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Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Birthday
May 14, 1906
Died
April 23, 1976
Place of Birth
Portland, Maine, USA
Also Known As
- James William Flavin Jr.
- James Flaven
- Jim Flavin
James Flavin
0.4 Popularity
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
6.8
Second Mate Briggs (archive footage)
The Lost Spider Pit Sequence
2005
0.0
President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Francis Gary Powers: The True Story of the U-2 Spy Incident
1976
0.0
Capt. Toomey
Law and Order
1976
6.7
The Brady Bunch
1969
7.5
Clarence Duntz
In Cold Blood
1967
5.1
Lieutenant
Good Times
1967
5.3
The Pruitts of Southampton
1966
0.0
Lt. Flynn
The Further Adventures of Gallegher
1965
6.7
Ft. Robinson Sergeant of the Guard (uncredited)
Cheyenne Autumn
1964
8.0
Lt. Poston
The Addams Family
1964
Credits
The Lost Spider Pit Sequence
as Second Mate Briggs (archive footage)
2005
6.8
Francis Gary Powers: The True Story of the U-2 Spy Incident
as President Dwight D. Eisenhower
1976
0.0
Law and Order
as Capt. Toomey
1976
0.0
The Brady Bunch
1969
6.7
In Cold Blood
as Clarence Duntz
1967
7.5
Good Times
as Lieutenant
1967
5.1
The Pruitts of Southampton
1966
5.3
The Further Adventures of Gallegher
as Lt. Flynn
1965
0.0
Cheyenne Autumn
as Ft. Robinson Sergeant of the Guard (uncredited)
1964
6.7
The Addams Family
as Lt. Poston
1964
8.0
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
as Patrolman (uncredited)
1963
7.0
Mr. Novak
as Fire Chief Hawkins
1963
6.5
Burke's Law
as Officer Danny Robin
1963
6.0
Critic's Choice
as Security Guard (uncredited)
1963
5.6
The Lucy Show
as Sergeant Wilcox
1962
7.0
Sam Benedict
1962
6.0
The New Breed
as Moose
1961
7.0
Dr. Kildare
as John Dolan
1961
5.5
Cain's Hundred
as Arnie Kellwin
1961
4.7
Mister Ed
1961
6.7
The Roaring 20's
1960
0.0
Surfside 6
1960
5.0
Pete and Gladys
1960
6.0
Coronado 9
1960
6.0
Johnny Midnight
1960
0.0
The Twilight Zone
as 1962 Policeman
1959
8.5
The Twilight Zone
as Truck Driver
1959
8.5
The Last Hurrah
as Police Capt. Michael J. Shanahan (uncredited)
1958
7.2
Johnny Rocco
as Mooney
1958
5.2
Man with a Camera
1958
4.6
The Rifleman
1958
7.1
Wild Is the Wind
as Wool Buyer
1957
6.6
Alcoa Theatre
as Gavin Marshall
1957
6.5
Night Passage
as Tim Riley
1957
6.4
Richard Diamond, Private Detective
as Sam Cooper
1957
6.2
The Restless Breed
as Secret Service Chief
1957
5.2
Footsteps in the Night
as Mr. Bradbury
1957
5.5
Hold That Hypnotist
as Jake Morgan
1957
5.1
🎬
State Trooper
as Police Capt. Daniel Box
1956
5.0
Francis in the Haunted House
as Police Chief Martin
1956
5.1
Never Say Goodbye
as Timmy
1956
6.5
Matinee Theater
1955
5.0
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
as Joe Felix
1955
7.8
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
as Tony - The Doorman
1955
7.8
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
as Dan
1955
7.8
🎬
Navy Log
as Col. Flynn
1955
4.5
Apache Ambush
as Col. Marshall
1955
6.0
The Naked Street
as Attorney Michael X. Flanders
1955
6.1
Mister Roberts
as Military Policeman
1955
7.0
The Millionaire
as Dan Mulcahy
1955
5.0
Climax!
as Hogan
1954
3.3
December Bride
1954
5.5
Return of the Dead
as Judd Harrison
1954
5.0
Massacre Canyon
as Col. Tarant
1954
5.0
Dragonfly Squadron
as Doctor
1954
6.0
Public Defender
1954
5.7
The Eddie Cantor Story
as Kelly
1953
5.0
Fighter Attack
as Col. Allison
1953
4.5
Hot News
as Al Bragg
1953
5.0
Letter to Loretta
as MacNamara
1953
6.5
Letter to Loretta
as Sgt. Danny Doofle
1953
6.5
Letter to Loretta
as Deputy Mason
1953
6.5
City Detective
1953
7.0
Abbott and Costello Go to Mars
as First Policeman in Bank
1953
5.4
Trouble Along the Way
as Coach Buck Holman
1953
5.9
I Beheld His Glory
as Longinus
1953
0.0
Confidentially Connie
as Harry (uncredited)
1953
5.3
General Electric Theater
1953
6.4
General Electric Theater
as Callahan
1953
6.4
Star of Texas
as Texas Rangers Capt. Sturdivant
1953
0.0
The Abbott and Costello Show
as Joe Kelly
1952
7.2
Million Dollar Mermaid
as Conductor
1952
6.4
Cavalcade of America
1952
3.5
Death Valley Days
as Perry
1952
6.4
🎬
Four Star Playhouse
as Mr. Swanson
1952
6.7
O. Henry's Full House
as Cop (segment "The Cop and the Anthem") (uncredited)
1952
6.7
Carrie
as Mike - Bartender (uncredited)
1952
6.4
Here Come the Marines
as Lieutenant-Colonel at End
1952
6.0
Sailor Beware
as Petty Officer (uncredited)
1952
6.2
Dangerous Assignment
1952
3.5
🎬
As We Forgive
1952
0.0
Hallmark Hall of Fame
as Captain Kimble
1951
8.6
Hallmark Hall of Fame
as General Charles Lee
1951
8.6
Come Fill the Cup
as Russ - Homicide Captain (uncredited)
1951
7.0
I Love Lucy
as Immigration Officer
1951
7.9
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
1951
7.2
Rhubarb
as O'Leary, Manhattan Police Chief (uncredited)
1951
5.3
Racket Squad
1951
6.0
Fighting Coast Guard
as Commander Rogers
1951
6.5
Follow the Sun
as Henry Gibbs
1951
6.2
According to Mrs. Hoyle
as Prosecuting Attorney
1951
5.0
Oh! Susanna
as Capt. Worth
1951
5.0
Operation Pacific
as SP Commander
1951
6.0
The Living Christ
as Longinus
1951
5.0
🎬
Lux Video Theatre
as Steve
1950
6.3
🎬
Lux Video Theatre
as Heineman
1950
6.3
🎬
Lux Video Theatre
as Detective
1950
6.3
South Sea Sinner
as Andrews
1950
5.0
Destination Murder
as Police Lt. Brewster
1950
5.1
Armored Car Robbery
as Lt. Phillips
1950
6.5
The Savage Horde
as Guard
1950
5.8
Rock Island Trail
as Railroad Workman
1950
6.0
When Willie Comes Marching Home
as Gen. Brevort (uncredited)
1950
6.8
Dakota Lil
as Secret Service Chief
1950
5.0
Prison Warden
as Guard Capt. Peter Butler
1949
1.0
The Devil's Henchmen
as Police Sergeant Briggs
1949
6.0
Blondie Hits the Jackpot
as Brophy
1949
6.5
Mighty Joe Young
as Schultz
1949
6.4
Mississippi Rhythm
as Stan Caldwell
1949
5.0
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff
as Insp. Wellman
1949
6.5
Flamingo Road
1949
7.0
Homicide
as Det. Lt. Boylan
1949
5.3
Shockproof
as Policeman in Park (Uncredited)
1949
6.4
Bungalow 13
as Lt. Sam Wilson
1948
1.0
The Plunderers
as Sergeant Major
1948
5.6
One Touch of Venus
as Kerrigan
1948
6.5
The Velvet Touch
as Sgt. Oliphant
1948
6.2
Secret Service Investigator
as Police Inspector Thorndyke
1948
6.0
The Noose Hangs High
as Traffic Cop (uncredited)
1948
6.8
Sleep, My Love
as Lieutenant Mitchell
1948
6.3
My Girl Tisa
as Guard (uncredited)
1948
0.0
Unconquered
as Villager (uncredited)
1947
6.3
Nightmare Alley
as Hoatley / First Carnival Owner (uncredited)
1947
7.2
Joe Palooka in the Knockout
as Policeman
1947
6.0
Song of the Thin Man
as Policeman Reardon (uncredited)
1947
6.8
Desert Fury
as Pat Johnson
1947
6.0
Robin Hood Of Texas
as Captain Danforth
1947
0.0
Dishonored Lady
as Police Sergeant Patella
1947
5.7
It Happened on Fifth Avenue
as First Policeman (uncredited)
1947
7.0
My Favorite Brunette
as Det. Lt. 'Mac' Hennessey (uncredited)
1947
6.6
Nora Prentiss
as District Attorney
1947
6.1
Nobody Lives Forever
as Shake Thomas
1946
6.2
Cloak and Dagger
as Col. Walsh
1946
6.5
Angel on My Shoulder
as Dan Bellamy
1946
6.4
Step by Step
as Woods
1946
6.2
The Strange Love of Martha Ivers
as Police Detective #1
1946
7.1
The Missing Lady
as Police Insp. Cardona
1946
4.6
Easy to Wed
as Joe
1946
6.2
Rendezvous with Annie
as Turnkey (uncredited)
1946
6.0
Boys' Ranch
as Policeman (uncredited)
1946
6.5
A Stolen Life
as Investigator (uncredited)
1946
6.3
Sentimental Journey
as Detective Sgt. McFarland (uncredited)
1946
6.4
Young Widow
as Subway Conductor (Uncredited)
1946
4.6
Tars and Spars
as Chief Bosun Mate Gurney
1946
4.7
The Spider
as Officer Johnny Tracy
1945
5.3
Hold That Blonde!
as Laundry Truck Driver (uncredited)
1945
6.0
Johnny Angel
as Flavin, Mate of the Quincy (uncredited)
1945
5.9
Mildred Pierce
as Detective (uncredited)
1945
7.6
The Shanghai Cobra
as H.R. Jarvis
1945
5.8
Anchors Aweigh
as Radio Cop
1945
6.8
Over 21
as Captain (uncredited)
1945
5.2
Murder, He Says
as Police Officer (uncredited)
1945
6.6
Circumstantial Evidence
as Guard
1945
4.8
God Is My Co-Pilot
as Major at Kweilin Airbase (uncredited)
1945
6.9
Hollywood Canteen
as Marine Sergeant (uncredited)
1944
7.3
Laura
as Det. McEveety (uncredited)
1944
7.6
Strange Affair
as Bank Security Guard (Uncredited)
1944
6.2
Abroad with Two Yanks
as Sgt. Wiggins
1944
6.0
Once Upon a Time
as Man in Subway (uncredited)
1944
5.7
Christmas Holiday
as Policeman
1944
6.4
Uncertain Glory
as Captain of Mobile Guard
1944
6.8
Riding High
as Train Conductor
1943
4.5
Swing Shift Maisie
as Radio Policeman (Uncredited)
1943
6.5
Corvette K-225
as 1st Lt. Bill Gardner
1943
6.1
Thank Your Lucky Stars
as Policeman (uncredited)
1943
6.0
Murder on the Waterfront
as Cmdr. Kalin
1943
5.0
So Proudly We Hail
as Captain O'Brien (Uncredited)
1943
5.5
I Dood It
as Federal Agent (uncredited)
1943
3.5
Heaven Can Wait
as Policeman (uncredited)
1943
6.9
Action in the North Atlantic
as Merchant Marine School Lieutenant-Commander (uncredited)
1943
7.1
Mission to Moscow
as American Senator (uncredited)
1943
5.3
Air Force
as Maj. A.M. Bagley
1943
6.5
Something to Shout About
as Policeman
1943
5.8
It Ain't Hay
as Cop (uncredited)
1943
6.4
Life Begins at Eight-Thirty
as Policeman
1942
6.5
Gentleman Jim
as George Corbett (uncredited)
1942
7.1
Night in New Orleans
as Egan (uncredited)
1942
3.6
Ten Gentlemen from West Point
as Capt. Luddy
1942
5.8
Thru Different Eyes
as Thomas
1942
0.0
Tough as They Come
as Process Server
1942
0.0
Broadway
as Doorman (uncredited)
1942
5.5
Saboteur
as Motorcycle Cop (voice) (uncredited)
1942
6.9
Fingers at the Window
as Police Lieutenant Schaeffer
1942
5.5
Kid Glove Killer
as Keenan - Detective Grilling Eddie (uncredited)
1942
6.2
Reap the Wild Wind
as Girl's Father (uncredited)
1942
6.4
🎬
Treat 'Em Rough
as Joe Trosper
1942
6.0
A Yank on the Burma Road
as Police Dispatcher
1942
4.0
Bedtime Story
as Hotel Guest in Room 625 (uncredited)
1941
5.5
Kathleen
as Moving Man
1941
5.0
The Night of January 16th
as Policeman Kelly
1941
5.0
Ride 'Em Cowboy
as Railroad Detective #2 (uncredited)
1941
5.9
New York Town
as Recruiting Sergeant (uncredited)
1941
10.0
I Wake Up Screaming
as Detective (uncredited)
1941
6.9
Texas
as Abilene Fight Announcer
1941
6.5
Hold Back the Dawn
as Immigration Guard (uncredited)
1941
6.7
We Go Fast
as Police Lt. Bardette
1941
6.2
Belle Starr
as Sergeant
1941
5.6
Manpower
as Orderly About to Give Bath (uncredited)
1941
6.7
Affectionately Yours
as Tomassetti
1941
4.0
Ziegfeld Girl
as Buck (uncredited)
1941
6.5
Ride on Vaquero
as Officer Johnson
1941
4.2
Pot o' Gold
as Sheriff Bud Connolly (uncredited)
1941
5.5
Pot o' Gold
as Sheriff Bud Connolly
1941
5.5
Western Union
as Deputy Sheriff
1941
6.0
The Strawberry Blonde
as Ticket Inspector on Boat (uncredited)
1941
6.9
Buck Privates
as Recruiting Sergeant (uncredited)
1941
6.7
The Wild Man of Borneo
as Policeman (uncredited)
1941
6.5
Four Mothers
as Demolition Man (uncredited)
1941
6.2
Tin Pan Alley
as Army Sergeant (uncredited)
1940
5.1
Youth Will Be Served
as Buck Miller
1940
1.0
The Long Voyage Home
as Dock Policeman
1940
6.6
The Devil's Pipeline
as Dowling
1940
6.0
North West Mounted Police
as Mountie
1940
6.4
Knute Rockne All American
as Army Assistant Coach (uncredited)
1940
6.1
The Great Profile
as Detective
1940
6.3
Rhythm on the River
as Detective
1940
6.8
When the Daltons Rode
as Annabella's Brother
1940
6.0
The Golden Fleecing
as Cop (uncredited)
1940
5.3
South of Pago Pago
as Cafe Customer
1940
4.8
Manhattan Heartbeat
as Truck Driver
1940
0.0
The Way of All Flesh
as Policeman
1940
4.1
Private Affairs
as Doorman (uncredited)
1940
0.0
Lucky Cisco Kid
as Ranch Foreman
1940
5.6
Queen of the Mob
as Third FBI Director
1940
5.0
The Ghost Breakers
as Hotel Porter (uncredited)
1940
6.5
Brother Orchid
as Parking Attendant at Fat Dutchy's (uncredited)
1940
6.5
Florian
as Policeman
1940
1.0
Girl in 313
as Det. Carvin
1940
5.4
La Conga Nights
as Grogin
1940
7.5
Hot Steel
as Storm Swenson
1940
0.0
Johnny Apollo
as Prison Guard In Library (uncredited)
1940
6.8
It All Came True
as Roaring 90's Club Doorman (uncredited)
1940
5.8
And One Was Beautiful
as McRafferty
1940
6.2
The Grapes of Wrath
as Guard (uncredited)
1940
7.8
Women Without Names
as Guard
1940
4.1
Double Alibi
as Patrolman Johnson
1940
4.0
Castle on the Hudson
as Death Row Guard (uncredited)
1940
6.8
Broadway Melody of 1940
as Clancy (uncredited)
1940
6.7
The Fighting 69th
as Supply Sergeant (uncredited)
1940
5.5
Remember the Night
as Court Attendant (uncredited)
1940
7.3
The Cisco Kid and the Lady
as Sergeant
1939
4.9
Joe and Ethel Turp Call on the President
as Policeman
1939
2.0
The Roaring Twenties
as Policeman (uncredited)
1939
7.5
Fast and Furious
as Policeman Guarding Entrance (uncredited)
1939
4.7
Irish Luck
as Fluger
1939
5.8
Each Dawn I Die
as Policeman (uncredited)
1939
6.8
They Shall Have Music
as Police Sergeant (uncredited)
1939
6.2
When Tomorrow Comes
as Coard Guard Man on Road (uncredited)
1939
5.1
They All Come Out
as Officer (uncredited)
1939
5.6
Mr. Wong in Chinatown
as Police Sgt. Jerry
1939
5.3
Mickey the Kid
as Sanders
1939
0.0
Tell No Tales
as Officer Simmons (uncredited)
1939
4.6
The Gracie Allen Murder Case
as Turnkey
1939
5.6
Rose of Washington Square
as Guard (uncredited)
1939
5.8
Union Pacific
as Paddy (uncredited)
1939
6.6
Big Town Czar
as George Mitchell
1939
0.0
Code of the Streets
as Doorman
1939
7.0
Sergeant Madden
as Police Interrogator
1939
6.0
Everybody's Baby
as Police Announcer (uncredited)
1939
0.0
The Ice Follies of 1939
as Doorman (uncredited)
1939
5.6
Jesse James
as Cavalry Captain (uncredited)
1939
6.5
The Duke of West Point
as Plebe Hockey Coach
1938
4.0
While New York Sleeps
as 2nd Cop
1938
0.0
Convicts at Large
as Detective Sgt. Berkovich
1938
0.0
Blondie
as Policeman in Accident Car (uncredited)
1938
7.1
Lightning Carson Rides Again
as Justice Department Agent
1938
4.8
Too Hot to Handle
as Young Reporter (uncredited)
1938
5.8
Three Loves Has Nancy
as Jack's Friend (uncredited)
1938
3.8
You Can't Take It with You
as Jailer (uncredited)
1938
7.5
I Am the Law
as George - Witness (uncredited)
1938
6.6
Gateway
as Guard
1938
6.5
Wives Under Suspicion
as Jenks - Chauffeur (uncredited)
1938
5.0
Alexander's Ragtime Band
as Army Captain (uncredited)
1938
6.7
Test Pilot
as Pilot (uncredited)
1938
6.5
Miracle Money
as Cop (uncredited)
1938
5.6
Start Cheering
as Gas Station Attendant
1938
7.0
Night Spot
as Kidnapper
1938
3.8
Born to Be Wild
as Striker (uncredited)
1938
7.0
Mannequin
as Burly Man (Uncredited)
1938
5.9
Everybody's Doing It
as Detective Hayes
1938
5.0
Big Town Girl
as State Trooper
1937
6.0
Live, Love and Learn
as Marine Who Likes Painting (uncredited)
1937
5.1
Hot Water
as Policeman (uncredited)
1937
5.0
Dangerously Yours
as Driver
1937
3.5
My Dear Miss Aldrich
as Dr. Spitzy Calahan (uncredited)
1937
6.1
Girls Can Play
as Det. Bill O'Malley
1937
4.0
Angel's Holiday
as Detective
1937
5.5
I Promise to Pay
as Bill Seaver
1937
5.5
Midnight Taxi
as Detective McCormick
1937
5.0
You Only Live Once
as State Trooper (uncredited)
1937
7.1
Dangerous Number
as Cab Driver
1937
4.3
The Luckiest Girl in the World
as Policeman
1936
7.5
They Met in a Taxi
as Policeman
1936
5.5
My Man Godfrey
as Detective (uncredited)
1936
7.5
Charlie Chan at the Race Track
as Detective
1936
7.1
How to Behave
as Man in Manhole (uncredited)
1936
7.5
One Way Ticket
as Ed
1935
5.0
Rendezvous
as 2st Military Policeman (uncredited)
1935
4.3
Shipmates Forever
as Lieutenant (uncredited)
1935
6.5
Special Agent
as Agent Arresting Julie (uncredited)
1935
6.2
Man on the Flying Trapeze
as Chauffeur (uncredited)
1935
6.0
Woman Wanted
as Mac - Policeman (uncredited)
1935
6.3
The Daring Young Man
as Informant on Telephone
1935
0.0
The Murder Man
as Policeman at Merry-Go-Round (uncredited)
1935
6.9
Chinatown Squad
as Detective
1935
6.0
Public Hero Number 1
as Flavin - Federal Agent (uncredited)
1935
6.2
'G' Men
as Agent with Jean (uncredited)
1935
6.6
Straight from the Heart
as Policeman
1935
0.0
Captain Hurricane
as Freighter Officer
1935
4.5
Secrets of Chinatown
as Brandhma
1935
4.5
The Brand of Hate
as Holt Larkins
1934
4.5
The Affairs of Cellini
as Palace Guard (uncredited)
1934
4.9
Baby Take a Bow
as Flannigan
1934
5.6
Wild Gold
as Detective (uncredited)
1934
5.0
The Big Race
as Bill Figg
1934
0.0
Beloved
as Wilcox
1934
0.0
Only Yesterday
as Billy (Uncredited)
1933
6.8
Ship of Wanted Men
as Frank Busch
1933
1.7
Riot Squad
as Det. Mack McCue
1933
3.3
Hello, Sister!
as Fireman
1933
5.8
King Kong
as Mate Briggs
1933
7.6
The All-American
as Don Lindsay
1932
5.0
The Most Dangerous Game
as First Mate on Yacht (uncredited)
1932
6.9
Okay, America!
as Undetermined Role (uncredited)
1932
5.3
McKenna of the Mounted
as Corporal Randall McKenna
1932
0.0
Back Street
as Reporter (uncredited)
1932
6.2
The Airmail Mystery
as Bob Lee
1932
0.0