Co-Pilot
Major at Kweilin Airbase (uncredited)
While New York Sleeps
2nd Cop
Apache Ambush
Col. Marshall
Baby Take a Bow
Flannigan
The Restless Breed
Secret Service Chief
Ride 'Em Cowboy
Railroad Detective #2 (uncredited)
I Am the Law
George - Witness (uncredited)
Dragonfly Squadron
Doctor
Robin Hood Of Texas
Captain Danforth
Rose of Washington Square
Guard (uncredited)
Hollywood Canteen
Marine Sergeant (uncredited)
Special Agent
Agent Arresting Julie (uncredited)
The Lost Spider Pit Sequence
Second Mate Briggs (archive footage)
A Stolen Life
Investigator (uncredited)
Born to Be Wild
Striker (uncredited)
Pot o' Gold
Sheriff Bud Connolly (uncredited)
Pot o' Gold
Sheriff Bud Connolly
Tell No Tales
Officer Simmons (uncredited)
The Velvet Touch
Sgt. Oliphant
The Ice Follies of 1939
Doorman (uncredited)
Kid Glove Killer
Keenan - Detective Grilling Eddie (uncredited)
The Naked Street
Attorney Michael X. Flanders
They Met in a Taxi
Policeman
Captain Hurricane
Freighter Officer
Good Times
Lieutenant
Blondie Hits the Jackpot
Brophy
Star of Texas
Texas Rangers Capt. Sturdivant
Manpower
Orderly About to Give Bath (uncredited)
Come Fill the Cup
Russ - Homicide Captain (uncredited)
New York Town
Recruiting Sergeant (uncredited)
A Yank on the Burma Road
Police Dispatcher
Armored Car Robbery
Lt. Phillips
Queen of the Mob
Third FBI Director
Kathleen
Moving Man
Night in New Orleans
Egan (uncredited)
The Cisco Kid and the Lady
Sergeant
Three Loves Has Nancy
Jack's Friend (uncredited)
Boys' Ranch
Policeman (uncredited)
We Go Fast
Police Lt. Bardette
Destination Murder
Police Lt. Brewster
The Great Profile
Detective
The Airmail Mystery
Bob Lee
Murder on the Waterfront
Cmdr. Kalin
Ten Gentlemen from West Point
Capt. Luddy
Alexander's Ragtime Band
Army Captain (uncredited)
The Strawberry Blonde
Ticket Inspector on Boat (uncredited)
Circumstantial Evidence
Guard
Sergeant Madden
Police Interrogator
They All Come Out
Officer (uncredited)
Thank Your Lucky Stars
Policeman (uncredited)
Only Yesterday
Billy (Uncredited)
Air Mail
Man with Radio Report (uncredited)
When Tomorrow Comes
Coard Guard Man on Road (uncredited)
Critic's Choice
Security Guard (uncredited)
They Shall Have Music
Police Sergeant (uncredited)
The Shanghai Cobra
H.R. Jarvis
Dangerously Yours
Driver
Rendezvous
2st Military Policeman (uncredited)
Fighting Coast Guard
Commander Rogers
The Duke of West Point
Plebe Hockey Coach
The Murder Man
Policeman at Merry-Go-Round (uncredited)
Mississippi Rhythm
Stan Caldwell
I Dood It
Federal Agent (uncredited)
The Way of All Flesh
Policeman
The Golden Fleecing
Cop (uncredited)
Something to Shout About
Policeman
The Devil's Henchmen
Police Sergeant Briggs
According to Mrs. Hoyle
Prosecuting Attorney
The Affairs of Cellini
Palace Guard (uncredited)
Joe Palooka in the Knockout
Policeman
Ride on Vaquero
Officer Johnson
Sentimental Journey
Detective Sgt. McFarland (uncredited)
The Luckiest Girl in the World
Policeman
The Gracie Allen Murder Case
Turnkey
Mission to Moscow
American Senator (uncredited)
Johnny Angel
Flavin, Mate of the Quincy (uncredited)
Fast and Furious
Policeman Guarding Entrance (uncredited)
Beloved
Wilcox
I Beheld His Glory
Longinus
Rhythm on the River
Detective
Public Hero Number 1
Flavin - Federal Agent (uncredited)
Prison Warden
Guard Capt. Peter Butler
Night Spot
Kidnapper
South of Pago Pago
Cafe Customer
Bedtime Story
Hotel Guest in Room 625 (uncredited)
Here Come the Marines
Lieutenant-Colonel at End
Easy to Wed
Joe
Murder, He Says
Police Officer (uncredited)
Hot Steel
Storm Swenson
Tars and Spars
Chief Bosun Mate Gurney
Riot Squad
Det. Mack McCue
Florian
Policeman
The Night of January 16th
Policeman Kelly
The Wild Man of Borneo
Policeman (uncredited)
Strange Affair
Bank Security Guard (uncredited)
Mannequin
Burly Man (Uncredited)
Big Town Czar
George Mitchell
Man on the Flying Trapeze
Chauffeur (uncredited)
The All-American
Don Lindsay
Four Mothers
Demolition Man (uncredited)
The Missing Lady
Police Insp. Cardona
Fighter Attack
Col. Allison
Irish Luck
Fluger
Abroad with Two Yanks
Sgt. Wiggins
Everybody's Baby
Police Announcer (uncredited)
Convicts at Large
Detective Sgt. Berkovich
The Eddie Cantor Story
Kelly
Massacre Canyon
Col. Tarant
Angel's Holiday
Detective
There's Something About a Soldier
1943
Hold That Blonde!
Laundry Truck Driver (uncredited)
My Girl Tisa
Guard (uncredited)
I Promise to Pay
Bill Seaver
Homicide
Det. Lt. Boylan
Okay, America!
Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Over 21
Captain (uncredited)
Lucky Cisco Kid
Ranch Foreman
Footsteps in the Night
Mr. Bradbury
Law and Order
Capt. Toomey
Ship of Wanted Men
Frank Busch
Broadway
Doorman (uncredited)
Francis Gary Powers: The True Story of the U-2 Spy Incident
President Dwight D. Eisenhower
The Brand of Hate
Holt Larkins
Mickey the Kid
Sanders
Swing Shift Maisie
Radio Policeman (Uncredited)
Midnight Taxi
Detective McCormick
Shipmates Forever
Lieutenant (uncredited)
Youth Will Be Served
Buck Miller
Girls Can Play
Det. Bill O'Malley
Secrets of Chinatown
Brandhma
Big Town Girl
State Trooper
My Dear Miss Aldrich
Dr. Spitzy Calahan (uncredited)
Lightning Carson Rides Again
Justice Department Agent
The Further Adventures of Gallegher
Lt. Flynn
Gateway
Guard
Double Alibi
Patrolman Johnson
Everybody's Doing It
Detective Hayes
Straight from the Heart
Policeman
Thru Different Eyes
Thomas
Dakota Lil
Secret Service Chief
The Big Race
Bill Figg
Tin Pan Alley
Army Sergeant (uncredited)
South Sea Sinner
Andrews
Code of the Streets
Doorman
The Devil's Pipeline
Dowling
Women Without Names
Guard
Riding High
Train Conductor
The Spider
Officer Johnny Tracy
Secret Service Investigator
Police Inspector Thorndyke
Start Cheering
Gas Station Attendant
Return of the Dead
Judd Harrison
How to Behave
Man in Manhole (uncredited)
Chinatown Squad
Detective
The Savage Horde
Guard
McKenna of the Mounted
Corporal Randall McKenna
Rendezvous with Annie
Turnkey (uncredited)
Hot News
Al Bragg
Dangerous Number
Cab Driver
One Way Ticket
Ed
Private Affairs
Doorman (uncredited)
Johnny Rocco
Mooney
Hold That Hypnotist
Jake Morgan
Wild Gold
Detective (uncredited)
La Conga Nights
Grogin
Miracle Money
Cop (uncredited)
Manhattan Heartbeat
Truck Driver
Bungalow 13
Lt. Sam Wilson
TV Shows (53)
Matinee Theater
1 eps
The Twilight Zone
1962 Policeman · 1 eps
The Twilight Zone
Truck Driver · 1 eps
The Rifleman
1 eps
Dr. Kildare
John Dolan · 2 eps
Four Star Playhouse
Mr. Swanson · 1 eps
I Love Lucy
Immigration Officer · 1 eps
Climax!
Hogan · 1 eps
The Lucy Show
Sergeant Wilcox · 2 eps
Burke's Law
Officer Danny Robin · 1 eps
Mister Ed
7 eps
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Joe Felix · 1 eps
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Tony - The Doorman · 1 eps
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Dan · 1 eps
The Addams Family
Lt. Poston · 1 eps
The Brady Bunch
1 eps
State Trooper
Police Capt. Daniel Box · 1 eps
Surfside 6
1 eps
December Bride
2 eps
Richard Diamond, Private Detective
Sam Cooper · 1 eps
The Millionaire
Dan Mulcahy · 1 eps
The Abbott and Costello Show
Joe Kelly · 1 eps
Mr. Novak
Fire Chief Hawkins · 1 eps
Navy Log
Col. Flynn · 2 eps
It Takes a Thief
Gen. Levin · 2 eps
Alcoa Theatre
Gavin Marshall · 1 eps
Racket Squad
2 eps
The New Breed
Moose · 1 eps
Lux Video Theatre
Steve · 1 eps
Lux Video Theatre
Heineman · 1 eps
Lux Video Theatre
Detective · 1 eps
Public Defender
1 eps
Sam Benedict
1 eps
Pete and Gladys
2 eps
Cavalcade of America
2 eps
The Roaring 20's
Robert Howard · 14 eps
Cain's Hundred
Arnie Kellwin · 1 eps
Dangerous Assignment
2 eps
City Detective
1 eps
Johnny Midnight
1 eps
Coronado 9
1 eps
Letter to Loretta
MacNamara · 1 eps
Letter to Loretta
Sgt. Danny Doofle · 1 eps
Letter to Loretta
Deputy Mason · 1 eps
Man with a Camera
29 eps
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Captain Kimble · 1 eps
Hallmark Hall of Fame
General Charles Lee · 1 eps
The Pruitts of Southampton
1 eps
Death Valley Days
Perry · 1 eps
The Living Christ
Longinus · 12 eps
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
1 eps
General Electric Theater
1 eps
General Electric Theater
Callahan · 1 eps