John Alvin (born John Alvin Hoffstadt, October 24, 1917 – February 27, 2009) was an American film, stage and television actor. He appeared in over 25 films for Warner Brothers and numerous television and theater roles throughout his career, which spanned from the 1940s to the 1990s.
Early life
Alvin was born in Chicago on October 24, 1917. His father was a surgeon while his mother was a professional opera singer. He had one brother.
Alvin began to pursue acting while in high school. He moved from Illinois to California in 1939 in order to study at the Pasadena Playhouse. He met his future wife, June Lewis, while studying at the playhouse. They married in 1947 and remained together until his death in 2009.
Alvin dropped his last name, Hoffstadt, following the outbreak of World War II. He remained known as John Alvin both professionally and personally for the remainder of his life.
Career
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 (1964). 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, The Cara Williams Show, 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.
Death
John Alvin suffered injuries in a fall in February 2009. He died of complications from his injuries a week after the accident at a nursing home in Thousand Oaks, California, on February 27, 2009, at the age of 91. His ashes were scattered into the Pacific Ocean. Alvin was a 20-year resident of Thousand Oaks at the time of his death.
Alvin was survived by his wife, June, who had been married to him for 61 years. He was also survived by his son, Craig; daughter, Kim Ford; four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. His son, Tracy, died of a drug overdose in 1969 when he was 21 years old.
Selected filmography
Northern Pursuit (1943) …. Orderly (uncredited)
Destination Tokyo (1943) …. Sound Man
The Fighting Sullivans (1944) …. Madison Abel ‘Matt’ Sullivan
Janie (1944) …. Life Photographer (uncredited)
The Very Thought of You (1944) …. Cal Wheeler
Objective, Burma (1945) …. Hogan
Roughly Speaking (1945) …. Lawton MacKall (uncredited)
The Horn Blows at Midnight (1945) …. Angel (scenes deleted)
San Antonio (1945) …. Pony Smith
Three Strangers (1946) …. Junior Clerk
One More Tomorrow (1946) …. Announcer (uncredited)
Night and Day (1946) …. Petey (uncredited)
Shadow of a Woman (1946) …. Carl
The Beast with Five Fingers (1946) …. Donald Arlington
Nora Prentiss (1947) …. SF Bay Ferry Boat Dispatcher (voice, uncredited)
Stallion Road (1947) …. Radio Broadcaster (uncredited)
Love and Learn (1947) …. William – the Wyngate Chauffeur
Cheyenne (1947) …. Single Jack
Deep Valley (1947) …. Convict (uncredited)
Dark Passage (1947) …. Blackie (scenes deleted)
Under Colorado Skies (1947) …. Jeff Collins
Rocky (1948) …. Jack Arnold
Open Secret (1948) …. Ralph
The Bold Frontiersman (1948) ….. Don Post
Romance on the High Seas (1948) – Charles – Travel Agent (uncredited)
Train to Alcatraz (1948) …. Nick
Shanghai Chest (1948) …. Victor Armstrong
The Babe Ruth Story (1948) …. Reporter (uncredited)
Two Guys from Texas (1948) …. Jim Crocker
A Kiss in the Dark (1949) …. Tenant (uncredited)
The Fountainhead (1949) …. Young Intellectual (uncredited)
The Story of Seabiscuit (1949) …. Announcer (uncredited)
Bright Leaf (1950) …. Poker Player (uncredited)
This Side of the Law (1950) …. Calder Taylor
Lonely Heart Bandits (1950) …. Trooper (uncredited)
Pretty Baby (1950) – Danny (uncredited)
The Breaking Point (1950) …. Reporter (uncredited)
Dial 1119 (1950) …. Television Director (uncredited)
Highway 301 (1950) …. Bank Teller (uncredited)
Missing Women (1951) …. Eddie Ennis
Three Guys Named Mike (1951) …. Flight Dispatcher Brown (uncredited)
Home Town Story (1951) …. Jimmy (uncredited)
Goodbye, My Fancy (1951) …. Jack White (scenes deleted)
Havana Rose (1951) …. Reporter (uncredited)
Come Fill the Cup (1951) …. Travis Ashbourne – Reporter
Close to My Heart (1951) …. Prospective Adoptive Father (uncredited)
The Unknown Man (1951) …. Photographer (uncredited)
Washington Story (1952) …. Technician (uncredited)
Carrie (1952) …. Stage Manager
The Iron Mistress (1952) …. Impatient Man in Tailor’s Shop (uncredited)
Torpedo Alley (1952) …. Professor
April in Paris (1952) …. Tracy
Dream Wife (1953) …. Reporter (uncredited)
Lucky Me (1954) …. Clerk (uncredited)
The Shanghai Story (1954) …. Mr. Warren
Naked Alibi (1954) …. Stu (uncredited)
Deep in My Heart (1954) …. Mr. Mulvaney (uncredited)
A Bullet for Joey (1955) …. Constable Dan Percy (uncredited)
Kentucky Rifle (1955) …. Luke Thomas
City of Shadows (1955) …. Security Guard at 20th Century Security Company (uncredited)
The McConnell Story (1955) …. Johnny – Flyer Escort (uncredited)
Illegal (1955) …. Court Clerk (uncredited)
The Couch (1962) …. Sloan
Irma la Douce (1963) …. Customer #2
Marnie (1964) …. Hotel Chauffeur (uncredited)
The Legend of Lylah Clare (1968) …. Accountant (uncredited)
They Call Me Mister Tibbs! (1970) …. Bearded Reporter at Logan Sharpe HQ (uncredited)
The Organization (1971) …. Forensic Officer (uncredited)
Somewhere in Time (1980) …. Arthur’s Father
Milk Money (1994) …. Rich Old Guy (final film role)
External Links
Actor John Alvin – Wikipedia
