Acting
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.
Filmography
Milk Money
Film · 1994
Return to Green Acres
Film · 1990
Dennis the Menace
Film · 1987
Amazing Stories
Series · 1985
Passions
Film · 1984
Murder, She Wrote
Series · 1984
Murder, She Wrote
Series · 1984
Somewhere in Time
Film · 1980
Hart to Hart
Series · 1979
Hart to Hart
Series · 1979
Hart to Hart
Series · 1979
The Incredible Hulk
Series · 1977
The Quest: The Longest Drive
Film · 1976
Crackle of Death
Film · 1976
The Legend of Lizzie Borden
Film · 1975
Starsky & Hutch
Series · 1975
Kolchak: The Night Stalker
Series · 1974
M*A*S*H
Series · 1972
Sweet, Sweet Rachel
Film · 1971
The Organization
Film · 1971
All in the Family
Series · 1971
They Call Me Mister Tibbs!
Film · 1970
The Legend of Lylah Clare
Film · 1968
The Second Hundred Years
Series · 1967
The Second Hundred Years
Series · 1967
Family Affair
Series · 1966
Occasional Wife
Series · 1966
Get Smart
Series · 1965
Marnie
Film · 1964
The Cara Williams Show
Series · 1964
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
Series · 1964
The Munsters
Series · 1964
Irma la Douce
Film · 1963
Petticoat Junction
Series · 1963
The Beverly Hillbillies
Series · 1962
The Beverly Hillbillies
Series · 1962
The Lucy Show
Series · 1962
Cain's Hundred
Series · 1961
87th Precinct
Series · 1961
My Three Sons
Series · 1960
Bringing Up Buddy
Series · 1960
One Step Beyond
Series · 1959
The DuPont Show with June Allyson
Series · 1959
The Rifleman
Series · 1958
Bronco
Series · 1958
Perry Mason
Series · 1957
Leave It to Beaver
Series · 1957
Richard Diamond, Private Detective
Series · 1957
Perry Mason
Series · 1957
Perry Mason
Series · 1957
Perry Mason
Series · 1957
Kentucky Rifle
Film · 1956
Wire Service
Series · 1956
Hey, Jeannie!
Series · 1956
The McConnell Story
Film · 1955
A Bullet for Joey
Film · 1955
Illegal
Film · 1955
Cheyenne
Series · 1955
The Millionaire
Series · 1955
Navy Log
Series · 1955
Sheena: Queen of the Jungle
Series · 1955
The Millionaire
Series · 1955
Deep in My Heart
Film · 1954
The Shanghai Story
Film · 1954
Climax!
Series · 1954
The Whistler
Series · 1954
The Lone Wolf
Series · 1954
Torpedo Alley
Film · 1953
April in Paris
Film · 1952
Carrie
Film · 1952
The Iron Mistress
Film · 1952
Dangerous Assignment
Series · 1952
Hopalong Cassidy
Series · 1952
Four Star Playhouse
Series · 1952
Four Star Playhouse
Series · 1952
Four Star Playhouse
Series · 1952
Missing Women
Film · 1951
The Unknown Man
Film · 1951
Come Fill the Cup
Film · 1951
Dragnet
Series · 1951
Racket Squad
Series · 1951
The Living Christ
Series · 1951
This Side of the Law
Film · 1950
The Breaking Point
Film · 1950
Pretty Baby
Film · 1950
Bright Leaf
Film · 1950
The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show
Series · 1950
The Jack Benny Program
Series · 1950
The Fountainhead
Film · 1949
The Lone Ranger
Series · 1949
Open Secret
Film · 1948
Train to Alcatraz
Film · 1948
Rocky
Film · 1948
The Bold Frontiersman
Film · 1948
Two Guys from Texas
Film · 1948
The Shanghai Chest
Film · 1948
Romance on the High Seas
Film · 1948
The Beast with Five Fingers
Film · 1947
Cheyenne
Film · 1947
Stallion Road
Film · 1947
Under Colorado Skies
Film · 1947
Deep Valley
Film · 1947
Love and Learn
Film · 1947
Nora Prentiss
Film · 1947
Three Strangers
Film · 1946
Shadow of a Woman
Film · 1946
Objective, Burma!
Film · 1945
San Antonio
Film · 1945
The Fighting Sullivans
Film · 1944
The Very Thought of You
Film · 1944
Northern Pursuit
Film · 1943
Destination Tokyo
Film · 1943