Cast & creator
John Alvin
Best known for Perry Mason, Perry Mason, Perry Mason
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.
Also known as: John Alvin Hoffstadt
54
film credits
58
television credits
112
1943–1994 · acting roles
6.7
average across scored titles
Signature credits
Known for
Across film & television
Filmography (112)
Showing 112 of 112 credits
Perry Mason
Sam Walsh
1957Perry Mason
Phil - Bank Teller
1957Perry Mason
Assistant Bank Manager
1957Perry Mason
Bank Teller
1957
Murder, She Wrote
Mr. Tucker
1984Murder, She Wrote
Dr. Frazier
1984
M*A*S*H
Bowman
1972
Get Smart
Dr. Rhinehouse
1965
Climax!
Sir Roscoe Crosby
1954
The Rifleman
1958
Four Star Playhouse
Third Mate
1952Four Star Playhouse
Clerk
1952Four Star Playhouse
1952
My Three Sons
1960
Dragnet
1951
Petticoat Junction
Mr. Kimberly
1963
The Beverly Hillbillies
Harry Barth
1962The Beverly Hillbillies
Photographer
1962
Starsky & Hutch
Grocer
1975
Hart to Hart
1979Hart to Hart
Clark
1979Hart to Hart
Carl Johnson
1979
The Incredible Hulk
Dr. Patterson
1977
Cheyenne
1955
The Lucy Show
Director
1962
All in the Family
Bailiff
1971
The Lone Ranger
Sid
1949
Leave It to Beaver
1957
The Munsters
Mr. Franklin
1964
The Jack Benny Program
Juror
1950
One Step Beyond
Bradley
1959
Amazing Stories
Professor Rand
1985
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
Doctor
1964
The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show
Wonder Glue Pitchman
1950
Family Affair
1966
Bronco
Jim March
1958
Richard Diamond, Private Detective
Doc
1957
The Millionaire
Defense Atty. Bill Irvin
1955The Millionaire
Prosecuting Attorney
1955
Kolchak: The Night Stalker
Dr. Carrie
1974
The DuPont Show with June Allyson
Photographer
1959
Navy Log
1955
87th Precinct
1961
Racket Squad
1951
Cain's Hundred
Norman Reno
1961
The Lone Wolf
Johnson
1954
The Second Hundred Years
Mark Tolliver
1967The Second Hundred Years
John
1967
Dangerous Assignment
1952
Hopalong Cassidy
1952
The Whistler
1954
Wire Service
Chief Dispatcher
1956
Occasional Wife
1966
Hey, Jeannie!
Man
1956
The Cara Williams Show
1964
Sheena: Queen of the Jungle
Keegle
1955
The Living Christ
Joseph
1951
Somewhere in Time
Arthur's Father
1980
Bringing Up Buddy
1960
Milk Money
Rich Old Guy
1994
Marnie
Hotel Chauffeur (uncredited)
1964
Irma la Douce
Customer #2
1963
They Call Me Mister Tibbs!
Reporter (uncredited)
1970
The Fountainhead
Young Intellectual (uncredited)
1949
Passions
Minister
1984
Deep in My Heart
Mr. Mulvaney (uncredited)
1954
The Organization
Forensic Officer (uncredited)
1971
The Legend of Lylah Clare
Accountant (uncredited)
1968
Romance on the High Seas
Charles - Travel Agent (uncredited)
1948
The Shanghai Story
John Warren
1954
Crackle of Death
1976
The Beast with Five Fingers
Donald Arlington
1947
Destination Tokyo
Sound Man
1943
Carrie
Stage Manager
1952
The Legend of Lizzie Borden
Dr. Draper
1975
Objective, Burma!
Hogan
1945
The Breaking Point
Reporter (uncredited)
1950
A Bullet for Joey
Constable Dan Percy (uncredited)
1955
The Iron Mistress
Impatient Man in Tailor's Shop
1952
Bright Leaf
Poker Player (uncredited)
1950
Missing Women
Eddie Ennis
1951
Three Strangers
Junior Clerk
1946
The Quest: The Longest Drive
Aames
1976
Come Fill the Cup
Travis Ashbourne - Reporter
1951
The Very Thought of You
Cal Wheeler
1944
Shadow of a Woman
Carl, Emma's Son
1946
April in Paris
Tracy
1952
Return to Green Acres
E. Wilfred
1990
Two Guys from Texas
Jim Crocker
1948
Northern Pursuit
Orderly (uncredited)
1943
Nora Prentiss
San Francisco Ferry Boat Dispatcher (voice) (uncredited)
1947
Torpedo Alley
Professor
1953
Dennis the Menace
Mr. Bonfigli
1987
This Side of the Law
Calder Taylor
1950
The McConnell Story
Johnny
1955
The Unknown Man
Photographer (uncredited)
1951
San Antonio
Pony Smith
1945
Sweet, Sweet Rachel
Surgeon
1971
The Shanghai Chest
Victor Armstrong
1948
Cheyenne
Single Jack
1947
Stallion Road
Radio Broadcaster (uncredited)
1947
Illegal
Court Clerk (uncredited)
1955
Rocky
Jack Arnold
1948
The Fighting Sullivans
Madison Abel 'Matt' Sullivan
1944
Deep Valley
Convict
1947
Pretty Baby
Danny (uncredited)
1950
Love and Learn
William
1947
Kentucky Rifle
Luke Thomas
1956
Under Colorado Skies
Jeff Collins
1947
The Bold Frontiersman
Don Post
1948Train to Alcatraz
Nick
1948
Open Secret
Ralph
1948