James Flavin

Actor

About

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Birth Place

Portland, Maine, USA

Born

May 14, 1906

Died

April 23, 1976

Biography

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The Irish cop is a stereotypical character who appears in numerous films in the 1930s, '40s, and '50s. James Flavin is one of the reasons this character became ingrained in the public's consciousness. Flavin appeared in more than 400 films in a career that stretched over half a century, frequently playing policemen or other authority figures, often in uncredited roles. In reality only a ...

Filmography

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Francis Gary Powers: The True Story of the U-2 Spy Incident (1976)

Law and Order (1976)

The Barefoot Executive (1971)

Good Times (1967)

In Cold Blood (1967)

The Last Hurrah (1958)

Photos & Videos

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Armored Car Robbery (1950) -- (Movie Clip) At The Ballpark

Nightmare Alley (1947) -- (Movie Clip) My Scotch Blood Is Working

Family & Companions

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Lucille Browne

Companion

Actor.

Biography

The Irish cop is a stereotypical character who appears in numerous films in the 1930s, '40s, and '50s. James Flavin is one of the reasons this character became ingrained in the public's consciousness. Flavin appeared in more than 400 films in a career that stretched over half a century, frequently playing policemen or other authority figures, often in uncredited roles. In reality only a quarter Irish, Flavin was a former West Point student who fell into acting in 1929 while living in Portland, Maine. Flavin tried to break into the New York Theater but had more success when he ventured west to work in the film industry. He landed the lead in the now-lost '32 serial "The Airmail Mystery," but it was to be his only leading role. Instead, Flavin was ubiquitous in tiny roles, including small parts in the '33 version of "King Kong" (playing a ship's mate) and John Ford's classic "The Grapes of Wrath" (playing a guard). Television was also kind to Flavin; he made over 100 appearances between the mid-'50s and the mid-'70s. His final role was one of his more prestigious: playing President Dwight D. Eisenhower in the '76 TV docudrama "Francis Gary Powers: The True Story of the U-2 Spy Incident." Flavin died in '76, a few weeks before his wife Lucille Brown, who had been his leading lady in his first film, 54 years earlier.

Filmography

Cast (Feature Film)

Francis Gary Powers: The True Story of the U-2 Spy Incident (1976)

Law and Order (1976)

The Barefoot Executive (1971)

Good Times (1967)

In Cold Blood (1967)

The Last Hurrah (1958)

Wild Is the Wind (1958)

Johnny Rocco (1958)

Beau James (1957)

The Restless Breed (1957)

Secret Service chief

The Wings of Eagles (1957)

Night Passage (1957)

Top Secret Affair (1957)

Hold That Hypnotist (1957)

Up In Smoke (1957)

Footsteps in the Night (1957)

Francis in the Haunted House (1956)

Never Say Goodbye (1956)

Timmy [O'Brien]

Apache Ambush (1955)

Mister Roberts (1955)

Military policeman

The Naked Street (1955)

Michael J. [X.] Flanders

The Eddie Cantor Story (1954)

Kelly the policeman

Ma and Pa Kettle at Home (1954)

Massacre Canyon (1954)

Col. Joseph Tarant

Untamed Heiress (1954)

Trouble Along the Way (1953)

Confidentially Connie (1953)

Francis Covers the Big Town (1953)

Abbott and Costello Go to Mars (1953)

First policeman in bank

Fighter Attack (1953)

Colonel Allison

Star of Texas (1953)

Captain [C. Sturdevant] of Rangers

Hot News (1953)

My Pal Gus (1952)

Sailor Beware (1952)

Here Come the Marines (1952)

Jumping Jacks (1952)

O. Henry's Full House (1952)

Million Dollar Mermaid (1952)

Manhattan chief of police

Operation Pacific (1951)

Shore Patrol chief

Follow the Sun (1951)

Come Fill the Cup (1951)

Homicide captain

Fighting Coast Guard (1951)

Oh! Susanna (1951)

According to Mrs. Hoyle (1951)

Prosecuting attorney

Key to the City (1950)

Rock Island Trail (1950)

When Willie Comes Marching Home (1950)

General Brevort

Dakota Lil (1950)

Secret Service chief

South Sea Sinner (1950)

Armored Car Robbery (1950)

Destination Murder (1950)

Lieutenant Brewster

My Friend Irma Goes West (1950)

The Savage Horde (1950)

My Dream Is Yours (1949)

Mighty Joe Young (1949)

Blondie Hits the Jackpot (1949)

Homicide (1949)

Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer: Boris Karloff (1949)

Inspector Wellman

The Devil's Henchman (1949)

Sergeant Briggs

Mississippi Rhythm (1949)

Prison Warden (1949)

Flamingo Road (1949)

Shockproof (1949)

Devil's Henchmen (1949)

The Return of October (1948)

My Girl Tisa (1948)

The Plunderers (1948)

Secret Service Investigator (1948)

Police Inspector Ledbetter

One Touch of Venus (1948)

Bungalow 13 (1948)

The Velvet Touch (1948)

Fury at Furnace Creek (1948)

The Babe Ruth Story (1948)

The Noose Hangs High (1948)

Unconquered (1947)

Easy Come, Easy Go (1947)

Plainclothesman

My Favorite Brunette (1947)

It Happened on 5th Avenue (1947)

Lost Honeymoon (1947)

Nora Prentiss (1947)

District Attorney

The Fabulous Dorseys (1947)

Dishonored Lady (1947)

Robin Hood of Texas (1947)

Nightmare Alley (1947)

Desert Fury (1947)

[Sheriff] Pat Johnson

Ladies' Man (1947)

Manager of automat

Song of the Thin Man (1947)

Joe Palooka in the Knockout (1947)

The Mighty McGurk (1947)

Two Years Before the Mast (1946)

Crimp with Amazeen

A Stolen Life (1946)

Nobody Lives Forever (1946)

The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (1946)

Cloak and Dagger (1946)

Angel on My Shoulder (1946)

Tars and Spars (1946)

Chief Bosun Mate Gurney

Easy to Wed (1946)

The Big Sleep (1946)

Captain Cronjager

The Missing Lady (1946)

Sentimental Journey (1946)

It Shouldn't Happen to a Dog (1946)

Police lieutenant

Rendezvous with Annie (1946)

Step by Step (1946)

Courage of Lassie (1946)

Boys' Ranch (1946)

Masquerade in Mexico (1946)

The Hoodlum Saint (1946)

Marathon attendant

Her Kind of Man (1946)

San Antonio (1945)

Mildred Pierce (1945)

Wonder Man (1945)

Circumstantial Evidence (1945)

Out of This World (1945)

Burly policeman

God Is My Co-Pilot (1945)

Johnny Angel (1945)

Spellbound (1945)

Conflict (1945)

Detective-Lieutenant Workman

The Shanghai Cobra (1945)

Anchors Aweigh (1945)

The Spider (1945)

Without Love (1945)

Hold That Blonde (1945)

Laundry truck driver

Don Juan Quilligan (1945)

Police sergeant

Murder, He Says (1945)

Within These Walls (1945)

Duffy's Tavern (1945)

Incendiary Blonde (1945)

Mounted policeman

Pillow to Post (1945)

Mr. Winkle Goes to War (1944)

Four Jills in a Jeep (1944)

Once Upon a Time (1944)

Here Come the Waves (1944)

Shore patrolman

Ladies Courageous (1944)

Bermuda Mystery (1944)

Christmas Holiday (1944)

Abroad with Two Yanks (1944)

Sergeant Wiggins

Uncertain Glory (1944)

Captain, Guard Mobile

Together Again (1944)

Strange Affair (1944)

The Princess and the Pirate (1944)

I Dood It (1943)

Swing Shift Maisie (1943)

There's Something About a Soldier (1943)

The Iron Major (1943)

Hello Frisco, Hello (1943)

Corvette K-225 (1943)

Murder on the Waterfront (1943)

Com. George Kalin

City Without Men (1943)

Coast Guard officer

Footlight Glamour (1943)

Air Force (1943)

Riding High (1943)

Train conductor

It Ain't Hay (1943)

So Proudly We Hail! (1943)

Action in the North Atlantic (1943)

Lieutenant-commander of Merchant Marine school

Mission to Moscow (1943)

Heaven Can Wait (1943)

Thank Your Lucky Stars (1943)

Reap the Wild Wind (1942)

Born to Sing (1942)

Broadway (1942)

Saboteur (1942)

Motorcycle policeman

Night in New Orleans (1942)

To the Shores of Tripoli (1942)

Juke Girl (1942)

Larceny, Inc. (1942)

Gentleman Jim (1942)

Kathleen (1942)

Life Begins at Eight-Thirty (1942)

Treat 'Em Rough (1942)

A Yank on the Burma Road (1942)

Police radio dispatcher

Thru Different Eyes (1942)

Fingers at the Window (1942)

Lieutenant Schaeffer

Juke Box Jenny (1942)

Customs officer

Mr. & Mrs. North (1942)

Man in police station

Ten Gentlemen from West Point (1942)

Tough As They Come (1942)

Ride 'Em Cowboy (1942)

Railroad detective

Kid Glove Killer (1942)

The Big Shot (1942)

Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)

Hold Back the Dawn (1941)

First immigration guard

Bedtime Story (1941)

High Sierra (1941)

Footsteps in the Dark (1941)

Police announcer

Motorcycle policeman

The Bride Came C.O.D. (1941)

We Go Fast (1941)

Lieutenant Bardette

Belle Starr (1941)

Affectionately Yours (1941)

The Wild Man of Borneo (1941)

Night of January 16th (1941)

The People vs. Dr. Kildare (1941)

Reaching for the Sun (1941)

Life Begins for Andy Hardy (1941)

Adventure in Washington (1941)

Mr. and Mrs. Smith (1941)

Pot O' Gold (1941)

Shadow of the Thin Man (1941)

New York Town (1941)

Recruiting sergeant

I Wake Up Screaming (1941)

Sleepers West (1941)

Ride on Vaquero (1941)

The Strawberry Blonde (1941)

Manpower (1941)

Buck Privates (1941)

Ziegfeld Girl (1941)

Buck, a trucker

Great Guns (1941)

Western Union (1941)

You're in the Army Now (1941)

Tall, Dark and Handsome (1941)

Michael Shayne, Private Detective (1941)

The Grapes of Wrath (1940)

Knute Rockne--All American (1940)

Sailor's Lady (1940)

Brother Orchid (1940)

Parking attendant

The Man Who Talked Too Much (1940)

The Golden Fleecing (1940)

Queen of the Mob (1940)

FBI office chief

Johnny Apollo (1940)

The Long Voyage Home (1940)

The Way of All Flesh (1940)

Those Were the Days! (1940)

Castle on the Hudson (1940)

The Great Profile (1940)

Hot Steel (1940)

The Devil's Pipeline (1940)

Give Us Wings (1940)

South of Pago Pago (1940)

Private Affairs (1940)

Double Alibi (1940)

La Conga Nights (1940)

Manhattan Heartbeat (1940)

Youth Will Be Served (1940)

Dancing on a Dime (1940)

Broadway Melody of 1940 (1940)

Remember the Night (1940)

Tough attendant

Girl in 313 (1940)

Detective "Carvin"

And One Was Beautiful (1940)

The Ghost Breakers (1940)

Lucky Cisco Kid (1940)

Yesterday's Heroes (1940)

Street of Memories (1940)

Manager, dance hall

Women Without Names (1940)

When the Daltons Rode (1940)

Annabella's brother

Fast and Furious (1939)

When Tomorrow Comes (1939)

Coast Guard man

The Lady's from Kentucky (1939)

Pardon Our Nerve (1939)

Each Dawn I Die (1939)

6,000 Enemies (1939)

They All Come Out (1939)

Jesse James (1939)

Cavalry captain

Tell No Tales (1939)

Union Pacific (1939)

Calling All Marines (1939)

Mickey, the Kid (1939)

They Asked for It (1939)

Mr. Wong in Chinatown (1939)

Irish Luck (1939)

The Cisco Kid and the Lady (1939)

The Gracie Allen Murder Case (1939)

The Ice Follies of 1939 (1939)

Big Town Czar (1939)

They Shall Have Music (1939)

Sergeant Madden (1939)

Code of the Streets (1939)

Joe and Ethel Turp Call on the President (1939)

Unmarried (1939)

Everybody's Baby (1939)

Police announcer

The Buccaneer (1938)

British sergeant

Too Hot to Handle (1938)

Test Pilot (1938)

Alexander's Ragtime Band (1938)

Swing Sister Swing (1938)

Convicts at Large (1938)

The Arkansas Traveler (1938)

The Duke of West Point (1938)

Plebe hockey coach

Wives Under Suspicion (1938)

Jenks, the chauffeur

Lightning Carson Rides Again (1938)

Bill's aide at the Department. of Justice

Three Loves Has Nancy (1938)

Ride a Crooked Mile (1938)

Born to Be Wild (1938)

Penitentiary (1938)

Thanks for Everything (1938)

You Can't Take It with You (1938)

Time Out for Murder (1938)

Sergeant of Police

Sweethearts (1938)

The Shopworn Angel (1938)

Speed to Burn (1938)

Radio car policeman

I Am the Law (1938)

Five of a Kind (1938)

Start Cheering (1938)

Gas station attendant

Radio policeman

This Is My Affair (1937)

Charlie Chan on Broadway (1937)

Big Town Girl (1937)

Dangerous Number (1937)

Midnight Taxi (1937)

Girls Can Play (1937)

I Promise to Pay (1937)

Thoroughbreds Don't Cry (1937)

Live, Love and Learn (1937)

Let's Get Married (1937)

Motor Madness (1937)

Married Before Breakfast (1937)

That I May Live (1937)

The League of Frightened Men (1937)

My Dear Miss Aldrich (1937)

Mannequin (1937)

Hot Water (1937)

45 Fathers (1937)

You Only Live Once (1937)

1st state trooper

Angel's Holiday (1937)

Big City (1937)

Comet cab driver

Magnificent Obsession (1936)

Song and Dance Man (1936)

They Met in a Taxi (1936)

My Man Godfrey (1936)

Second detective

Mysterious Crossing (1936)

Plainclothesman

The Magnificent Brute (1936)

Charlie Chan at the Race Track (1936)

Straight from the Shoulder (1936)

Two in a Crowd (1936)

Born to Dance (1936)

The Luckiest Girl in the World (1936)

The Daring Young Man (1935)

Special Agent (1935)

Rendezvous (1935)

Military police

Shipmates Forever (1935)

Silk Hat Kid (1935)

One Way Ticket (1935)

The Brand of Hate (1935)

Chinatown Squad (1935)

Public Hero No. 1 (1935)

Death Flies East (1935)

People Will Talk (1935)

Society Doctor (1935)

The Man on the Flying Trapeze (1935)

Murder Man (1935)

Straight from the Heart (1935)

Remember Last Night? (1935)

Secrets of Chinatown (1935)

Now I'll Tell (1934)

Gift of Gab (1934)

Alumni president

Baby Take a Bow (1934)

Affairs of a Gentleman (1934)

Wild Gold (1934)

The Crosby Case (1934)

Wake Up and Dream (1934)

Plainclothesman

Bright Eyes (1934)

Hello, Sister! (1933)

The Big Race (1933)

The Ship of Wanted Men (1933)

Riot Squad (1933)

Only Yesterday (1933)

King Kong (1933)

McKenna of the Mounted (1932)

Corporal Randall McKenna

The All American (1932)

Okay America (1932)

Back Street (1932)

The Air Mail Mystery (1932)

Cast (Special)

Meet the Governor (1955)

Cast (Short)

Miracle Money (1938)

How to Behave (1936)

Life Events

1969

First role on Broadway in "The Front Page"

Videos

Armored Car Robbery (1950) -- (Movie Clip) At The Ballpark Little noted at the time but much praised in retrospect, director Richard Fleischer opens with cops Cordell and Phillips (Charles McGraw, James Flavin) racing to the old L-A Wrigley Field, where they don't realize crook Purvus (William Talman) is timing them, in Amored Car Robbery, 1951.

Nightmare Alley (1947) -- (Movie Clip) My Scotch Blood Is Working Carnival boss Hoatley (James Flavin) receiving an affronted town marshal (James Burke), his new M-C and all purpose performer Stan (Tyrone Power), with an assist from Molly (Coleen Gray), laying down the charm to keep the show from being shut down, in Nightmare Alley, 1947.

Hollywood Canteen (1944) -- (Movie Clip) Gettin' Corns For My Country Patty Andrews is rescued from a gung-ho marine (James Flavin) by Sydney Greenstreet and Peter Lorre, joining sisters Laverne and Maxene for a tune by Jean Barry, Leah Worth and Dick Charles, in Warner Bros' tribute to the wartime volunteer project, Hollywood Canteen, 1944.

King Kong (1933) - (Re-issue Trailer) A film crew discovers the "eighth wonder of the world," a giant prehistoric ape, and brings him back to New York where he wrecks havoc in King Kong (1933) starring Fay Wray and Robert Armstrong.

Companions

Lucille Browne

Companion

Actor.

Bibliography

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