James Flavin
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 Twilight Zone
1962 Policeman
The Twilight Zone
Truck Driver
I Love Lucy
Immigration Officer
Climax!
Hogan
Dr. Kildare
John Dolan
The Addams Family
Lt. Poston
The Lucy Show
Sergeant Wilcox
Unconquered
Villager (uncredited)
Burke's Law
Officer Danny Robin
Christmas Holiday
Policeman
Four Star Playhouse
Mr. Swanson
Mildred Pierce
Detective (uncredited)
Matinee Theater
Union Pacific
Paddy (uncredited)
The Brady Bunch
Four Mothers
Demolition Man (uncredited)
Hollywood Canteen
Marine Sergeant (uncredited)
Mister Roberts
Military Policeman
Western Union
Deputy Sheriff
The Long Voyage Home
Dock Policeman
Sailor Beware
Petty Officer (uncredited)
Texas
Abilene Fight Announcer
Night Passage
Tim Riley
Shockproof
Policeman in Park (Uncredited)
The Plunderers
Sergeant Major
Uncertain Glory
Captain of Mobile Guard
Young Widow
Subway Conductor (Uncredited)
Mannequin
Burly Man (Uncredited)
Test Pilot
Pilot (uncredited)
Anchors Aweigh
Radio Cop
'G' Men
Agent with Jean (uncredited)
Jesse James
Cavalry Captain (uncredited)
Mister Ed
Flamingo Road
Carrie
Mike - Bartender (uncredited)
Cheyenne Autumn
Ft. Robinson Sergeant of the Guard (uncredited)
Midnight Taxi
Detective McCormick
Brother Orchid
Parking Attendant at Fat Dutchy's (uncredited)
Florian
Policeman
Surfside 6
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Joe Felix
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Tony - The Doorman
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Dan
The Most Dangerous Game
First Mate on Yacht (uncredited)
Gateway
Guard
Manpower
Orderly About to Give Bath (uncredited)
Mighty Joe Young
Schultz
Private Affairs
Doorman (uncredited)
Johnny Angel
Flavin, Mate of the Quincy (uncredited)
Nora Prentiss
District Attorney
Irish Luck
Fluger
Public Defender
Gentleman Jim
George Corbett (uncredited)
State Trooper
Police Capt. Daniel Box
Ten Gentlemen from West Point
Capt. Luddy
Air Force
Maj. A.M. Bagley
Desert Fury
Pat Johnson
Nightmare Alley
Hoatley / First Carnival Owner (uncredited)
Wives Under Suspicion
Jenks - Chauffeur (uncredited)
My Dear Miss Aldrich
Dr. Spitzy Calahan (uncredited)
Dishonored Lady
Police Sergeant Patella
The Millionaire
Dan Mulcahy
The Daring Young Man
Informant on Telephone
The Noose Hangs High
Traffic Cop (uncredited)
The Roaring Twenties
Policeman (uncredited)
Buck Privates
Recruiting Sergeant (uncredited)
Hot Water
Policeman (uncredited)
The Spider
Officer Johnny Tracy
Rhubarb
O'Leary, Manhattan Police Chief (uncredited)
Kathleen
Moving Man
Rendezvous
2st Military Policeman (uncredited)
Special Agent
Agent Arresting Julie (uncredited)
I Wake Up Screaming
Detective (uncredited)
The Strange Love of Martha Ivers
Police Detective #1
Circumstantial Evidence
Guard
Too Hot to Handle
Young Reporter (uncredited)
Wild Gold
Detective (uncredited)
Night Spot
Kidnapper
Dangerously Yours
Driver
Belle Starr
Sergeant
Night in New Orleans
Egan (uncredited)
They Shall Have Music
Police Sergeant (uncredited)
Richard Diamond, Private Detective
Sam Cooper
The Grapes of Wrath
Guard (uncredited)
Come Fill the Cup
Russ - Homicide Captain (uncredited)
Action in the North Atlantic
Merchant Marine School Lieutenant-Commander (uncredited)
Law and Order
Capt. Toomey
Navy Log
Col. Flynn
Pot o' Gold
Sheriff Bud Connolly (uncredited)
Pot o' Gold
Sheriff Bud Connolly
Back Street
Reporter (uncredited)
Hold That Blonde!
Laundry Truck Driver (uncredited)
Only Yesterday
Billy (Uncredited)
The Murder Man
Policeman at Merry-Go-Round (uncredited)
Armored Car Robbery
Lt. Phillips
Three Loves Has Nancy
Jack's Friend (uncredited)
December Bride
Sentimental Journey
Detective Sgt. McFarland (uncredited)
You Can't Take It with You
Jailer (uncredited)
Broadway
Doorman (uncredited)
Apache Ambush
Col. Marshall
Broadway Melody of 1940
Clancy (uncredited)
The Cisco Kid and the Lady
Sergeant
Operation Pacific
SP Commander
Johnny Apollo
Prison Guard In Library (uncredited)
In Cold Blood
Clarence Duntz
Song of the Thin Man
Policeman Reardon (uncredited)
Each Dawn I Die
Policeman (uncredited)
Million Dollar Mermaid
Conductor
The Ice Follies of 1939
Doorman (uncredited)
Live, Love and Learn
Marine Who Likes Painting (uncredited)
Fast and Furious
Policeman Guarding Entrance (uncredited)
So Proudly We Hail
Captain O'Brien (Uncredited)
The Last Hurrah
Police Capt. Michael J. Shanahan (uncredited)
O. Henry's Full House
Cop (segment "The Cop and the Anthem") (uncredited)
Over 21
Captain (uncredited)
Mr. Novak
Fire Chief Hawkins
It Happened on Fifth Avenue
First Policeman (uncredited)
The Abbott and Costello Show
Joe Kelly
When the Daltons Rode
Annabella's Brother
Trouble Along the Way
Coach Buck Holman
Double Alibi
Patrolman Johnson
Racket Squad
Beloved
Wilcox
The Restless Breed
Secret Service Chief
New York Town
Recruiting Sergeant (uncredited)
Fighter Attack
Col. Allison
And One Was Beautiful
McRafferty
Once Upon a Time
Man in Subway (uncredited)
The Luckiest Girl in the World
Policeman
Cavalcade of America
King Kong
Mate Briggs
One Touch of Venus
Kerrigan
Rose of Washington Square
Guard (uncredited)
Francis in the Haunted House
Police Chief Martin
Riding High
Train Conductor
Destination Murder
Police Lt. Brewster
Sam Benedict
The New Breed
Moose
Swing Shift Maisie
Radio Policeman (Uncredited)
Blondie
Policeman in Accident Car (uncredited)
Captain Hurricane
Freighter Officer
Shipmates Forever
Lieutenant (uncredited)
Alexander's Ragtime Band
Army Captain (uncredited)
Murder, He Says
Police Officer (uncredited)
Public Hero Number 1
Flavin - Federal Agent (uncredited)
It All Came True
Roaring 90's Club Doorman (uncredited)
Kid Glove Killer
Keenan - Detective Grilling Eddie (uncredited)
Cain's Hundred
Arnie Kellwin
Cloak and Dagger
Col. Walsh
God Is My Co-Pilot
Major at Kweilin Airbase (uncredited)
The Roaring 20's
Reap the Wild Wind
Girl's Father (uncredited)
Heaven Can Wait
Policeman (uncredited)
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
Patrolman (uncredited)
Never Say Goodbye
Timmy
The Fighting 69th
Supply Sergeant (uncredited)
Miracle Money
Cop (uncredited)
Manhattan Heartbeat
Truck Driver
Angel on My Shoulder
Dan Bellamy
When Willie Comes Marching Home
Gen. Brevort (uncredited)
Lux Video Theatre
Steve
Lux Video Theatre
Heineman
Lux Video Theatre
Detective
Woman Wanted
Mac - Policeman (uncredited)
Okay, America!
Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Tell No Tales
Officer Simmons (uncredited)
You Only Live Once
State Trooper (uncredited)
The Ghost Breakers
Hotel Porter (uncredited)
The Gracie Allen Murder Case
Turnkey
The Affairs of Cellini
Palace Guard (uncredited)
Mr. Wong in Chinatown
Police Sgt. Jerry
Wild Is the Wind
Wool Buyer
The Duke of West Point
Plebe Hockey Coach
Blondie Hits the Jackpot
Brophy
Confidentially Connie
Harry (uncredited)
The Strawberry Blonde
Ticket Inspector on Boat (uncredited)
Ride 'Em Cowboy
Railroad Detective #2 (uncredited)
Ziegfeld Girl
Buck (uncredited)
Critic's Choice
Security Guard (uncredited)
Women Without Names
Guard
Rock Island Trail
Railroad Workman
Sleep, My Love
Lieutenant Mitchell
I Am the Law
George - Witness (uncredited)
Chinatown Squad
Detective
Tin Pan Alley
Army Sergeant (uncredited)
The Further Adventures of Gallegher
Lt. Flynn
Riot Squad
Det. Mack McCue
Mississippi Rhythm
Stan Caldwell
The Great Profile
Detective
Mission to Moscow
American Senator (uncredited)
Code of the Streets
Doorman
Pete and Gladys
Laura
Det. McEveety (uncredited)
The Lost Spider Pit Sequence
Second Mate Briggs (archive footage)
Hold Back the Dawn
Immigration Guard (uncredited)
Good Times
Lieutenant
City Detective
Robin Hood Of Texas
Captain Danforth
The Velvet Touch
Sgt. Oliphant
Thru Different Eyes
Thomas
Everybody's Baby
Police Announcer (uncredited)
Alcoa Theatre
Gavin Marshall
Ride on Vaquero
Officer Johnson
Girl in 313
Det. Carvin
McKenna of the Mounted
Corporal Randall McKenna
Knute Rockne All American
Army Assistant Coach (uncredited)
Easy to Wed
Joe
Abbott and Costello Go to Mars
First Policeman in Bank
Dragonfly Squadron
Doctor
Mickey the Kid
Sanders
Tough as They Come
Process Server
Lucky Cisco Kid
Ranch Foreman
The Night of January 16th
Policeman Kelly
Affectionately Yours
Tomassetti
The Devil's Pipeline
Dowling
Straight from the Heart
Policeman
The Brand of Hate
Holt Larkins
We Go Fast
Police Lt. Bardette
They Met in a Taxi
Policeman
Youth Will Be Served
Buck Miller
They All Come Out
Officer (uncredited)
Hot News
Al Bragg
Oh! Susanna
Capt. Worth
Rhythm on the River
Detective
My Girl Tisa
Guard (uncredited)
Rendezvous with Annie
Turnkey (uncredited)
I Promise to Pay
Bill Seaver
The Eddie Cantor Story
Kelly
Hello, Sister!
Fireman
Nobody Lives Forever
Shake Thomas
La Conga Nights
Grogin
Follow the Sun
Henry Gibbs
The Devil's Henchmen
Police Sergeant Briggs
The Naked Street
Attorney Michael X. Flanders
Everybody's Doing It
Detective Hayes
Footsteps in the Night
Mr. Bradbury
Francis Gary Powers: The True Story of the U-2 Spy Incident
President Dwight D. Eisenhower
My Favorite Brunette
Det. Lt. 'Mac' Hennessey (uncredited)
The Savage Horde
Guard
Fighting Coast Guard
Commander Rogers
The All-American
Don Lindsay
Treat 'Em Rough
Joe Trosper
Dangerous Assignment
Here Come the Marines
Lieutenant-Colonel at End
The Big Race
Bill Figg
Man on the Flying Trapeze
Chauffeur (uncredited)
Angel's Holiday
Detective
Johnny Midnight
Step by Step
Woods
South Sea Sinner
Andrews
Bungalow 13
Lt. Sam Wilson
Tars and Spars
Chief Bosun Mate Gurney
Charlie Chan at the Race Track
Detective
Coronado 9
Secret Service Investigator
Police Inspector Thorndyke
Convicts at Large
Detective Sgt. Berkovich
Start Cheering
Gas Station Attendant
Abroad with Two Yanks
Sgt. Wiggins
Letter to Loretta
MacNamara
Letter to Loretta
Sgt. Danny Doofle
Letter to Loretta
Deputy Mason
The Pruitts of Southampton
Star of Texas
Texas Rangers Capt. Sturdivant
Prison Warden
Guard Capt. Peter Butler
Man with a Camera
Lightning Carson Rides Again
Justice Department Agent
According to Mrs. Hoyle
Prosecuting Attorney
Death Valley Days
Perry
Return of the Dead
Judd Harrison
One Way Ticket
Ed
Big Town Girl
State Trooper
Girls Can Play
Det. Bill O'Malley
Hold That Hypnotist
Jake Morgan
Queen of the Mob
Third FBI Director
The Shanghai Cobra
H.R. Jarvis
I Beheld His Glory
Longinus
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Captain Kimble
Hallmark Hall of Fame
General Charles Lee
It Ain't Hay
Cop (uncredited)
Secrets of Chinatown
Brandhma
The Wild Man of Borneo
Policeman
While New York Sleeps
2nd Cop
Saboteur
Motorcycle Cop (voice) (uncredited)
The Airmail Mystery
Bob Lee
Ship of Wanted Men
Frank Busch
Hot Steel
Storm Swenson
Boys' Ranch
Policeman (uncredited)
My Man Godfrey
Detective (uncredited)
The Missing Lady
Police Insp. Cardona
Something to Shout About
Policeman
The Living Christ
Longinus
Remember the Night
Court Attendant (uncredited)
General Electric Theater
General Electric Theater
Callahan
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
A Stolen Life
Investigator (uncredited)
How to Behave
Man in Manhole (uncredited)
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff
Insp. Wellman
I Dood It
Federal Agent (uncredited)
North West Mounted Police
Mountie
South of Pago Pago
Cafe Customer
The Way of All Flesh
Policeman
Homicide
Det. Lt. Boylan
The Golden Fleecing
Cop (uncredited)
Fingers at the Window
Police Lieutenant Schaeffer
Thank Your Lucky Stars
Policeman (uncredited)
Castle on the Hudson
Death Row Guard (uncredited)
Corvette K-225
1st Lt. Bill Gardner
Massacre Canyon
Col. Tarant
Baby Take a Bow
Flannigan
Joe and Ethel Turp Call on the President
Policeman
When Tomorrow Comes
Coard Guard Man on Road (uncredited)
Dakota Lil
Secret Service Chief
Life Begins at Eight-Thirty
Policeman
Murder on the Waterfront
Cmdr. Kalin
Big Town Czar
George Mitchell
Strange Affair
Bank Security Guard (Uncredited)
Sergeant Madden
Police Interrogator
Johnny Rocco
Mooney
Bedtime Story
Hotel Guest in Room 625 (uncredited)
A Yank on the Burma Road
Police Dispatcher
Joe Palooka in the Knockout
Policeman
Born to Be Wild
Striker (uncredited)
Dangerous Number
Cab Driver