James Flavin, Acting - KorPlix:Korean Person Archives

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James Flavin
Acting

James Flavin
Known For
Acting
Birthday
1906-05-14,Portland, Maine, USA
Gender
Male
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.

Filmography

7.59

King Kong
1933-04-07

6.8

Manpower
1941-08-09

Confidentially Connie

5.75

Confidentially Connie
1953-03-12

Youth Will Be Served

4

Youth Will Be Served
1940-11-22

The Most Dangerous Game

6.919

The Most Dangerous Game
1932-09-16

9

My Girl Tisa
1948-02-07

Blondie Hits the Jackpot

7.25

Blondie Hits the Jackpot
1949-09-08

6

One Way Ticket
1935-11-25

Armored Car Robbery

6.5

Armored Car Robbery
1950-06-08

Here Come the Marines

7.333

Here Come the Marines
1952-06-29

Three Loves Has Nancy

4.188

Three Loves Has Nancy
1938-09-02

6.482

Night Passage
1957-07-24

6.045

Mannequin
1938-01-21

The Devil's Henchmen

7.5

The Devil's Henchmen
1949-09-15

The Strange Love of Martha Ivers

7.093

The Strange Love of Martha Ivers
1946-08-19

6.1

Desert Fury
1947-08-15

6.217

Nora Prentiss
1947-02-22

Nobody Lives Forever

6.396

Nobody Lives Forever
1946-11-01

Charlie Chan at the Race Track

7.109

Charlie Chan at the Race Track
1936-08-07

Abbott and Costello Go to Mars

5.4

Abbott and Costello Go to Mars
1953-04-06

Wild Is the Wind

6.821

Wild Is the Wind
1957-12-11

Destination Murder

5.2

Destination Murder
1950-06-09

The Savage Horde

6.2

The Savage Horde
1950-05-22

McKenna of the Mounted

10

McKenna of the Mounted
1932-08-26

Alexander's Ragtime Band

6.766

Alexander's Ragtime Band
1938-05-24

Cloak and Dagger

6.5

Cloak and Dagger
1946-09-28

Cheyenne Autumn

6.71

Cheyenne Autumn
1964-10-15

Born to Be Wild

7.5

Born to Be Wild
1938-02-16

The Shanghai Cobra

6

The Shanghai Cobra
1945-09-29

6.5

Hot News
1953-10-11

Footsteps in the Night

5.577

Footsteps in the Night
1957-04-14

Fingers at the Window

5.588

Fingers at the Window
1942-04-22

Mighty Joe Young

6.41

Mighty Joe Young
1949-07-13

6

Kathleen
1941-12-18

5.7

Homicide
1949-04-02

7.508

In Cold Blood
1967-12-15

6.5

Wild Gold
1934-06-08

It Happened on Fifth Avenue

7.063

It Happened on Fifth Avenue
1947-04-17

5.9

Belle Starr
1941-09-12

Man on the Flying Trapeze

6.235

Man on the Flying Trapeze
1935-08-03

The Further Adventures of Gallegher

0

The Further Adventures of Gallegher
1965-09-26

Mr. Wong in Chinatown

5.396

Mr. Wong in Chinatown
1939-08-01

Dragonfly Squadron

6.5

Dragonfly Squadron
1954-03-21

Francis in the Haunted House

5.75

Francis in the Haunted House
1956-07-09

7.143

The Murder Man
1935-07-12

4.875

Rendezvous
1935-10-25

6.303

Sailor Beware
1952-02-08

The Naked Street

6.217

The Naked Street
1955-08-01

God Is My Co-Pilot

7.2

God Is My Co-Pilot
1945-04-07

8.333

How to Behave
1936-04-25

So Proudly We Hail

5.865

So Proudly We Hail
1943-09-09

Reap the Wild Wind

6.4

Reap the Wild Wind
1942-03-26

4.833

I Dood It
1943-09-01

The Missing Lady

4.833

The Missing Lady
1946-08-17

5

Riot Squad
1933-07-25

7.059

Flamingo Road
1949-04-30

8

Law and Order
1976-05-06

Never Say Goodbye

6.4

Never Say Goodbye
1956-03-10

4

Prison Warden
1949-10-29

Abroad with Two Yanks

6.667

Abroad with Two Yanks
1944-08-04

Hold That Hypnotist

5.786

Hold That Hypnotist
1957-02-24

Murder on the Waterfront

7

Murder on the Waterfront
1943-09-18

Wives Under Suspicion

5.333

Wives Under Suspicion
1938-06-03

7

Boys' Ranch
1946-07-18

The Cisco Kid and the Lady

5.375

The Cisco Kid and the Lady
1939-12-29

5.2

Girls Can Play
1937-06-23

O. Henry's Full House

6.9

O. Henry's Full House
1952-08-07

They All Come Out

5.875

They All Come Out
1939-08-04

6.346

Apache Ambush
1955-08-24

6.286

Follow the Sun
1951-05-22

5.75

The Brand of Hate
1934-11-02

6.7

We Go Fast
1941-09-19

Convicts at Large

7

Convicts at Large
1938-12-14

6.4

Irish Luck
1939-08-22

6

Hello, Sister!
1933-04-14

6.8

Anchors Aweigh
1945-08-13

Mississippi Rhythm

7

Mississippi Rhythm
1949-05-28

Lightning Carson Rides Again

5.333

Lightning Carson Rides Again
1938-10-09

While New York Sleeps

7

While New York Sleeps
1938-12-16

Massacre Canyon

6.5

Massacre Canyon
1954-05-01

Operation Pacific

6.086

Operation Pacific
1951-01-27

The Eddie Cantor Story

7.5

The Eddie Cantor Story
1953-12-25

7

Oh! Susanna
1951-03-01

A Yank on the Burma Road

6

A Yank on the Burma Road
1942-01-29

The Affairs of Cellini

5.214

The Affairs of Cellini
1934-08-24

The Devil's Pipeline

7

The Devil's Pipeline
1940-10-31

6.349

Sleep, My Love
1948-02-18

5.646

Pot o' Gold
1941-04-03

They Met in a Taxi

6.667

They Met in a Taxi
1936-09-08

My Dear Miss Aldrich

6.25

My Dear Miss Aldrich
1937-09-17

6.25

Midnight Taxi
1937-04-04

Live, Love and Learn

5.625

Live, Love and Learn
1937-10-29

4.6

Night Spot
1938-02-25

7.15

Blondie
1938-11-30

6.75

Woman Wanted
1935-08-02

5.357

Tell No Tales
1939-06-12

Everybody's Doing It

6

Everybody's Doing It
1938-01-14

According to Mrs. Hoyle

5.667

According to Mrs. Hoyle
1951-05-20

Life Begins at Eight-Thirty

6.8

Life Begins at Eight-Thirty
1942-12-09

The Airmail Mystery

10

The Airmail Mystery
1932-03-28

6.429

Back Street
1932-08-04

6.875

Start Cheering
1938-03-03

6.5

Carrie
1952-07-17

Broadway Melody of 1940

6.841

Broadway Melody of 1940
1940-02-09

Manhattan Heartbeat

8

Manhattan Heartbeat
1940-07-11

6.527

Jesse James
1939-01-14

5.211

Good Times
1967-04-11

The Ice Follies of 1939

5.727

The Ice Follies of 1939
1939-03-10

6.7

Union Pacific
1939-05-05

Rose of Washington Square

6.667

Rose of Washington Square
1939-05-05

They Shall Have Music

6.455

They Shall Have Music
1939-08-18

The Gracie Allen Murder Case

6.3

The Gracie Allen Murder Case
1939-06-02

Each Dawn I Die

6.8

Each Dawn I Die
1939-08-19

Christmas Holiday

6.514

Christmas Holiday
1944-06-17

Sergeant Madden

7.5

Sergeant Madden
1939-03-24

Fast and Furious

5.182

Fast and Furious
1939-10-06

The Roaring Twenties

7.537

The Roaring Twenties
1939-10-28

6.4

A Stolen Life
1946-05-01

The Wild Man of Borneo

6.667

The Wild Man of Borneo
1941-01-24

Lucky Cisco Kid

6

Lucky Cisco Kid
1940-06-28

South of Pago Pago

5.5

South of Pago Pago
1940-07-19

Secrets of Chinatown

5.333

Secrets of Chinatown
1935-02-20

When Willie Comes Marching Home

6.867

When Willie Comes Marching Home
1950-02-17

The Grapes of Wrath

7.8

The Grapes of Wrath
1940-03-15

5.813

Bedtime Story
1941-12-25

6.54

Air Force
1943-03-20

Dangerously Yours

5.6

Dangerously Yours
1937-09-21

You Can't Take It with You

7.5

You Can't Take It with You
1938-09-01

7.136

I Am the Law
1938-08-25

6

Miracle Money
1938-03-26

6.492

Unconquered
1947-10-10

Uncertain Glory

6.731

Uncertain Glory
1944-04-07

7.621

Mildred Pierce
1945-10-20

Treat 'Em Rough

8

Treat 'Em Rough
1942-01-30

The Daring Young Man

10

The Daring Young Man
1935-07-17

Remember the Night

7.323

Remember the Night
1940-01-19

Sentimental Journey

6.5

Sentimental Journey
1946-03-06

The Fighting 69th

5.821

The Fighting 69th
1940-01-27

6.646

Brother Orchid
1940-06-07

5.4

Dakota Lil
1950-02-17

Hold Back the Dawn

6.67

Hold Back the Dawn
1941-09-26

3

Bungalow 13
1948-11-19

7.625

Laura
1944-10-11

6.929

Johnny Apollo
1940-04-19

Everybody's Baby

8

Everybody's Baby
1939-03-24

6.885

Saboteur
1942-04-22

Ship of Wanted Men

3.75

Ship of Wanted Men
1933-09-08

Thru Different Eyes

8

Thru Different Eyes
1942-06-19

The Night of January 16th

5.833

The Night of January 16th
1941-11-28

When the Daltons Rode

6.227

When the Daltons Rode
1940-08-23

Ride on Vaquero

5.2

Ride on Vaquero
1941-04-18

North West Mounted Police

6.4

North West Mounted Police
1940-10-22

Code of the Streets

7.667

Code of the Streets
1939-04-13

Baby Take a Bow

5.7

Baby Take a Bow
1934-06-30

7.375

Gateway
1938-08-05

5.364

Tin Pan Alley
1940-11-29

The Long Voyage Home

6.602

The Long Voyage Home
1940-11-16

One Touch of Venus

6.7

One Touch of Venus
1948-08-01

Francis Gary Powers: The True Story of the U-2 Spy Incident

7

Francis Gary Powers: The True Story of the U-2 Spy Incident
1976-09-29

7.2

Gentleman Jim
1942-11-14

Castle on the Hudson

7

Castle on the Hudson
1940-02-17

It All Came True

6

It All Came True
1940-04-06

Knute Rockne All American

6.204

Knute Rockne All American
1940-10-05

4.5

Florian
1940-06-05

The Golden Fleecing

5.857

The Golden Fleecing
1940-08-16

And One Was Beautiful

6.714

And One Was Beautiful
1940-04-05

5.611

Girl in 313
1940-05-31

Rhythm on the River

6.857

Rhythm on the River
1940-08-28

The Ghost Breakers

6.5

The Ghost Breakers
1940-06-21

The Way of All Flesh

4.625

The Way of All Flesh
1940-07-05

6.75

The Great Profile
1940-08-30

Women Without Names

4.7

Women Without Names
1940-03-14

Thank Your Lucky Stars

6.225

Thank Your Lucky Stars
1943-09-25

The Lost Spider Pit Sequence

6.7

The Lost Spider Pit Sequence
2005-11-22

Angel on My Shoulder

6.5

Angel on My Shoulder
1946-09-20

Rock Island Trail

6.333

Rock Island Trail
1950-05-18

6.4

Easy to Wed
1946-07-25

Robin Hood Of Texas

7

Robin Hood Of Texas
1947-07-15

Chinatown Squad

7.5

Chinatown Squad
1935-05-31

La Conga Nights

7.667

La Conga Nights
1940-05-31

Captain Hurricane

6

Captain Hurricane
1935-03-01

Trouble Along the Way

6.103

Trouble Along the Way
1953-04-04

I Beheld His Glory

0

I Beheld His Glory
1953-03-31

Tough as They Come

9

Tough as They Come
1942-06-05

6.833

Four Mothers
1941-01-04

6.125

The Plunderers
1948-10-30

6

Western Union
1941-02-21

Ride 'Em Cowboy

6.037

Ride 'Em Cowboy
1941-11-17

7

Star of Texas
1953-01-11

6.646

Texas
1941-10-09

Ten Gentlemen from West Point

6.375

Ten Gentlemen from West Point
1942-06-26

5.6

Johnny Rocco
1958-12-21

6.349

Shockproof
1949-01-25

7

Big Town Czar
1939-05-03

7

Big Town Girl
1937-12-03

5.25

Double Alibi
1940-03-01

8.5

New York Town
1941-10-31

Angel's Holiday

6

Angel's Holiday
1937-06-07

Dangerous Number

4.857

Dangerous Number
1937-01-22

Shipmates Forever

6.6

Shipmates Forever
1935-10-12

I Wake Up Screaming

6.878

I Wake Up Screaming
1941-10-31

Million Dollar Mermaid

6.5

Million Dollar Mermaid
1952-12-04

Fighting Coast Guard

6.667

Fighting Coast Guard
1951-05-31

5.75

Tars and Spars
1946-01-10

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff

6.6

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff
1949-05-26

Once Upon a Time

5.786

Once Upon a Time
1944-06-29

Song of the Thin Man

6.753

Song of the Thin Man
1947-08-28

Affectionately Yours

4.5

Affectionately Yours
1941-05-10

Action in the North Atlantic

7.05

Action in the North Atlantic
1943-06-12

9

The Big Race
1934-02-14

6.154

Corvette K-225
1943-09-29

Circumstantial Evidence

5.167

Circumstantial Evidence
1945-04-20

6.5

Hot Water
1937-09-24

Something to Shout About

6.5

Something to Shout About
1943-02-25

Heaven Can Wait

6.9

Heaven Can Wait
1943-08-05

Mission to Moscow

5.738

Mission to Moscow
1943-04-29

Rendezvous with Annie

7

Rendezvous with Annie
1946-07-22

I Promise to Pay

6

I Promise to Pay
1937-04-21

Murder, He Says

6.8

Murder, He Says
1945-06-23

Joe and Ethel Turp Call on the President

5

Joe and Ethel Turp Call on the President
1939-12-01

6.2

Strange Affair
1944-10-05

7.3

Only Yesterday
1933-11-01

The Duke of West Point

4.5

The Duke of West Point
1938-12-29

My Favorite Brunette

6.639

My Favorite Brunette
1947-03-19

Public Hero Number 1

6.333

Public Hero Number 1
1935-05-31

6.614

'G' Men
1935-05-04

Hollywood Canteen

7.276

Hollywood Canteen
1944-12-15

6.231

Special Agent
1935-09-14

Dishonored Lady

5.808

Dishonored Lady
1947-05-16

6.747

Buck Privates
1941-01-31

6.467

It Ain't Hay
1943-02-22

Night in New Orleans

4.167

Night in New Orleans
1942-07-01

6.667

Over 21
1945-08-08

7.077

Mister Roberts
1955-07-10

Private Affairs

7

Private Affairs
1940-07-05

The Noose Hangs High

6.891

The Noose Hangs High
1948-04-05

5.646

Pot o' Gold
1941-04-03

You Only Live Once

7.1

You Only Live Once
1937-01-23

5.6

Riding High
1943-11-11

5.625

The Spider
1945-12-01

The Restless Breed

5.5

The Restless Breed
1957-05-01

7.581

My Man Godfrey
1936-09-02

Joe Palooka in the Knockout

8

Joe Palooka in the Knockout
1947-09-20

5.833

Rhubarb
1951-08-29

4.8

Young Widow
1946-03-01

6.7

Ziegfeld Girl
1941-04-25

5.75

Okay, America!
1932-09-08

Kid Glove Killer

6.409

Kid Glove Killer
1942-04-17

9

Beloved
1934-01-22

Queen of the Mob

6.2

Queen of the Mob
1940-06-28

9

Mickey the Kid
1939-07-03

The All-American

6.5

The All-American
1932-10-01

Swing Shift Maisie

6.8

Swing Shift Maisie
1943-10-01

Secret Service Investigator

7.5

Secret Service Investigator
1948-05-31

The Velvet Touch

6.266

The Velvet Touch
1948-07-13

6.214

Step by Step
1946-08-23

Nightmare Alley

7.188

Nightmare Alley
1947-10-09

7.5

Hot Steel
1940-05-24

6.568

Test Pilot
1938-04-16

South Sea Sinner

7.5

South Sea Sinner
1950-08-30

The Last Hurrah

7.177

The Last Hurrah
1958-12-31

Return of the Dead

5

Return of the Dead
1954-09-09

The Luckiest Girl in the World

7.25

The Luckiest Girl in the World
1936-10-01

6.375

Broadway
1942-05-08

5.967

Johnny Angel
1945-10-25

Straight from the Heart

9

Straight from the Heart
1935-03-22

It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World

7

It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
1963-11-07

Hold That Blonde!

6.2

Hold That Blonde!
1945-11-23

0

As We Forgive
1952-01-01

When Tomorrow Comes

5.382

When Tomorrow Comes
1939-08-11

Critic's Choice

5.667

Critic's Choice
1963-02-24

4.5

Fighter Attack
1953-11-29

Come Fill the Cup

7

Come Fill the Cup
1951-10-24

Too Hot to Handle

6.024

Too Hot to Handle
1938-09-16

The Strawberry Blonde

6.964

The Strawberry Blonde
1941-02-21

5.5

Air Mail
1932-11-03

There's Something About a Soldier

5.375

There's Something About a Soldier
1943-11-30

Mr. Winkle Goes to War

6.818

Mr. Winkle Goes to War
1944-07-19

6.774

Mister Ed
1961-01-05

6.25

Burke's Law
1963-09-20

5.25

Cain's Hundred
1961-09-19

6.25

December Bride
1954-10-04

The Brady Bunch

6.7

The Brady Bunch
1969-09-26

7.11

The Lucy Show
1962-10-01

6.333

Surfside 6
1960-10-06

General Electric Theater

6.833

General Electric Theater
1953-02-01

Man with a Camera

5.5

Man with a Camera
1958-10-10

Hallmark Hall of Fame

8.75

Hallmark Hall of Fame
1951-12-24

The Twilight Zone

8.5

The Twilight Zone
1959-10-02

Alfred Hitchcock Presents

7.8

Alfred Hitchcock Presents
1955-10-02

6.667

Sam Benedict
1962-09-15

The Millionaire

5.75

The Millionaire
1955-01-19

Lux Video Theatre

6.714

Lux Video Theatre
1950-10-02

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

7.2

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
1951-10-05

Richard Diamond, Private Detective

6.8

Richard Diamond, Private Detective
1957-07-01

3.833

Climax!
1954-10-07

Pete and Gladys

6.25

Pete and Gladys
1960-09-19

Lux Video Theatre

6.714

Lux Video Theatre
1950-10-02

Matinee Theater

5.286

Matinee Theater
1955-10-31

The Pruitts of Southampton

6.5

The Pruitts of Southampton
1966-09-06

5.2

Navy Log
1955-09-20

7.1

The Rifleman
1958-09-30

The Addams Family

8

The Addams Family
1964-09-18

7.333

Mr. Novak
1963-09-24

6.5

Racket Squad
1951-06-07

7.667

The New Breed
1961-10-03

Public Defender

6.25

Public Defender
1954-03-11

Cavalcade of America

4.6

Cavalcade of America
1952-10-01

5.711

Dr. Kildare
1961-09-27

7.5

City Detective
1953-09-07

Dangerous Assignment

5.333

Dangerous Assignment
1952-01-01

6.667

Coronado 9
1960-09-06

The Roaring 20's

0

The Roaring 20's
1960-10-15

Johnny Midnight

7

Johnny Midnight
1960-01-03

Letter to Loretta

6.571

Letter to Loretta
1953-09-20

7

Alcoa Theatre
1957-09-30

The Living Christ

5.667

The Living Christ
1951-01-07

The Twilight Zone

8.5

The Twilight Zone
1959-10-02

General Electric Theater

6.833

General Electric Theater
1953-02-01

Letter to Loretta

6.571

Letter to Loretta
1953-09-20

Letter to Loretta

6.571

Letter to Loretta
1953-09-20

Four Star Playhouse

6.818

Four Star Playhouse
1952-09-25

Alfred Hitchcock Presents

7.8

Alfred Hitchcock Presents
1955-10-02

Hallmark Hall of Fame

8.75

Hallmark Hall of Fame
1951-12-24

7.926

I Love Lucy
1951-10-15

Alfred Hitchcock Presents

7.8

Alfred Hitchcock Presents
1955-10-02

Death Valley Days

6.636

Death Valley Days
1952-10-01

The Abbott and Costello Show

7.19

The Abbott and Costello Show
1952-12-05

5.714

State Trooper
1956-09-25

Lux Video Theatre

6.714

Lux Video Theatre
1950-10-02

It Takes a Thief

7.231

It Takes a Thief
1968-01-09