John Alvin
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- October 24, 1917
- Died
- February 27, 2009 (aged 91)
- Birthplace
- Chicago, Illinois, USA
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.
Known For
Filmography
Milk Money
Movie · as Rich Old Guy
Return to Green Acres
Movie · as E. Wilfred
Dennis the Menace
Movie · as Mr. Bonfigli
Amazing Stories
TV · as Professor Rand · 1 ep
Passions
Movie · as Minister
Murder, She Wrote
TV · as Mr. Tucker, Dr. Frazier · 1 ep
Somewhere in Time
Movie · as Arthur's Father
Hart to Hart
TV · as Clark, Carl Johnson
The Incredible Hulk
TV · as Dr. Patterson · 1 ep
The Quest: The Longest Drive
Movie · as Aames
Crackle of Death
Movie
The Legend of Lizzie Borden
Movie · as Dr. Draper
Starsky & Hutch
TV · as Grocer · 1 ep
Kolchak: The Night Stalker
TV · as Dr. Carrie · 1 ep
M*A*S*H
TV · as Bowman · 1 ep
Sweet, Sweet Rachel
Movie · as Surgeon
The Organization
Movie · as Forensic Officer (uncredited)
All in the Family
TV · as Bailiff · 1 ep
They Call Me Mister Tibbs!
Movie · as Reporter (uncredited)
The Legend of Lylah Clare
Movie · as Accountant (uncredited)
The Second Hundred Years
TV · as Mark Tolliver, John · 1 ep
Family Affair
TV · 1 ep
Occasional Wife
TV · 1 ep
Get Smart
TV · as Dr. Rhinehouse · 1 ep
Marnie
Movie · as Hotel Chauffeur (uncredited)
The Cara Williams Show
TV · 1 ep
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
TV · as Doctor · 1 ep
The Munsters
TV · as Mr. Franklin · 1 ep
Irma la Douce
Movie · as Customer #2
Petticoat Junction
TV · as Mr. Kimberly · 1 ep
The Beverly Hillbillies
TV · as Harry Barth, Photographer · 2 eps
The Lucy Show
TV · as Director · 1 ep
Cain's Hundred
TV · as Norman Reno · 1 ep
87th Precinct
TV · 1 ep
My Three Sons
TV · 2 eps
Bringing Up Buddy
TV · 1 ep
One Step Beyond
TV · as Bradley · 1 ep
The DuPont Show with June Allyson
TV · as Photographer · 1 ep
The Rifleman
TV · 1 ep
Bronco
TV · as Jim March · 1 ep
Perry Mason
TV · as Sam Walsh, Phil - Bank Teller, Assistant Bank Manager · 1 ep
Leave It to Beaver
TV · 1 ep
Richard Diamond, Private Detective
TV · as Doc · 1 ep
Kentucky Rifle
Movie · as Luke Thomas
Wire Service
TV · as Chief Dispatcher · 1 ep
Hey, Jeannie!
TV · as Man · 1 ep
The McConnell Story
Movie · as Johnny
A Bullet for Joey
Movie · as Constable Dan Percy (uncredited)
Illegal
Movie · as Court Clerk (uncredited)
Cheyenne
TV · 1 ep
The Millionaire
TV · as Defense Atty. Bill Irvin, Prosecuting Attorney · 1 ep
Navy Log
TV · 1 ep
Sheena: Queen of the Jungle
TV · as Keegle · 1 ep
Deep in My Heart
Movie · as Mr. Mulvaney (uncredited)
The Shanghai Story
Movie · as John Warren
Climax!
TV · as Sir Roscoe Crosby · 1 ep
The Whistler
TV · 1 ep
The Lone Wolf
TV · as Johnson · 1 ep
Torpedo Alley
Movie · as Professor
April in Paris
Movie · as Tracy
Carrie
Movie · as Stage Manager
The Iron Mistress
Movie · as Impatient Man in Tailor's Shop
Dangerous Assignment
TV · 1 ep
Hopalong Cassidy
TV · 1 ep
Four Star Playhouse
TV · as Third Mate, Clerk · 1 ep
Missing Women
Movie · as Eddie Ennis
The Unknown Man
Movie · as Photographer (uncredited)
Come Fill the Cup
Movie · as Travis Ashbourne - Reporter
Dragnet
TV · 3 eps
Racket Squad
TV · 1 ep
The Living Christ
TV · as Joseph · 12 eps
This Side of the Law
Movie · as Calder Taylor
Pretty Baby
Movie · as Danny (uncredited)
The Breaking Point
Movie · as Reporter (uncredited)
Bright Leaf
Movie · as Poker Player (uncredited)
The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show
TV · as Wonder Glue Pitchman · 1 ep
The Jack Benny Program
TV · as Juror · 1 ep
The Fountainhead
Movie · as Young Intellectual (uncredited)
The Lone Ranger
TV · as Sid · 1 ep
Open Secret
Movie · as Ralph
Train to Alcatraz
Movie · as Nick
Rocky
Movie · as Jack Arnold
The Bold Frontiersman
Movie · as Don Post
Two Guys from Texas
Movie · as Jim Crocker
The Shanghai Chest
Movie · as Victor Armstrong
Romance on the High Seas
Movie · as Charles - Travel Agent (uncredited)
The Beast with Five Fingers
Movie · as Donald Arlington
Cheyenne
Movie · as Single Jack
Stallion Road
Movie · as Radio Broadcaster (uncredited)
Under Colorado Skies
Movie · as Jeff Collins
Deep Valley
Movie · as Convict
Love and Learn
Movie · as William
Nora Prentiss
Movie · as San Francisco Ferry Boat Dispatcher (voice) (uncredited)
Three Strangers
Movie · as Junior Clerk
Shadow of a Woman
Movie · as Carl, Emma's Son
Objective, Burma!
Movie · as Hogan
San Antonio
Movie · as Pony Smith
The Fighting Sullivans
Movie · as Madison Abel 'Matt' Sullivan
The Very Thought of You
Movie · as Cal Wheeler
Northern Pursuit
Movie · as Orderly (uncredited)
Destination Tokyo
Movie · as Sound Man