What's After the Movie
James Flavin
James William Flavin Jr., born on May 14, 1906 in Portland, Maine, attended the United States Military Academy at West Point where he played football before turning his ambitions toward the stage. After a brief stint in summer stock companies in Maine, he was discovered in 1929 and offered $150 a week to join a troupe in New York, where he lived in a modest rooming house on West 87th Street. His early theatrical work led him westward to Los Angeles in 1932, and he made a striking debut as the lead in the Universal serial The Airmail Mystery, co‑starring his future wife Lucile Browne, whom he married that same year. Although this would be his only leading role, Flavin quickly became a beloved character actor, renowned for his authoritative presence as uniformed policemen, detectives, and various uniformed officials. Over the next four decades he amassed an astonishing filmography of nearly four hundred motion pictures, providing reliable, often uncredited, performances that anchored countless scenes.
From the 1940s through the 1960s Flavin expanded into television, appearing in popular series such as The Burns and Allen Show, The Twilight Zone (episode "A Passage for Trumpet"), The Roaring 20s (as Robert Howard in 33 episodes), and Mister Ed where he played the kindly stable owner Mr. Kramer. He also graced the Broadway stage in the 1969 revival of The Front Page, even stepping into the lead role of Walter Burns for a brief stint. His final screen appearance was as President Dwight D. Eisenhower in the 1976 TV movie Francis Gary Powers: The True Story of the U‑2 Spy Incident, filmed shortly before his death from a heart attack at Cedars‑Sinai Medical Center on April 23, 1976. Flavin’s legacy endures through his countless supporting roles that added depth and realism to classic American cinema and television.
Biography, Career & Filmography
Learn more about James Flavin, including a detailed biography, career timeline, personal life insights, and complete filmography. Discover how James Flavin rose to fame, their major roles, industry impact, and personal milestones in the world of film.
Given Name: James William Flavin Jr.
Born: Portland, Maine, U.S.
Citizenship: United States
Birthday: May 14, 1906
Occupations: Actor
Years Active: 1932-1976
Children: 1
Spouses: Lucile Browne
External Links and Streaming Options
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Movies Featuring James Flavin
King Kong
In Cold Blood (re-release)
Thank Your Lucky Stars
The Spider
Young Widow
Fingers at the Window
Bedtime Story
The Long Voyage Home
Secrets of Chinatown
It All Came True
The Plunderers
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff
Massacre Canyon
Dakota Lil
Unconquered
The Great Profile
Kathleen
The Velvet Touch
Swing Shift Maisie
I Beheld His Glory
My Girl Tisa
The Shanghai Cobra
The Missing Lady
Texas
So Proudly We Hail
The Naked Street
A Stolen Life
Kid Glove Killer
Life Begins at Eight-Thirty
The Night of January 16th
Dishonored Lady
Broadway Melody of 1940
The Way of All Flesh
Castle on the Hudson
In Cold Blood
Rendezvous with Annie
Corvette K-225
Cheyenne Autumn
Here Come the Marines
I Dood It
Queen of the Mob
Air Force
Flamingo Road
Easy to Wed
And One Was Beautiful
Sentimental Journey
The Most Dangerous Game
Manpower
Hello, Sister!
According to Mrs. Hoyle
Back Street
Sleep, My Love
Action in the North Atlantic
Carrie
The Golden Fleecing
Wild Is the Wind
Angel on My Shoulder
Shockproof
Dangerously Yours
Armored Car Robbery
Girls Can Play
Ten Gentlemen from West Point
Test Pilot
The Ghost Breakers
Tin Pan Alley
Union Pacific
Rendezvous
Mr. Wong in Chinatown
Operation Pacific
The Last Hurrah
Only Yesterday
Western Union
Alexander’s Ragtime Band
Homicide
Footsteps in the Night
Johnny Angel
Hold That Blonde!
Knute Rockne All American
Dragonfly Squadron
Rhythm on the River
The Roaring Twenties
Affectionately Yours
Rock Island Trail
The Gracie Allen Murder Case
Step by Step
Circumstantial Evidence
Trouble Along the Way
They Met in a Taxi
Woman Wanted
The Murder Man
You Can’t Take It with You
Baby Take a Bow
Mannequin
Good Times
Blondie
My Favorite Brunette
The Luckiest Girl in the World
Live, Love and Learn
When Willie Comes Marching Home
Night Spot
Apache Ambush
Murder, He Says
Wives Under Suspicion
Reap the Wild Wind
Charlie Chan at the Race Track
Nora Prentiss
O. Henry’s Full House
Boys’ Ranch
It Ain’t Hay
Sailor Beware
Blondie Hits the Jackpot
Pot o’ Gold
Ride ’Em Cowboy
One Touch of Venus
‘G’ Men
Brother Orchid
Buck Privates
Uncertain Glory
Jesse James
Strange Affair
Tell No Tales
Night Passage
New York Town
Irish Luck
Ziegfeld Girl
Everybody’s Doing It
Mission to Moscow
Heaven Can Wait
Over 21
Riding High
Gentleman Jim
God Is My Co-Pilot
Fast and Furious
Confidentially Connie
Christmas Holiday
The Duke of West Point
The Ice Follies of 1939
My Dear Miss Aldrich
Song of the Thin Man
Each Dawn I Die
Three Loves Has Nancy
The Eddie Cantor Story
My Man Godfrey
I Promise to Pay
You Only Live Once
Laura
Follow the Sun
Abbott and Costello Go to Mars
How to Behave
Rose of Washington Square
I Wake Up Screaming
Man on the Flying Trapeze
The Strange Love of Martha Ivers
Rhubarb
Four Mothers
The Affairs of Cellini
Hollywood Canteen
Cloak and Dagger
The Fighting 69th
Hold That Hypnotist
Desert Fury
Johnny Apollo
Never Say Goodbye
When the Daltons Rode
Dangerous Number
Belle Starr
They Shall Have Music
The Wild Man of Borneo
Broadway
North West Mounted Police
Okay, America!
Something to Shout About
Remember the Night
Career Timeline
Track the complete movie timeline of James Flavin, including all film releases, career breakthroughs, and notable roles. Follow their journey from early performances to recent blockbusters and upcoming projects.
1957
Wild Is the Wind
Wool Buyer
Footsteps in the Night
Mr. Bradbury
Night Passage
Tim Riley
Hold That Hypnotist
Jake Morgan
1953
I Beheld His Glory
Longinus
Trouble Along the Way
Coach Buck Holman
Confidentially Connie
Harry (uncredited)
The Eddie Cantor Story
Kelly
Abbott and Costello Go to Mars
First Policeman in Bank
1952
Here Come the Marines
Lieutenant-Colonel at End
Carrie
Mike - Bartender (uncredited)
O. Henry’s Full House
Cop (segment "The Cop and the Anthem") (uncredited)
Sailor Beware
Petty Officer (uncredited)
1951
According to Mrs. Hoyle
Prosecuting Attorney
Operation Pacific
SP Commander
Follow the Sun
Henry Gibbs
Rhubarb
O'Leary, Manhattan Police Chief (uncredited)
1950
Dakota Lil
Secret Service Chief
Armored Car Robbery
Lt. Phillips
Rock Island Trail
Railroad Workman
When Willie Comes Marching Home
Gen. Brevort (uncredited)
1949
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff
Insp. Wellman
Flamingo Road
Shockproof
Policeman in Park (Uncredited)
Homicide
Det. Lt. Boylan
Blondie Hits the Jackpot
Brophy
1948
The Plunderers
Sergeant Major
The Velvet Touch
Sgt. Oliphant
My Girl Tisa
Guard (uncredited)
Sleep, My Love
Lieutenant Mitchell
One Touch of Venus
Kerrigan
1947
Unconquered
Villager (uncredited)
Dishonored Lady
Police Sergeant Patella
My Favorite Brunette
Det. Lt. 'Mac' Hennessey (uncredited)
Nora Prentiss
District Attorney
Song of the Thin Man
Policeman Reardon (uncredited)
Desert Fury
Pat Johnson
1946
Young Widow
Subway Conductor (Uncredited)
The Missing Lady
Police Insp. Cardona
A Stolen Life
Investigator (uncredited)
Rendezvous with Annie
Turnkey (uncredited)
Easy to Wed
Joe
Sentimental Journey
Detective Sgt. McFarland (uncredited)
Angel on My Shoulder
Bellamy
Step by Step
Woods
Boys’ Ranch
Policeman (uncredited)
The Strange Love of Martha Ivers
Police Detective #1
Cloak and Dagger
Col. Walsh
1945
The Spider
Officer Johnny Tracy
The Shanghai Cobra
H.R. Jarvis
Johnny Angel
Flavin, Mate of the Quincy (uncredited)
Hold That Blonde!
Laundry Truck Driver (uncredited)
Circumstantial Evidence
Guard
Murder, He Says
Police Officer (uncredited)
Over 21
Captain (uncredited)
God Is My Co-Pilot
Major at Kweilin Airbase (uncredited)
1944
Uncertain Glory
Captain of Mobile Guard
Strange Affair
Bank Security Guard (Uncredited)
Christmas Holiday
Policeman
Laura
Det. McEveety (uncredited)
Hollywood Canteen
Marine Sergeant (uncredited)
1943
Thank Your Lucky Stars
Policeman (uncredited)
Swing Shift Maisie
Radio Policeman (Uncredited)
So Proudly We Hail
Captain O'Brien (Uncredited)
Corvette K-225
1st Lt. Bill Gardner
I Dood It
Federal Agent (uncredited)
Air Force
Maj. A.M. Bagley
Action in the North Atlantic
Merchant Marine School Lieutenant-Commander (uncredited)
It Ain’t Hay
Cop (uncredited)
Mission to Moscow
American Senator (uncredited)
Heaven Can Wait
Policeman (uncredited)
Riding High
Train Conductor
Something to Shout About
Policeman
1942
Fingers at the Window
Police Lieutenant Schaeffer
Kid Glove Killer
Keenan - Detective Grilling Eddie (uncredited)
Life Begins at Eight-Thirty
Policeman
Ten Gentlemen from West Point
Capt. Luddy
Reap the Wild Wind
Girl's Father (uncredited)
Ride ’Em Cowboy
Railroad Detective #2 (uncredited)
Gentleman Jim
George Corbett (uncredited)
Broadway
Doorman (uncredited)
1941
Bedtime Story
Hotel Guest in Room 625 (uncredited)
Kathleen
Moving Man
Texas
Abilene Fight Announcer
The Night of January 16th
Policeman Kelly
Manpower
Orderly About to Give Bath (uncredited)
Western Union
Deputy Sheriff
Affectionately Yours
Tomassetti
Pot o’ Gold
Sheriff Bud Connolly
Buck Privates
Recruiting Sergeant (uncredited)
New York Town
Recruiting Sergeant (uncredited)
Ziegfeld Girl
Buck (uncredited)
I Wake Up Screaming
Detective (uncredited)
Four Mothers
Demolition Man (uncredited)
Belle Starr
Sergeant
The Wild Man of Borneo
Policeman
1940
The Long Voyage Home
Dock Policeman
It All Came True
Roaring 90's Club Doorman (uncredited)
The Great Profile
Detective
Broadway Melody of 1940
Clancy (uncredited)
The Way of All Flesh
Policeman
Castle on the Hudson
Death Row Guard (uncredited)
Queen of the Mob
Third FBI Director
And One Was Beautiful
McRafferty
The Golden Fleecing
Cop (uncredited)
The Ghost Breakers
Hotel Porter (uncredited)
Tin Pan Alley
Army Sergeant (uncredited)
Knute Rockne All American
Army Assistant Coach (uncredited)
Rhythm on the River
Detective
Brother Orchid
Parking Attendant at Fat Dutchy's (uncredited)
The Fighting 69th
Supply Sergeant (uncredited)
Johnny Apollo
Prison Guard In Library (uncredited)
When the Daltons Rode
Annabella's Brother
North West Mounted Police
Mountie
1939
Union Pacific
Paddy (uncredited)
Mr. Wong in Chinatown
Police Sgt. Jerry
The Roaring Twenties
Policeman (uncredited)
The Gracie Allen Murder Case
Turnkey
Jesse James
Cavalry Captain (uncredited)
Tell No Tales
Officer Simmons (uncredited)
Irish Luck
Fluger
Fast and Furious
Policeman Guarding Entrance (uncredited)
The Ice Follies of 1939
Doorman (uncredited)
Each Dawn I Die
Policeman (uncredited)
Rose of Washington Square
Guard (uncredited)
They Shall Have Music
Police Sergeant (uncredited)
Remember the Night
Court Attendant (uncredited)
1938
Test Pilot
Pilot (uncredited)
Alexander’s Ragtime Band
Army Captain (uncredited)
You Can’t Take It with You
Jailer (uncredited)
Blondie
Policeman in Accident Car (uncredited)
Night Spot
Kidnapper
Wives Under Suspicion
Jenks - Chauffeur (uncredited)
Everybody’s Doing It
Detective Hayes
The Duke of West Point
Plebe Hockey Coach
Three Loves Has Nancy
Jack's Friend (uncredited)
1937
Dangerously Yours
Driver
Girls Can Play
Det. Bill O'Malley
Mannequin
Burly Man (Uncredited)
Live, Love and Learn
Marine Who Likes Painting (uncredited)
My Dear Miss Aldrich
Dr. Spitzy Calahan (uncredited)
I Promise to Pay
Bill Seaver
You Only Live Once
State Trooper (uncredited)
Dangerous Number
Cab Driver
1936
They Met in a Taxi
Policeman
The Luckiest Girl in the World
Policeman
Charlie Chan at the Race Track
Detective
My Man Godfrey
Detective (uncredited)
How to Behave
Man in Manhole (uncredited)
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