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
Acting
1933
asMate Briggs
1941
asOrderly About to Give Bath (uncredited)
1953
asHarry (uncredited)
1940
asBuck Miller
1932
asFirst Mate on Yacht (uncredited)
1948
asGuard (uncredited)
1949
asBrophy
1935
asEd
1950
asLt. Phillips
1952
asLieutenant-Colonel at End
1938
asJack's Friend (uncredited)
1957
asTim Riley
1938
asBurly Man (Uncredited)
1949
asPolice Sergeant Briggs
1946
asPolice Detective #1
1947
asPat Johnson
1947
asDistrict Attorney
1946
asShake Thomas
1936
asDetective
1953
asFirst Policeman in Bank
1957
asWool Buyer
1950
asPolice Lt. Brewster
1950
asGuard
1932
asCorporal Randall McKenna
1938
asArmy Captain (uncredited)
1946
asCol. Walsh
1964
asFt. Robinson Sergeant of the Guard (uncredited)
1938
asStriker (uncredited)
1945
asH.R. Jarvis
1953
asAl Bragg
1957
asMr. Bradbury
1942
asPolice Lieutenant Schaeffer
1949
asSchultz
1941
asMoving Man
1949
asDet. Lt. Boylan
1967
asClarence Duntz
1934
asDetective (uncredited)
1947
asFirst Policeman (uncredited)
1941
asSergeant
1935
asChauffeur (uncredited)
1965
asLt. Flynn
1939
asPolice Sgt. Jerry
1954
asDoctor
1956
asPolice Chief Martin
1935
asPoliceman at Merry-Go-Round (uncredited)
1935
as2st Military Policeman (uncredited)
1952
asPetty Officer (uncredited)
1945
asMajor at Kweilin Airbase (uncredited)
1955
asAttorney Michael X. Flanders
1936
asMan in Manhole (uncredited)
1943
asCaptain O'Brien (Uncredited)
1942
asGirl's Father (uncredited)
1943
asFederal Agent (uncredited)
1946
asPolice Insp. Cardona
1933
asDet. Mack McCue
1949
as
1976
asCapt. Toomey
1956
asTimmy
1949
asGuard Capt. Peter Butler
1944
asSgt. Wiggins
1957
asJake Morgan
1943
asCmdr. Kalin
1938
asJenks - Chauffeur (uncredited)
1946
asPoliceman (uncredited)
1939
asSergeant
1937
asDet. Bill O'Malley
1952
asCop (segment "The Cop and the Anthem") (uncredited)
1939
asOfficer (uncredited)
1955
asCol. Marshall
1951
asHenry Gibbs
1934
asHolt Larkins
1941
asPolice Lt. Bardette
1938
asDetective Sgt. Berkovich
1939
asFluger
1933
asFireman
1945
asRadio Cop
1949
asStan Caldwell
1938
asJustice Department Agent
1938
as2nd Cop
1954
asCol. Tarant
1951
asSP Commander
1953
asKelly
1951
asCapt. Worth
1942
asPolice Dispatcher
1934
asPalace Guard (uncredited)
1940
asDowling
1948
asLieutenant Mitchell
1941
asSheriff Bud Connolly (uncredited)
1936
asPoliceman
1937
asDr. Spitzy Calahan (uncredited)
1937
asDetective McCormick
1937
asMarine Who Likes Painting (uncredited)
1938
asPoliceman in Accident Car (uncredited)
1938
asKidnapper
1935
asMac - Policeman (uncredited)
1939
asOfficer Simmons (uncredited)
1938
asDetective Hayes
1951
asProsecuting Attorney
1942
asPoliceman
1932
asBob Lee
1932
asReporter (uncredited)
1938
asGas Station Attendant
1952
asMike - Bartender (uncredited)
1940
asClancy (uncredited)
1940
asTruck Driver
1939
asCavalry Captain (uncredited)
1967
asLieutenant
1939
asDoorman (uncredited)
1939
asPaddy (uncredited)
1939
asGuard (uncredited)
1939
asPolice Sergeant (uncredited)
1939
asTurnkey
1939
asPoliceman (uncredited)
1944
asPoliceman
1939
asPolice Interrogator
1939
asPoliceman Guarding Entrance (uncredited)
1939
asPoliceman (uncredited)
1946
asInvestigator (uncredited)
1941
asPoliceman
1940
asRanch Foreman
1940
asCafe Customer
1935
asBrandhma
1950
asGen. Brevort (uncredited)
1940
asGuard (uncredited)
1941
asHotel Guest in Room 625 (uncredited)
1943
asMaj. A.M. Bagley
1937
asDriver
1938
asJailer (uncredited)
1938
asGeorge - Witness (uncredited)
1938
asCop (uncredited)
1947
asVillager (uncredited)
1944
asCaptain of Mobile Guard
1945
asDetective (uncredited)
1942
asJoe Trosper
1935
asInformant on Telephone
1940
asCourt Attendant (uncredited)
1946
asDetective Sgt. McFarland (uncredited)
1940
asSupply Sergeant (uncredited)
1940
asParking Attendant at Fat Dutchy's (uncredited)
1950
asSecret Service Chief
1941
asImmigration Guard (uncredited)
1948
asLt. Sam Wilson
1944
asDet. McEveety (uncredited)
1940
asPrison Guard In Library (uncredited)
1939
asPolice Announcer (uncredited)
1942
asMotorcycle Cop (voice) (uncredited)
1933
asFrank Busch
1942
asThomas
1941
asPoliceman Kelly
1940
asAnnabella's Brother
1941
asOfficer Johnson
1940
asMountie
1939
asDoorman
1934
asFlannigan
1938
asGuard
1940
asArmy Sergeant (uncredited)
1940
asDock Policeman
1948
asKerrigan
1976
asPresident Dwight D. Eisenhower
1942
asGeorge Corbett (uncredited)
1940
asDeath Row Guard (uncredited)
1940
asRoaring 90's Club Doorman (uncredited)
1940
asArmy Assistant Coach (uncredited)
1940
asPoliceman
1940
asCop (uncredited)
1940
asMcRafferty
1940
asDet. Carvin
1940
asHotel Porter (uncredited)
1940
asDetective
1940
asPoliceman
1940
asDetective
1940
asGuard
1943
asPoliceman (uncredited)
2005
asSecond Mate Briggs (archive footage)
1946
asBellamy
1950
asRailroad Workman
1946
asJoe
1947
asCaptain Danforth
1935
asDetective
1940
asGrogin
1935
asFreighter Officer
1953
asCoach Buck Holman
1953
asLonginus
1942
asProcess Server
1941
asDemolition Man (uncredited)
1948
asSergeant Major
1941
asDeputy Sheriff
1942
asRailroad Detective #2 (uncredited)
1953
asTexas Rangers Capt. Sturdivant
1942
asCapt. Luddy
1941
asAbilene Fight Announcer
1958
asMooney
1949
asPoliceman in Park (Uncredited)
1939
asGeorge Mitchell
1937
asState Trooper
1940
asPatrolman Johnson
1941
asRecruiting Sergeant (uncredited)
1937
asDetective
1937
asCab Driver
1935
asLieutenant (uncredited)
1941
asDetective (uncredited)
1952
asConductor
1951
asCommander Rogers
1946
asChief Bosun Mate Gurney
1949
asInsp. Wellman
1944
asMan in Subway (uncredited)
1947
asPoliceman Reardon (uncredited)
1941
asTomassetti
1943
asMerchant Marine School Lieutenant-Commander (uncredited)
1934
asBill Figg
1943
as1st Lt. Bill Gardner
1945
asGuard
1937
asPoliceman (uncredited)
1943
asPoliceman
1943
asPoliceman (uncredited)
1943
asAmerican Senator (uncredited)
1946
asTurnkey (uncredited)
1937
asBill Seaver
1945
asPolice Officer (uncredited)
1939
asPoliceman
1944
asBank Security Guard (Uncredited)
1933
asBilly (Uncredited)
1938
asPlebe Hockey Coach
1947
asDet. Lt. 'Mac' Hennessey (uncredited)
1935
asAgent with Jean (uncredited)
1935
asFlavin - Federal Agent (uncredited)
1944
asMarine Sergeant (uncredited)
1935
asAgent Arresting Julie (uncredited)
1947
asPolice Sergeant Patella
1941
asRecruiting Sergeant (uncredited)
1943
asCop (uncredited)
1942
asEgan (Uncredited)
1945
asCaptain (uncredited)
1955
asMilitary Policeman
1940
asDoorman (uncredited)
1948
asTraffic Cop (uncredited)
1941
asSheriff Bud Connolly
1937
asState Trooper (uncredited)
1943
asTrain Conductor
1945
asOfficer Johnny Tracy
1957
asSecret Service Chief
1936
asDetective (uncredited)
1947
asPoliceman
1951
asO'Leary, Manhattan Police Chief (uncredited)
1946
asSubway Conductor (Uncredited)
1941
asBuck (uncredited)
1932
asUndetermined Role (uncredited)
1942
asKeenan - Detective Grilling Eddie (uncredited)
1934
asWilcox
1940
asThird FBI Director
1939
asSanders
1932
asDon Lindsay
1943
asRadio Policeman (Uncredited)
1948
asPolice Inspector Thorndyke
1948
asSgt. Oliphant
1946
asWoods
1947
asHoatley - First Carnival Owner (uncredited)
1940
asStorm Swenson
1938
asPilot (uncredited)
1950
asAndrews
1958
asPolice Capt. Michael J. Shanahan (uncredited)
1954
asJudd Harrison
1936
asPoliceman
1942
asDoorman (uncredited)
1945
asFlavin, Mate of the Quincy (uncredited)
1935
asPoliceman
1963
asPatrolman (uncredited)
1945
asLaundry Truck Driver (uncredited)
1952
as
as
asOfficer Danny Robin
asArnie Kellwin
as
as
asSergeant Wilcox
as
as
as
asCaptain Kimble
as1962 Policeman
asJoe Felix
as
asDan Mulcahy
asSteve
as
asSam Cooper
asHogan
asasHeineman
as
asasCol. Flynn
as
asLt. Poston
asFire Chief Hawkins
as
asMoose
as
as
asJohn Dolan
as
as
as
as
as
asMacNamara
asGavin Marshall
asLonginus
asTruck Driver
asCallahan
asDeputy Mason
asSgt. Danny Doofle
asMr. Swanson
asTony - The Doorman
asGeneral Charles Lee
asImmigration Officer
asDan
asPerry
asJoe Kelly
asPolice Capt. Daniel Box
Production
Crew
Directing
