JF
James Flavin
Actor
Died April 23, 1976 (69 years)
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.
Filmography
| 1971 | The Barefoot Executive · as Father O'Leary |
| 1969 | The Brady Bunch (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1968 | It Takes a Thief (TV Series) · as Gen. Levin |
| 1967 | In Cold Blood · as Clarence Duntz |
| 1967 | The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin · as Ship Ticket Agent |
| 1966 | The Pruitts of Southampton (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1964 | Cheyenne Autumn · as Ft. Robinson Sergeant of the Guard |
| 1964 | The Addams Family (1964) (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1963 | It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World · as Patrolman |
| 1963 | Critic's Choice · as Security Guard |
| 1962 | The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (TV Series) · as The Coroner |
| 1962 | The Lucy Show (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1961 | Mister Ed (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1961 | Hazel (TV Series) · as Perry Preston |
| 1960 | Coronado 9 (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1959 | The Dennis O'Keefe Show (TV Series) · as Gen. Macauley |
| 1959 | The Twilight Zone (TV Series) · as 1962 Policeman |
| 1959 | The Untouchables (TV Series) · as Rocky Garver |
| 1958 | The Last Hurrah · as Police Capt. Michael J. Shanahan (uncredited) |
| 1958 | The Rifleman (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1958 | Man with a Camera (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1957 | Night Passage · as Tim Riley |
| 1957 | The Wings of Eagles · as MP at Garden Party |
| 1957 | Beau James · as Capt. Dennis |
| 1957 | Top Secret Affair · as American Legionnaire |
| 1957 | The Restless Breed · as Secret Service Chief |
| 1957 | Code 3 (TV Series) · as P.J. Percival |
| 1957 | M Squad (TV Series) · as Paul Maitland |
| 1957 | The Real McCoys (TV Series) · as Judge Gherkin |
| 1956 | The Gale Storm Show (TV Series) · as Mr. Ellis |
| 1956 | State Trooper (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1955 | Mister Roberts · as Military Policeman |
| 1955 | The Naked Street · as Attorney Michael X. Flanders |
| 1955 | Apache Ambush · as Col. Marshall |
| 1955 | The People's Choice (TV Series) · as Col. Bascomb |
| 1955 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents (TV Series) · as Tony - The Doorman |
| 1954 | Climax! (TV Series) · as Hogan |
| 1954 | Disneyland (TV Series) · as Lt. Flynn |
| 1954 | Public Defender (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1954 | The Mickey Rooney Show (TV Series) · as Capt. Otis |
| 1954 | Lassie (TV Series) · as Joe |
| 1954 | The Whistler (TV Series) · as Police Lieutenant |
| 1953 | Trouble Along the Way · as Coach Buck Holman |
| 1953 | Confidentially Connie · as Harry |
| 1953 | Topper (TV Series) · as Policeman |
| 1953 | General Electric Theater (TV Series) · as Callahan |
| 1953 | The Loretta Young Show (TV Series) · as Deputy Mason |
| 1953 | I Beheld His Glory · as Longinus |
| 1952 | O. Henry's Full House · as Cop (segment "The Cop and the Anthem") |
| 1952 | Sailor Beware · as Petty Officer |
| 1952 | Million Dollar Mermaid · as Conductor |
| 1952 | Jumping Jacks · as Gen. Sterling |
| 1952 | Carrie · as Mike - Bartender |
| 1952 | The Fighter · as Cop |
| 1952 | Death Valley Days (TV Series) · as Perry |
| 1952 | The Abbott and Costello Show (TV Series) · as Joe Kelly |
| 1952 | Cavalcade of America (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1952 | Four Star Playhouse (TV Series) · as Mr. Swanson |
| 1951 | Rhubarb · as O'Leary, Manhattan Police Chief (uncredited) |
| 1951 | Operation Pacific · as SP Commander |
| 1951 | Follow the Sun · as Henry Gibbs |
| 1951 | The Red Skelton Show (TV Series) · as Desk Sergeant |
| 1951 | Sky King (TV Series) · as Sheriff |
| 1951 | I Love Lucy (TV Series) · as Immigration Officer |
| 1951 | Hallmark Hall Of Fame (TV Series) · as General Charles Lee |
| 1950 | Armored Car Robbery · as Lt. Phillips |
| 1950 | My Friend Irma Goes West · as Sheriff |
| 1950 | Key to the City · as S.F. Cop - Costume Party Arrest |
| 1950 | Dakota Lil · as Secret Service Chief |
| 1950 | Rock Island Trail · as Railroad Workman |
| 1950 | The Lux Video Theatre (TV Series) · as Heineman |
| 1950 | The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show (TV Series) · as Detective Sawyer |
| 1950 | Dangerous Assignment (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1950 | Racket Squad (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1950 | The Jack Benny Program (TV Series) · as Barker - Animal Show |
| 1949 | My Dream Is Yours · as Coconut Grove Waiter |
| 1949 | Flamingo Road · as Angry Carnival Creditor |
| 1949 | Bud Abbott Lou Costello Meet the Killer Boris Karloff · as Insp. Wellman |
| 1949 | The Lone Ranger (TV Series) · as Sam Kirk |
| 1949 | Mighty Joe Young · as Schultz |
| 1948 | The Velvet Touch · as Sgt. Oliphant |
| 1948 | The Noose Hangs High · as Traffic Cop (uncredited) |
| 1948 | One Touch of Venus · as Kerrigan |
| 1948 | The Babe Ruth Story · as First Mate at Ruth's Bar |
| 1948 | Sleep, My Love · as Lieutenant Mitchell |
| 1948 | Fury at Furnace Creek · as Judge Advocate |
| 1948 | The Plunderers · as Sergeant Major |
| 1948 | The Return of October · as Detention Ward Guard |
| 1947 | Song of the Thin Man · as Policeman Reardon (uncredited) |
| 1947 | Desert Fury · as Sheriff Pat Johnson |
| 1947 | Dishonored Lady · as Police Sergeant Patella |
| 1947 | The Fabulous Dorseys · as Gorman |
| 1947 | It Happened on Fifth Avenue · as First Policeman (uncredited) |
| 1947 | Unconquered · as Villager |
| 1947 | Black Gold · as Mac - Race Clerk |
| 1947 | Robin Hood of Texas · as Captain Danforth |
| 1947 | My Favorite Brunette · as Det. Lt. 'Mac' Hennessey (uncredited) |
| 1947 | Nightmare Alley · as Hoatley - First Carnival Owner (uncredited) |
| 1946 | Angel on My Shoulder · as Bellamy |
| 1946 | Nobody Lives Forever · as Shake Thomas |
| 1946 | The Strange Love of Martha Ivers · as Police Detective #1 |
| 1946 | A Stolen Life · as Investigator |
| 1946 | Easy to Wed · as Joe |
| 1946 | Courage of Lassie · as Lt. Tom Arnold |
| 1946 | Step by Step · as Woods |
| 1946 | Cloak and Dagger · as Col. Walsh |
| 1945 | Anchors Aweigh · as Radio Cop |
| 1945 | San Antonio · as Streeter - Cattleman |
| 1945 | Conflict · as Det. Lt. Workman |
| 1945 | Without Love · as Sergeant |
| 1945 | Wonder Man · as Bus Driver |
| 1945 | Over 21 · as Captain (uncredited) |
| 1945 | God Is My Co-Pilot · as Major at Kweilin Airbase |
| 1945 | Mildred Pierce · as Detective (uncredited) |
| 1944 | Laura · as Det. McEveety (uncredited) |
| 1944 | The Princess and the Pirate · as Naval Officer |
| 1944 | Hollywood Canteen · as Marine Sergeant (uncredited) |
| 1944 | Once Upon a Time · as Man in Subway |
| 1943 | Footlight Glamour · as Mr. Phillips |
| 1943 | Air Force · as Maj. A.M. Bagley |
| 1943 | Action in the North Atlantic · as Merchant Marine School Lieutenant-Commander (uncredited) |
| 1943 | Hello Frisco, Hello · as Headwaiter |
| 1943 | City Without Men · as Coast Guard Officer |
| 1943 | Heaven Can Wait · as Policeman (uncredited) |
| 1942 | Gentleman Jim · as George Corbett (uncredited) |
| 1942 | To the Shores of Tripoli · as Warden |
| 1942 | Mr. and Mrs. North · as Police Captain |
| 1942 | Yankee Doodle Dandy · as Union Army Veteran #1 on Caisson |
| 1942 | Saboteur · as Motorcycle Cop |
| 1941 | Shadow of the Thin Man · as Cop Who Greets Nick at Racetrack |
| 1941 | Pot o' Gold · as Sheriff Bud Connolly |
| 1941 | Mr. & Mrs. Smith · as Attractive Woman's Escort |
| 1941 | High Sierra · as Policeman |
| 1941 | Buck Privates · as Recruiting Sergeant (uncredited) |
| 1941 | The Bride Came C.O.D. · as Interrogating Detective |
| 1941 | Ziegfeld Girl · as Buck (Uncredited) |
| 1941 | Western Union · as Deputy Sheriff |
| 1941 | Bedtime Story · as Hotel Guest in Room 625 |
| 1941 | Belle Starr · as Sergeant |
| 1941 | Texas · as Abilene Fight Announcer |
| 1941 | The Strawberry Blonde · as Ticket Inspector on Boat (uncredited) |
| 1941 | Tall, Dark and Handsome · as Detective in Cigar Store |
| 1941 | Sunny · as Motorcycle Cop |
| 1941 | Ride on Vaquero · as Officer Johnson |
| 1940 | The Grapes of Wrath · as Guard (uncredited) |
| 1940 | The Ghost Breakers · as Hotel Porter (uncredited) |
| 1940 | Castle on the Hudson · as Death Row Guard (uncredited) |
| 1940 | Brother Orchid · as Parking Attendant at Fat Dutchy's (uncredited) |
| 1940 | Broadway Melody of 1940 · as Clancy (uncredited) |
| 1940 | Knute Rockne All American · as Army Assistant Coach (uncredited) |
| 1940 | The Long Voyage Home · as Dock Policeman |
| 1940 | It All Came True · as Roaring 90's Club Doorman (uncredited) |
| 1940 | The Fighting 69th · as Supply Sergeant (uncredited) |
| 1940 | Rhythm on the River · as Detective |
| 1940 | The Golden Fleecing · as Cop (uncredited) |
| 1940 | When the Daltons Rode · as Annabella's Brother |
| 1940 | Those Were the Days! · as Policeman |
| 1940 | Florian · as Policeman |
| 1940 | Youth Will Be Served · as Buck Miller |
| 1939 | Each Dawn I Die · as Policeman (uncredited) |
| 1939 | The Roaring Twenties · as Policeman (uncredited) |
| 1939 | Union Pacific · as Paddy (uncredited) |
| 1939 | Jesse James · as Cavalry Captain (uncredited) |
| 1939 | Mr. Wong in Chinatown · as Police Sgt. Jerry |
| 1939 | They Shall Have Music · as Police Sergeant (uncredited) |
| 1939 | The Ice Follies of 1939 · as Doorman (Uncredited) |
| 1939 | Irish Luck · as Fluger |
| 1938 | Blondie · as Policeman in Accident Car (uncredited) |
| 1938 | Too Hot to Handle · as Young Reporter |
| 1938 | Charlie Chan in Honolulu · as Homicide Division Desk Sergeant |
| 1938 | Test Pilot · as Pilot (uncredited) |
| 1938 | Three Loves Has Nancy · as Jack's Friend (uncredited) |
| 1938 | The Shopworn Angel · as Guard Yelling 'Halt!' |
| 1938 | The Buccaneer · as British Sergeant |
| 1938 | Wives Under Suspicion · as Jenks - Chauffeur (uncredited) |
| 1938 | Born to Be Wild · as Striker |
| 1938 | Convicts at Large · as Detective Sgt. Berkovich |
| 1938 | Lightning Carson Rides Again · as Justice Department Agent |
| 1938 | You Can't Take It with You · as Jailer (uncredited) |
| 1937 | Mannequin · as Burly Man (Uncredited) |
| 1937 | San Quentin · as Guard Announcing Jailbreak |
| 1937 | You Only Live Once · as State Trooper (uncredited) |
| 1937 | My Dear Miss Aldrich · as Dr. Spitzy Calahan (uncredited) |
| 1937 | Fit for a King · as Ship's Officer |
| 1937 | Midnight Taxi · as Detective McCormick |
| 1936 | My Man Godfrey · as Detective #2 (uncredited) |
| 1936 | Born to Dance · as Ship's Officer |
| 1936 | Straight from the Shoulder · as Policeman |
| 1935 | 'G' Men · as Agent with Jean (uncredited) |
| 1935 | Public Hero Number 1 · as Flavin - Federal Agent (uncredited) |
| 1935 | The Littlest Rebel · as Yankee Guard |
| 1935 | Rendezvous · as 2nd Military Policeman |
| 1935 | After Office Hours · as Police Detective |
| 1935 | Secrets of Chinatown · as Brandhma |
| 1934 | Baby, Take a Bow · as Flannigan |
| 1934 | The Affairs of Cellini · as Palace Guard |
| 1934 | The Brand of Hate · as Holt Larkins |
| 1934 | Beloved · as Wilcox |
| 1934 | Bright Eyes · as Bob - Aviator |
| 1933 | King Kong · as Mate Briggs |
| 1933 | Hello, Sister! · as Fireman |
| 1932 | The Most Dangerous Game · as First Mate on Yacht (uncredited) |
| 1932 | The All-American · as Don Lindsay |