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John Gavin
1928-
Updated 8/26/2008 with more films available on DVD!
biography
Born John Anthony Golenor in Los Angeles on April 8, 1928 (some sources cite 1931 and 1932), handsome John Gavin served a hitch in the Navy following college. He got into films at the tail-end of the studio system when he was signed by Universal-International in 1956. Gavin's star rose quickly and, after a few B movies, soon he was acting in such 'A' pictures as Imitation of Life (1959; with Lana Turner) and Psycho (1960; with Anthony Perkins and Janet Leigh). Also he won a Golden Globe in 1959 for Most Promising Male Newcomer.
Handsome early Universal-International portrait
Almost inexplicably, Gavin's acting career began to fade in the later 1960s. He had a couple of short-lived television series, including Destry (aired February through May 1964) and Convoy (September through December 1965). With the cancellations of these shows and the end of his contract with Universal following the release of Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967; with Julie Andrews and Mary Tyler Moore), Gavin was soon off to Europe to star in couple of low-budget French-Italian spy thrillers. Gavin's career was looking up in 1970 when Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman, producers of the James Bond series, signed him to replace George Lazenby as James Bond in Diamonds Are Forever (1971; with Jill St. John and Lana Wood). However, at the last minute Broccoli and Saltzman offered Sean Connery a huge salary to return to the role, knocking Gavin out of the job. At about the time of the release of Diamonds Are Forever, he was elected president of the Screen Actors Guild, a post at which he served for two years.
the films of john gavin
Behind the High Wall (1956)
From Universal-International's film noir thriller Behind the High Wall. LEFT: As the wronged convict Johnny Hutchins. CENTER and RIGHT: With Betty Lynn
Four Girls in Town (1956)
From Universal's Four Girls in Town with Gia Scala
Quantez (1957)
From the Universal-International western Quantez. LEFT: Gavin as Teach. RIGHT: With Dorothy Malone
A Time to Love and a Time to Die (1958)
From the Universal-International war drama A Time to Love and a Time to Die with Lilo Pulver
Imitation of Life (1959)
From Universal-International's drama Imitation of Life with Lana Turner
A Breath of Scandal (1960)
From Paramount's romance A Breath of Scandal
Psycho (1960)
From Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho, released by Universal. LEFT: With Janet Leigh. RIGHT: With Vera Miles and Janet Leigh
Back Street (1961)
From Universal-International's potboiler Back Street with Susan Hayward
Romanoff and Juliet (1961)
From Peter Ustinov's comedy Romanoff and Juliet with Sandra Dee
Destry (1964 TV series)
From Gavin's western series Destry
Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967)
From Universal's musical comedy Thoroughly Modern Millie with Julie Andrews
Pussycat, Pussycat, I Love You (1970)
Gavin portrays Grant Granite in the campy United Artists comedy Pussycat, Pussycat, I Love You
after hollywood
After Gavin's film career slowed, he did quite a bit of stage work on Broadway and off in the 1970s, appearing in such plays as Seesaw, In the early 1980s, he gave up his acting career to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to Mexico during the Reagan administration. Married to actress Constance Towers for more than 30 years, Gavin is now retired.
Imitation Of Life [DVD](1959) DVD
Producer Ross Hunter's lush remake of the 1934 melodrama stars Lana Turner as an actress who puts her career ahead of daughter Sandra Dee. Juanita Moore plays Turner's black housekeeper, whose light-skinned daughter (Susan Kohner) leaves home to try and pass herself off as white. John Gavin, Robert Alda also star; Douglas Sirk directs. 125 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: French, Spanish.
Spartacus [DVD](1960) DVD
Stanley Kubrick's epic adventure, presented in a restored edition, stars Kirk Douglas as the heroic slave who fights to lead his people to freedom from Roman rule. Included in this new version is the infamous bathing scene between Roman general Laurence Olivier and poet-slave Tony Curtis. With Jean Simmons, Peter Ustinov, Charles Laughton and John Gavin. Restored version; 196 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital Surround; Subtitles: English; audio commentary by Douglas, Ustinov, others; deleted scenes; newsreel footage; interviews; behind-the-scenes footage; documentary; storyboards; photo gallery; more. Two-disc set.
Alfred Hitchcock: The Masterpiece Collection [DVD] DVD
Fifteen-disc boxed set includes "Saboteur," "Shadow of a Doubt," "Rope," "Rear Window," "The Trouble with Harry," "The Man Who Knew Too Much" (1956), "Vertigo," "Psycho," "The Birds," "Marnie," "Torn Curtain," "Topaz," "Frenzy," "Family Plot," and a disc featuring the "AFI Salute to Alfred Hitchcock" program and the documentary "Masters of Cinema: Alfred Hitchcock."
Tammy And The Bachelor (1957)/Tammy Tell Me True (1961)/Tammy And The Doctor (1963) [DVD] DVD
"Tammy and the Bachelor" is the first entry in the "Tammy" series and stars Debbie Reynolds as the ever-cute and perky country gal, here falling in love with the wealthy pilot she nurses back to health after his plane crashes. Leslie Nielsen, Walter Brennan, Fay Wray co-star. Next, Sandra Dee takes over the role in "Tammy Tell Me True," which finds Tammy enrolling in college before getting into trouble with the law thanks to a misunderstanding with a borrowed necklace. With John Gavin, Charles Drake. Finally, in "Tammy and the Doctor," Tammy (Dee) is off to L.A. to become a nurse, and she turns the hospital upside-down with laughter! Peter Fonda (in his film debut), Beulah Bondi also star. 4 1/2 hrs. total on two discs. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English (SDH), French.
Thoroughly Modern Millie [DVD](1967) DVD
The "Roaring Twenties" live on in this Oscar-winning musical comedy of innocent girls, wild flappers, romance and crime. Julie Andrews and Mary Tyler Moore are the heroines, John Gavin the good guy, Carol Channing a dizzy heiress and Beatrice Lillie the head of a white slavery ring. 138 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital Surround, Spanish Dolby Digital Surround; Subtitles: French; theatrical trailer.
O.S.S. 117: Double Agent(1969) VHS
When a secret agent has his face surgically altered to look like a notorious killer, he is soon arrested by the police. But then a secret crime organization busts him out of jail and offers him a job. He must make a very important killing! John Gavin, Curt Jurgens and Margaret Lee star.
The New Adventures Of Heidi (Heidi's Christmas) [VHS](1978) VHS
Can the sweetheart of the Swiss Alps find her way amid the man-made mountains of Manhattan when she and her grandfather come to America for Christmas? Find out in this charming, song-filled updating of the perennially popular story. Katy Kurtzman, Burl Ives, John Gavin star. NOTE: This Title Is Out Of Print; Limit One Per Customer.
The Doris Day Show: Season 3 [DVD](1970) DVD
All 26 episodes from the third season--including "Doris Finds an Apartment," "Skiing Anyone?" featuring John Gavin, "The Feminist," "Tony Bennett Is Eating Here," "Billy's First Date," and "Young Love"--are featured in a four-disc set. 13 hrs. total. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English; outtakes; interviews; TV promos; more.
The Love Boat: Season One, Vol. 1 [DVD](1977) DVD
The first 12 episodes of the first season--including "The Captain and the Lady/One If by Land/Centerfold," "Message for Maureen/Acapulco Connection, The/Gotcha," "The Joker Is Mild/First Time Out/Take My Granddaughter, Please," "The Captain's Captain/A Dog's Life/Romance Roulette," and "Lonely at the Top/Divorce Me, Please/Silent Night"--are included in a three-disc set. 10 hrs. total. Standard; Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital mono, Spanish Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English, Spanish; promos.
Fantasy Island: The Complete First Season [DVD](1978) DVD
All 16 episodes from the first season--including "Escape/Cinderella Girls," "Family Reunion/Voodoo" featuring John Gavin, "The Funny Girl/Butch and Sundance," "Fool for a Client/Double Your Pleasure," and "Call Me Lucky/Torch Singer"--are featured in a four-disc set. 13 hrs. total. Standard; Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital mono, Spanish Dolby Digital mono, Portuguese Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: Spanish, Portuguese; featurettes.
Hart To Hart: The Complete Second Season [DVD](1980) DVD
All 20 episodes from the second season--including "Murder, Murder on the Wall" featuring John Gavin, "Ex-Wives Can Be Murder," "Solid Gold Murder," "The Murder of Jonathan Hart," and "Blue Chip Murder"--are featured in a five-disc set. 16 3/4 hrs. total. Standard; Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital mono, Portuguese Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: Portuguese.
john gavin dvds available from amazon.com
john gavin out-of-print vhs available from amazon.com
Please note: These films are not currently available on DVD
filmography
FILMS
Sophia Loren: Her Own Story (1980) with Sophia Loren and Edmund Purdom
The New Adventures of Heidi (1978) with Burl Ives
Jennifer (1978) with Bert Convy, Jeff Corey, and Nina Foch
Doctors' Private Lives (1978) with Donna Mills, Elinor Donahue, Leigh McCloskey, and John Lupton
House of Shadows (1976) with Yvonne De Carlo
The Lives of Jenny Dolan (1975) with Shirley Jones, Stephen Boyd, James Darren, Dana Wynter, and Charles Drake
Keep It in the Family (1973)
Pussycat, Pussycat, I Love You (1970) with Ian McShane, Gaby André, and Veronica Carlson
Cutter's Trail (1970) with Beverly Garland and Joseph Cotten
The Madwoman of Chaillot (1969) with Katharine Hepburn, Donald Pleasence, Yul Brynner, and Richard Chamberlain
OSS 117: Double Agent (1968) with Margaret Lee, Luciana Paluzzi, Rosalba Neri, and Raf Baldassarre
Pedro Páramo (1967) with Jorge Rivero
Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967) with Julie Andrews, Mary Tyler Moore, Beatrice Lillie, and Carol Channing
Back Street (1961) with Susan Hayward, Vera Miles, and Virginia Grey
Tammy Tell Me True (1961) with Sandra Dee, Virginia Grey, Charles Drake, Juanita Moore, and Julia Meade
Romanoff and Juliet (1961) with Peter Ustinov and Sandra Dee
A Breath of Scandal (1960) with Sophia Loren and Maurice Chevalier
Midnight Lace (1960) with Doris Day, Rex Harrison, Myrna Loy, and Roddy McDowall
Spartacus (1960) with Kirk Douglas, Jean Simmons, Laurence Olivier, John Ireland, and Peter Ustinov
Psycho (1960) with Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, and Vera Miles
Imitation of Life (1959) with Lana Turner, Sandra Dee, Juanita Moore, Susan Kohner, and Troy Donahue
A Time to Love and a Time to Die (1958) with Jock Mahoney, Keenan Wynn, and Don DeFore
Quantez (1957) with Fred MacMurray, Dorothy Malone, and John Larch
Four Girls in Town (1956) with George Nader, Julie Adams, and Grant Williams
Behind the High Wall (1956) with Betty Lynn, John Larch, Sylvia Sidney, and William Boyett
Raw Edge (1956) with Yvonne De Carlo, Rory Calhoun, Mara Corday, Rex Reason, and Ed Fury
TELEVISION SERIES
Convoy, 1965 TV series produced by Universal. Gavin portrayed Commander Dan Talbot
Destry, 1964 TV series produced by Revue. Gavin portrayed Harrison Destry
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This page premiered August 28, 2003.
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