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Photo of John Alvin

John Alvin

Actor
Died February 27, 2009 (91 years)
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.
Movies & Shows on Plex
  • Somewhere in Time
  • The Beverly Hillbillies
  • The Rifleman
  • Petticoat Junction
  • The Lucy Show
  • My Favorite Martian
  • The Lone Ranger
  • Father Knows Best
  • Dragnet (1951)
  • Illegal
  • One Step Beyond
  • Death Valley Days
  • Hopalong Cassidy
  • Kentucky Rifle
  • Four Star Playhouse
  • Dangerous Assignment
Known For
  • Somewhere in Time
  • Dark Passage
  • Objective, Burma!
  • The Beast with Five Fingers
  • The Fighting Sullivans
  • Three Strangers
  • San Antonio
  • Deep Valley
  • April in Paris
  • Wicked Woman
  • Close to My Heart
  • Kentucky Rifle
  • Torpedo Alley

Filmography

1994
Milk Money · as Rich Old Guy
1990
Return to Green Acres · as E. Wilfred
1987
Dennis the Menace · as Mr. Bonfigli
1987
The Bold and the Beautiful (TV Series) · as Reverend Fuller
1985
Amazing Stories (1985) (TV Series) · as Professor Rand
1984
Passions · as Minister
1984
Murder, She Wrote (TV Series) · as Dr. Frazier
1983
AfterMASH (TV Series) · as Dr. Raymond
1980
Somewhere in Time · as Arthur's Father
1979
Hart to Hart (TV Series)
1977
The Incredible Hulk (TV Series) · as Dr. Patterson
1977
Lou Grant (TV Series) · as Dr. Eastwick
1976
The Quest (1976) (TV Series) · as Aames
1976
Monster Squad (TV Series) · as Dr. Fishline
1976
1975
Starsky & Hutch (TV Series) · as Grocer
1975
1974
1974
Police Woman (TV Series) · as Doctor
1974
Kolchak: The Night Stalker (TV Series) · as Dr. Carrie
1972
M*A*S*H (TV Series) · as Bowman
1971
The Organization · as Forensic Officer (uncredited)
1971
Sweet, Sweet Rachel · as Surgeon
1971
The Smith Family (TV Series) · as Gus Bonner
1971
All in the Family (TV Series) · as Bailiff
1970
They Call Me Mister Tibbs! · as Bearded Reporter At Logan Sharpe Hq
1969
They Shoot Horses, Don't They? · as Prison Doctor
1968
The Legend of Lylah Clare · as Accountant
1968
It Takes a Thief (TV Series) · as Dr. Warren
1967
Mannix (TV Series) · as Cast
1967
The Second Hundred Years (TV Series) · as John
1967
Ironside (TV Series) · as Irv
1966
Occasional Wife (TV Series)
1966
Family Affair (TV Series)
1965
Days of our Lives (TV Series) · as Mr, Skipson
1965
Get Smart (TV Series)
1965
Hank (TV Series) · as Professor Albright
1965
I Spy (TV Series) · as Test Conductor
1964
The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (TV Series) · as Doctor
1964
Wendy and Me (TV Series) · as Reporter
1964
Marnie · as Hotel Chauffeur (uncredited)
1964
The Munsters (TV Series) · as Mr. Franklin
1963
My Favorite Martian (TV Series) · as Colonel
1963
The Richard Boone Show (TV Series) · as Mr. Hart
1963
Petticoat Junction (TV Series) · as Mr. Kimberly
1963
Irma la Douce · as Customer #2
1962
The Lucy Show (TV Series) · as Director
1962
The Beverly Hillbillies (TV Series) · as Harry Barth
1962
Sam Benedict (TV Series) · as Burt
1962
The Couch · as Sloan
1961
Alcoa Premiere (TV Series) · as Scientist
1961
Dr. Kildare (TV Series) · as Dan's Father
1961
The Dick Powell Show (TV Series) · as Stan
1961
87th Precinct (TV Series)
1961
The Joey Bishop Show (TV Series) · as Attorney Harper
1961
Cain's Hundred (TV Series) · as Norman Reno
1961
Follow The Sun (TV Series) · as The Doctor
1960
The Case of the Dangerous Robin (TV Series) · as Cast
1960
The Law and Mr. Jones (TV Series) · as Cast
1960
My Three Sons (TV Series)
1960
Thriller (TV Series) · as Detective Joe
1959
Shotgun Slade (TV Series) · as Quint Packer
1959
Hawaiian Eye (TV Series) · as Henry Carter
1959
The June Allyson Show (TV Series) · as Photographer
1959
One Step Beyond (TV Series) · as Bradley
1959
Rawhide (TV Series) · as Officer
1958
77 Sunset Strip (TV Series) · as Sylvia's Husband
1958
1958
The Texan (TV Series) · as Sheriff Of Triple Creek
1958
Bronco (TV Series)
1958
Rescue 8 (TV Series) · as Albert Crotty
1957
Alcoa Theatre (TV Series) · as Coroner
1957
Perry Mason (TV Series) · as Assistant Bank Manager
1957
Leave It to Beaver (TV Series)
1957
Tales of Wells Fargo (TV Series) · as Joe Rivers
1957
O. Henry Playhouse (TV Series) · as Willis Burchett
1956
1956
Hey Jeannie! (TV Series) · as Man
1955
The McConnell Story · as Johnny
1955
Illegal · as Court Clerk (uncredited)
1955
Cheyenne (TV Series)
1955
Navy Log (TV Series)
1955
Sheena, Queen of the Jungle (TV Series) · as Keegle
1955
The Jane Wyman Show (TV Series) · as Cast
1955
City of Shadows · as Security Guard At 20th Century Security Company
1955
Kentucky Rifle · as Luke Thomas
1955
A Bullet for Joey · as Constable Dan Percy (uncredited)
1955
Science Fiction Theatre (TV Series) · as Dr. Lee Thomas
1955
The Millionaire (TV Series) · as Prosecuting Attorney
1954
Deep in My Heart · as Mr. Mulvaney (uncredited)
1954
Climax! (TV Series) · as Sir Roscoe Crosby
1954
Father Knows Best (TV Series) · as Lloyd
1954
Naked Alibi · as Stu
1954
The Lineup (TV Series) · as Kenny Tappan
1954
Studio 57 (TV Series) · as Cast
1954
Lassie (TV Series) · as Don Robertson
1954
The Shanghai Story · as John Warren
1954
Lucky Me · as Clerk
1954
The Whistler (TV Series) · as Cast
1954
The Lone Wolf (TV Series)
1954
Rocky Jones, Space Ranger (TV Series) · as Dorton
1954
Waterfront (TV Series) · as Joe Martin
1953
Wicked Woman · as Bar Patron
1953
Dream Wife · as Reporter
1953
I'm the Law (TV Series) · as Cast
1953
You Are There (TV Series) · as Editor
1952
April in Paris · as Tracy
1952
Torpedo Alley · as Professor
1952
The Iron Mistress · as Impatient Man In Tailor's Shop
1952
Omnibus (TV Series) · as (segment "the House")
1952
Mr. & Mrs. North (TV Series) · as Ernest Chadwick
1952
Cavalcade of America (TV Series) · as Mr. Brown
1952
Four Star Playhouse (TV Series) · as Third Mate
1952
1952
This Is The Life (TV Series) · as Older Professor
1952
Carrie · as Stage Manager
1952
Washington Story · as Technician
1952
Death Valley Days (TV Series) · as Dr. Brown
1952
Rebound (TV Series) · as Cast
1951
1951
1951
Come Fill the Cup · as Travis Ashbourne - Reporter
1951
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (TV Series) · as Cast
1951
Mark Saber (TV Series) · as Paul Weeks
1951
Close to My Heart · as Prospective Adoptive Father
1951
Sky King (TV Series) · as Carter
1951
Home Town Story · as Jimmy
1951
Three Guys Named Mike · as Flight Dispatcher Brown
1951
Missing Women · as Eddie Ennis
1951
Living Christ Series (TV Series) · as Joseph
1950
Racket Squad (TV Series)
1950
Highway 301 · as Bank Teller
1950
Dial 1119 · as Television Director
1950
The Jack Benny Program (TV Series) · as Juror
1950
The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show (TV Series) · as Reporter #1
1950
The Breaking Point · as Reporter (uncredited)
1950
Pretty Baby · as Danny (uncredited)
1950
Lonely Heart Bandits · as Trooper
1950
Bright Leaf · as Poker Player (uncredited)
1950
This Side of the Law · as Calder Taylor
1950
1949
The Story of Seabiscuit · as Announcer
1949
The Lone Ranger (TV Series) · as Sid
1949
The Fountainhead · as Young Intellectual (uncredited)
1949
A Kiss in the Dark · as Tenant
1948
The Babe Ruth Story · as Reporter
1948
Two Guys from Texas · as Jim Crocker
1948
The Shanghai Chest · as Victor Armstrong
1948
Romance on the High Seas · as Charles - Travel Agent (uncredited)
1948
1948
Open Secret · as Ralph
1948
Rocky · as Jack Arnold
1947
Under Colorado Skies · as Jeff Collins
1947
Dark Passage · as Blackie
1947
Love and Learn · as William
1947
Deep Valley · as Convict
1947
Cheyenne · as Single Jack
1947
Stallion Road · as Radio Broadcaster (uncredited)
1947
Nora Prentiss · as San Francisco Bay Ferry Boat Dispatcher
1946
The Beast with Five Fingers · as Donald Arlington
1946
Shadow of a Woman · as Carl, Emma's Son
1946
Night and Day · as Petey
1946
One More Tomorrow · as Announcer
1946
Three Strangers · as Junior Clerk
1945
San Antonio · as Pony Smith
1945
Objective, Burma! · as Hogan
1945
Roughly Speaking · as Lawton Mackall
1944
The Very Thought of You · as Cal Wheeler
1944
Janie · as Life Photographer
1944
The Fighting Sullivans · as Madison Abel 'matt' Sullivan
1943
Destination Tokyo · as Sound Man
1943
Northern Pursuit · as Orderly (uncredited)

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