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 Rifleman

    The Rifleman

  • Matinee Theater

    Matinee Theater

  • The Twilight Zone

    The Twilight Zone

  • The Twilight Zone

    The Twilight Zone

  • I Love Lucy

    I Love Lucy

  • Climax!

    Climax!

  • December Bride

    December Bride

  • The Lucy Show

    The Lucy Show

  • Dr. Kildare

    Dr. Kildare

  • Four Star Playhouse

    Four Star Playhouse

  • The Addams Family

    The Addams Family

  • Burke's Law

    Burke's Law

  • Mister Ed

    Mister Ed

  • The Brady Bunch

    The Brady Bunch

  • State Trooper

    State Trooper

  • Surfside 6

    Surfside 6

  • The Millionaire

    The Millionaire

  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents

    Alfred Hitchcock Presents

  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents

    Alfred Hitchcock Presents

  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents

    Alfred Hitchcock Presents

  • Richard Diamond, Private Detective

    Richard Diamond, Private Detective

  • Pete and Gladys

    Pete and Gladys

  • Navy Log

    Navy Log

  • Racket Squad

    Racket Squad

  • Mr. Novak

    Mr. Novak

  • Lux Video Theatre

    Lux Video Theatre

  • Lux Video Theatre

    Lux Video Theatre

  • Lux Video Theatre

    Lux Video Theatre

  • Public Defender

    Public Defender

  • The Abbott and Costello Show

    The Abbott and Costello Show

  • Alcoa Theatre

    Alcoa Theatre

  • Heaven Can Wait

    Heaven Can Wait

  • Sam Benedict

    Sam Benedict

  • Cavalcade of America

    Cavalcade of America

  • The New Breed

    The New Breed

  • Cain's Hundred

    Cain's Hundred

  • The Grapes of Wrath

    The Grapes of Wrath

  • The Roaring 20's

    The Roaring 20's

  • Four Mothers

    Four Mothers

  • The Last Hurrah

    The Last Hurrah

  • Mildred Pierce

    Mildred Pierce

  • It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World

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

  • The Strange Love of Martha Ivers

    The Strange Love of Martha Ivers

  • Rock Island Trail

    Rock Island Trail

  • Wild Is the Wind

    Wild Is the Wind

  • City Detective

    City Detective

  • The Roaring Twenties

    The Roaring Twenties

  • Coronado 9

    Coronado 9

  • Dangerous Assignment

    Dangerous Assignment

  • Reap the Wild Wind

    Reap the Wild Wind

  • Christmas Holiday

    Christmas Holiday

  • Kathleen

    Kathleen

  • Western Union

    Western Union

  • Cloak and Dagger

    Cloak and Dagger

  • The Great Profile

    The Great Profile

  • The Cisco Kid and the Lady

    The Cisco Kid and the Lady

  • The Gracie Allen Murder Case

    The Gracie Allen Murder Case

  • Mickey the Kid

    Mickey the Kid

  • Apache Ambush

    Apache Ambush

  • Ride on Vaquero

    Ride on Vaquero

  • Code of the Streets

    Code of the Streets

  • The Daring Young Man

    The Daring Young Man

  • King Kong

    King Kong

  • La Conga Nights

    La Conga Nights

  • The Ice Follies of 1939

    The Ice Follies of 1939

  • Union Pacific

    Union Pacific

  • Tars and Spars

    Tars and Spars

  • I Promise to Pay

    I Promise to Pay

  • Death Valley Days

    Death Valley Days

  • Letter to Loretta

    Letter to Loretta

  • Letter to Loretta

    Letter to Loretta

  • Letter to Loretta

    Letter to Loretta

  • Mission to Moscow

    Mission to Moscow

  • Youth Will Be Served

    Youth Will Be Served

  • Anchors Aweigh

    Anchors Aweigh

  • Johnny Midnight

    Johnny Midnight

  • Man on the Flying Trapeze

    Man on the Flying Trapeze

  • When the Daltons Rode

    When the Daltons Rode

  • Each Dawn I Die

    Each Dawn I Die

  • Fast and Furious

    Fast and Furious

  • Swing Shift Maisie

    Swing Shift Maisie

  • Rhythm on the River

    Rhythm on the River

  • Bungalow 13

    Bungalow 13

  • Uncertain Glory

    Uncertain Glory

  • The Brand of Hate

    The Brand of Hate

  • Live, Love and Learn

    Live, Love and Learn

  • Broadway Melody of 1940

    Broadway Melody of 1940

  • The Wild Man of Borneo

    The Wild Man of Borneo

  • Riot Squad

    Riot Squad

  • Follow the Sun

    Follow the Sun

  • Francis in the Haunted House

    Francis in the Haunted House

  • The Further Adventures of Gallegher

    The Further Adventures of Gallegher

  • Women Without Names

    Women Without Names

  • Irish Luck

    Irish Luck

  • Trouble Along the Way

    Trouble Along the Way

  • Operation Pacific

    Operation Pacific

  • The Lost Spider Pit Sequence

    The Lost Spider Pit Sequence

  • Texas

    Texas

  • Midnight Taxi

    Midnight Taxi

  • The Murder Man

    The Murder Man

  • The Spider

    The Spider

  • Man with a Camera

    Man with a Camera

  • Night Passage

    Night Passage

  • Hollywood Canteen

    Hollywood Canteen

  • Armored Car Robbery

    Armored Car Robbery

  • Brother Orchid

    Brother Orchid

  • Secret Service Investigator

    Secret Service Investigator

  • Rose of Washington Square

    Rose of Washington Square

  • Never Say Goodbye

    Never Say Goodbye

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

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

  • Mr. Wong in Chinatown

    Mr. Wong in Chinatown

  • The Long Voyage Home

    The Long Voyage Home

  • Miracle Money

    Miracle Money

  • We Go Fast

    We Go Fast

  • One Touch of Venus

    One Touch of Venus

  • The Airmail Mystery

    The Airmail Mystery

  • Back Street

    Back Street

  • Over 21

    Over 21

  • Strange Affair

    Strange Affair

  • The Night of January 16th

    The Night of January 16th

  • I Wake Up Screaming

    I Wake Up Screaming

  • Hallmark Hall of Fame

    Hallmark Hall of Fame

  • Hallmark Hall of Fame

    Hallmark Hall of Fame

  • McKenna of the Mounted

    McKenna of the Mounted

  • O. Henry's Full House

    O. Henry's Full House

  • The Eddie Cantor Story

    The Eddie Cantor Story

  • Sentimental Journey

    Sentimental Journey

  • Ten Gentlemen from West Point

    Ten Gentlemen from West Point

  • Test Pilot

    Test Pilot

  • Star of Texas

    Star of Texas

  • While New York Sleeps

    While New York Sleeps

  • Broadway

    Broadway

  • Riding High

    Riding High

  • Mississippi Rhythm

    Mississippi Rhythm

  • The Most Dangerous Game

    The Most Dangerous Game

  • Mister Roberts

    Mister Roberts

  • Murder, He Says

    Murder, He Says

  • It Happened on Fifth Avenue

    It Happened on Fifth Avenue

  • Girl in 313

    Girl in 313

  • The Pruitts of Southampton

    The Pruitts of Southampton

  • The Savage Horde

    The Savage Horde

  • Million Dollar Mermaid

    Million Dollar Mermaid

  • Carrie

    Carrie

  • The Plunderers

    The Plunderers

  • Destination Murder

    Destination Murder

  • Nightmare Alley

    Nightmare Alley

  • Sailor Beware

    Sailor Beware

  • Everybody's Baby

    Everybody's Baby

  • The Noose Hangs High

    The Noose Hangs High

  • Dragonfly Squadron

    Dragonfly Squadron

  • Angel on My Shoulder

    Angel on My Shoulder

  • Gateway

    Gateway

  • 'G' Men

    'G' Men

  • Dishonored Lady

    Dishonored Lady

  • Pot o' Gold

    Pot o' Gold

  • Pot o' Gold

    Pot o' Gold

  • Night in New Orleans

    Night in New Orleans

  • Mighty Joe Young

    Mighty Joe Young

  • Beloved

    Beloved

  • Night Spot

    Night Spot

  • Treat 'Em Rough

    Treat 'Em Rough

  • Okay, America!

    Okay, America!

  • Tell No Tales

    Tell No Tales

  • Private Affairs

    Private Affairs

  • Come Fill the Cup

    Come Fill the Cup

  • Thank Your Lucky Stars

    Thank Your Lucky Stars

  • The Ghost Breakers

    The Ghost Breakers

  • They Shall Have Music

    They Shall Have Music

  • Manhattan Heartbeat

    Manhattan Heartbeat

  • Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

    Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

  • Public Hero Number 1

    Public Hero Number 1

  • Unconquered

    Unconquered

  • Hold That Hypnotist

    Hold That Hypnotist

  • Wild Gold

    Wild Gold

  • Alexander's Ragtime Band

    Alexander's Ragtime Band

  • Buck Privates

    Buck Privates

  • The Restless Breed

    The Restless Breed

  • Girls Can Play

    Girls Can Play

  • One Way Ticket

    One Way Ticket

  • They Met in a Taxi

    They Met in a Taxi

  • Tin Pan Alley

    Tin Pan Alley

  • Once Upon a Time

    Once Upon a Time

  • Double Alibi

    Double Alibi

  • Too Hot to Handle

    Too Hot to Handle

  • Footsteps in the Night

    Footsteps in the Night

  • Tough as They Come

    Tough as They Come

  • The Duke of West Point

    The Duke of West Point

  • Flamingo Road

    Flamingo Road

  • Wives Under Suspicion

    Wives Under Suspicion

  • Nora Prentiss

    Nora Prentiss

  • The Devil's Pipeline

    The Devil's Pipeline

  • The Living Christ

    The Living Christ

  • Florian

    Florian

  • Hot Water

    Hot Water

  • Straight from the Heart

    Straight from the Heart

  • Law and Order

    Law and Order

  • Manpower

    Manpower

  • You Can't Take It with You

    You Can't Take It with You

  • New York Town

    New York Town

  • Blondie Hits the Jackpot

    Blondie Hits the Jackpot

  • Gentleman Jim

    Gentleman Jim

  • Laura

    Laura

  • Shockproof

    Shockproof

  • Johnny Angel

    Johnny Angel

  • Young Widow

    Young Widow

  • Air Force

    Air Force

  • Dangerously Yours

    Dangerously Yours

  • Abroad with Two Yanks

    Abroad with Two Yanks

  • Baby Take a Bow

    Baby Take a Bow

  • Rendezvous with Annie

    Rendezvous with Annie

  • Belle Starr

    Belle Starr

  • Hold Back the Dawn

    Hold Back the Dawn

  • Abbott and Costello Go to Mars

    Abbott and Costello Go to Mars

  • Confidentially Connie

    Confidentially Connie

  • Ride 'Em Cowboy

    Ride 'Em Cowboy

  • Action in the North Atlantic

    Action in the North Atlantic

  • Robin Hood Of Texas

    Robin Hood Of Texas

  • My Man Godfrey

    My Man Godfrey

  • Fighter Attack

    Fighter Attack

  • General Electric Theater

    General Electric Theater

  • General Electric Theater

    General Electric Theater

  • Sleep, My Love

    Sleep, My Love

  • Woman Wanted

    Woman Wanted

  • Rhubarb

    Rhubarb

  • Nobody Lives Forever

    Nobody Lives Forever

  • The Affairs of Cellini

    The Affairs of Cellini

  • Mannequin

    Mannequin

  • Cheyenne Autumn

    Cheyenne Autumn

  • Return of the Dead

    Return of the Dead

  • Good Times

    Good Times

  • South Sea Sinner

    South Sea Sinner

  • Convicts at Large

    Convicts at Large

  • Only Yesterday

    Only Yesterday

  • Here Come the Marines

    Here Come the Marines

  • God Is My Co-Pilot

    God Is My Co-Pilot

  • The Fighting 69th

    The Fighting 69th

  • Step by Step

    Step by Step

  • Kid Glove Killer

    Kid Glove Killer

  • Easy to Wed

    Easy to Wed

  • In Cold Blood

    In Cold Blood

  • When Willie Comes Marching Home

    When Willie Comes Marching Home

  • The All-American

    The All-American

  • You Only Live Once

    You Only Live Once

  • My Dear Miss Aldrich

    My Dear Miss Aldrich

  • So Proudly We Hail

    So Proudly We Hail

  • Dakota Lil

    Dakota Lil

  • Johnny Apollo

    Johnny Apollo

  • And One Was Beautiful

    And One Was Beautiful

  • Charlie Chan at the Race Track

    Charlie Chan at the Race Track

  • Circumstantial Evidence

    Circumstantial Evidence

  • Chinatown Squad

    Chinatown Squad

  • The Big Race

    The Big Race

  • Rendezvous

    Rendezvous

  • Secrets of Chinatown

    Secrets of Chinatown

  • Lightning Carson Rides Again

    Lightning Carson Rides Again

  • The Luckiest Girl in the World

    The Luckiest Girl in the World

  • According to Mrs. Hoyle

    According to Mrs. Hoyle

  • Hello, Sister!

    Hello, Sister!

  • Lucky Cisco Kid

    Lucky Cisco Kid

  • Shipmates Forever

    Shipmates Forever

  • It All Came True

    It All Came True

  • Song of the Thin Man

    Song of the Thin Man

  • They All Come Out

    They All Come Out

  • Saboteur

    Saboteur

  • The Naked Street

    The Naked Street

  • Johnny Rocco

    Johnny Rocco

  • The Strawberry Blonde

    The Strawberry Blonde

  • Three Loves Has Nancy

    Three Loves Has Nancy

  • Big Town Girl

    Big Town Girl

  • Fighting Coast Guard

    Fighting Coast Guard

  • Fingers at the Window

    Fingers at the Window

  • Ziegfeld Girl

    Ziegfeld Girl

  • The Velvet Touch

    The Velvet Touch

  • Remember the Night

    Remember the Night

  • I Am the Law

    I Am the Law

  • Queen of the Mob

    Queen of the Mob

  • Hot Steel

    Hot Steel

  • Start Cheering

    Start Cheering

  • Affectionately Yours

    Affectionately Yours

  • South of Pago Pago

    South of Pago Pago

  • Something to Shout About

    Something to Shout About

  • Oh! Susanna

    Oh! Susanna

  • The Golden Fleecing

    The Golden Fleecing

  • Prison Warden

    Prison Warden

  • Everybody's Doing It

    Everybody's Doing It

  • Jesse James

    Jesse James

  • Blondie

    Blondie

  • I Beheld His Glory

    I Beheld His Glory

  • Special Agent

    Special Agent

  • Knute Rockne All American

    Knute Rockne All American

  • Hold That Blonde!

    Hold That Blonde!

  • My Favorite Brunette

    My Favorite Brunette

  • My Girl Tisa

    My Girl Tisa

  • The Devil's Henchmen

    The Devil's Henchmen

  • Life Begins at Eight-Thirty

    Life Begins at Eight-Thirty

  • Angel's Holiday

    Angel's Holiday

  • The Shanghai Cobra

    The Shanghai Cobra

  • Critic's Choice

    Critic's Choice

  • A Stolen Life

    A Stolen Life

  • Captain Hurricane

    Captain Hurricane

  • Hot News

    Hot News

  • I Dood It

    I Dood It

  • North West Mounted Police

    North West Mounted Police

  • When Tomorrow Comes

    When Tomorrow Comes

  • Dangerous Number

    Dangerous Number

  • Sergeant Madden

    Sergeant Madden

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

    Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff

  • It Ain't Hay

    It Ain't Hay

  • The Missing Lady

    The Missing Lady

  • Corvette K-225

    Corvette K-225

  • Joe and Ethel Turp Call on the President

    Joe and Ethel Turp Call on the President

  • How to Behave

    How to Behave

  • Boys' Ranch

    Boys' Ranch

  • Thru Different Eyes

    Thru Different Eyes

  • Ship of Wanted Men

    Ship of Wanted Men

  • Massacre Canyon

    Massacre Canyon

  • Big Town Czar

    Big Town Czar

  • Homicide

    Homicide

  • Born to Be Wild

    Born to Be Wild

  • A Yank on the Burma Road

    A Yank on the Burma Road

  • Bedtime Story

    Bedtime Story

  • Murder on the Waterfront

    Murder on the Waterfront

  • Castle on the Hudson

    Castle on the Hudson

  • Desert Fury

    Desert Fury

  • The Way of All Flesh

    The Way of All Flesh

  • Joe Palooka in the Knockout

    Joe Palooka in the Knockout

  • As We Forgive

    As We Forgive