John Alvin
John Alvin, born John Alvin Hoffstadt was an American film, stage and television actor. Alvin was signed with Warner Brothers Studios for an exclusive four-year contract during the World War II era, although he was "borrowed" by 20th Century Fox to appear in 1944's Oscar-nominated The Fighting Sullivans. He appeared in more than 25 Warner Brothers films during this time, including Northern Pursuit (which starred Errol Flynn), The Beast with Five Fingers, The Very Thought of You, and Objective, Burma!. His pictures after the contract period included Irma la Douce, Inside Daisy Clover, They Shoot Horses, Don't They?, and Alfred Hitchcock's Marnie. However, it was his role in the 1943 film Destination Tokyo, in which he co-starred with John Garfield and Cary Grant, that left the largest impression on Alvin. Years later, in a 2006 interview, Alvin credited Grant with having a major impact on his career path: "I learned more about show business from him than from anyone. He was very attentive and helpful."
Alvin later enjoyed a separate television career, which spanned from the 1950s to the 1980s. His television credits included various roles on Leave It to Beaver, All in the Family, Lou Grant, Dragnet, General Hospital, Murder, She Wrote, Starsky and Hutch, The Incredible Hulk and I Spy. Alvin's also appeared in numerous television commercials advertising for such products as Mattel, H&R Block, McDonald's, Porsche and Audi.
Alvin's theater repertoire included Send Me No Flowers, The Student Prince, The Chicago Conspiracy Trial and The Cradle Will Rock. He also appeared in a production of Rain, which was directed by Charlie Chaplin.
He largely retired from acting in the 1990s; his final film appearance was in 1994's Milk Money. During his retirement, Alvin often showed his movies for audiences at the Conejo Valley Senior Concerns, an organization for senior citizens based in Thousand Oaks, California.
Known for
Perry Mason
Sam Walsh
Perry Mason
Phil - Bank Teller
Perry Mason
Assistant Bank Manager
Perry Mason
Bank Teller
The Rifleman
Murder, She Wrote
Mr. Tucker
Murder, She Wrote
Dr. Frazier
M*A*S*H
Bowman
The Beverly Hillbillies
Harry Barth
The Beverly Hillbillies
Photographer
Cheyenne
Dragnet
Leave It to Beaver
Hart to Hart
My Three Sons
Climax!
Sir Roscoe Crosby
Petticoat Junction
Mr. Kimberly
The Lucy Show
Director
Starsky & Hutch
Grocer
Get Smart
The Incredible Hulk
Dr. Patterson
Four Star Playhouse
Third Mate
Four Star Playhouse
Clerk
Four Star Playhouse
The Lone Ranger
Sid
The Munsters
Mr. Franklin
All in the Family
Bailiff
Amazing Stories
Professor Rand
Family Affair
Milk Money
Rich Old Guy
Illegal
Court Clerk (uncredited)
Three Strangers
Junior Clerk
The Quest: The Longest Drive
Aames
The Fountainhead
Young Intellectual (uncredited)
One Step Beyond
Bradley
Richard Diamond, Private Detective
Doc
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
Doctor
The Shanghai Chest
Victor Armstrong
Pretty Baby
Danny (uncredited)
The Millionaire
Defense Atty. Bill Irvin
The Millionaire
Prosecuting Attorney
Northern Pursuit
Orderly (uncredited)
Bronco
Objective, Burma!
Hogan
Bright Leaf
Poker Player (uncredited)
The Breaking Point
Reporter (uncredited)
Kolchak: The Night Stalker
Dr. Carrie
Come Fill the Cup
Travis Ashbourne - Reporter
87th Precinct
Nora Prentiss
San Francisco Ferry Boat Dispatcher (voice) (uncredited)
Cheyenne
Single Jack
Navy Log
Romance on the High Seas
Charles - Travel Agent (uncredited)
San Antonio
Pony Smith
Carrie
Stage Manager
Passions
Minister
The DuPont Show with June Allyson
Photographer
Racket Squad
They Call Me Mister Tibbs!
Reporter (uncredited)
Destination Tokyo
Sound Man
A Bullet for Joey
Constable Dan Percy (uncredited)
Cain's Hundred
Norman Reno
Open Secret
Ralph
This Side of the Law
Calder Taylor
The Iron Mistress
Impatient Man in Tailor's Shop
Irma la Douce
Customer #2
Marnie
Hotel Chauffeur (uncredited)
The Unknown Man
Dennis the Menace
Mr. Bonfigli
April in Paris
Tracy
Stallion Road
Radio Broadcaster (uncredited)
The Lone Wolf
Johnson
Somewhere in Time
Arthur's Father
Hopalong Cassidy
Deep Valley
Convict
Wire Service
Chief Dispatcher
The McConnell Story
Johnny
The Whistler
Missing Women
Eddie Ennis
Hey, Jeannie!
Man
Dangerous Assignment
The Fighting Sullivans
Madison Abel 'Matt' Sullivan
The Shanghai Story
John Warren
Sheena: Queen of the Jungle
Keegle
Two Guys from Texas
Jim Crocker
The Second Hundred Years
Mark Tolliver
The Second Hundred Years
John
The Bold Frontiersman
Don Post
Return to Green Acres
E. Wilfred
The Legend of Lylah Clare
Accountant (uncredited)
Love and Learn
William
Occasional Wife
Sweet, Sweet Rachel
Surgeon
Rocky
Jack Arnold
Bringing Up Buddy
The Organization
Forensic Officer (uncredited)
The Cara Williams Show
Crackle of Death
The Very Thought of You
Cal Wheeler
The Legend of Lizzie Borden
Dr. Draper
The Living Christ
Joseph
Kentucky Rifle
Luke Thomas
Train to Alcatraz
Nick
Deep in My Heart
Mr. Mulvaney (uncredited)
The Beast with Five Fingers
Donald Arlington
Shadow of a Woman
Carl, Emma's Son
Under Colorado Skies
Jeff Collins