James Flavin
Known For: Acting
Gender: Male
Date of Birth: May 14, 1906
Day of Death: April 23, 1976 (70 years old)
Place of Birth: Portland, Maine, USA
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.
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Actor Brophy
Blondie Hits the Jackpot
Actor Police Sergeant Briggs
The Devil's Henchman
Actor Schultz
Mighty Joe Young
Actor Det. Lt. Boylan
Homicide
Actor
Flamingo Road
Actor Guard Capt. Peter Butler
Prison Warden
Actor Stan Caldwell
Mississippi Rhythm
Actor Policeman in Park (Uncredited)
Shockproof
Actor Insp. Wellman
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff
1948
Actor Guard (uncredited)
My Girl Tisa
Actor Lieutenant Mitchell
Sleep, My Love
Actor Lt. Sam Wilson
Bungalow 13
Actor Kerrigan
One Touch of Venus
Actor Sergeant Major
The Plunderers
Actor Traffic Cop (uncredited)
The Noose Hangs High
Actor Police Inspector Thorndyke
Secret Service Investigator
Actor Sgt. Oliphant
The Velvet Touch
1947
Actor Pat Johnson
Desert Fury
Actor District Attorney
Nora Prentiss
Actor First Policeman (uncredited)
It Happened on Fifth Avenue
Actor Villager (uncredited)
Unconquered
Actor Captain Danforth
Robin Hood Of Texas
Actor Policeman Reardon (uncredited)
Song of the Thin Man
Actor Det. Lt. 'Mac' Hennessey (uncredited)
My Favorite Brunette
Actor Police Sergeant Patella
Dishonored Lady
Actor Policeman
Joe Palooka in the Knockout
Actor Hoatley - First Carnival Owner (uncredited)
Nightmare Alley
1946
Actor Police Detective #1
The Strange Love of Martha Ivers
Actor Shake Thomas
Nobody Lives Forever
Actor Col. Walsh
Cloak and Dagger
Actor Police Insp. Cardona
The Missing Lady
Actor Policeman (uncredited)
Boys' Ranch
Actor Investigator (uncredited)
A Stolen Life
Actor Detective Sgt. McFarland (uncredited)
Sentimental Journey
Actor Bellamy
Angel on My Shoulder
Actor Joe
Easy to Wed
Actor Chief Bosun Mate Gurney
Tars and Spars
Actor Turnkey (uncredited)
Rendezvous with Annie
Actor Subway Conductor (Uncredited)
Young Widow
Actor Woods
Step by Step
1945
Actor H.R. Jarvis
The Shanghai Cobra
Actor Major at Kweilin Airbase (uncredited)
God Is My Co-Pilot
Actor Radio Cop
Anchors Aweigh
Actor Detective (uncredited)
Mildred Pierce
Actor Guard
Circumstantial Evidence
Actor Police Officer (uncredited)
Murder, He Says
Actor Captain (uncredited)
Over 21
Actor Officer Johnny Tracy
The Spider
1944
Actor Sgt. Wiggins
Abroad with Two Yanks
Actor Policeman
Christmas Holiday
Actor Captain of Mobile Guard
Uncertain Glory
Actor Det. McEveety (uncredited)
Laura
Actor Man in Subway (uncredited)
Once Upon a Time
Actor Bank Security Guard (Uncredited)
Strange Affair
Actor Marine Sergeant (uncredited)
Hollywood Canteen
1943
Actor Captain O'Brien (Uncredited)
So Proudly We Hail
Actor Federal Agent (uncredited)
I Dood It
Actor Cmdr. Kalin
Murder on the Waterfront
Actor Maj. A.M. Bagley
Air Force
Actor Policeman (uncredited)
Thank Your Lucky Stars
Actor Merchant Marine School Lieutenant-Commander (uncredited)
Action in the North Atlantic
Actor 1st Lt. Bill Gardner
Corvette K-225
Actor Policeman
Something to Shout About
Actor Policeman (uncredited)
Heaven Can Wait
Actor American Senator (uncredited)
Mission to Moscow
Actor Cop (uncredited)
It Ain't Hay
Actor Train Conductor
Riding High
Actor Radio Policeman (Uncredited)
Swing Shift Maisie
1942
Actor Police Lieutenant Schaeffer
Fingers at the Window
Actor Girl's Father (uncredited)
Reap the Wild Wind
Actor Police Dispatcher
A Yank on the Burma Road
Actor Policeman
Life Begins at Eight-Thirty
Actor Joe Trosper
Treat 'Em Rough
Actor Motorcycle Cop (voice) (uncredited)
Saboteur
Actor Thomas
Thru Different Eyes
Actor George Corbett (uncredited)
Gentleman Jim
Actor Process Server
Tough as They Come
Actor Railroad Detective #2 (uncredited)
Ride 'Em Cowboy
Actor Capt. Luddy
Ten Gentlemen from West Point
Actor Egan (Uncredited)
Night in New Orleans
Actor Keenan - Detective Grilling Eddie (uncredited)
Kid Glove Killer
1941
Actor Orderly About to Give Bath (uncredited)
Manpower
Actor Moving Man
Kathleen
Actor Sergeant
Belle Starr
Actor Police Lt. Bardette
We Go Fast
Actor Sheriff Bud Connolly (uncredited)
Pot o' Gold
Actor Policeman
The Wild Man of Borneo
Actor Hotel Guest in Room 625 (uncredited)
Bedtime Story
Actor Immigration Guard (uncredited)
Hold Back the Dawn
Actor Policeman Kelly
The Night of January 16th
Actor Officer Johnson
Ride on Vaquero
Actor Demolition Man (uncredited)
Four Mothers
Actor Deputy Sheriff
Western Union
Actor Abilene Fight Announcer
Texas
Actor Recruiting Sergeant (uncredited)
New York Town
Actor Detective (uncredited)
I Wake Up Screaming
Actor Tomassetti
Affectionately Yours
Actor Recruiting Sergeant (uncredited)
Buck Privates
Actor Sheriff Bud Connolly
Pot o' Gold
Actor Buck (uncredited)
Ziegfeld Girl
1940
Actor Buck Miller
Youth Will Be Served
Actor Dowling
The Devil's Pipeline
Actor Clancy (uncredited)
Broadway Melody of 1940
Actor Truck Driver
Manhattan Heartbeat
Actor Ranch Foreman
Lucky Cisco Kid
Actor Cafe Customer
South of Pago Pago
Actor Guard (uncredited)
The Grapes of Wrath
Actor Court Attendant (uncredited)
Remember the Night
Actor Supply Sergeant (uncredited)
The Fighting 69th
Actor Parking Attendant at Fat Dutchy's (uncredited)
Brother Orchid
Actor Prison Guard In Library (uncredited)
Johnny Apollo
Actor Annabella's Brother
When the Daltons Rode
Actor Mountie
North West Mounted Police
Actor Army Sergeant (uncredited)
Tin Pan Alley
Actor Dock Policeman
The Long Voyage Home
Actor Death Row Guard (uncredited)
Castle on the Hudson
Actor Roaring 90's Club Doorman (uncredited)
It All Came True
Actor Army Assistant Coach (uncredited)
Knute Rockne All American
Actor Policeman
Florian
Actor Cop (uncredited)
The Golden Fleecing
Actor McRafferty
And One Was Beautiful
Actor Det. Carvin
Girl in 313
Actor Hotel Porter (uncredited)
The Ghost Breakers
Actor Detective
Rhythm on the River
Actor Policeman
The Way of All Flesh
Actor Detective
The Great Profile
Actor Guard
Women Without Names
Actor Grogin
La Conga Nights
Actor Patrolman Johnson
Double Alibi
Actor Doorman (uncredited)
Private Affairs
Actor Third FBI Director
Queen of the Mob
Actor Storm Swenson
Hot Steel
1939
Actor Police Sgt. Jerry
Mr. Wong in Chinatown
Actor Sergeant
The Cisco Kid and the Lady
Actor Officer (uncredited)
They All Come Out
Actor Fluger
Irish Luck
Actor Officer Simmons (uncredited)
Tell No Tales
Actor Cavalry Captain (uncredited)
Jesse James
Actor Doorman (Uncredited)
The Ice Follies of 1939
Actor Paddy (uncredited)
Union Pacific
Actor Guard (uncredited)
Rose of Washington Square
Actor Police Sergeant (uncredited)
They Shall Have Music
Actor Turnkey
The Gracie Allen Murder Case
Actor Policeman (uncredited)
Each Dawn I Die
Actor Police Interrogator
Sergeant Madden
Actor Policeman Guarding Entrance (uncredited)
Fast and Furious
Actor Policeman (uncredited)
The Roaring Twenties
Actor Police Announcer (uncredited)
Everybody's Baby
Actor Doorman
Code of the Streets
Actor George Mitchell
Big Town Czar
Actor Policeman
Joe and Ethel Turp Call on the President
Actor Sanders
Mickey the Kid
1938
Actor Jack's Friend (uncredited)
Three Loves Has Nancy
Actor Burly Man (Uncredited)
Mannequin
Actor Army Captain (uncredited)
Alexander's Ragtime Band
Actor Striker (uncredited)
Born to Be Wild
Actor Jenks - Chauffeur (uncredited)
Wives Under Suspicion
Actor Detective Sgt. Berkovich
Convicts at Large
Actor Justice Department Agent
Lightning Carson Rides Again
Actor 2nd Cop
While New York Sleeps
Actor Policeman in Accident Car (uncredited)
Blondie
Actor Kidnapper
Night Spot
Actor Detective Hayes
Everybody's Doing It
Actor Gas Station Attendant
Start Cheering
Actor Jailer (uncredited)
You Can't Take It with You
Actor George - Witness (uncredited)
I Am the Law
Actor Cop (uncredited)
Miracle Money
Actor Guard
Gateway
Actor Plebe Hockey Coach
The Duke of West Point
Actor Pilot (uncredited)
Test Pilot
1937
Actor Det. Bill O'Malley
Girls Can Play
Actor Dr. Spitzy Calahan (uncredited)
My Dear Miss Aldrich
Actor Detective McCormick
Midnight Taxi
Actor Marine Who Likes Painting (uncredited)
Live, Love and Learn
Actor Driver
Dangerously Yours
Actor State Trooper
Big Town Girl
Actor Detective
Angel's Holiday
Actor Cab Driver
Dangerous Number
Actor Policeman (uncredited)
Hot Water
Actor Bill Seaver
I Promise to Pay
Actor State Trooper (uncredited)
You Only Live Once
1936
1935
Actor Ed
One Way Ticket
Actor Chauffeur (uncredited)
Man on the Flying Trapeze
Actor Policeman at Merry-Go-Round (uncredited)
The Murder Man
Actor 2st Military Policeman (uncredited)
Rendezvous
Actor Mac - Policeman (uncredited)
Woman Wanted
Actor Brandhma
Secrets of Chinatown
Actor Informant on Telephone
The Daring Young Man
Actor Detective
Chinatown Squad
Actor Freighter Officer
Captain Hurricane
Actor Lieutenant (uncredited)
Shipmates Forever
Actor Agent with Jean (uncredited)
'G' Men
Actor Flavin - Federal Agent (uncredited)
Public Hero Number 1
Actor Agent Arresting Julie (uncredited)
Special Agent
