James Flavin

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

327

Gender

Male

Birthday

1906-05-14

Day of death

1976-04-23 (69 years old)

Place of Birth

Portland, Maine, USA

James Flavin

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

  • The Twilight Zone

    The Twilight Zone

  • The Twilight Zone

    The Twilight Zone

  • Dr. Kildare

    Dr. Kildare

  • The Rifleman

    The Rifleman

  • Climax!

    Climax!

  • The Lucy Show

    The Lucy Show

  • The Addams Family

    The Addams Family

  • I Love Lucy

    I Love Lucy

  • Four Star Playhouse

    Four Star Playhouse

  • The Plunderers

    The Plunderers

  • Wild Gold

    Wild Gold

  • Matinee Theater

    Matinee Theater

  • Unconquered

    Unconquered

  • Burke's Law

    Burke's Law

  • Brother Orchid

    Brother Orchid

  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents

    Alfred Hitchcock Presents

  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents

    Alfred Hitchcock Presents

  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents

    Alfred Hitchcock Presents

  • Surfside 6

    Surfside 6

  • Dangerously Yours

    Dangerously Yours

  • Robin Hood Of Texas

    Robin Hood Of Texas

  • Nightmare Alley

    Nightmare Alley

  • Back Street

    Back Street

  • Test Pilot

    Test Pilot

  • December Bride

    December Bride

  • Affectionately Yours

    Affectionately Yours

  • Shockproof

    Shockproof

  • Texas

    Texas

  • The Brady Bunch

    The Brady Bunch

  • Cain's Hundred

    Cain's Hundred

  • Florian

    Florian

  • Tars and Spars

    Tars and Spars

  • Richard Diamond, Private Detective

    Richard Diamond, Private Detective

  • Mannequin

    Mannequin

  • Belle Starr

    Belle Starr

  • Alcoa Theatre

    Alcoa Theatre

  • Beloved

    Beloved

  • Mister Ed

    Mister Ed

  • Buck Privates

    Buck Privates

  • Navy Log

    Navy Log

  • Only Yesterday

    Only Yesterday

  • Desert Fury

    Desert Fury

  • State Trooper

    State Trooper

  • The Millionaire

    The Millionaire

  • Girls Can Play

    Girls Can Play

  • Public Defender

    Public Defender

  • Confidentially Connie

    Confidentially Connie

  • The Abbott and Costello Show

    The Abbott and Costello Show

  • Hollywood Canteen

    Hollywood Canteen

  • 'G' Men

    'G' Men

  • Hot Water

    Hot Water

  • Mighty Joe Young

    Mighty Joe Young

  • Carrie

    Carrie

  • Oh! Susanna

    Oh! Susanna

  • Kathleen

    Kathleen

  • Mr. Novak

    Mr. Novak

  • City Detective

    City Detective

  • Nora Prentiss

    Nora Prentiss

  • King Kong

    King Kong

  • The Ghost Breakers

    The Ghost Breakers

  • Three Loves Has Nancy

    Three Loves Has Nancy

  • The Great Profile

    The Great Profile

  • God Is My Co-Pilot

    God Is My Co-Pilot

  • Cavalcade of America

    Cavalcade of America

  • Manpower

    Manpower

  • Special Agent

    Special Agent

  • Everybody's Doing It

    Everybody's Doing It

  • The Roaring 20's

    The Roaring 20's

  • Pot o' Gold

    Pot o' Gold

  • Pot o' Gold

    Pot o' Gold

  • Star of Texas

    Star of Texas

  • The New Breed

    The New Breed

  • So Proudly We Hail

    So Proudly We Hail

  • The Savage Horde

    The Savage Horde

  • Start Cheering

    Start Cheering

  • I Am the Law

    I Am the Law

  • New York Town

    New York Town

  • Lux Video Theatre

    Lux Video Theatre

  • Lux Video Theatre

    Lux Video Theatre

  • Lux Video Theatre

    Lux Video Theatre

  • Sam Benedict

    Sam Benedict

  • The All-American

    The All-American

  • Wives Under Suspicion

    Wives Under Suspicion

  • Racket Squad

    Racket Squad

  • The Pruitts of Southampton

    The Pruitts of Southampton

  • Sleep, My Love

    Sleep, My Love

  • The Naked Street

    The Naked Street

  • Law and Order

    Law and Order

  • Follow the Sun

    Follow the Sun

  • Woman Wanted

    Woman Wanted

  • The Velvet Touch

    The Velvet Touch

  • Johnny Midnight

    Johnny Midnight

  • It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World

    It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World

  • Tin Pan Alley

    Tin Pan Alley

  • My Girl Tisa

    My Girl Tisa

  • Captain Hurricane

    Captain Hurricane

  • Night Spot

    Night Spot

  • Pete and Gladys

    Pete and Gladys

  • Sailor Beware

    Sailor Beware

  • Dangerous Assignment

    Dangerous Assignment

  • The Big Race

    The Big Race

  • Hold That Blonde!

    Hold That Blonde!

  • Blondie

    Blondie

  • Knute Rockne All American

    Knute Rockne All American

  • They All Come Out

    They All Come Out

  • Coronado 9

    Coronado 9

  • Footsteps in the Night

    Footsteps in the Night

  • I Beheld His Glory

    I Beheld His Glory

  • Big Town Girl

    Big Town Girl

  • Swing Shift Maisie

    Swing Shift Maisie

  • Air Force

    Air Force

  • The Grapes of Wrath

    The Grapes of Wrath

  • Fighting Coast Guard

    Fighting Coast Guard

  • Letter to Loretta

    Letter to Loretta

  • Letter to Loretta

    Letter to Loretta

  • Letter to Loretta

    Letter to Loretta

  • Secrets of Chinatown

    Secrets of Chinatown

  • We Go Fast

    We Go Fast

  • Man with a Camera

    Man with a Camera

  • Prison Warden

    Prison Warden

  • Hallmark Hall of Fame

    Hallmark Hall of Fame

  • Hallmark Hall of Fame

    Hallmark Hall of Fame

  • Okay, America!

    Okay, America!

  • They Met in a Taxi

    They Met in a Taxi

  • Heaven Can Wait

    Heaven Can Wait

  • Laura

    Laura

  • Death Valley Days

    Death Valley Days

  • Hello, Sister!

    Hello, Sister!

  • Mildred Pierce

    Mildred Pierce

  • You Can't Take It with You

    You Can't Take It with You

  • Mister Roberts

    Mister Roberts

  • The Living Christ

    The Living Christ

  • Saboteur

    Saboteur

  • Cheyenne Autumn

    Cheyenne Autumn

  • In Cold Blood

    In Cold Blood

  • My Favorite Brunette

    My Favorite Brunette

  • Western Union

    Western Union

  • I Dood It

    I Dood It

  • My Man Godfrey

    My Man Godfrey

  • Blondie Hits the Jackpot

    Blondie Hits the Jackpot

  • A Stolen Life

    A Stolen Life

  • O. Henry's Full House

    O. Henry's Full House

  • Jesse James

    Jesse James

  • Boys' Ranch

    Boys' Ranch

  • The Roaring Twenties

    The Roaring Twenties

  • It Happened on Fifth Avenue

    It Happened on Fifth Avenue

  • Mississippi Rhythm

    Mississippi Rhythm

  • The Shanghai Cobra

    The Shanghai Cobra

  • The Strange Love of Martha Ivers

    The Strange Love of Martha Ivers

  • Reap the Wild Wind

    Reap the Wild Wind

  • Women Without Names

    Women Without Names

  • I Wake Up Screaming

    I Wake Up Screaming

  • The Strawberry Blonde

    The Strawberry Blonde

  • Anchors Aweigh

    Anchors Aweigh

  • Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

    Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

  • Hold That Hypnotist

    Hold That Hypnotist

  • Union Pacific

    Union Pacific

  • Song of the Thin Man

    Song of the Thin Man

  • The Most Dangerous Game

    The Most Dangerous Game

  • Remember the Night

    Remember the Night

  • Hot Steel

    Hot Steel

  • Gentleman Jim

    Gentleman Jim

  • Cloak and Dagger

    Cloak and Dagger

  • Uncertain Glory

    Uncertain Glory

  • Broadway Melody of 1940

    Broadway Melody of 1940

  • Ziegfeld Girl

    Ziegfeld Girl

  • General Electric Theater

    General Electric Theater

  • General Electric Theater

    General Electric Theater

  • Hold Back the Dawn

    Hold Back the Dawn

  • Night Passage

    Night Passage

  • Man on the Flying Trapeze

    Man on the Flying Trapeze

  • The Long Voyage Home

    The Long Voyage Home

  • You Only Live Once

    You Only Live Once

  • Ride 'Em Cowboy

    Ride 'Em Cowboy

  • Critic's Choice

    Critic's Choice

  • Operation Pacific

    Operation Pacific

  • The Last Hurrah

    The Last Hurrah

  • Once Upon a Time

    Once Upon a Time

  • Thank Your Lucky Stars

    Thank Your Lucky Stars

  • Never Say Goodbye

    Never Say Goodbye

  • Million Dollar Mermaid

    Million Dollar Mermaid

  • The Fighting 69th

    The Fighting 69th

  • Angel on My Shoulder

    Angel on My Shoulder

  • Riding High

    Riding High

  • Action in the North Atlantic

    Action in the North Atlantic

  • Wild Is the Wind

    Wild Is the Wind

  • Abbott and Costello Go to Mars

    Abbott and Costello Go to Mars

  • Irish Luck

    Irish Luck

  • Mission to Moscow

    Mission to Moscow

  • The Ice Follies of 1939

    The Ice Follies of 1939

  • Thru Different Eyes

    Thru Different Eyes

  • Lucky Cisco Kid

    Lucky Cisco Kid

  • Trouble Along the Way

    Trouble Along the Way

  • Midnight Taxi

    Midnight Taxi

  • The Golden Fleecing

    The Golden Fleecing

  • One Touch of Venus

    One Touch of Venus

  • Rendezvous with Annie

    Rendezvous with Annie

  • Everybody's Baby

    Everybody's Baby

  • They Shall Have Music

    They Shall Have Music

  • Private Affairs

    Private Affairs

  • North West Mounted Police

    North West Mounted Police

  • The Missing Lady

    The Missing Lady

  • Sentimental Journey

    Sentimental Journey

  • Rose of Washington Square

    Rose of Washington Square

  • The Gracie Allen Murder Case

    The Gracie Allen Murder Case

  • Each Dawn I Die

    Each Dawn I Die

  • Apache Ambush

    Apache Ambush

  • The Restless Breed

    The Restless Breed

  • Too Hot to Handle

    Too Hot to Handle

  • Castle on the Hudson

    Castle on the Hudson

  • Flamingo Road

    Flamingo Road

  • Dishonored Lady

    Dishonored Lady

  • The Daring Young Man

    The Daring Young Man

  • When Tomorrow Comes

    When Tomorrow Comes

  • McKenna of the Mounted

    McKenna of the Mounted

  • Live, Love and Learn

    Live, Love and Learn

  • Armored Car Robbery

    Armored Car Robbery

  • Circumstantial Evidence

    Circumstantial Evidence

  • Kid Glove Killer

    Kid Glove Killer

  • Fast and Furious

    Fast and Furious

  • Over 21

    Over 21

  • Rhythm on the River

    Rhythm on the River

  • Francis in the Haunted House

    Francis in the Haunted House

  • South Sea Sinner

    South Sea Sinner

  • Queen of the Mob

    Queen of the Mob

  • Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff

    Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff

  • It All Came True

    It All Came True

  • Bedtime Story

    Bedtime Story

  • The Affairs of Cellini

    The Affairs of Cellini

  • Young Widow

    Young Widow

  • Charlie Chan at the Race Track

    Charlie Chan at the Race Track

  • Double Alibi

    Double Alibi

  • Johnny Angel

    Johnny Angel

  • Four Mothers

    Four Mothers

  • Big Town Czar

    Big Town Czar

  • Johnny Apollo

    Johnny Apollo

  • The Devil's Henchmen

    The Devil's Henchmen

  • Chinatown Squad

    Chinatown Squad

  • Murder, He Says

    Murder, He Says

  • The Night of January 16th

    The Night of January 16th

  • When Willie Comes Marching Home

    When Willie Comes Marching Home

  • Destination Murder

    Destination Murder

  • The Noose Hangs High

    The Noose Hangs High

  • Mr. Wong in Chinatown

    Mr. Wong in Chinatown

  • Mickey the Kid

    Mickey the Kid

  • The Spider

    The Spider

  • The Eddie Cantor Story

    The Eddie Cantor Story

  • Nobody Lives Forever

    Nobody Lives Forever

  • Rendezvous

    Rendezvous

  • Good Times

    Good Times

  • Gateway

    Gateway

  • Night in New Orleans

    Night in New Orleans

  • Christmas Holiday

    Christmas Holiday

  • The Lost Spider Pit Sequence

    The Lost Spider Pit Sequence

  • Step by Step

    Step by Step

  • The Murder Man

    The Murder Man

  • It Ain't Hay

    It Ain't Hay

  • Shipmates Forever

    Shipmates Forever

  • Massacre Canyon

    Massacre Canyon

  • Miracle Money

    Miracle Money

  • Rhubarb

    Rhubarb

  • Girl in 313

    Girl in 313

  • Riot Squad

    Riot Squad

  • The Luckiest Girl in the World

    The Luckiest Girl in the World

  • Manhattan Heartbeat

    Manhattan Heartbeat

  • Rock Island Trail

    Rock Island Trail

  • Tough as They Come

    Tough as They Come

  • According to Mrs. Hoyle

    According to Mrs. Hoyle

  • The Cisco Kid and the Lady

    The Cisco Kid and the Lady

  • Homicide

    Homicide

  • Tell No Tales

    Tell No Tales

  • Corvette K-225

    Corvette K-225

  • Public Hero Number 1

    Public Hero Number 1

  • Sergeant Madden

    Sergeant Madden

  • Alexander's Ragtime Band

    Alexander's Ragtime Band

  • Baby Take a Bow

    Baby Take a Bow

  • While New York Sleeps

    While New York Sleeps

  • Fingers at the Window

    Fingers at the Window

  • Dakota Lil

    Dakota Lil

  • When the Daltons Rode

    When the Daltons Rode

  • Bungalow 13

    Bungalow 13

  • Treat 'Em Rough

    Treat 'Em Rough

  • The Way of All Flesh

    The Way of All Flesh

  • The Further Adventures of Gallegher

    The Further Adventures of Gallegher

  • Joe and Ethel Turp Call on the President

    Joe and Ethel Turp Call on the President

  • Ten Gentlemen from West Point

    Ten Gentlemen from West Point

  • Life Begins at Eight-Thirty

    Life Begins at Eight-Thirty

  • Come Fill the Cup

    Come Fill the Cup

  • Johnny Rocco

    Johnny Rocco

  • Joe Palooka in the Knockout

    Joe Palooka in the Knockout

  • Something to Shout About

    Something to Shout About

  • Francis Gary Powers: The True Story of the U-2 Spy Incident

    Francis Gary Powers: The True Story of the U-2 Spy Incident

  • Angel's Holiday

    Angel's Holiday

  • Born to Be Wild

    Born to Be Wild

  • Dragonfly Squadron

    Dragonfly Squadron

  • Easy to Wed

    Easy to Wed

  • The Wild Man of Borneo

    The Wild Man of Borneo

  • A Yank on the Burma Road

    A Yank on the Burma Road

  • Youth Will Be Served

    Youth Will Be Served

  • The Devil's Pipeline

    The Devil's Pipeline

  • Murder on the Waterfront

    Murder on the Waterfront

  • Hot News

    Hot News

  • Straight from the Heart

    Straight from the Heart

  • My Dear Miss Aldrich

    My Dear Miss Aldrich

  • One Way Ticket

    One Way Ticket

  • And One Was Beautiful

    And One Was Beautiful

  • Ship of Wanted Men

    Ship of Wanted Men

  • Code of the Streets

    Code of the Streets

  • Dangerous Number

    Dangerous Number

  • The Duke of West Point

    The Duke of West Point

  • Return of the Dead

    Return of the Dead

  • The Airmail Mystery

    The Airmail Mystery

  • As We Forgive

    As We Forgive

  • Secret Service Investigator

    Secret Service Investigator

  • Broadway

    Broadway

  • How to Behave

    How to Behave

  • Ride on Vaquero

    Ride on Vaquero

  • I Promise to Pay

    I Promise to Pay

  • La Conga Nights

    La Conga Nights

  • Here Come the Marines

    Here Come the Marines

  • Fighter Attack

    Fighter Attack

  • Lightning Carson Rides Again

    Lightning Carson Rides Again

  • South of Pago Pago

    South of Pago Pago

  • Strange Affair

    Strange Affair

  • The Brand of Hate

    The Brand of Hate

  • Abroad with Two Yanks

    Abroad with Two Yanks

  • Convicts at Large

    Convicts at Large