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Jay C. Flippen (1899-1971)
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Owney Tinpper Had A Daughter, April 4, 1964 Written by Paul Savage, Directed by Jerry Hopper,Guest Cast: Jay C. Flippen, Andrea Darvi, Noreen Corcoran, James Seay, Howard Wendell, Orville Sherman, Dolores Quinton, Vernon Rich, Berkeley Harris, Steve Gaynor |
| He fell into the “gruff but lovable tough guy” category like so many other stocky actors. Of course, Jay C. Flippen was one of the most recognizable actors in this category. With his hefty, 6’ 1” physique, jowly, square bulldog face, squinty, steely eyes and his gruff voice he was a natural for these roles. He most often played military officers, bosses, judges, sheriffs and other authority types. Often billed as J.C. Flippen, he was born Jay C. Flippen in Little Rock, Arkansas on March 6, 1899. His mother was a ballroom dance instructor and put on local talent shows in Little Rock. Most likely inspired by her, he started performing on stage as a young boy. He ran away from home at age 15 and performed in traveling minstrel shows. From there he followed the path of burlesque, vaudeville and musical comedy on to radio. Although he had no formal training, he developed into a decent actor. His film debut came in “Marie Gallante” (1934) as a Sailor. His impressive film credits include: “Intrigue” (1947) as Mike the Bartender; “Brute Force” (1947) with Burt Lancaster and Hume Cronin, as Hodges; “A Woman’s Secret” (1949) as Inspector J. Fowler; “They Live by Night” (1949) as T-Dub; “Oh, You Beautiful Doll” (1949) as Lippy Brannigan; “Down to the Sea in Ships” (1949) as Luke; “Love that Brute” (1950) as Biff; “The Yellow Cab Man” (1950) with Red Skelton, as Hugo; “Winchester 73” (1950) as Sgt. Wilkes; “Two Flags West” (1950) as Sgt. Terrance Duey; “Flying Leathernecks” (1951) with John Wayne, as Master Sgt. Clancy; “The People Against O’Hara” (1951) with Spencer Tracy, as Sven Norson; “The Lemon Drop Kid” (1951) with Bob Hope, as ‘Straight Flush’; “The Las Vegas Story” (1952) as Capt. H.A. Harris; “Bend of the River” (1952) as Jeremy Baile; “Thunder Bay” (1953) as Kermit MacDonald; “East of Sumatra” (1953) as Mac; “The Wild One” (1954) with Marlon Brando, as Sheriff Stew Singer; “Carnival Story” (1954) as Charley Grayson; “Oklahoma!” (1955) as Ike Skidmore; “Strategic Air Command” (1955) as Doyle; “Kismet” (1955) as Jawan; “Man Without a Star” (1956) as Strap Davis; “The Killing” (1956) as Marvin Unger; “Night Passage” (1957) as Ben Kimball; “The Deerslayer” (1957) as Old Tom Hutter; “The Restless Breed” (1957) as Marshal Steve Evans; “Hot Summer Night” (1957) as Oren Kobble; “Wild River” (1960) as Hamilton Garth; “The Plunderers” (1960) as Sheriff McCauley; “Cat Ballou” (1965) as Sheriff Cardigan; “Firecreek” (1968) as Mr. Pittman; “Hellfighters” (1968) as Jack Lomax and “The Seven Minutes” (1971) as Luther Yerkes, his last film. He appeared as a regular on the TV series: “Ensign O’Toole” (1962-63) as Chief Petty Officer Homer Nelson. He also guest starred on such TV series as: “Wanted: Dead or Alive”; “Rawhide”; “The Untouchables”; “The Dick Van Dyke Show”; “Gunsmoke” and “The Virginian.” He was married to screenwriter Ruth Brooks in 1946 until his death. He died during surgery for internal hemorrhaging on February 3, 1971 in Los Angeles, California at age 71. |
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Biography courtesy of GREAT CHARACTER ACTORS |