John Gavin (born Juan Vincent Apablasa; April 8, 1931 – February 9, 2018) was an American actor and diplomat who was the president of the
Screen Actors Guild
The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) was an American labor union which represented over 100,000 film and television principal and background performers worldwide. On March 30, 2012, the union leadership announced that the SAG membership voted to m ...
(1971–1973), and the
United States Ambassador to Mexico
The United States has maintained diplomatic relations with Mexico since 1823, when Andrew Jackson was appointed Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to that country. Jackson declined the appointment, however, and Joel R. Poinsett bec ...
(1981–1986). Among the films he appeared in were ''
A Time to Love and a Time to Die
''A Time to Love and a Time to Die'' is a 1958 Eastmancolor CinemaScope drama war film directed by Douglas Sirk and starring John Gavin and Liselotte Pulver. Based on the book by German author Erich Maria Remarque and set on the Eastern Front ...
'' (1958), ''
Imitation of Life'' (1959), ''
Spartacus
Spartacus (; ) was a Thracians, Thracian gladiator (Thraex) who was one of the Slavery in ancient Rome, escaped slave leaders in the Third Servile War, a major Slave rebellion, slave uprising against the Roman Republic.
Historical accounts o ...
'' (1960), ''
Psycho'' (1960), ''
Midnight Lace
''Midnight Lace'' is a 1960 American psychological thriller film directed by David Miller (director), David Miller and starring Doris Day, Rex Harrison, John Gavin, Myrna Loy, and Roddy McDowall. The plot centers on a woman threatened by an anon ...
'' (1960) and ''
Thoroughly Modern Millie
''Thoroughly Modern Millie'' is a 1967 American musical romantic comedy film directed by George Roy Hill and starring Julie Andrews. The screenplay by Richard Morris, based on the 1956 British musical ''Chrysanthemum'', follows a naïve young ...
'' (1967), playing leading roles for producer
Ross Hunter
Ross Hunter (born Martin Terry Fuss; May 6, 1920 – March 10, 1996) was an American film and television producer and actor. He is best known for producing light comedies such as '' Pillow Talk'' (1959), and the glamorous melodramas '' Magnifi ...
.
Early life
Gavin was born in Los Angeles as Juan Vincent Apablasa II. His father, Juan Vincent Apablasa Sr., was of Chilean descent and his mother, Delia Diana Pablos, was a Mexican-born aristocrat. When Juan was two, his parents divorced and his mother married Herald Ray Golenor, who adopted Juan and changed his name to John Anthony Golenor.
After attending Roman Catholic schools, St. John's Military Academy (Los Angeles), and
Villanova Preparatory (Ojai, California), he earned a
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts (abbreviated B.A., BA, A.B. or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is the holder of a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the liberal arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts deg ...
in
economics
Economics () is a behavioral science that studies the Production (economics), production, distribution (economics), distribution, and Consumption (economics), consumption of goods and services.
Economics focuses on the behaviour and interac ...
degree and Latin American affairs from
Stanford University
Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University, is a Private university, private research university in Stanford, California, United States. It was founded in 1885 by railroad magnate Leland Stanford (the eighth ...
, where he was in the
Navy ROTC
The Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) program is a college-based, commissioned officer training program of the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps.
Origins
A pilot Naval Reserve unit was established in September 1924 ...
, did senior honors work in Latin American economic history, and was a member of
Chi Psi
Chi Psi () is a fraternities and sororities, fraternity consisting of active chapters at 34 American colleges and universities. Chi Psi was founded in 1841 at Union College in Schenectady, New York. It was the first Greek-letter organization to b ...
fraternity.
Military service
During the
Korean War
The Korean War (25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953) was an armed conflict on the Korean Peninsula fought between North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea; DPRK) and South Korea (Republic of Korea; ROK) and their allies. North Korea was s ...
, Gavin was commissioned in the
U.S. Navy
The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest displacement, at 4.5 million tons in 2021. It has the world's largest aircraft ...
serving aboard the off Korea where he served as an air intelligence officer from 1951 until the end of the war in 1953. Due to Gavin's fluency in both Spanish and Portuguese, he was assigned as
flag lieutenant to Admiral
Milton E. Miles until he completed his four-year tour of duty in 1955. He received an award for his work in
the Honduras floods of 1954.
In a 1960 interview, Gavin disputed rumors that he was born into wealth by revealing that he attended a preparatory school and Stanford University on scholarships.
Career
Entry into acting
Following his naval service, Gavin offered himself as a
technical adviser
In film production, a technical advisor is someone who advises the film director, director on the convincing portrayal of a subject. The advisor's expertise adds realism both to the acting and to the setting of a movie.
Nipo T. Strongheart was a n ...
to family friend and film producer
Bryan Foy
Bryan Foy (December 8, 1896 – April 20, 1977) was an American film producer and film director, director. He produced more than 200 films between 1924 and 1963. He also directed 41 films between 1923 and 1934. He headed the B picture unit a ...
, who was making a movie about the ''Princeton''. Instead, Foy arranged a screen test for Gavin with
Universal-International
Universal City Studios LLC, doing business as Universal Pictures (also known as Universal Studios or simply Universal), is an American film production and distribution company headquartered at the Universal Studios complex in Universal City, ...
. Gavin initially refused the offer, but his father urged him to try it. The test was successful and Gavin signed with the studio.
[Wise, James E. & Rehill, Anne Collier. ''Stars in Blue: Movie Actors in America's Sea Services'' Naval Institute Press, pg. 265.] "They offered me so much money I couldn't resist", he said later.
Universal groomed Gavin as a leading man in the mold of
Rock Hudson
Rock Hudson (born Roy Harold Scherer Jr.; November 17, 1925 – October 2, 1985) was an American actor. One of the most popular film stars of his time, he had a screen career spanning more than three decades, and was a prominent figure in the G ...
. He trained in Jess Kimmel's talent workshop under the name John Gilmore. His classmates included
Grant Williams,
Gia Scala
Gia Scala (born Josephine Grace Johanna Scoglio; March 3, 1934 – April 30, 1972) was a British and American actress.
Early life
Scala was born March 3, 1934, in Liverpool, England, to Sicilian father Pietro Scoglio, and Irish mother Eileen ...
and
John Saxon
John Saxon (born Carmine Orrico; August 5, 1936 – July 25, 2020) was an American actor who worked on more than 200 film and television projects during a span of 60 years. He was known for his work in Westerns and horror films, often playing ...
. His first film was ''
Raw Edge'' (1956) where he played the brother of
Rory Calhoun
Rory Calhoun (born Francis Timothy McCown, August 8, 1922April 28, 1999) was an American film and television actor. He starred in numerous Westerns in the 1950s and 1960s, and appeared in supporting roles in films such as ''How to Marry a Millio ...
and was billed as John Gilmore. His name was changed to John Gavin for the films ''
Behind the High Wall
''Behind the High Wall'' is a 1956 American film noir crime film
Crime film is a film belonging to the crime fiction genre. Films of this genre generally involve various aspects of crime and fiction. Stylistically, the genre may overlap and comb ...
'' (1956), ''
Four Girls in Town
''Four Girls in Town'' is a 1957 American CinemaScope Technicolor drama film, directed by Jack Sher, about four girls trying to be movie stars.
Plot
When the leading lady drops out of a new film to be shot in New Orleans, studio head James Mannin ...
'' (1957), and ''
Quantez'' (also 1957). Gavin was meant to star in ''
The Female Animal
''The Female Animal'' is a 1958 American CinemaScope drama film directed by Harry Keller and starring Hedy Lamarr, Jane Powell, Jan Sterling and George Nader.
Although she lived until 2000, this was Lamarr's final film in a film career of ne ...
'' (1958) but was too busy on other projects and was replaced by
George Nader
George Garfield Nader, Jr. (October 19, 1921 – February 4, 2002) was an American actor and writer. He appeared in a variety of films from 1950 to 1974, mainly action and adventure film roles. He won the Golden Globe Award for New Star of the ...
.
Stardom: ''A Time to Love and a Time to Die''
Gavin's break was the lead in ''
A Time to Love and a Time to Die
''A Time to Love and a Time to Die'' is a 1958 Eastmancolor CinemaScope drama war film directed by Douglas Sirk and starring John Gavin and Liselotte Pulver. Based on the book by German author Erich Maria Remarque and set on the Eastern Front ...
'' (1958), directed by
Douglas Sirk
Douglas Sirk (born Hans Detlef Sierck; 26 April 1897 – 14 January 1987) was a German film director best known for his work in Hollywood (film industry), Hollywood melodramas of the 1950s. However, he also directed comedies, westerns, and war f ...
from the novel by
Erich Maria Remarque
Erich Maria Remarque (; ; born Erich Paul Remark; 22 June 1898 – 25 September 1970) was a German novelist. His landmark novel '' All Quiet on the Western Front'' (1928), based on his experience in the Imperial German Army during World War ...
. His casting drew comparisons with the casting of the similarly inexperienced
Lew Ayres
Lewis Frederick Ayres III (December 28, 1908 – December 30, 1996) was an American actor whose film and television career spanned 65 years. He is best known for starring as German soldier Paul Bäumer in the film ''All Quiet on the Western Fro ...
in Universal's film version of ''
All Quiet on the Western Front
''All Quiet on the Western Front'' () is a semi-autobiographical novel by Erich Maria Remarque, a German veteran of World War I. The book describes the German soldiers' extreme physical and mental trauma during the war as well as the detachme ...
'' (1931). Sirk cast Gavin for the young actor's inexperience, fresh looks, and earnest manner.
The film was not a success when it was released, although Gavin received praise for his performance.
A series of classic films
Before ''A Time to Love and a Time to Die'' had been released, Gavin was cast by Douglas Sirk supporting
Lana Turner
Julia Jean "Lana" Turner ( ; February 8, 1921June 29, 1995) was an American actress. Over a career spanning nearly five decades, she achieved fame as both a pin-up model and a film actress, as well as for her highly publicized personal life. ...
in ''
Imitation of Life'' (1959). Unlike ''A Time to Love and a Time to Die'', this was a box-office success and Gavin was voted most promising male newcomer for his performance in the film by the ''Motion Picture Exhibitor''.
Gavin appeared as
Julius Caesar
Gaius Julius Caesar (12 or 13 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC) was a Roman general and statesman. A member of the First Triumvirate, Caesar led the Roman armies in the Gallic Wars before defeating his political rival Pompey in Caesar's civil wa ...
in Universal's epic ''
Spartacus
Spartacus (; ) was a Thracians, Thracian gladiator (Thraex) who was one of the Slavery in ancient Rome, escaped slave leaders in the Third Servile War, a major Slave rebellion, slave uprising against the Roman Republic.
Historical accounts o ...
'' (1960) directed by
Stanley Kubrick
Stanley Kubrick (; July 26, 1928 – March 7, 1999) was an American filmmaker and photographer. Widely considered one of the greatest filmmakers of all time, Stanley Kubrick filmography, his films were nearly all adaptations of novels or sho ...
. He was cast as Sam Loomis in the thriller ''
Psycho'' (1960) for director
Alfred Hitchcock
Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock (13 August 1899 – 29 April 1980) was an English film director. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of cinema. In a career spanning six decades, he directed over 50 featu ...
. Gavin later claimed he was "terribly disturbed" by the sex and violence in ''Psycho'', saying, "I think Hitch really got frosted with me."
Both films were successful, critically and commercially.
Following the success of ''Imitation of Life'', Gavin was often cast as the handsome opposite to leading ladies but as characters who were permitted little action.
He co-starred against
Doris Day
Doris Day (born Doris Mary Kappelhoff; April 3, 1922 – May 13, 2019) was an American actress and singer. She began her career as a big band singer in 1937, achieving commercial success in 1945 with two No. 1 recordings, "Sentimental Journey ...
in the thriller ''
Midnight Lace
''Midnight Lace'' is a 1960 American psychological thriller film directed by David Miller (director), David Miller and starring Doris Day, Rex Harrison, John Gavin, Myrna Loy, and Roddy McDowall. The plot centers on a woman threatened by an anon ...
'',
Sophia Loren
Sofia Costanza Brigida Villani Scicolone (; born 20 September 1934), known professionally as Sophia Loren ( , ), is an Italian actress, active in her native country and the United States. With a career spanning over 70 years, she is one of the ...
in the comedic ''
A Breath of Scandal
''A Breath of Scandal'' (released as ''Olympia'' in Italy) is a 1960 American/Italian international co-production romantic comedy-drama film directed by Michael Curtiz, based on the stage play ''Olympia'' by Ferenc Molnár. It stars Sophia Lor ...
'' (both 1960),
Susan Hayward
Susan Hayward (born Edythe Marrener; June 30, 1917 – March 14, 1975) was an American actress best known for her film portrayals of women that were based on true stories.
After working as a fashion model for the Walter Clarence Thornton, Walt ...
in the melodrama ''
Back Street'' and with
Sandra Dee
Sandra Dee (born Alexandra Zuck; April 23, 1942 – February 20, 2005) was an American actress. Dee began her career as a child model, working first in commercials and then film in her teenage years. Best known for her portrayal of ingénues ...
in ''
Romanoff and Juliet'' and ''
Tammy Tell Me True
''Tammy Tell Me True'' is a 1961 American Eastmancolor comedy film directed by Harry Keller and starring Sandra Dee and John Gavin, Beulah Bondi, Charles Drake, Virginia Grey and Julia Meade.
The film, the second in the series, was based on Cid ...
'' (all 1961). Most of these films were produced by
Ross Hunter
Ross Hunter (born Martin Terry Fuss; May 6, 1920 – March 10, 1996) was an American film and television producer and actor. He is best known for producing light comedies such as '' Pillow Talk'' (1959), and the glamorous melodramas '' Magnifi ...
. He appeared periodically on television in various
anthology series
An anthology series is a written series, radio, television, film, or video game series that presents a different story and a different set of characters in each different episode, season, segment, or short. These usually have a different ca ...
. He was directed by a young
William Friedkin
William David Friedkin (; August 29, 1935 – August 7, 2023) was an American film, television and opera director, producer, and screenwriter who was closely identified with the "New Hollywood" movement of the 1970s. Beginning his career in doc ...
in the episode "Off Season" (season 10, episode 29) of ''
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
''Alfred Hitchcock Presents'' is an American television anthology series created, hosted and produced by Alfred Hitchcock, airing on CBS and NBC, alternately, between 1955 and 1965. It features dramas, thrillers, and mysteries. Between 1962 a ...
''.
Gavin later claimed that he lacked training support from Universal during his early days there:
When I walked through the gate, Universal quit building actors. All of a sudden I was doing leading roles. I knew I was a tyro but they told me to shut up and act. Some of those early roles were unactable. Even Laurence Olivier
Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier ( ; 22 May 1907 – 11 July 1989) was an English actor and director. He and his contemporaries Ralph Richardson and John Gielgud made up a trio of male actors who dominated the British stage of the m ...
couldn't have done anything with them. The dialog included cardboard passages such as "I love you. You can rely on me, darling. I'll wait."' It was all I could do to keep from adding, "with egg on my face."
Gavin disliked comparisons to Rock Hudson and in a 1960 interview said he considered quitting acting to take up law.
He left Universal in 1962. He signed to make several movies in Europe including ''The Assassins'', ''The Challenge'', and ''Night Call''.
However, he pulled out of ''The Assassins'' (which became ''
Assassins of Rome'' (1965)). ''Night Call'' and ''The Challenge'' were never made.
In early 1964, he starred in the TV series ''
Destry''. The series was not a ratings success and was cancelled.
Return to Universal
In September 1964, Gavin signed a new contract with Universal which gave him the option to take work outside the studio.
He appeared in the television series, ''
Convoy
A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support and can help maintain cohesion within a unit. It may also be used ...
'', which was cancelled after a short run. He appeared in the Mexican film ''
Pedro Páramo
''Pedro Páramo'' is a novel by Mexican writer Juan Rulfo, first published in 1955. This novel showcases the roots of Mexican culture and its beliefs on afterlife through deeply complex characters, spirituality, and a constant transition betwee ...
'' (1967), based on the novel by
Juan Rulfo
Juan Nepomuceno Carlos Pérez Rulfo Vizcaíno, best known as Juan Rulfo (; 16 May 1917 – 7 January 1986), was a Mexican writer, screenwriter, and photographer. He is best known for two literary works, the 1955 novel ''Pedro Páramo'', and the ...
. His next role was that of
Mary Tyler Moore
Mary Tyler Moore (December 29, 1936 – January 25, 2017) was an American actress, producer, and social advocate. She is best known for her roles on '' The Dick Van Dyke Show'' (1961–1966) and ''The Mary Tyler Moore Show'' (1970–1977), whic ...
's character's stuffy boyfriend in Universal's 1920s-era musical ''
Thoroughly Modern Millie
''Thoroughly Modern Millie'' is a 1967 American musical romantic comedy film directed by George Roy Hill and starring Julie Andrews. The screenplay by Richard Morris, based on the 1956 British musical ''Chrysanthemum'', follows a naïve young ...
'' (1967). Gavin saw the role as an opportunity to parody his performances in Ross Hunter films.
In June 1966, Gavin signed a five-year non-exclusive contract with Universal. He was cast in the lead in ''
OSS 117 – Double Agent
''OSS 117 – Double Agent'' (also known as ''OSS 117: Murder for Sale'' or ''No Roses for OSS 117'' (''Pas de Roses pour OSS 117'')) is a 1968 Eurospy film about agent OSS 117, starring John Gavin.
Plot
Cast
* John Gavin as Hubert Bonisseur de L ...
'' (1968), then titled ''No Roses for Robert'', replacing
Frederick Stafford
Frederick Stafford (11 March 1928 – 28 July 1979) was a Czechoslovakia, Czechoslovak-born actor. Born Friedrich Strobel von Stein, he spoke fluent Czech, German, English, French and Italian, and was a leading man in European spy-movies and in ...
who was filming
Alfred Hitchcock
Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock (13 August 1899 – 29 April 1980) was an English film director. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of cinema. In a career spanning six decades, he directed over 50 featu ...
's ''
Topaz
Topaz is a silicate mineral made of aluminium, aluminum and fluorine with the chemical formula aluminium, Alsilicon, Sioxygen, O(fluorine, F, hydroxide, OH). It is used as a gemstone in jewelry and other adornments. Common topaz in its natural ...
.'' He acted in supporting roles in ''
The Madwoman of Chaillot
''The Madwoman of Chaillot'' (, ) is a play, a poetic satire, by French dramatist Jean Giraudoux, written in 1943 and first performed in 1945, after his death. The play is in two acts. The story concerns an eccentric woman who lives in Paris and ...
'' (1969) and ''
Pussycat, Pussycat, I Love You
''Pussycat, Pussycat, I Love You'' is a 1970 American comedy film directed by Rod Amateau. Intended as a sequel to the 1965 film ''What's New Pussycat?'', it stars Ian McShane, Anna Calder-Marshall, John Gavin and Severn Darden.
Plot
A neurotic ...
'' (1970), in which he parodied his own image.
James Bond
Gavin was signed for the role of
James Bond
The ''James Bond'' franchise focuses on James Bond (literary character), the titular character, a fictional Secret Intelligence Service, British Secret Service agent created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels ...
in the film ''
Diamonds Are Forever'' (1971) after
George Lazenby
George Robert Lazenby (; born 5 September 1939) is an Australian retired actor. Lazenby began his professional career as a model and had only acted in commercials when he was cast to replace the original James Bond actor, Sean Connery, playing ...
left the role. However,
David Picker
David Victor Picker (May 14, 1931 – April 20, 2019) was an American motion picture executive and producer, working in the film industry for more than forty years. He served as president and chief executive officer for United Artists, Paramoun ...
, head of
United Artists
United Artists (UA) is an American film production and film distribution, distribution company owned by Amazon MGM Studios. In its original operating period, it was founded in February 1919 by Charlie Chaplin, D. W. Griffith, Mary Pickford an ...
, wanted the box-office assurance of
Sean Connery
Sir Thomas Sean Connery (25 August 1930 – 31 October 2020) was a Scottish actor. He was the first actor to Portrayal of James Bond in film, portray the fictional British secret agent James Bond (literary character), James Bond in motion pic ...
. Gavin's contract was honored despite losing the role to Connery. According to
Roger Moore
Sir Roger George Moore (14 October 192723 May 2017) was an English actor. He was the actor to portray Ian Fleming's fictional secret agent James Bond (literary character), James Bond in the Eon Productions/MGM Studios film series, playing the ...
's ''James Bond Diary'', Gavin was slated to play Bond in ''
Live and Let Die'' (1973), but
Harry Saltzman
Herschel "Harry" Saltzman (; – ) was a Canadian theatre and film producer. He is best remembered for co-producing the first nine of the ''James Bond'' film series with Albert R. Broccoli. Apart from a ten-year stint living in St. Petersbu ...
insisted on a British actor for the role and Moore was given the part.
Screen Actors Guild
Gavin was on the board of the
Screen Actors Guild
The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) was an American labor union which represented over 100,000 film and television principal and background performers worldwide. On March 30, 2012, the union leadership announced that the SAG membership voted to m ...
(SAG) in 1965. He served a term as third vice president and two terms as president from 1971 to 1973. During his presidency Gavin testified before the Federal Trade Commission on phone talent rackets and met with President Richard Nixon to present the problem of excessive television reruns. He presented petitions to the federal government on the issues of prime-time access rules, legislative assistance for American motion pictures, and film production by the government using non-professional actors.
Gavin's presidency in the Screen Actors Guild came to an end when he was defeated by
Dennis Weaver
Billy Dennis Weaver (June 4, 1924 – February 24, 2006) was an American actor and president of the Screen Actors Guild, best known for his work in television and films from the early 1950s until just before his death in 2006. Weaver's two most ...
in 1973. Gavin was the first incumbent president to be defeated by an independent challenger.
Theatre
Gavin made a foray into live theater in the 1970s, showcasing his baritone voice. He toured the summer stock circuit as El Gallo in a production of ''
The Fantasticks
''The Fantasticks'' is a 1960 musical with music by Harvey Schmidt and book and lyrics by Tom Jones. It tells an allegorical story, loosely based on the 1894 play ''The Romancers'' (''Les Romanesques'') by Edmond Rostand, concerning two ne ...
'' at the South Shore Music Circus twentieth anniversary summer season June 29 - July 4, 1970, in Massachusetts.
In 1973, Gavin replaced
Ken Howard
Kenneth Joseph Howard Jr. (March 28, 1944 – March 23, 2016) was an American actor. He was known for his roles as Thomas Jefferson in ''1776'' (1972) and as high school basketball coach and former Chicago Bulls player Ken Reeves in the televisi ...
in the Broadway musical ''
Seesaw
A seesaw (also sometimes known as a teeter-totter in North America) is a long, narrow board supported by a single pivot point, most commonly located at the midpoint between both ends; as one end goes up, the other goes down. These are most comm ...
'' opposite
Michele Lee
Michele Lee (born June 24, 1942) is an American actress, singer, dancer, producer and director. She is known for her role as Karen Fairgate MacKenzie on the prime-time soap opera ''Knots Landing'', for which she was nominated for a 1982 Emmy A ...
. Gavin said he first turned down the musical because of his unhappiness with the quality of the book but reconsidered when Michael Bennett asked him to join the cast. He played the role for seven months and toured the United States in the role with
Lucie Arnaz
Lucie Désirée Arnaz (born July 17, 1951) is an American actress and singer. She is the daughter of actors Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, and the older sister of actor and musician Desi Arnaz, Jr.
Early life
Lucie Arnaz was born at Cedars of ...
. Both the Broadway and touring production were directed by
Michael Bennett.
Later TV work
In 1973, Gavin played
Akhenaten
Akhenaten (pronounced ), also spelled Akhenaton or Echnaton ( ''ʾŪḫə-nə-yātəy'', , meaning 'Effective for the Aten'), was an ancient Egyptian pharaoh reigning or 1351–1334 BC, the tenth ruler of the Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt, Eig ...
in the television movie ''
Nefertiti y Aquenatos
''Nefertiti y Aquenatos'' ( English: Nefertiti and Akhenaten) is a 1973 Mexican television short film directed by Raúl Araiza. It stars Geraldine Chaplin as Nefertiti, Salah Zulfikar as Horemheb and John Gavin as Akhenaten. The film was produce ...
'' alongside
Geraldine Chaplin
Geraldine Leigh Chaplin (born July 31, 1944) is an American actress whose long career has included multilingual roles in English, Spanish, French, Italian and German films.
Geraldine is a daughter of Charlie Chaplin, the first of his eigh ...
and
Salah Zulfikar
Salah El-Din Ahmed Mourad Zulfikar (, ; 18 January 1926 – 22 December 1993) was an Egyptian actor and film producer. He started his career as a Egyptian National Police, police officer, before becoming an actor in 1956. He is regarded as one o ...
. In 1980, Gavin played
Cary Grant
Cary Grant (born Archibald Alec Leach; January 18, 1904November 29, 1986) was an English and American actor. Known for his blended British and American accent, debonair demeanor, lighthearted approach to acting, and sense of comic timing, he ...
in the television movie ''
Sophia Loren: Her Own Story''. He guest-starred on ''
Mannix
''Mannix'' is an American detective television series that originally aired for eight seasons on CBS from September 16, 1967, to March 13, 1975. The show was created by Richard Levinson and William Link, and developed by executive producer ...
'', ''
The Love Boat
''The Love Boat'' is an American romantic comedy-drama television series created by Wilford Lloyd Baumes that originally aired on ABC from September 24, 1977, to May 24, 1986. In addition, three TV movies aired before the regular series pre ...
'', ''
Medical Center'', ''
Hart to Hart
''Hart to Hart'' is an American mystery television series that premiered on August 25, 1979, on ABC. The show stars Robert Wagner and Stefanie Powers as Jonathan and Jennifer Hart, respectively, a wealthy couple who lead a glamorous jetset ...
'' and ''
Fantasy Island
''Fantasy Island'' is an American fantasy drama television series created by Gene Levitt. It aired on ABC from 1977 to 1984. The series starred Ricardo Montalbán as the mysterious Mr. Roarke and Hervé Villechaize as his assistant, Tattoo. ...
''.
Politics

Gavin was cultural adviser to the
Organization of American States
The Organization of American States (OAS or OEA; ; ; ) is an international organization founded on 30 April 1948 to promote cooperation among its member states within the Americas.
Headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States, the OAS is ...
from 1961 to 1965.
Ambassador to Mexico
A
Republican, Gavin was appointed U.S. Ambassador to Mexico in June 1981 by President
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan (February 6, 1911 – June 5, 2004) was an American politician and actor who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. He was a member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party a ...
. He met with opposition political parties while being a key defender of the President's anti-communist policies within Central America, which he received attention and scrutiny for. Gavin served until June 1986, when he resigned to go back to private life.
Business career
In June 1986 following his work as ambassador to Mexico, Gavin became vice-president of
Atlantic Richfield
Arco may refer to:
Places
* Arco, Trentino, a town in Trentino, Italy
* Arco, Idaho, in the United States
* Arco, Minnesota, a city in the United States
* ARCO Arena in Sacramento, California, home of the Sacramento Kings
Companies
* ARCO (b ...
in federal and international relations. In 1987, he resigned to become president of
Univisa Satellite Communications, a subsidiary of Univisa, the Spanish language broadcasting empire.
Gavin was president of Gamma Holdings, a global capital and consulting company which he helped found in 1968. He became chairman of Gamma Services International in January 1990. He served on the boards of Causeway Capital, the Hotchkis & Wiley Funds, the TCW Strategic Income Fund, Securitas Security Services USA, Inc., DII Industries, LLC, Claxson Interactive Group Inc., Anvita, Inc., the Latin America Strategy Board at HM Capital Partners LLC, Apex Mortgage Capital Inc., Krause's Furniture, Inc., Atlantic Richfield Co., International Wire Holdings Company and International Wire Group Holdings, Inc. Gavin served as senior counselor to Hicks Trans American Partners (a division of Hicks Holdings) and managing director and partner of Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst (Latin America) from 1994 to 2001. He was an independent trustee of Causeway International Value Fund.
Gavin served on various
pro bono
( English: 'for the public good'), usually shortened to , is a Latin phrase for professional work undertaken voluntarily and without payment. The term traditionally referred to provision of legal services by legal professionals for people who a ...
boards, including UCLA's Anderson Graduate School of Management, Don Bosco Institute, the FEDCO Charitable Fund, the Hoover Institution, Loyola-Marymount University, the National Parks Foundation, Southwest Museum, the University of the Americas and Villanova Preparatory School.
Personal life
Gavin was married to Cicely Evans from 1957 until their divorce in 1965. They had two daughters. While making ''No Roses for Robert'' in Italy in 1967, Gavin dated co-star
Luciana Paluzzi
Luciana Paluzzi (born 10 June 1937) is an Italian actress. She is perhaps best known for playing SPECTRE assassin Fiona Volpe in the fourth James Bond film, '' Thunderball'', but she had important roles in notable films of the 1960s and 1970s ...
.
In 1974, Gavin married stage and television actress
Constance Towers
Constance Mary Towers (born May 20, 1933) is an American film, stage, and television actress. She gained prominence for her appearances in several mainstream 1950s films before transitioning to theater, starring in numerous Broadway productions ...
. The two were introduced at a party in 1957 by Gavin's godfather,
Jimmy McHugh
James Francis McHugh (July 10, 1894 – May 23, 1969) was an American composer. One of the most prolific songwriters from the 1920s to the 1950s, he is credited with over 500 songs. His songs were recorded by many artists, including Chet Baker, J ...
. Towers had two children from her previous marriage to Eugene McGrath. Gavin and Towers remained married until his death in 2018.
Death
Gavin died of complications from
pneumonia
Pneumonia is an Inflammation, inflammatory condition of the lung primarily affecting the small air sacs known as Pulmonary alveolus, alveoli. Symptoms typically include some combination of Cough#Classification, productive or dry cough, ches ...
after a long battle with
leukemia
Leukemia ( also spelled leukaemia; pronounced ) is a group of blood cancers that usually begin in the bone marrow and produce high numbers of abnormal blood cells. These blood cells are not fully developed and are called ''blasts'' or '' ...
on February 9, 2018, at his home in Beverly Hills.
Filmography
Film
Television
Theatre credits
*''
The Fantastiks'' (1967) – Paper Mill Playhouse and The Cape Playhouse on Cape Cod, Massachusetts in 1970
*''Seesaw'' (1974) with
Lucie Arnaz
Lucie Désirée Arnaz (born July 17, 1951) is an American actress and singer. She is the daughter of actors Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, and the older sister of actor and musician Desi Arnaz, Jr.
Early life
Lucie Arnaz was born at Cedars of ...
– Broadway and tour
Mr. Roberts (1968) - Paper Mill Playhouse
References
External links
*
*
*
John Gavin – So Suave
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gavin, John
1931 births
2018 deaths
Businesspeople from Los Angeles
American actor-politicians
American people of Chilean descent
American male actors of Mexican descent
American people of Irish descent
American male film actors
American male stage actors
Presidents of the Screen Actors Guild
Hispanic and Latino American diplomats
Hispanic and Latino American male actors
Ambassadors of the United States to Mexico
Latino conservatism in the United States
California Republicans
United States Navy officers
Military personnel from California
American military personnel of the Korean War
Stanford University alumni
Male actors from Los Angeles
Deaths from leukemia in California
Deaths from pneumonia in California
New Star of the Year (Actor) Golden Globe winners