James Flavin

Born

May 14, 1906

Died

April 23, 1976 (69 years old)

Known For

Acting

Place of Birth

Portland, Maine, USA

IMDb

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

7.6

Laura

The Lost Spider Pit Sequence

Second Mate Briggs (archive footage)

6.8

2005

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

President Dwight D. Eisenhower

0.0

1976

Law and Order

Capt. Toomey

0.0

1976

The Brady Bunch

(1 episode)

6.7

1969

In Cold Blood

Clarence Duntz

7.5

1967

Good Times

Lieutenant

5.1

1967

The Pruitts of Southampton

(1 episode)

5.3

1966

The Further Adventures of Gallegher

Lt. Flynn

0.0

1965

Cheyenne Autumn

Ft. Robinson Sergeant of the Guard (uncredited)

6.7

1964

The Addams Family

Lt. Poston · (1 episode)

8.0

1964

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

Patrolman (uncredited)

7.0

1963

Mr. Novak

Fire Chief Hawkins · (1 episode)

6.5

1963

Burke's Law

Officer Danny Robin · (1 episode)

6.0

1963

The Lucy Show

Sergeant Wilcox · (2 episodes)

7.0

1962

Sam Benedict

(1 episode)

6.0

1962

The New Breed

Moose · (1 episode)

7.0

1961

Dr. Kildare

John Dolan · (2 episodes)

5.5

1961

Cain's Hundred

Arnie Kellwin · (1 episode)

4.7

1961

Mister Ed

(7 episodes)

6.8

1961

The Roaring 20's

(45 episodes)

0.0

1960

Surfside 6

(1 episode)

5.0

1960

Pete and Gladys

(2 episodes)

6.5

1960

Coronado 9

(1 episode)

6.0

1960

Johnny Midnight

(1 episode)

0.0

1960

The Twilight Zone

1962 Policeman · (1 episode)

8.4

1959

The Twilight Zone

Truck Driver · (1 episode)

8.4

1959

The Last Hurrah

Police Capt. Michael J. Shanahan (uncredited)

7.1

1958

Johnny Rocco

Mooney

5.2

1958

Man with a Camera

(29 episodes)

4.6

1958

The Rifleman

(1 episode)

7.1

1958

Wild Is the Wind

Wool Buyer

6.8

1957

Alcoa Theatre

Gavin Marshall · (1 episode)

6.5

1957

Night Passage

Tim Riley

6.4

1957

Richard Diamond, Private Detective

Sam Cooper · (1 episode)

6.2

1957

The Restless Breed

Secret Service Chief

5.3

1957

Footsteps in the Night

Mr. Bradbury

5.3

1957

Hold That Hypnotist

Jake Morgan

5.1

1957

State Trooper

Police Capt. Daniel Box · (1 episode)

5.0

1956

Francis in the Haunted House

Police Chief Martin

5.1

1956

Never Say Goodbye

Timmy

6.6

1956

Matinee Theater

(1 episode)

5.0

1955

Alfred Hitchcock Presents

Joe Felix · (1 episode)

7.7

1955

Alfred Hitchcock Presents

Tony - The Doorman · (1 episode)

7.7

1955

Alfred Hitchcock Presents

6.5

1953

Letter to Loretta

5.3

1953

General Electric Theater

6.4

1952

Four Star Playhouse

Mr. Swanson · (1 episode)

6.3

1952

O. Henry's Full House

Cop (segment "The Cop and the Anthem") (uncredited)

6.5

1952

Carrie

Mike - Bartender (uncredited)

6.4

1952

Here Come the Marines

Lieutenant-Colonel at End

6.0

1952

Sailor Beware

Petty Officer (uncredited)

6.2

1952

As We Forgive

0.0

1952

Dangerous Assignment

(2 episodes)

3.5

1952

Hallmark Hall of Fame

6.0

1951

The Living Christ

Longinus · (12 episodes)

5.0

1951

Lux Video Theatre

6.5

1949

Flamingo Road

7.0

1949

Homicide

Det. Lt. Boylan

5.3

1949

Shockproof

Policeman in Park (Uncredited)

6.4

1949

Bungalow 13

Lt. Sam Wilson

1.0

1948

The Plunderers

Sergeant Major

5.6

1948

One Touch of Venus

Kerrigan

6.6

1948

The Velvet Touch

Sgt. Oliphant

6.2

1948

Secret Service Investigator

Police Inspector Thorndyke

6.0

1948

The Noose Hangs High

Traffic Cop (uncredited)

6.8

1948

Sleep, My Love

Lieutenant Mitchell

6.4

1948

My Girl Tisa

Guard (uncredited)

0.0

1948

Unconquered

Villager (uncredited)

6.2

1947

Nightmare Alley

Hoatley - First Carnival Owner (uncredited)

7.1

1947

Joe Palooka in the Knockout

Policeman

6.0

1947

Song of the Thin Man

Policeman Reardon (uncredited)

6.8

1947

Desert Fury

Pat Johnson

6.0

1947

Robin Hood Of Texas

Captain Danforth

0.0

1947

Dishonored Lady

Police Sergeant Patella

5.7

1947

It Happened on Fifth Avenue

First Policeman (uncredited)

7.0

1947

My Favorite Brunette

Det. Lt. 'Mac' Hennessey (uncredited)

6.6

1947

Nora Prentiss

District Attorney

6.1

1947

Nobody Lives Forever

Shake Thomas

6.2

1946

Cloak and Dagger

Col. Walsh

6.5

1946

Angel on My Shoulder

Bellamy

6.4

1946

Step by Step

Woods

6.2

1946

The Strange Love of Martha Ivers

Police Detective #1

7.1

1946

The Missing Lady

Police Insp. Cardona

4.8

1946

Easy to Wed

Joe

6.2

1946

Rendezvous with Annie

Turnkey (uncredited)

6.0

1946

Boys' Ranch

Policeman (uncredited)

6.5

1946

A Stolen Life

Investigator (uncredited)

6.4

1946

Sentimental Journey

Detective Sgt. McFarland (uncredited)

6.4

1946

Young Widow

Subway Conductor (Uncredited)

4.8

1946

Tars and Spars

Chief Bosun Mate Gurney

4.7

1946

The Spider

Officer Johnny Tracy

5.3

1945

Hold That Blonde!

Laundry Truck Driver (uncredited)

6.4

1945

Johnny Angel

Flavin, Mate of the Quincy (uncredited)

5.9

1945

Mildred Pierce

Detective (uncredited)

7.6

1945

The Shanghai Cobra

H.R. Jarvis

5.8

1945

Anchors Aweigh

Radio Cop

6.8

1945

Over 21

Captain (uncredited)

5.3

1945

Murder, He Says

Police Officer (uncredited)

6.6

1945

Circumstantial Evidence

Guard

4.8

1945

God Is My Co-Pilot

Major at Kweilin Airbase (uncredited)

7.0

1945

Hollywood Canteen

Marine Sergeant (uncredited)

7.3

1944

Laura

Det. McEveety (uncredited)

7.6

1944

Strange Affair

Bank Security Guard (Uncredited)

6.2

1944

Abroad with Two Yanks

Sgt. Wiggins

6.0

1944

Christmas Holiday

Policeman

6.3

1944

Once Upon a Time

Man in Subway (uncredited)

5.8

1944

Uncertain Glory

Captain of Mobile Guard

6.6

1944

Riding High

Train Conductor

4.5

1943

Swing Shift Maisie

Radio Policeman (Uncredited)

6.5

1943

Corvette K-225

1st Lt. Bill Gardner

6.1

1943

Thank Your Lucky Stars

Policeman (uncredited)

6.1

1943

Murder on the Waterfront

Cmdr. Kalin

5.0

1943

So Proudly We Hail

Captain O'Brien (Uncredited)

5.5

1943

I Dood It

Federal Agent (uncredited)

3.5

1943

Heaven Can Wait

Policeman (uncredited)

6.9

1943

Action in the North Atlantic

Merchant Marine School Lieutenant-Commander (uncredited)

7.1

1943

Mission to Moscow

American Senator (uncredited)

5.3

1943

Air Force

Maj. A.M. Bagley

6.4

1943

It Ain't Hay

Cop (uncredited)

6.4

1943

Something to Shout About

Policeman

5.8

1943

Life Begins at Eight-Thirty

Policeman

6.5

1942

Gentleman Jim

George Corbett (uncredited)

7.2

1942

Night in New Orleans

Egan (Uncredited)

4.0

1942

Ten Gentlemen from West Point

Capt. Luddy

5.8

1942

Thru Different Eyes

Thomas

0.0

1942

Tough as They Come

Process Server

0.0

1942

Broadway

Doorman (uncredited)

5.5

1942

Saboteur

Motorcycle Cop (voice) (uncredited)

6.9

1942

Fingers at the Window

Police Lieutenant Schaeffer

5.5

1942

Kid Glove Killer

Keenan - Detective Grilling Eddie (uncredited)

6.2

1942

Reap the Wild Wind

Girl's Father (uncredited)

6.4

1942

Ride 'Em Cowboy

5.5

1941

Pot o' Gold

Sheriff Bud Connolly

5.5

1941

Western Union

Deputy Sheriff

6.0

1941

Buck Privates

Recruiting Sergeant (uncredited)

6.7

1941

The Wild Man of Borneo

Policeman

6.5

1941

Four Mothers

Demolition Man (uncredited)

6.2

1941

Tin Pan Alley

Army Sergeant (uncredited)

4.8

1940

Youth Will Be Served

Buck Miller

1.0

1940

The Long Voyage Home

Dock Policeman

6.6

1940

The Devil's Pipeline

Dowling

6.0

1940

North West Mounted Police

Mountie

6.3

1940

Knute Rockne All American

Army Assistant Coach (uncredited)

6.1

1940

The Great Profile

Detective

6.3

1940

Rhythm on the River

Detective

6.0

1940

When the Daltons Rode

Annabella's Brother

6.0

1940

The Golden Fleecing

Cop (uncredited)

5.3

1940

South of Pago Pago

Cafe Customer

4.8

1940

Manhattan Heartbeat

Truck Driver

0.0

1940

The Way of All Flesh

Policeman

4.0

1940

Private Affairs

Doorman (uncredited)

0.0

1940

Lucky Cisco Kid

Ranch Foreman

5.6

1940

Queen of the Mob

Third FBI Director

4.5

1940

The Ghost Breakers

Hotel Porter (uncredited)

6.5

1940

Brother Orchid

Parking Attendant at Fat Dutchy's (uncredited)

6.5

1940

Florian

Policeman

1.0

1940

Girl in 313

Det. Carvin

5.6

1940

La Conga Nights

Grogin

7.5

1940

Hot Steel

Storm Swenson

0.0

1940

Johnny Apollo

Prison Guard In Library (uncredited)

6.8

1940

It All Came True

Roaring 90's Club Doorman (uncredited)

5.8

1940

And One Was Beautiful

McRafferty

6.2

1940

The Grapes of Wrath

Guard (uncredited)

7.8

1940

Women Without Names

Guard

4.8

1940

Double Alibi

Patrolman Johnson

4.5

1940

Castle on the Hudson

Death Row Guard (uncredited)

6.8

1940

Broadway Melody of 1940

Clancy (uncredited)

6.7

1940

The Fighting 69th

Supply Sergeant (uncredited)

5.4

1940

Remember the Night

Court Attendant (uncredited)

7.3

1940

The Cisco Kid and the Lady

Sergeant

4.9

1939

Joe and Ethel Turp Call on the President

Policeman

2.0

1939

The Roaring Twenties

Policeman (uncredited)

7.5

1939

Fast and Furious

Policeman Guarding Entrance (uncredited)

5.1

1939

Irish Luck

Fluger

5.8

1939

Each Dawn I Die

Policeman (uncredited)

6.8

1939

They Shall Have Music

Police Sergeant (uncredited)

6.1

1939

They All Come Out

Officer (uncredited)

5.6

1939

Mr. Wong in Chinatown

Police Sgt. Jerry

5.2

1939

Mickey the Kid

Sanders

0.0

1939

Tell No Tales

Officer Simmons (uncredited)

5.3

1939

The Gracie Allen Murder Case

Turnkey

5.5

1939

Union Pacific

Paddy (uncredited)

6.5

1939

Rose of Washington Square

Guard (uncredited)

5.8

1939

Big Town Czar

George Mitchell

0.0

1939

Code of the Streets

Doorman

7.0

1939

Sergeant Madden

Police Interrogator

6.0

1939

Everybody's Baby

Police Announcer (uncredited)

0.0

1939

The Ice Follies of 1939

Doorman (uncredited)

5.6

1939

Jesse James

Cavalry Captain (uncredited)

6.4

1939

The Duke of West Point

Plebe Hockey Coach

3.8

1938

While New York Sleeps

2nd Cop

0.0

1938

Convicts at Large

Detective Sgt. Berkovich

0.0

1938

Blondie

Policeman in Accident Car (uncredited)

7.1

1938

Lightning Carson Rides Again

Justice Department Agent

4.8

1938

Three Loves Has Nancy

Jack's Friend (uncredited)

4.2

1938

You Can't Take It with You

Jailer (uncredited)

7.5

1938

I Am the Law

George - Witness (uncredited)

6.6

1938

Gateway

Guard

6.5

1938

Wives Under Suspicion

Jenks - Chauffeur (uncredited)

5.4

1938

Alexander's Ragtime Band

Army Captain (uncredited)

6.7

1938

Test Pilot

Pilot (uncredited)

6.5

1938

Miracle Money

Cop (uncredited)

5.6

1938

Start Cheering

Gas Station Attendant

7.0

1938

Night Spot

Kidnapper

4.7

1938

Born to Be Wild

Striker (uncredited)

7.0

1938

Mannequin

Burly Man (Uncredited)

5.9

1938

Everybody's Doing It

Detective Hayes

5.0

1938

Big Town Girl

State Trooper

6.0

1937

Live, Love and Learn

Marine Who Likes Painting (uncredited)

5.8

1937

Hot Water

Policeman (uncredited)

5.0

1937

Dangerously Yours

Driver

3.5

1937

My Dear Miss Aldrich

Dr. Spitzy Calahan (uncredited)

6.1

1937

Girls Can Play

Det. Bill O'Malley

4.0

1937

Angel's Holiday

Detective

5.5

1937

I Promise to Pay

Bill Seaver

5.5

1937

Midnight Taxi

Detective McCormick

5.0

1937

You Only Live Once

State Trooper (uncredited)

7.1

1937

Dangerous Number

Cab Driver

5.0

1937

The Luckiest Girl in the World

Policeman

7.5

1936

They Met in a Taxi

Policeman

5.5

1936

My Man Godfrey

Detective (uncredited)

7.6

1936

Charlie Chan at the Race Track

Detective

7.1

1936

How to Behave

Man in Manhole (uncredited)

7.5

1936

One Way Ticket

5.0

1935

Rendezvous

2st Military Policeman (uncredited)

4.8

1935

Shipmates Forever

Lieutenant (uncredited)

6.5

1935

Special Agent

Agent Arresting Julie (uncredited)

6.2

1935

Man on the Flying Trapeze

Chauffeur (uncredited)

5.9

1935

Woman Wanted

Mac - Policeman (uncredited)

6.3

1935

The Daring Young Man

Informant on Telephone

0.0

1935

The Murder Man

Policeman at Merry-Go-Round (uncredited)

6.9

1935

Chinatown Squad

Detective

6.0

1935

Public Hero Number 1

Flavin - Federal Agent (uncredited)

6.2

1935

'G' Men

Agent with Jean (uncredited)

6.5

1935

Straight from the Heart

Policeman

0.0

1935

Captain Hurricane

Freighter Officer

4.5

1935

Secrets of Chinatown

Brandhma

4.5

1935

The Brand of Hate

Holt Larkins

4.5

1934

The Affairs of Cellini

Palace Guard (uncredited)

5.1

1934

Baby Take a Bow

Flannigan

5.6

1934

Wild Gold

Detective (uncredited)

5.0

1934

The Big Race

Bill Figg

0.0

1934

Beloved

Wilcox

0.0

1934

Only Yesterday

Billy (Uncredited)

6.8

1933

Ship of Wanted Men

Frank Busch

2.0

1933

Riot Squad

Det. Mack McCue

3.3

1933

Hello, Sister!

Fireman

6.2

1933

King Kong

Mate Briggs

7.6

1933

The All-American

Don Lindsay

5.0

1932

The Most Dangerous Game

First Mate on Yacht (uncredited)

7.0

1932

Okay, America!

Undetermined Role (uncredited)

5.3

1932

McKenna of the Mounted

Corporal Randall McKenna

0.0

1932

Back Street

Reporter (uncredited)

6.1

1932

The Airmail Mystery

Bob Lee

0.0

1932