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 fouryear contract during the World War II era although he was borrowed by 20th Century Fox to appear in 1944s Oscarnominated 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 Dont They and Alfred Hitchcocks Marnie However it was his role in the 1943 film Destination Tokyo in which he costarred 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 Alvins also appeared in numerous television commercials advertising for such products as Mattel HR Block McDonalds Porsche and Audi Alvins 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 1994s 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