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.
Filmography · 318
The Rifleman
1958
The Twilight Zone
1959 · 1962 Policeman
The Lucy Show
1962 · Sergeant Wilcox
Matinee Theater
1955
I Love Lucy
1951 · Immigration Officer
Climax!
1954 · Hogan
Four Star Playhouse
1952 · Mr. Swanson
Richard Diamond, Private Detective
1957 · Sam Cooper
Dr. Kildare
1961 · John Dolan
Burke's Law
1963 · Officer Danny Robin
Surfside 6
1960
Mister Ed
1961
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
1955 · Joe Felix
The Addams Family
1964 · Lt. Poston
The Brady Bunch
1969
The Millionaire
1955 · Dan Mulcahy
Dangerous Assignment
1952
Navy Log
1955 · Col. Flynn
The Abbott and Costello Show
1952 · Joe Kelly
Alcoa Theatre
1957 · Gavin Marshall
Mr. Novak
1963 · Fire Chief Hawkins
It Takes a Thief
1968 · Gen. Levin
December Bride
1954
City Detective
1953
Racket Squad
1951
Public Defender
1954
Pete and Gladys
1960
Sam Benedict
1962
Cavalcade of America
1952
Cain's Hundred
1961 · Arnie Kellwin
Johnny Midnight
1960
The New Breed
1961 · Moose
King Kong
1933 · Mate Briggs
Coronado 9
1960
The Roaring 20's
1960 · Robert Howard
Death Valley Days
1952 · Perry
Letter to Loretta
1953 · MacNamara
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
1963 · Patrolman (uncredited)
Man with a Camera
1958
General Electric Theater
1953
The Pruitts of Southampton
1966
The Grapes of Wrath
1940 · Guard (uncredited)
Hallmark Hall of Fame
1951 · Captain Kimble
The Living Christ
1951 · Longinus
You Can't Take It with You
1938 · Jailer (uncredited)
Laura
1944 · Det. McEveety (uncredi...
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
1951
Mighty Joe Young
1949 · Schultz
Unconquered
1947 · Villager (uncredited)
Saboteur
1942 · Motorcycle Cop (voice)...
In Cold Blood
1967 · Clarence Duntz
Knute Rockne All American
1940 · Army Assistant Coach (...
Nightmare Alley
1947 · Hoatley / First Carniv...
The Ghost Breakers
1940 · Hotel Porter (uncredit...
The Most Dangerous Game
1932 · First Mate on Yacht (u...
Mildred Pierce
1945 · Detective (uncredited)
Start Cheering
1938 · Gas Station Attendant
Anchors Aweigh
1945 · Radio Cop
Hello, Sister!
1933 · Fireman
Sleep, My Love
1948 · Lieutenant Mitchell
The Roaring Twenties
1939 · Policeman (uncredited)
My Man Godfrey
1936 · Detective (uncredited)
Cheyenne Autumn
1964 · Ft. Robinson Sergeant...
The Wild Man of Borneo
1941 · Policeman (uncredited)
'G' Men
1935 · Agent with Jean (uncre...
The Strange Love of Martha Ivers
1946 · Police Detective #1
Ziegfeld Girl
1941 · Buck (uncredited)
O. Henry's Full House
1952 · Cop (segment "The Cop...
Jesse James
1939 · Cavalry Captain (uncre...
Heaven Can Wait
1943 · Policeman (uncredited)
So Proudly We Hail
1943 · Captain O'Brien (Uncre...
Wives Under Suspicion
1938 · Jenks (uncredited)
The Wings of Eagles
1957 · MP at Garden Party (un...
Action in the North Atlantic
1943 · Merchant Marine School...
It Happened on Fifth Avenue
1947 · First Policeman (uncre...
Union Pacific
1939 · Paddy (uncredited)
Buck Privates
1941 · Recruiting Sergeant (u...
Abbott and Costello Go to Mars
1953 · First Policeman in Ban...
Mister Roberts
1955 · Military Policeman
My Favorite Brunette
1947 · Det. Lt. 'Mac' Henness...
The Last Hurrah
1958 · Police Capt. Michael J...
Angel on My Shoulder
1946 · Dan Bellamy
Prison Warden
1949 · Guard Capt. Peter Butl...
North West Mounted Police
1940 · Mountie
Belle Starr
1941 · Sergeant
You Only Live Once
1937 · State Trooper (uncredi...
Blondie
1938 · Policeman in Accident...
Night Passage
1957 · Tim Riley
Fighting Coast Guard
1951 · Commander Rogers
Song of the Thin Man
1947 · Policeman Reardon (unc...
Special Agent
1935 · Agent Arresting Julie...
Captain Hurricane
1935 · Freighter Officer
The Long Voyage Home
1940 · Dock Policeman
Affectionately Yours
1941 · Tomassetti
When Tomorrow Comes
1939 · Coard Guard Man on Roa...
Operation Pacific
1951 · SP Commander
Air Force
1943 · Maj. A.M. Bagley
Thru Different Eyes
1942 · Thomas
Ten Gentlemen from West Point
1942 · Capt. Luddy
Trouble Along the Way
1953 · Coach Buck Holman
God Is My Co-Pilot
1945 · Major at Kweilin Airba...
Desert Fury
1947 · Pat Johnson
Reap the Wild Wind
1942 · Girl's Father (uncredi...
Nobody Lives Forever
1946 · Shake Thomas
The Velvet Touch
1948 · Sgt. Oliphant
The Savage Horde
1950 · Guard
A Stolen Life
1946 · Investigator (uncredit...
Flamingo Road
1949
I Wake Up Screaming
1941 · Detective (uncredited)
When Willie Comes Marching Home
1950 · Gen. Brevort (uncredit...
Thank Your Lucky Stars
1943 · Policeman (uncredited)
The Fighting 69th
1940 · Supply Sergeant (uncre...
Three Loves Has Nancy
1938 · Jack's Friend (uncredi...
Texas
1941 · Abilene Fight Announce...
Remember the Night
1940 · Court Attendant (uncre...
I Am the Law
1938 · George - Witness (uncr...
The Shanghai Cobra
1945 · H.R. Jarvis
The Missing Lady
1946 · Police Insp. Cardona
Nora Prentiss
1947 · District Attorney
Never Say Goodbye
1956 · Timmy
Mission to Moscow
1943 · American Senator (uncr...
Manpower
1941 · Orderly About to Give...
Swing Shift Maisie
1943 · Radio Policeman (Uncre...
The All-American
1932 · Don Lindsay
Armored Car Robbery
1950 · Lt. Phillips
Gentleman Jim
1942 · George Corbett (uncred...
Western Union
1941 · Deputy Sheriff
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff
1949 · Insp. Wellman
The Way of All Flesh
1940 · Policeman
Too Hot to Handle
1938 · Young Reporter (uncred...
I Dood It
1943 · Federal Agent (uncredi...
Boys' Ranch
1946 · Policeman (uncredited)
The Strawberry Blonde
1941 · Ticket Inspector on Bo...
Live, Love and Learn
1937 · Marine Who Likes Paint...
Cloak and Dagger
1946 · Col. Walsh
They Met in a Taxi
1936 · Policeman
One Touch of Venus
1948 · Kerrigan
Million Dollar Mermaid
1952 · Conductor
Alexander's Ragtime Band
1938 · Army Captain (uncredit...
Rhubarb
1951 · O'Leary, Manhattan Pol...
Castle on the Hudson
1940 · Death Row Guard (uncre...
When the Daltons Rode
1940 · Annabella's Brother
Francis in the Haunted House
1956 · Police Chief Martin
Carrie
1952 · Mike - Bartender (uncr...
Dishonored Lady
1947 · Police Sergeant Patell...
Brother Orchid
1940 · Parking Attendant at F...
Hold That Blonde!
1945 · Laundry Truck Driver (...
Broadway Melody of 1940
1940 · Clancy (uncredited)
The Great Profile
1940 · Detective
Hollywood Canteen
1944 · Marine Sergeant (uncre...
Rendezvous
1935 · 2st Military Policeman...
Confidentially Connie
1953 · Harry (uncredited)
A Yank on the Burma Road
1942 · Police Dispatcher
Rose of Washington Square
1939 · Guard (uncredited)
The Noose Hangs High
1948 · Traffic Cop (uncredite...
Once Upon a Time
1944 · Man in Subway (uncredi...
Follow the Sun
1951 · Henry Gibbs
They All Come Out
1939 · Officer (uncredited)
Apache Ambush
1955 · Col. Marshall
Corvette K-225
1943 · 1st Lt. Bill Gardner
Rock Island Trail
1950 · Railroad Workman
Murder on the Waterfront
1943 · Cmdr. Kalin
Over 21
1945 · Captain (uncredited)
The Cisco Kid and the Lady
1939 · Sergeant
Ride 'Em Cowboy
1941 · Railroad Detective #2...
Homicide
1949 · Det. Lt. Boylan
Women Without Names
1940 · Guard
Everybody's Doing It
1938 · Detective Hayes
My Girl Tisa
1948 · Guard (uncredited)
Secret Service Investigator
1948 · Police Inspector Thorn...
Charlie Chan at the Race Track
1936 · Detective
Hold Back the Dawn
1941 · Immigration Guard (unc...
Circumstantial Evidence
1945 · Guard
The Affairs of Cellini
1934 · Palace Guard (uncredit...
Mr. Winkle Goes to War
1944
The Devil's Henchmen
1949 · Police Sergeant Briggs
The Night of January 16th
1941 · Policeman Kelly
Test Pilot
1938 · Pilot (uncredited)
Easy to Wed
1946 · Joe
The Murder Man
1935 · Policeman at Merry-Go-...
The Naked Street
1955 · Attorney Michael X. Fl...
Shockproof
1949 · Policeman in Park (Unc...
Sailor Beware
1952 · Petty Officer (uncredi...
Straight from the Heart
1935 · Policeman
Uncertain Glory
1944 · Captain of Mobile Guar...
I Beheld His Glory
1953 · Longinus
Murder, He Says
1945 · Police Officer (uncred...
Come Fill the Cup
1951 · Russ - Homicide Captai...
It Ain't Hay
1943 · Cop (uncredited)
Fingers at the Window
1942 · Police Lieutenant Scha...
The Lost Spider Pit Sequence
2005 · Second Mate Briggs (ar...
It All Came True
1940 · Roaring 90's Club Door...
Pot o' Gold
1941 · Sheriff Bud Connolly (...
Queen of the Mob
1940 · Third FBI Director
The Eddie Cantor Story
1953 · Kelly
According to Mrs. Hoyle
1951 · Prosecuting Attorney
My Dear Miss Aldrich
1937 · Dr. Spitzy Calahan (un...
The Restless Breed
1957 · Secret Service Chief
Sergeant Madden
1939 · Police Interrogator
And One Was Beautiful
1940 · McRafferty
The Golden Fleecing
1940 · Cop (uncredited)
Step by Step
1946 · Woods
Christmas Holiday
1944 · Policeman (uncredited)
Four Mothers
1941 · Demolition Man (uncred...
Each Dawn I Die
1939 · Policeman (uncredited)
Code of the Streets
1939 · Doorman
Lightning Carson Rides Again
1938 · Justice Department Age...
Something to Shout About
1943 · Policeman
Back Street
1932 · Reporter (uncredited)
Fast and Furious
1939 · Policeman Guarding Ent...
Shipmates Forever
1935 · Lieutenant (uncredited...
Hold That Hypnotist
1957 · Jake Morgan
While New York Sleeps
1938 · 2nd Cop
Bedtime Story
1941 · Hotel Guest in Room 62...
Dragonfly Squadron
1954 · Doctor
The Daring Young Man
1935 · Informant on Telephone
Sentimental Journey
1946 · Detective Sgt. McFarla...
Wild Is the Wind
1957 · Wool Buyer
The Gracie Allen Murder Case
1939 · Turnkey
Critic's Choice
1963 · Security Guard (uncred...
Footsteps in the Night
1957 · Mr. Bradbury
Only Yesterday
1933 · Billy (Uncredited)
Oh! Susanna
1951 · Capt. Worth
Hot Steel
1940 · Storm Swenson
Massacre Canyon
1954 · Col. Tarant
Public Hero Number 1
1935 · Flavin - Federal Agent...
Air Mail
1932 · Man with Radio Report...
Francis Gary Powers: The True Story of the U-2 Spy Incident
1976 · President Dwight D. Ei...
Dangerous Number
1937 · Cab Driver
Johnny Angel
1945 · Flavin, Mate of the Qu...
Life Begins at Eight-Thirty
1942 · Policeman
South of Pago Pago
1940 · Cafe Customer
Baby Take a Bow
1934 · Flannigan
Ride on Vaquero
1941 · Officer Johnson
Night in New Orleans
1942 · Egan (uncredited)
Tin Pan Alley
1940 · Army Sergeant (uncredi...
The Further Adventures of Gallegher
1965 · Lt. Flynn
Tell No Tales
1939 · Officer Simmons (uncre...
They Shall Have Music
1939 · Police Sergeant (uncre...
Girl in 313
1940 · Det. Carvin
Robin Hood Of Texas
1947 · Captain Danforth
Dangerously Yours
1937 · Driver
Law and Order
1976 · Capt. Toomey
Johnny Apollo
1940 · Prison Guard In Librar...
Star of Texas
1953 · Texas Rangers Capt. St...
Destination Murder
1950 · Police Lt. Brewster
The Duke of West Point
1938 · Plebe Hockey Coach
Joe Palooka in the Knockout
1947 · Policeman
The Big Race
1934 · Bill Figg
Good Times
1967 · Lieutenant
The Ice Follies of 1939
1939 · Doorman (uncredited)
Rhythm on the River
1940 · Detective
Young Widow
1946 · Subway Conductor (Uncr...
Born to Be Wild
1938 · Striker (uncredited)
Big Town Girl
1937 · State Trooper
Double Alibi
1940 · Patrolman Johnson
Kid Glove Killer
1942 · Keenan - Detective Gri...
Mr. Wong in Chinatown
1939 · Police Sgt. Jerry
Joe and Ethel Turp Call on the President
1939 · Policeman
Girls Can Play
1937 · Det. Bill O'Malley
The Plunderers
1948 · Sergeant Major
The Brand of Hate
1934 · Holt Larkins
Mannequin
1938 · Burly Man (Uncredited)
The Spider
1945 · Officer Johnny Tracy
Man on the Flying Trapeze
1935 · Chauffeur (uncredited)
Private Affairs
1940 · Doorman (uncredited)
Dakota Lil
1950 · Secret Service Chief
Woman Wanted
1935 · Mac - Policeman (uncre...
Chinatown Squad
1935 · Detective
Ship of Wanted Men
1933 · Frank Busch
Tough as They Come
1942 · Process Server
There's Something About a Soldier
1943
Lucky Cisco Kid
1940 · Ranch Foreman
Irish Luck
1939 · Fluger
Kathleen
1941 · Moving Man
Strange Affair
1944 · Bank Security Guard (u...
Fighter Attack
1953 · Col. Allison
Broadway
1942 · Doorman (uncredited)
Florian
1940 · Policeman
Hot News
1953 · Al Bragg
Okay, America!
1932 · Undetermined Role (unc...
South Sea Sinner
1950 · Andrews
Abroad with Two Yanks
1944 · Sgt. Wiggins
Midnight Taxi
1937 · Detective McCormick
Hot Water
1937 · Policeman (uncredited)
McKenna of the Mounted
1932 · Corporal Randall McKen...
The Airmail Mystery
1932 · Bob Lee
Big Town Czar
1939 · George Mitchell
Blondie Hits the Jackpot
1949 · Brophy
Riding High
1943 · Train Conductor
Night Spot
1938 · Kidnapper
Rendezvous with Annie
1946 · Turnkey (uncredited)
La Conga Nights
1940 · Grogin
Everybody's Baby
1939 · Police Announcer (uncr...
Return of the Dead
1954 · Judd Harrison
Bungalow 13
1948 · Lt. Sam Wilson
The Devil's Pipeline
1940 · Dowling
Manhattan Heartbeat
1940 · Truck Driver
Youth Will Be Served
1940 · Buck Miller
Tars and Spars
1946 · Chief Bosun Mate Gurne...
Miracle Money
1938 · Cop (uncredited)
Gateway
1938 · Guard
Here Come the Marines
1952 · Lieutenant-Colonel at...
I Promise to Pay
1937 · Bill Seaver
Johnny Rocco
1958 · Mooney
Riot Squad
1933 · Det. Mack McCue
The Luckiest Girl in the World
1936 · Policeman
Mississippi Rhythm
1949 · Stan Caldwell
New York Town
1941 · Recruiting Sergeant (u...
Beloved
1934 · Wilcox
One Way Ticket
1935 · Ed
We Go Fast
1941 · Police Lt. Bardette
Secrets of Chinatown
1935 · Brandhma
Mickey the Kid
1939 · Sanders
Angel's Holiday
1937 · Detective
Convicts at Large
1938 · Detective Sgt. Berkovi...
Wild Gold
1934 · Detective (uncredited)
How to Behave
1936 · Man in Manhole (uncred...