John Alvin
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.
Acted in
Milk Money
1994
as Rich Old Guy
Return to Green Acres
1990
as E. Wilfred
Dennis the Menace
1987
as Mr. Bonfigli
Amazing Stories
1985
as Professor Rand
Passions
1984
as Minister
Murder, She Wrote
1984
as Mr. Tucker
Murder, She Wrote
1984
as Dr. Frazier
Somewhere in Time
1980
as Arthur's Father
Hart to Hart
1979
The Incredible Hulk
1977
as Dr. Patterson
Crackle of Death
1976
The Quest: The Longest Drive
1976
as Aames
Starsky & Hutch
1975
as Grocer
The Legend of Lizzie Borden
1975
as Dr. Draper
Kolchak: The Night Stalker
1974
as Dr. Carrie
M*A*S*H
1972
as Bowman
The Organization
1971
as Forensic Officer (uncredited)
Sweet, Sweet Rachel
1971
as Surgeon
All in the Family
1971
as Bailiff
Occasional Wife
1966
Family Affair
1966
Get Smart
1965
The Munsters
1964
as Mr. Franklin
The Cara Williams Show
1964
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
1964
as Doctor
Marnie
1964
as Hotel Chauffeur (uncredited)
Petticoat Junction
1963
as Mr. Kimberly
Irma la Douce
1963
as Customer #2
The Lucy Show
1962
as Director
The Beverly Hillbillies
1962
as Harry Barth
The Beverly Hillbillies
1962
as Photographer
87th Precinct
1961
Cain's Hundred
1961
as Norman Reno
Bringing Up Buddy
1960
My Three Sons
1960
The DuPont Show with June Allyson
1959
as Photographer
One Step Beyond
1959
as Bradley
The Rifleman
1958
Bronco
1958
Leave It to Beaver
1957
Perry Mason
1957
as Sam Walsh
Perry Mason
1957
as Phil - Bank Teller
Perry Mason
1957
as Assistant Bank Manager
Perry Mason
1957
as Bank Teller
Richard Diamond, Private Detective
1957
as Doc
Wire Service
1956
as Chief Dispatcher
Hey, Jeannie!
1956
as Man
Kentucky Rifle
1956
as Luke Thomas
Illegal
1955
as Court Clerk (uncredited)
The McConnell Story
1955
as Johnny
Cheyenne
1955
Navy Log
1955
Sheena, Queen of the Jungle
1955
as Keegle
A Bullet for Joey
1955
as Constable Dan Percy (uncredited)
The Millionaire
1955
as Defense Atty. Bill Irvin
The Millionaire
1955
as Prosecuting Attorney
Deep in My Heart
1954
as Mr. Mulvaney (uncredited)
Climax!
1954
as Sir Roscoe Crosby
The Shanghai Story
1954
as John Warren
The Whistler
1954
The Lone Wolf
1954
April in Paris
1952
as Tracy
The Iron Mistress
1952
as Impatient Man in Tailor's Shop
Four Star Playhouse
1952
as Third Mate
Four Star Playhouse
1952
as Clerk
Four Star Playhouse
1952
Hopalong Cassidy
1952
Carrie
1952
as Stage Manager
Dangerous Assignment
1952
Dragnet
1951
The Unknown Man
1951
Come Fill the Cup
1951
as Travis Ashbourne - Reporter
Racket Squad
1951
Missing Women
1951
as Eddie Ennis
The Living Christ
1951
as Joseph
The Breaking Point
1950
as Reporter (uncredited)
Pretty Baby
1950
as Danny (uncredited)
This Side of the Law
1950
as Calder Taylor
Bright Leaf
1950
as Poker Player (uncredited)
The Lone Ranger
1949
as Sid
The Fountainhead
1949
as Young Intellectual (uncredited)
Two Guys from Texas
1948
as Jim Crocker
Shanghai Chest
1948
as Victor Armstrong
Train to Alcatraz
1948
as Nick
Romance on the High Seas
1948
as Charles - Travel Agent (uncredited)
The Bold Frontiersman
1948
as Don Post
Open Secret
1948
as Ralph
Rocky
1948
as Jack Arnold
Under Colorado Skies
1947
as Jeff Collins
Deep Valley
1947
as Convict
Cheyenne
1947
as Single Jack
Love and Learn
1947
as William
Stallion Road
1947
as Radio Broadcaster (uncredited)
The Beast with Five Fingers
1947
as Donald Arlington
Shadow of a Woman
1946
as Carl, Emma's Son
Three Strangers
1946
as Junior Clerk
San Antonio
1945
as Pony Smith
Objective, Burma!
1945
as Hogan
The Very Thought of You
1944
as Cal Wheeler
The Fighting Sullivans
1944
as Madison Abel 'Matt' Sullivan
Destination Tokyo
1943
as Sound Man
Northern Pursuit
1943
as Orderly (uncredited)