John Alvin
54 movies · 47 TV shows
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- Oct 24, 1917
- Died
- Feb 27, 2009 (age 91)
- Place of birth
- Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Also known as
- John Alvin Hoffstadt
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.
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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.
Profiles IMDb
Known for
John Alvin: movies and TV shows
Acting (101)
- 1994 Milk Money
as Rich Old Guy
- 1990 Return to Green Acres
as E. Wilfred
- 1987 Dennis the Menace
as Mr. Bonfigli
- 1985
- 1984 Passions
as Minister
- 1984
- 1980 Somewhere in Time
as Arthur's Father
- 1979
- 1977
- 1976
- 1976 The Quest: The Longest Drive
as Aames
- 1975
- 1975 The Legend of Lizzie Borden
as Dr. Draper
- 1974
- 1972
- 1971 The Organization
as Forensic Officer (uncredited)
- 1971 Sweet, Sweet Rachel
as Surgeon
- 1971
- 1970 They Call Me Mister Tibbs!
as Reporter (uncredited)
- 1968 The Legend of Lylah Clare
as Accountant (uncredited)
- 1967
- 1966
- 1966
- 1965
- 1964
- 1964
- 1964
- 1964 Marnie
as Hotel Chauffeur (uncredited)
- 1963
- 1963 Irma la Douce
as Customer #2
- 1962
- 1962
- 1961
- 1961
- 1960
- 1960
- 1959
- 1959
- 1958
- 1958
- 1957
- 1957 Perry Mason · TV
as Sam Walsh / Phil - Bank Teller / Assistant Bank Manager / Bank Teller · 4 episodes
- 1957
- 1956
- 1956
- 1956 Kentucky Rifle
as Luke Thomas
- 1955 Illegal
as Court Clerk (uncredited)
- 1955 The McConnell Story
as Johnny
- 1955
- 1955
- 1955
- 1955 A Bullet for Joey
as Constable Dan Percy (uncredited)
- 1955
- 1954 Deep in My Heart
as Mr. Mulvaney (uncredited)
- 1954
- 1954 The Shanghai Story
as John Warren
- 1954
- 1954
- 1953 Torpedo Alley
as Professor
- 1952 April in Paris
as Tracy
- 1952 The Iron Mistress
as Impatient Man in Tailor's Shop
- 1952
- 1952
- 1952 Carrie
as Stage Manager
- 1952
- 1951
- 1951 The Unknown Man
as Photographer (uncredited)
- 1951 Come Fill the Cup
as Travis Ashbourne - Reporter
- 1951
- 1951 Missing Women
as Eddie Ennis
- 1951
- 1950
- 1950
- 1950 The Breaking Point
as Reporter (uncredited)
- 1950 Pretty Baby
as Danny (uncredited)
- 1950 This Side of the Law
as Calder Taylor
- 1950 Bright Leaf
as Poker Player (uncredited)
- 1949
- 1949 The Fountainhead
as Young Intellectual (uncredited)
- 1948 Two Guys from Texas
as Jim Crocker
- 1948 The Shanghai Chest
as Victor Armstrong
- 1948 Train to Alcatraz
as Nick
- 1948 Romance on the High Seas
as Charles - Travel Agent (uncredited)
- 1948 The Bold Frontiersman
as Don Post
- 1948 Open Secret
as Ralph
- 1948 Rocky
as Jack Arnold
- 1947 Under Colorado Skies
as Jeff Collins
- 1947 Deep Valley
as Convict
- 1947 Cheyenne
as Single Jack
- 1947 Love and Learn
as William
- 1947 Stallion Road
as Radio Broadcaster (uncredited)
- 1947 Nora Prentiss
as San Francisco Ferry Boat Dispatcher (voice) (uncredited)
- 1947 The Beast with Five Fingers
as Donald Arlington
- 1946 Shadow of a Woman
as Carl, Emma's Son
- 1946 Three Strangers
as Junior Clerk
- 1945 San Antonio
as Pony Smith
- 1945 Objective, Burma!
as Hogan
- 1944 The Very Thought of You
as Cal Wheeler
- 1944 The Fighting Sullivans
as Madison Abel 'Matt' Sullivan
- 1943 Destination Tokyo
as Sound Man
- 1943 Northern Pursuit
as Orderly (uncredited)