John Gavin

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia John Gavin (April 8, 1931 – February 9, 2018) was an American actor who was the United States Ambassador to Mexico (1981–86) and the president of the Screen Actors Guild (1971–73). He was best known for his performances in the films Imitation of Life (1959), Spartacus (1960), Psycho (1960), and Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967), playing leading roles in a series of films for producer Ross Hunter. Born Juan Vincent Apablasa Jr., Gavin was of Mexican, Chilean and Spanish descent, and was fluent in Spanish. His father, Juan Vincent Apablasa Sr., was of Chilean origin, and his paternal ancestors, including Cayetano Apablasa, were early landowners in California under Spanish rule. Gavin's mother was Delia Diana Pablos. Gavin’s parents divorced when he was about two years old. Gavin’s mother married Herald Ray Golenor, who adopted Gavin and changed his name to John Anthony Golenor.

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12 Angry Men (1957)

Thought provokingInspiringBrilliantInsightful

The defense and the prosecution have rested and the jury is filing into the jury room to decide if a young Spanish-American is guilty or innocent of murdering his father. What begins as an open and shut case soon becomes a mini-drama of each of the jurors' ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Sidney Lumet
CAST:  Henry Fonda  •  Lee J. Cobb  •  Ed Begley  •  E.G. Marshall

The defense and the prosecution have rested and the jury is filing into the jury room to decide if a young Spanish-American is guilty or innocent of murdering his father. What begins as an open and shut case soon becomes a mini-drama of each of the jurors' ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Sidney Lumet
CAST:  Henry Fonda  •  Lee J. Cobb  •  Ed Begley  •  E.G. Marshall

Psycho (1960)

ClassicSuspensefulMysteriousDark

When larcenous real estate clerk Marion Crane goes on the lam with a wad of cash and hopes of starting a new life, she ends up at the notorious Bates Motel, where manager Norman Bates cares for his housebound mother.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Alfred Hitchcock
CAST:  Anthony Perkins  •  Vera Miles  •  John Gavin  •  Janet Leigh

When larcenous real estate clerk Marion Crane goes on the lam with a wad of cash and hopes of starting a new life, she ends up at the notorious Bates Motel, where manager Norman Bates cares for his housebound mother.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Alfred Hitchcock
CAST:  Anthony Perkins  •  Vera Miles  •  John Gavin  •  Janet Leigh

Imitation of Life (1959)

PowerfulClassicInsightful

In 1940s New York, a white widow who dreams of being on Broadway has a chance encounter with a black single mother, who becomes her maid.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Douglas Sirk
CAST:  Lana Turner  •  Juanita Moore  •  John Gavin  •  Sandra Dee

In 1940s New York, a white widow who dreams of being on Broadway has a chance encounter with a black single mother, who becomes her maid.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Douglas Sirk
CAST:  Lana Turner  •  Juanita Moore  •  John Gavin  •  Sandra Dee

Spartacus (1960)

EpicViolentPowerfulInspiring

The rebellious Thracian Spartacus, born and raised a slave, is sold to Gladiator trainer Batiatus. After weeks of being trained to kill for the arena, Spartacus turns on his owners and leads the other slaves in rebellion. As the rebels move from town to town, their ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Stanley Kubrick
CAST:  Kirk Douglas  •  Laurence Olivier  •  Jean Simmons  •  Charles Laughton

The rebellious Thracian Spartacus, born and raised a slave, is sold to Gladiator trainer Batiatus. After weeks of being trained to kill for the arena, Spartacus turns on his owners and leads the other slaves in rebellion. As the rebels move from town to town, their ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Stanley Kubrick
CAST:  Kirk Douglas  •  Laurence Olivier  •  Jean Simmons  •  Charles Laughton

Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967)

FunnyCharmingMusicalLighthearted

Millie Dillmount, a fearless young lady fresh from Salina, Kansas, determined to experience Life, sets out to see the world in the rip-roaring Twenties. With high spirits and wearing one of those new high hemlines, she arrives in New York to test the "modern" ideas ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  George Roy Hill
CAST:  Julie Andrews  •  Mary Tyler Moore  •  Carol Channing  •  James Fox

Millie Dillmount, a fearless young lady fresh from Salina, Kansas, determined to experience Life, sets out to see the world in the rip-roaring Twenties. With high spirits and wearing one of those new high hemlines, she arrives in New York to test the "modern" ideas ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  George Roy Hill
CAST:  Julie Andrews  •  Mary Tyler Moore  •  Carol Channing  •  James Fox

Midnight Lace (1960)

Kit Preston begins to unravel when she receives threatening telephone calls informing her she's soon to be murdered.  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Miller
CAST:  Doris Day  •  Rex Harrison  •  John Gavin  •  Myrna Loy

Kit Preston begins to unravel when she receives threatening telephone calls informing her she's soon to be murdered.  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Miller
CAST:  Doris Day  •  Rex Harrison  •  John Gavin  •  Myrna Loy

Jennifer (1978)

Ostracized at a snooty private school because of her rural, poor background, a scholarship student is tormented to the point where her only remaining recourse is revenge, using the only method she knows: her psychic control over snakes!  (more)

DIRECTION:  Brice Mack
CAST:  Lisa Pelikan  •  Bert Convy  •  Nina Foch  •  Amy Johnston

Ostracized at a snooty private school because of her rural, poor background, a scholarship student is tormented to the point where her only remaining recourse is revenge, using the only method she knows: her psychic control over snakes!  (more)

DIRECTION:  Brice Mack
CAST:  Lisa Pelikan  •  Bert Convy  •  Nina Foch  •  Amy Johnston

Four Girls in Town (1957)

Four young starlets, from various parts of the world, are called to Hollywood to test for the lead in a major film. Each is romantically pursued by the director, composer, playboy, and actor. Which one of an international quartette of beauties will replace ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jack Sher
CAST:  George Nader  •  Julie Adams  •  Sydney Chaplin  •  Marianne Koch

Four young starlets, from various parts of the world, are called to Hollywood to test for the lead in a major film. Each is romantically pursued by the director, composer, playboy, and actor. Which one of an international quartette of beauties will replace ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jack Sher
CAST:  George Nader  •  Julie Adams  •  Sydney Chaplin  •  Marianne Koch

Tammy Tell Me True (1961)

Tammy leaves the river in Mississippi to attend college, developing a relationship with Tom Freeman (John Gavin). Sandra Dee replaces Debbie Reynolds in this and the third Tammy movie. This film introduces both a new theme song, "Tammy Tell Me True", and the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Harry Keller
CAST:  Sandra Dee  •  John Gavin  •  Charles Drake  •  Virginia Grey

Tammy leaves the river in Mississippi to attend college, developing a relationship with Tom Freeman (John Gavin). Sandra Dee replaces Debbie Reynolds in this and the third Tammy movie. This film introduces both a new theme song, "Tammy Tell Me True", and the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Harry Keller
CAST:  Sandra Dee  •  John Gavin  •  Charles Drake  •  Virginia Grey

Quantez (1957)

A gang of bank robbers with a posse in hot pursuit. Riding into the desert, they take refuge in Quantez, a small town they find deserted. Their horses tired and near death, they’re forced to stay the night — with the plan to cross the border into Mexico the next day.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Harry Keller
CAST:  Fred MacMurray  •  Dorothy Malone  •  James Barton  •  Sydney Chaplin

A gang of bank robbers with a posse in hot pursuit. Riding into the desert, they take refuge in Quantez, a small town they find deserted. Their horses tired and near death, they’re forced to stay the night — with the plan to cross the border into Mexico the next day.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Harry Keller
CAST:  Fred MacMurray  •  Dorothy Malone  •  James Barton  •  Sydney Chaplin

Behind the High Wall (1956)

A group prison breakout goes from bad to worse when the desperate warden tries to steal the gang's dough.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Abner Biberman
CAST:  Tom Tully  •  Sylvia Sidney  •  Betty Lynn  •  John Gavin

A group prison breakout goes from bad to worse when the desperate warden tries to steal the gang's dough.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Abner Biberman
CAST:  Tom Tully  •  Sylvia Sidney  •  Betty Lynn  •  John Gavin

Raw Edge (1956)

A Texan arrives in Oregon and seeks justice for his innocently-hanged brother  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Sherwood
CAST:  Rory Calhoun  •  Yvonne De Carlo  •  Mara Corday  •  Rex Reason

A Texan arrives in Oregon and seeks justice for his innocently-hanged brother  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Sherwood
CAST:  Rory Calhoun  •  Yvonne De Carlo  •  Mara Corday  •  Rex Reason

Romanoff and Juliet (1961)

Political satire has Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet story updated for the cold war era, with the children of the US and Russian ambassadors falling in love.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Peter Ustinov
CAST:  Peter Ustinov  •  Sandra Dee  •  John Gavin  •  Akim Tamiroff

Political satire has Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet story updated for the cold war era, with the children of the US and Russian ambassadors falling in love.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Peter Ustinov
CAST:  Peter Ustinov  •  Sandra Dee  •  John Gavin  •  Akim Tamiroff

Sophia Loren: Her Own Story (1980)

This biopic about actress Sophia Loren covers her life from childhood through international stardom, her marriage to Carlo Ponti following a romantic fling with Cary Grant, and the birth of her first child, and is tied together with actual clips from some of her movies.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mel Stuart
CAST:  Sophia Loren  •  Armand Assante  •  John Gavin  •  Rip Torn

This biopic about actress Sophia Loren covers her life from childhood through international stardom, her marriage to Carlo Ponti following a romantic fling with Cary Grant, and the birth of her first child, and is tied together with actual clips from some of her movies.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mel Stuart
CAST:  Sophia Loren  •  Armand Assante  •  John Gavin  •  Rip Torn

Doctors' Private Lives (1978)

Two heart surgeons clash over personal issues and medical ethics in a big-city hospital.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Steven Hilliard Stern
CAST:  John Gavin  •  Donna Mills  •  Ed Nelson  •  Barbara Anderson

Two heart surgeons clash over personal issues and medical ethics in a big-city hospital.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Steven Hilliard Stern
CAST:  John Gavin  •  Donna Mills  •  Ed Nelson  •  Barbara Anderson

Pedro Paramo (1967)

When his mother Dolores dies, Juan Preciado, son of Pedro Páramo, goes to Comala to claim his inheritance; but when he arrives he finds an abandoned and sinister place, inhabited by mysterious voices and whispers…  (more)

DIRECTION:  Carlos Velo
CAST:  John Gavin  •  Ignacio López Tarso  •  Graciela Döring  •  Julissa

When his mother Dolores dies, Juan Preciado, son of Pedro Páramo, goes to Comala to claim his inheritance; but when he arrives he finds an abandoned and sinister place, inhabited by mysterious voices and whispers…  (more)

DIRECTION:  Carlos Velo
CAST:  John Gavin  •  Ignacio López Tarso  •  Graciela Döring  •  Julissa

House of Shadows (1976)

Audrey investigates a murder that occured 23 years ago in a dark mansion. She searches for the dead body, the killer, and the truth.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ricardo Wullicher
CAST:  Yvonne De Carlo  •  John Gavin  •  Leonor Manso  •  Mecha Ortiz

Audrey investigates a murder that occured 23 years ago in a dark mansion. She searches for the dead body, the killer, and the truth.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ricardo Wullicher
CAST:  Yvonne De Carlo  •  John Gavin  •  Leonor Manso  •  Mecha Ortiz

The New Adventures of Heidi (1978)

The long-familiar Heidi tale is given a contemporary (and musical) setting as the young heroine leaves her familiar Swiss mountain for the bright lights of Manhattan.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ralph Senensky
CAST:  Burl Ives  •  Katy Kurtzman  •  John Gavin  •  Marlyn Mason

The long-familiar Heidi tale is given a contemporary (and musical) setting as the young heroine leaves her familiar Swiss mountain for the bright lights of Manhattan.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ralph Senensky
CAST:  Burl Ives  •  Katy Kurtzman  •  John Gavin  •  Marlyn Mason

A Time to Love and a Time to Die (1958)

A German soldier home on leave falls in love with a girl, then returns to World War II.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Douglas Sirk
CAST:  John Gavin  •  Liselotte Pulver  •  Jock Mahoney  •  Don DeFore

A German soldier home on leave falls in love with a girl, then returns to World War II.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Douglas Sirk
CAST:  John Gavin  •  Liselotte Pulver  •  Jock Mahoney  •  Don DeFore

Pussycat, Pussycat, I Love You (1970)

An American playwright living in Rome consults a quack psychiatrist to combat his fears of balding and save his failing marriage.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rod Amateau
CAST:  Ian McShane  •  Anna Calder-Marshall  •  John Gavin  •  Severn Darden

An American playwright living in Rome consults a quack psychiatrist to combat his fears of balding and save his failing marriage.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rod Amateau
CAST:  Ian McShane  •  Anna Calder-Marshall  •  John Gavin  •  Severn Darden
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