John Alvin
Acting • Born 1917-10-24 – Died 2009-02-27
Biography
John Alvin, born John Alvin Hoffstadt was an American film, stage and television actor. Alvin was signed with Warner Brothers Studios for an exclusive four-year contract during the World War II era, although he was "borrowed" by 20th Century Fox to appear in 1944's Oscar-nominated The Fighting Sullivans. He appeared in more than 25 Warner Brothers films during this time, including Northern Pursuit (which starred Errol Flynn), The Beast with Five Fingers, The Very Thought of You, and Objective, Burma!. His pictures after the contract period included Irma la Douce, Inside Daisy Clover, They Shoot Horses, Don't They?, and Alfred Hitchcock's Marnie. However, it was his role in the 1943 film Destination Tokyo, in which he co-starred with John Garfield and Cary Grant, that left the largest impression on Alvin. Years later, in a 2006 interview, Alvin credited Grant with having a major impact on his career path: "I learned more about show business from him than from anyone. He was very attentive and helpful." Alvin later enjoyed a separate television career, which spanned from the 1950s to the 1980s. His television credits included various roles on Leave It to Beaver, All in the Family, Lou Grant, Dragnet, General Hospital, Murder, She Wrote, Starsky and Hutch, The Incredible Hulk and I Spy. Alvin's also appeared in numerous television commercials advertising for such products as Mattel, H&R Block, McDonald's, Porsche and Audi. Alvin's theater repertoire included Send Me No Flowers, The Student Prince, The Chicago Conspiracy Trial and The Cradle Will Rock. He also appeared in a production of Rain, which was directed by Charlie Chaplin. He largely retired from acting in the 1990s; his final film appearance was in 1994's Milk Money. During his retirement, Alvin often showed his movies for audiences at the Conejo Valley Senior Concerns, an organization for senior citizens based in Thousand Oaks, California.
Filmography
108 credits
Three Strangers
Movie • 1946
Junior Clerk
The Beast with Five Fingers
Movie • 1947
Donald Arlington
April in Paris
Movie • 1952
Tracy
Cheyenne
Movie • 1947
Single Jack
Objective, Burma!
Movie • 1945
Hogan
The Fighting Sullivans
Movie • 1944
Madison Abel 'Matt' Sullivan
Shadow of a Woman
Movie • 1946
Carl, Emma's Son
Missing Women
Movie • 1951
Eddie Ennis
This Side of the Law
Movie • 1950
Calder Taylor
Marnie
Movie • 1964
Hotel Chauffeur (uncredited)
Open Secret
Movie • 1948
Ralph
Northern Pursuit
Movie • 1943
Orderly (uncredited)
The Quest: The Longest Drive
Movie • 1976
Aames
Train to Alcatraz
Movie • 1948
Nick
The McConnell Story
Movie • 1955
Johnny
A Bullet for Joey
Movie • 1955
Constable Dan Percy (uncredited)
The Legend of Lizzie Borden
Movie • 1975
Dr. Draper
The Very Thought of You
Movie • 1944
Cal Wheeler
Illegal
Movie • 1955
Court Clerk (uncredited)
The Unknown Man
Movie • 1951
Photographer (uncredited)
Return to Green Acres
Movie • 1990
E. Wilfred
Rocky
Movie • 1948
Jack Arnold
Carrie
Movie • 1952
Stage Manager
San Antonio
Movie • 1945
Pony Smith
Deep in My Heart
Movie • 1954
Mr. Mulvaney (uncredited)
Dennis the Menace
Movie • 1987
Mr. Bonfigli
Somewhere in Time
Movie • 1980
Arthur's Father
Passions
Movie • 1984
Minister
Sweet, Sweet Rachel
Movie • 1971
Surgeon
Stallion Road
Movie • 1947
Radio Broadcaster (uncredited)
Under Colorado Skies
Movie • 1947
Jeff Collins
The Bold Frontiersman
Movie • 1948
Don Post
Kentucky Rifle
Movie • 1956
Luke Thomas
Deep Valley
Movie • 1947
Convict
Two Guys from Texas
Movie • 1948
Jim Crocker
The Shanghai Chest
Movie • 1948
Victor Armstrong
The Iron Mistress
Movie • 1952
Impatient Man in Tailor's Shop
Milk Money
Movie • 1994
Rich Old Guy
The Breaking Point
Movie • 1950
Reporter (uncredited)
Pretty Baby
Movie • 1950
Danny (uncredited)
The Fountainhead
Movie • 1949
Young Intellectual (uncredited)
Bright Leaf
Movie • 1950
Poker Player (uncredited)
The Shanghai Story
Movie • 1954
John Warren
Come Fill the Cup
Movie • 1951
Travis Ashbourne - Reporter
Romance on the High Seas
Movie • 1948
Charles - Travel Agent (uncredited)
Irma la Douce
Movie • 1963
Customer #2
Destination Tokyo
Movie • 1943
Sound Man
Love and Learn
Movie • 1947
William
Crackle of Death
Movie • 1976
The Organization
Movie • 1971
Forensic Officer (uncredited)
The Legend of Lylah Clare
Movie • 1968
Accountant (uncredited)
Nora Prentiss
Movie • 1947
San Francisco Ferry Boat Dispatcher (voice) (uncredited)
They Call Me Mister Tibbs!
Movie • 1970
Reporter (uncredited)
Murder, She Wrote
TV • 1984
Mr. Tucker
Family Affair
TV • 1966
M*A*S*H
TV • 1972
Bowman
Cheyenne
TV • 1955
Cain's Hundred
TV • 1961
Norman Reno
My Three Sons
TV • 1960
Starsky & Hutch
TV • 1975
Grocer
All in the Family
TV • 1971
Bailiff
The Beverly Hillbillies
TV • 1962
Harry Barth
Petticoat Junction
TV • 1963
Mr. Kimberly
Dragnet
TV • 1951
Hart to Hart
TV • 1979
Perry Mason
TV • 1957
Sam Walsh
Get Smart
TV • 1965
Kolchak: The Night Stalker
TV • 1974
Dr. Carrie
Leave It to Beaver
TV • 1957
Bringing Up Buddy
TV • 1960
87th Precinct
TV • 1961
The Millionaire
TV • 1955
Defense Atty. Bill Irvin
Climax!
TV • 1954
Sir Roscoe Crosby
One Step Beyond
TV • 1959
Bradley
Richard Diamond, Private Detective
TV • 1957
Doc
Bronco
TV • 1958
Occasional Wife
TV • 1966
Navy Log
TV • 1955
The Rifleman
TV • 1958
Racket Squad
TV • 1951
Wire Service
TV • 1956
Chief Dispatcher
The Whistler
TV • 1954
The Cara Williams Show
TV • 1964
The Lone Ranger
TV • 1949
Sid
Hey, Jeannie!
TV • 1956
Man
Dangerous Assignment
TV • 1952
The DuPont Show with June Allyson
TV • 1959
Photographer
Hopalong Cassidy
TV • 1952
The Living Christ
TV • 1951
Joseph
Sheena: Queen of the Jungle
TV • 1955
Keegle
Amazing Stories
TV • 1985
Professor Rand
The Beverly Hillbillies
TV • 1962
Photographer
The Millionaire
TV • 1955
Prosecuting Attorney
The Lucy Show
TV • 1962
Director
Four Star Playhouse
TV • 1952
Third Mate
Four Star Playhouse
TV • 1952
Clerk
Four Star Playhouse
TV • 1952
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
TV • 1964
Doctor
Perry Mason
TV • 1957
Phil - Bank Teller
Perry Mason
TV • 1957
Assistant Bank Manager
Perry Mason
TV • 1957
Bank Teller
The Incredible Hulk
TV • 1977
Dr. Patterson
The Munsters
TV • 1964
Mr. Franklin
Murder, She Wrote
TV • 1984
Dr. Frazier
The Lone Wolf
TV • 1954
Johnson
The Second Hundred Years
TV • 1967
Mark Tolliver
The Second Hundred Years
TV • 1967
John
Hart to Hart
TV • 1979
Clark