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.
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
all 95
Movies 50
TV Shows 45
Director 1
Milk Money (1994)
Return to Green Acres (1990)
Dennis the Menace (1987)
Amazing Stories (1985)
Passions (1984)
Murder, She Wrote (1984)
Somewhere in Time (1980)
Hart to Hart (1979)
The Incredible Hulk (1977)
Crackle of Death (1976)
The Quest: The Longest Drive (1976)
Starsky & Hutch (1975)
The Legend of Lizzie Borden (1975)
Kolchak: The Night Stalker (1974)
M*A*S*H (1972)
The Organization (1971)
Sweet, Sweet Rachel (1971)
All in the Family (1971)
Occasional Wife (1966)
Family Affair (1966)
Get Smart (1965)
The Munsters (1964)
The Cara Williams Show (1964)
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1964)
Marnie (1964)
Petticoat Junction (1963)
Irma la Douce (1963)
The Lucy Show (1962)
The Beverly Hillbillies (1962)
87th Precinct (1961)
Cain's Hundred (1961)
Bringing Up Buddy (1960)
My Three Sons (1960)
The DuPont Show with June Allyson (1959)
One Step Beyond (1959)
The Rifleman (1958)
Bronco (1958)
Leave It to Beaver (1957)
Perry Mason (1957)
Richard Diamond, Private Detective (1957)
Wire Service (1956)
Hey, Jeannie! (1956)
Kentucky Rifle (1956)
Illegal (1955)
The McConnell Story (1955)
Cheyenne (1955)
Navy Log (1955)
Sheena, Queen of the Jungle (1955)
A Bullet for Joey (1955)
The Millionaire (1955)
Deep in My Heart (1954)
Climax! (1954)
The Shanghai Story (1954)
The Whistler (1954)
The Lone Wolf (1954)
Your Favorite Story (1953)
April in Paris (1952)
The Iron Mistress (1952)
Four Star Playhouse (1952)
Hopalong Cassidy (1952)
Carrie (1952)
Dangerous Assignment (1952)
Dragnet (1951)
The Unknown Man (1951)
Come Fill the Cup (1951)
Racket Squad (1951)
Missing Women (1951)
The Living Christ (1951)
The Breaking Point (1950)
Pretty Baby (1950)
This Side of the Law (1950)
Bright Leaf (1950)
The Lone Ranger (1949)
The Fountainhead (1949)
Two Guys from Texas (1948)
Shanghai Chest (1948)
Train to Alcatraz (1948)
Romance on the High Seas (1948)
The Bold Frontiersman (1948)
Open Secret (1948)
Rocky (1948)
Under Colorado Skies (1947)
Deep Valley (1947)
Cheyenne (1947)
Love and Learn (1947)
Stallion Road (1947)
The Beast with Five Fingers (1947)
Shadow of a Woman (1946)
Three Strangers (1946)
San Antonio (1945)
Objective, Burma! (1945)
The Very Thought of You (1944)
The Fighting Sullivans (1944)
Destination Tokyo (1943)
Northern Pursuit (1943)
Ratings
Information
Known ForActing
GenderMale
Birthday1917-10-24
Deathday2009-02-27 (91 years old)
Birth PlaceChicago, United States of America
CitizenshipsUnited States of America
Also Known AsJohn Alvin Hoffstadt
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