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)
King Kong
Mate Briggs
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
Patrolman (uncredited)
Prison Warden
Guard Capt. Peter Butler
Texas
Abilene Fight Announcer
The Grapes of Wrath
Guard (uncredited)
You Can't Take It with You
Jailer (uncredited)
Laura
Det. McEveety (uncredited)
Nightmare Alley
Hoatley / First Carnival Owner (uncredited)
In Cold Blood
Clarence Duntz
Mildred Pierce
Detective (uncredited)
One Touch of Venus
Kerrigan
Mighty Joe Young
Schultz
Unconquered
Villager (uncredited)
Cheyenne Autumn
Ft. Robinson Sergeant of the Guard (uncredited)
Saboteur
Motorcycle Cop (voice) (uncredited)
The Most Dangerous Game
First Mate on Yacht (uncredited)
Three Loves Has Nancy
Jack's Friend (uncredited)
Union Pacific
Paddy (uncredited)
Captain Hurricane
Freighter Officer
Ziegfeld Girl
Buck (uncredited)
So Proudly We Hail
Captain O'Brien (Uncredited)
The Roaring Twenties
Policeman (uncredited)
You Only Live Once
State Trooper (uncredited)
My Man Godfrey
Detective (uncredited)
Hello, Sister!
Fireman
Mister Roberts
Military Policeman
'G' Men
Agent with Jean (uncredited)
Anchors Aweigh
Radio Cop
The Strange Love of Martha Ivers
Police Detective #1
The Fighting 69th
Supply Sergeant (uncredited)
Reap the Wild Wind
Girl's Father (uncredited)
Never Say Goodbye
Timmy
The Wild Man of Borneo
Policeman (uncredited)
The Luckiest Girl in the World
Policeman
When Tomorrow Comes
Coard Guard Man on Road (uncredited)
North West Mounted Police
Mountie
Heaven Can Wait
Policeman (uncredited)
Song of the Thin Man
Policeman Reardon (uncredited)
The Ghost Breakers
Hotel Porter (uncredited)
Jesse James
Cavalry Captain (uncredited)
Buck Privates
Recruiting Sergeant (uncredited)
The Strawberry Blonde
Ticket Inspector on Boat (uncredited)
Operation Pacific
SP Commander
Hollywood Canteen
Marine Sergeant (uncredited)
A Stolen Life
Investigator (uncredited)
Belle Starr
Sergeant
O. Henry's Full House
Cop (segment "The Cop and the Anthem") (uncredited)
Air Force
Maj. A.M. Bagley
Brother Orchid
Parking Attendant at Fat Dutchy's (uncredited)
My Favorite Brunette
Det. Lt. 'Mac' Hennessey (uncredited)
Remember the Night
Court Attendant (uncredited)
Night Passage
Tim Riley
Special Agent
Agent Arresting Julie (uncredited)
The Long Voyage Home
Dock Policeman
Carrie
Mike - Bartender (uncredited)
The Last Hurrah
Police Capt. Michael J. Shanahan (uncredited)
Blondie
Policeman in Accident Car (uncredited)
Confidentially Connie
Harry (uncredited)
Sleep, My Love
Lieutenant Mitchell
Start Cheering
Gas Station Attendant
Action in the North Atlantic
Merchant Marine School Lieutenant-Commander (uncredited)
Western Union
Deputy Sheriff
Private Affairs
Doorman (uncredited)
The Wings of Eagles
MP at Garden Party (uncredited)
Sailor Beware
Petty Officer (uncredited)
Gentleman Jim
George Corbett (uncredited)
Trouble Along the Way
Coach Buck Holman
Million Dollar Mermaid
Conductor
Knute Rockne All American
Army Assistant Coach (uncredited)
Dishonored Lady
Police Sergeant Patella
Rendezvous with Annie
Turnkey (uncredited)
Critic's Choice
Security Guard (uncredited)
The Naked Street
Attorney Michael X. Flanders
Kid Glove Killer
Keenan - Detective Grilling Eddie (uncredited)
Test Pilot
Pilot (uncredited)
Broadway Melody of 1940
Clancy (uncredited)
It Happened on Fifth Avenue
First Policeman (uncredited)
Life Begins at Eight-Thirty
Policeman
I Wake Up Screaming
Detective (uncredited)
Shockproof
Policeman in Park (Uncredited)
Oh! Susanna
Capt. Worth
Each Dawn I Die
Policeman (uncredited)
Thank Your Lucky Stars
Policeman (uncredited)
Johnny Apollo
Prison Guard In Library (uncredited)
Desert Fury
Pat Johnson
Sentimental Journey
Detective Sgt. McFarland (uncredited)
Mannequin
Burly Man (Uncredited)
Corvette K-225
1st Lt. Bill Gardner
Flamingo Road
1949
Abbott and Costello Go to Mars
First Policeman in Bank
Four Mothers
Demolition Man (uncredited)
Rose of Washington Square
Guard (uncredited)
Too Hot to Handle
Young Reporter (uncredited)
Nora Prentiss
District Attorney
When the Daltons Rode
Annabella's Brother
Cloak and Dagger
Col. Walsh
The Velvet Touch
Sgt. Oliphant
It All Came True
Roaring 90's Club Doorman (uncredited)
Francis in the Haunted House
Police Chief Martin
Manpower
Orderly About to Give Bath (uncredited)
Nobody Lives Forever
Shake Thomas
The Brand of Hate
Holt Larkins
Ride 'Em Cowboy
Railroad Detective #2 (uncredited)
Young Widow
Subway Conductor (Uncredited)
The All-American
Don Lindsay
Alexander's Ragtime Band
Army Captain (uncredited)
The Shanghai Cobra
H.R. Jarvis
Mission to Moscow
American Senator (uncredited)
The Restless Breed
Secret Service Chief
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff
Insp. Wellman
Armored Car Robbery
Lt. Phillips
God Is My Co-Pilot
Major at Kweilin Airbase (uncredited)
Back Street
Reporter (uncredited)
The Plunderers
Sergeant Major
The Savage Horde
Guard
Affectionately Yours
Tomassetti
Apache Ambush
Col. Marshall
Johnny Angel
Flavin, Mate of the Quincy (uncredited)
I Beheld His Glory
Longinus
Pot o' Gold
Sheriff Bud Connolly (uncredited)
Pot o' Gold
Sheriff Bud Connolly
Hold Back the Dawn
Immigration Guard (uncredited)
My Girl Tisa
Guard (uncredited)
Wild Is the Wind
Wool Buyer
Big Town Girl
State Trooper
The Night of January 16th
Policeman Kelly
Thru Different Eyes
Thomas
It Ain't Hay
Cop (uncredited)
Boys' Ranch
Policeman (uncredited)
Angel on My Shoulder
Dan Bellamy
Castle on the Hudson
Death Row Guard (uncredited)
Everybody's Baby
Police Announcer (uncredited)
Hold That Blonde!
Laundry Truck Driver (uncredited)
Rock Island Trail
Railroad Workman
Only Yesterday
Billy (Uncredited)
The Devil's Henchmen
Police Sergeant Briggs
The Further Adventures of Gallegher
Lt. Flynn
Queen of the Mob
Third FBI Director
The Murder Man
Policeman at Merry-Go-Round (uncredited)
Okay, America!
Undetermined Role (uncredited)
When Willie Comes Marching Home
Gen. Brevort (uncredited)
Sergeant Madden
Police Interrogator
Mr. Winkle Goes to War
1944
Once Upon a Time
Man in Subway (uncredited)
Air Mail
Man with Radio Report (uncredited)
Hold That Hypnotist
Jake Morgan
I Am the Law
George - Witness (uncredited)
Uncertain Glory
Captain of Mobile Guard
Baby Take a Bow
Flannigan
Christmas Holiday
Policeman (uncredited)
Tin Pan Alley
Army Sergeant (uncredited)
Rhubarb
O'Leary, Manhattan Police Chief (uncredited)
The Missing Lady
Police Insp. Cardona
Good Times
Lieutenant
The Daring Young Man
Informant on Telephone
Fingers at the Window
Police Lieutenant Schaeffer
Follow the Sun
Henry Gibbs
Dangerously Yours
Driver
Ten Gentlemen from West Point
Capt. Luddy
Live, Love and Learn
Marine Who Likes Painting (uncredited)
Law and Order
Capt. Toomey
The Ice Follies of 1939
Doorman (uncredited)
They All Come Out
Officer (uncredited)
Step by Step
Woods
Dragonfly Squadron
Doctor
Rendezvous
2st Military Policeman (uncredited)
Night in New Orleans
Egan (uncredited)
Lucky Cisco Kid
Ranch Foreman
Murder, He Says
Police Officer (uncredited)
The Great Profile
Detective
Circumstantial Evidence
Guard
The Spider
Officer Johnny Tracy
Francis Gary Powers: The True Story of the U-2 Spy Incident
President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Swing Shift Maisie
Radio Policeman (Uncredited)
I Dood It
Federal Agent (uncredited)
They Met in a Taxi
Policeman
Gateway
Guard
The Affairs of Cellini
Palace Guard (uncredited)
The Lost Spider Pit Sequence
Second Mate Briggs (archive footage)
Murder on the Waterfront
Cmdr. Kalin
They Shall Have Music
Police Sergeant (uncredited)
Homicide
Det. Lt. Boylan
The Golden Fleecing
Cop (uncredited)
Public Hero Number 1
Flavin - Federal Agent (uncredited)
Come Fill the Cup
Russ - Homicide Captain (uncredited)
Charlie Chan at the Race Track
Detective
Wives Under Suspicion
Jenks (uncredited)
Mickey the Kid
Sanders
Chinatown Squad
Detective
Tell No Tales
Officer Simmons (uncredited)
Straight from the Heart
Policeman
Secret Service Investigator
Police Inspector Thorndyke
South of Pago Pago
Cafe Customer
Dangerous Number
Cab Driver
Hot Steel
Storm Swenson
New York Town
Recruiting Sergeant (uncredited)
Secrets of Chinatown
Brandhma
Girl in 313
Det. Carvin
Everybody's Doing It
Detective Hayes
Bedtime Story
Hotel Guest in Room 625 (uncredited)
Fast and Furious
Policeman Guarding Entrance (uncredited)
Woman Wanted
Mac - Policeman (uncredited)
The Noose Hangs High
Traffic Cop (uncredited)
Destination Murder
Police Lt. Brewster
La Conga Nights
Grogin
The Gracie Allen Murder Case
Turnkey
There's Something About a Soldier
1943
Johnny Rocco
Mooney
Angel's Holiday
Detective
Fighting Coast Guard
Commander Rogers
Footsteps in the Night
Mr. Bradbury
Man on the Flying Trapeze
Chauffeur (uncredited)
Irish Luck
Fluger
Fighter Attack
Col. Allison
Riot Squad
Det. Mack McCue
Wild Gold
Detective (uncredited)
Women Without Names
Guard
The Big Race
Bill Figg
And One Was Beautiful
McRafferty
Midnight Taxi
Detective McCormick
Hot News
Al Bragg
Robin Hood Of Texas
Captain Danforth
Tough as They Come
Process Server
Massacre Canyon
Col. Tarant
Florian
Policeman
Star of Texas
Texas Rangers Capt. Sturdivant
Girls Can Play
Det. Bill O'Malley
Over 21
Captain (uncredited)
The Way of All Flesh
Policeman
Easy to Wed
Joe
South Sea Sinner
Andrews
Blondie Hits the Jackpot
Brophy
A Yank on the Burma Road
Police Dispatcher
The Duke of West Point
Plebe Hockey Coach
The Cisco Kid and the Lady
Sergeant
My Dear Miss Aldrich
Dr. Spitzy Calahan (uncredited)
Hot Water
Policeman (uncredited)
Code of the Streets
Doorman
Dakota Lil
Secret Service Chief
According to Mrs. Hoyle
Prosecuting Attorney
Ride on Vaquero
Officer Johnson
Double Alibi
Patrolman Johnson
Born to Be Wild
Striker (uncredited)
Broadway
Doorman (uncredited)
Manhattan Heartbeat
Truck Driver
Riding High
Train Conductor
Rhythm on the River
Detective
Joe Palooka in the Knockout
Policeman
Youth Will Be Served
Buck Miller
Return of the Dead
Judd Harrison
Strange Affair
Bank Security Guard (uncredited)
Shipmates Forever
Lieutenant (uncredited)
Lightning Carson Rides Again
Justice Department Agent
We Go Fast
Police Lt. Bardette
Joe and Ethel Turp Call on the President
Policeman
Beloved
Wilcox
I Promise to Pay
Bill Seaver
Something to Shout About
Policeman
The Eddie Cantor Story
Kelly
Mississippi Rhythm
Stan Caldwell
Night Spot
Kidnapper
McKenna of the Mounted
Corporal Randall McKenna
Here Come the Marines
Lieutenant-Colonel at End
Convicts at Large
Detective Sgt. Berkovich
Mr. Wong in Chinatown
Police Sgt. Jerry
The Airmail Mystery
Bob Lee
Big Town Czar
George Mitchell
Abroad with Two Yanks
Sgt. Wiggins
One Way Ticket
Ed
Kathleen
Moving Man
The Devil's Pipeline
Dowling
Tars and Spars
Chief Bosun Mate Gurney
Miracle Money
Cop (uncredited)
While New York Sleeps
2nd Cop
Ship of Wanted Men
Frank Busch
How to Behave
Man in Manhole (uncredited)
Bungalow 13
Lt. Sam Wilson
TV Shows (49)
The Rifleman
1 eps
The Lucy Show
Sergeant Wilcox · 2 eps
The Twilight Zone
1962 Policeman · 1 eps
The Twilight Zone
Truck Driver · 1 eps
Dr. Kildare
John Dolan · 2 eps
I Love Lucy
Immigration Officer · 1 eps
Four Star Playhouse
Mr. Swanson · 1 eps
Climax!
Hogan · 1 eps
Matinee Theater
1 eps
Burke's Law
Officer Danny Robin · 1 eps
The Addams Family
Lt. Poston · 1 eps
Surfside 6
1 eps
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Joe Felix · 1 eps
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Tony - The Doorman · 1 eps
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Dan · 1 eps
The Brady Bunch
1 eps
Richard Diamond, Private Detective
Sam Cooper · 1 eps
The Millionaire
Dan Mulcahy · 1 eps
Mister Ed
7 eps
The Abbott and Costello Show
Joe Kelly · 1 eps
It Takes a Thief
Gen. Levin · 2 eps
City Detective
1 eps
Dangerous Assignment
2 eps
December Bride
2 eps
Mr. Novak
Fire Chief Hawkins · 1 eps
Cavalcade of America
2 eps
Sam Benedict
1 eps
The Living Christ
Longinus · 12 eps
Public Defender
1 eps
Alcoa Theatre
Gavin Marshall · 1 eps
Navy Log
Col. Flynn · 2 eps
The Roaring 20's
Robert Howard · 14 eps
Racket Squad
2 eps
The New Breed
Moose · 1 eps
Pete and Gladys
2 eps
Cain's Hundred
Arnie Kellwin · 1 eps
The Pruitts of Southampton
1 eps
Man with a Camera
29 eps
Johnny Midnight
1 eps
Coronado 9
1 eps
General Electric Theater
1 eps
General Electric Theater
Callahan · 1 eps
Letter to Loretta
MacNamara · 1 eps
Letter to Loretta
Sgt. Danny Doofle · 1 eps
Letter to Loretta
Deputy Mason · 1 eps
Death Valley Days
Perry · 1 eps
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Captain Kimble · 1 eps
Hallmark Hall of Fame
General Charles Lee · 1 eps
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
1 eps