John Alvin
Known for: Acting
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.
Filmography
Series
Perry Mason
Sam Walsh
1957
Series
Perry Mason
Phil - Bank Teller
1957
Series
Perry Mason
Assistant Bank Manager
1957
Series
Perry Mason
Bank Teller
1957
Series
Murder, She Wrote
Mr. Tucker
1984
Series
Murder, She Wrote
Dr. Frazier
1984
Series
The Rifleman
1958
Series
Dragnet
1951
Series
M*A*S*H
Bowman
1972
Series
Get Smart
Dr. Rhinehouse
1965
Series
The Beverly Hillbillies
Harry Barth
1962
Series
The Beverly Hillbillies
Photographer
1962
Series
Hart to Hart
1979
Series
Hart to Hart
Clark
1979
Series
The Lucy Show
Director
1962
Series
Petticoat Junction
Mr. Kimberly
1963
Series
Cheyenne
1955
Series
The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show
The Wonder Glue Pitchman
1950
Series
Leave It to Beaver
1957
Series
My Three Sons
1960
Series
The Incredible Hulk
Dr. Patterson
1977
Series
Starsky & Hutch
Grocer
1975
Series
Climax!
Sir Roscoe Crosby
1954
Series
All in the Family
Bailiff
1971
Series
Four Star Playhouse
Third Mate
1952
Series
Four Star Playhouse
Clerk
1952
Series
Four Star Playhouse
1952
Series
Amazing Stories
Professor Rand
1985
Series
The Lone Ranger
Sid
1949
Series
Navy Log
1955
Series
The Munsters
Mr. Franklin
1964
Series
One Step Beyond
Bradley
1959
Series
Family Affair
1966
Series
The Jack Benny Program
Juror
1950
Series
Richard Diamond, Private Detective
Doc
1957
Series
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
Doctor
1964
Series
The Millionaire
Defense Atty. Bill Irvin
1955
Series
The Millionaire
Prosecuting Attorney
1955
Series
Kolchak: The Night Stalker
Dr. Carrie
1974
Series
Bronco
Jim March
1958
Series
The DuPont Show with June Allyson
Photographer
1959
Series
Cain's Hundred
Norman Reno
1961
Series
87th Precinct
1961
Series
Dangerous Assignment
1952
Series
Racket Squad
1951
Film
Somewhere in Time
Arthur's Father
1980
Series
The Whistler
1954
Film
Marnie
Hotel Chauffeur (uncredited)
1964
Series
Hey, Jeannie!
Man
1956
Series
Wire Service
Chief Dispatcher
1956
Series
The Lone Wolf
Johnson
1954
Film
Milk Money
Rich Old Guy
1994
Series
The Second Hundred Years
Mark Tolliver
1967
Series
The Second Hundred Years
John
1967
Series
Sheena: Queen of the Jungle
Keegle
1955
Film
Irma la Douce
Customer #2
1963
Series
Hopalong Cassidy
1952
Series
The Living Christ
Joseph
1951
Series
Occasional Wife
1966
Series
The Cara Williams Show
1964
Bringing Up Buddy
1960
Film
The Fountainhead
Young Intellectual (uncredited)
1949
Film
They Call Me Mister Tibbs!
Reporter (uncredited)
1970
Film
The Organization
Forensic Officer (uncredited)
1971
Film
Objective, Burma!
Hogan
1945
Film
Romance on the High Seas
Charles - Travel Agent (uncredited)
1948
Film
Bright Leaf
Poker Player (uncredited)
1950
Film
Destination Tokyo
Sound Man
1943
Film
Passions
Minister
1984
Film
Nora Prentiss
San Francisco Ferry Boat Dispatcher (voice) (uncredited)
1947
Film
Missing Women
Eddie Ennis
1951
Film
The Legend of Lizzie Borden
Dr. Draper
1975
Film
Carrie
Stage Manager
1952
Film
Illegal
Court Clerk (uncredited)
1955
Film
San Antonio
Pony Smith
1945
Film
Deep in My Heart
Mr. Mulvaney (uncredited)
1954
Film
The Legend of Lylah Clare
Accountant (uncredited)
1968
Film
Three Strangers
Junior Clerk
1946
Film
The Quest: The Longest Drive
Aames
1976
Film
Northern Pursuit
Orderly (uncredited)
1943
Film
A Bullet for Joey
Constable Dan Percy (uncredited)
1955
Film
The Iron Mistress
Impatient Man in Tailor's Shop
1952
Film
The Beast with Five Fingers
Donald Arlington
1947
Film
The Unknown Man
Photographer (uncredited)
1951
Film
The Breaking Point
Reporter (uncredited)
1950
Film
The Shanghai Chest
Victor Armstrong
1948
Film
April in Paris
Tracy
1952
Film
The McConnell Story
Johnny
1955
Film
Rocky
Jack Arnold
1948
Film
Come Fill the Cup
Travis Ashbourne - Reporter
1951
Film
The Fighting Sullivans
Madison Abel 'Matt' Sullivan
1944
Film
Cheyenne
Single Jack
1947
Film
The Shanghai Story
John Warren
1954
Film
Two Guys from Texas
Jim Crocker
1948
Film
This Side of the Law
Calder Taylor
1950
Film
The Very Thought of You
Cal Wheeler
1944
Film
Torpedo Alley
Professor
1953
Film
Deep Valley
Convict
1947
Film
Pretty Baby
Danny (uncredited)
1950
Film
Kentucky Rifle
Luke Thomas
1956
Train to Alcatraz
Nick
1948
Film
Sweet, Sweet Rachel
Surgeon
1971
Film
Return to Green Acres
E. Wilfred
1990
Film
Stallion Road
Radio Broadcaster (uncredited)
1947
Film
Shadow of a Woman
Carl, Emma's Son
1946
Film
Dennis the Menace
Mr. Bonfigli
1987
Film
The Bold Frontiersman
Don Post
1948
Film
Crackle of Death
1976
Film
Love and Learn
William
1947
Film
Under Colorado Skies
Jeff Collins
1947
Film
Open Secret
Ralph
1948