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 when it was still under Spanish rule. Gavin's mother, Delia Diana Pablos, hailed from the historically influential Pablos family of the Mexican state of Sonora. Roughly two years after Gavin's birth, his mother obtained a divorce from Apablasa. Her next marriage was to Herald Ray Golenor, who adopted John and changed his name to John Anthony Golenor.[1]
After attending St. John's Military Academy (Los Angeles) and Villanova Preparatory (Ojai, California), both of which were Roman Catholic schools, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Latin American Affairs from Stanford University, where he did Senior Honors work in Latin American economic history and was a member of Chi Psi Fraternity and Navy ROTC.[2] "I never did any acting in school, never had any curiosity about college plays," he later said. "My entire thought moved in quite another direction."[3]
Military service
During the Korean War, Gavin was commissioned in the U.S. Navy serving aboard the USS Princeton offshore 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 due to his work in the Honduras floods of 1954.[4]
Gavin later said in a 1960 interview:
Some people have inferred from what I said in the past I'm a rich boy, which I'm not, and that I'm doing this for a lark ... Apparently you're either born in abject poverty and rise above it or else you're enormously wealthy. The fact that I went to a nice prep school and Stanford University has something to do with it ... I went on a scholarship. I have been on my own ever since I got commissioned in the Navy. I never came into an estate or anything like that.[5]
Entry into acting
Following his naval service, Gavin offered himself as a technical adviser to family friend, film producer Bryan Foy, who was making a movie about the Princeton. Instead, Foy arranged a screen test with Universal-International. Gavin originally turned down the offer – he had never acted in college – but his father urged him to try it. The test was successful and Gavin signed with the studio.[2][3] "They offered me so much money I couldn't resist", he said later.[6]
Universal groomed Gavin as a virile, strapping leading man in the mold of Rock Hudson. He was trained in Jess Kimmel's talent workship, originally under the name "John Gilmore". His classmates included Grant Williams, Gia Scala and John Saxon.[7]
His first film was Raw Edge (1956) where he played the brother of Rory Calhoun and was billed as "John Gilmore". This name was changed to "John Gavin" for the films Behind the High Wall (1956), Four Girls in Town (1957), and Quantez (also 1957).
He was meant to star in The Female Animal (1958) but was too busy on other projects and was replaced by George Nader.[8] Gavin later recalled, "When I started out in front of the cameras I was green – raw, scared and just plain awful".[9]
"I felt that, after extensive tests, that he could be just right because of his lack of experience", said director Douglas Sirk. "He was fresh, young, good looking, not pretty though, earnest – and had this little dilettante quality I figured would be quite the thing for the lead in this picture".[12]
"I think we have a good man", said Remarque of Gavin's casting.[13] Universal executive Al Daff called Gavin "the greatest prospect I've seen in years".[14] "It changed my entire life", said Gavin,[3] who then went on to add: "If I should have the good fortune to become a star, I certainly don't intend to become a star twenty-four hours a day."[14]
Universal was so excited about Gavin, they sent a copy of his screen test to critics in advance of the movie's release.[15]Hedda Hopper saw a preview and predicted that Gavin will "take the public by storm and so will the picture".[16] He was dubbed "Universal's new white hope".[17]
The film was not a big success when it was released, although Gavin was praised by Jean-Luc Godard in an article in Cahiers du cinéma.[12] "For a comparative newcomer he does remarkably well", wrote the Chicago Daily Tribune.[18]The New York Times called him a "good-looking, dull young man whose speech, attitude and dull delivery betray the tyro [first-time actor] from Hollywood".[19] The Los Angeles Times said he gave a "sensible, likeable" performance.[20] "Never once is one convinced that Gavin is anything other than a nice looking American lad just out of college", wrote The Washington Post. "One can hardly call Gavin's a performance."[21]
A series of classic films
Before A Time to Love and a Time to Die had been released, Gavin had already been cast by Douglas Sirk in another important role – supporting Lana Turner in Imitation of Life (1959). Unlike A Time to Love and a Time to Die, this was a spectacular success at the box office, and Gavin was voted most promising male newcomer for his performance in the film by the Motion Picture Exhibitor.[22]
Universal then used him in the epic Spartacus (1960) directed by Stanley Kubrick in a key supporting role as Julius Caesar.[23] He was then cast as Sam Loomis in the thriller Psycho (1960) for director Alfred Hitchcock. Gavin later claimed he was "terribly disturbed" by the sex and violence in Psycho, and stated, "I think Hitch really got frosted with me."[12] Both films were successful critically and commercially.
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 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' ... So I psyched myself negative ... There was no studio system to let me work my way up through small roles. When I got up on my hind legs, no one would believe it.[25]
He admitted in a 1960 interview that at one stage he even considered quitting acting to take up law:
I decided to stay after I became aware of what I was doing. I don't want to be mediocre and I'm conceited enough to think I can be good in this business. But I really hope it's nothing as silly as conceit that makes me say that.[5]
He added that he wished people would stop comparing him to Rock Hudson "because I can't but help come off second best."[5]
Freelance
Gavin left Universal in 1962 to freelance. He signed to make several movies in Europe including The Assassins, The Challenge and Night Call.[24] However he pulled out of The Assassins (which became Assassins of Rome (1965), Night Call was never made and The Challenge kept getting pushed back and was eventually permanently shelved.[26]
In early 1964, he starred in the TV series Destry.[27] He was quoted during filming:
When I came to Universal, they were making 40 pictures a year. I walked through the gate, was given a contract, and immediately the number of pictures [films] dropped to eight or nine a year. I'm not complaining because I was given good roles ... roles with scope and breadth. But I wish I could have been put in 40 or 50 roles before making my 'first' picture, do you know what I mean? Doing a series now is like putting the cart before the horse. I'm glad to be doing Destry now though because of the experience. My gosh, I've shot more film in the last five weeks than I have in my entire life.[28]
The series was not a ratings success and was soon 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.[26] He tried another TV series, Convoy, which only had a short run before being cancelled.[29] Gavin then appeared in a Mexican film Pedro Páramo (1967), based on the novel by Juan Rulfo. "I had to do something I was proud of", said Gavin of the latter movie.[6]
"Pedro broke the mould," he added. "I had to break it. All the trash I've done. I just couldn't do it anymore".[25] While filming in Mexico, Gavin heard Universal was making an expensive 1920s-era Julie Andrews musical Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967) for George Roy Hill, again for producer Ross Hunter. He lobbied for the role of Mary Tyler Moore's stuffy boyfriend to Hunter and Universal production head Ed Muhl. "This is a square, square guy so I told them it would be such type casting that they just couldn't get anyone else but me", said Gavin.[6]
Gavin read for director George Roy Hill and was cast. "I told Ross I'm playing a parody of every part I've had in a Ross Hunter picture", said Gavin.[6] He thought Millie had been a "breakthrough comedy role" for him. "Now I'm beginning to feel like a journeyman actor and I want a little more dimension in movie roles", he said.[25] "I've developed into a pretty good Sunday actor", claimed Gavin in 1966, although he admitted to making mistakes in his career. "I have to be beat over the head. I'm intelligent, but not smart".[6]
Gavin was signed for the role of James Bond in the film Diamonds Are Forever (1971) after George Lazenby (Bond in the previous series entry) left the role.[33] "Time was getting awfully short", said producer Albert Broccoli. "We had to have someone in the bullpen".[34] Head of United Artists, David Picker, however, wanted the box-office insurance of Sean Connery, and made Connery a highly lucrative offer to return as Bond. Gavin's contract was still honored in full. According to Roger Moore's James Bond Diary, Gavin also was slated to play Bond in Live and Let Die (1973), but Harry Saltzman insisted on a British actor for the role and Moore played the role instead.[35]
Screen Actors Guild
Gavin had been on the Board of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) in 1965. He served one term as Third Vice-President, and two terms as First Vice-President. He was president from 1971-73. According to the SAG website:
As Guild President, in 1972, he testified before the Federal Trade Commission on phone talent rackets; met with President Richard Nixon to present the problem of excessive television reruns; presented petitions to the federal government on issues of prime-time access rules, legislative assistance for American motion pictures (to combat Runaway Production), and film production by the government using non-professional actors.[36]
He was defeated, in a ballot, by Dennis Weaver in 1973. Gavin was the first incumbent president to be defeated by an independent challenger.[37]
Live theatre
Gavin made a successful foray into live theatre in the 1970s, showcasing his baritone voice. He toured the summer stock circuit as El Gallo in a production of The Fantasticks.[citation needed]
In 1973, Gavin replaced Ken Howard in the Broadway musical Seesaw opposite Michele Lee, beating out Tab Hunter who also auditioned because, according to the producers, Gavin "sings and dances better than Hunter and looks great on stage with Michele".[38] (Gavin later claimed he was offered the musical from the beginning but turned it down because the book was not up to scratch, then changed his mind when Michael Bennett asked him to join the cast later.[39]) He played the role for seven months, then stayed in it when the show toured the United States with Lucie Arnaz. Both the Broadway and touring production were directed by Michael Bennett.[12] The Los Angeles Times said he gives a "solid performance".[40]
Gavin reflected in an interview during the tour, "I used to play one-dimensional people. But looking backwards my work has been varied. Some people have said rich."[41]
Later TV work
In the late 1970s Gavin concentrated on TV and his growing business interests. His best-known performance around this time was playing Cary Grant in the TV movie Sophia Loren: Her Own Story (1980).[42]
A Republican, Gavin was appointed U.S. Ambassador to Mexico in June 1981 by President Ronald Reagan and served until June 12, 1986.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Gavin was an "activist envoy to Mexico" who "won praise in many circles for his handling of such issues as trade and illegal drug dealing as well as for speaking out against anti-American sentiment. But his candor and meetings with critics of the ruling party prompted accusations by Mexicans of meddling in the country's domestic affairs."[44]
In 1991, Gavin was sounded out about running for the Senate for the Republican Party but decided not to.[44]
Business career
Gavin had numerous business interests parallel to his acting career. In June 1986 following his work as ambassador to Mexico, Gavin became vice-president of Atlantic Richfield in the field of federal and international relations. In 1987 he resigned to become president of Univisa Satellite Communications, a new subsidiary of Univisa, the Spanish language broadcasting empire.[45][46] He worked with them until December 1989.
Gavin was also president of Gamma Holdings, a global capital and consulting company which he helped found in 1968.[47] He was chairman of Gamma Services International from January 1990.
He served on the boards of Causeway Capital (Chairman); The Hotchkis & Wiley Funds (Chairman); The TCW Strategic Income Fund since 2001; Securitas Security Services USA, Inc. since April 1993, DII Industries, LLC since 1986; Claxson Interactive Group Inc. since September 21, 2001; Anvita, Inc.; the Latin America Strategy Board at HM Capital Partners LLC; Apex Mortgage Capital Inc. since December 1997; Krause's Furniture, Inc. since September 1996; Atlantic Richfield Co. since 1989; International Wire Holdings Company and International Wire Group Holdings, Inc. since June 1995.
He was Senior Counselor to Hicks Trans American Partners (a division of Hicks Holdings) from 2001, a 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 since September 2001.
Gavin served on various pro bono boards, including: The Anderson Graduate School or Management at UCLA; Don Bosco Institute; the FEDCO Charitable Fund (administered by the California Community Foundation); The Hoover Institution; Loyola-Marymount University; The National Parks Foundation; The Southwest Museum; The University of the Americas; and Villanova Preparatory School.[48][49]
For a long time I wondered if I shouldn't have gone into something worthwhile, such as being a doctor. To the bitter end Spencer Tracy was also tortured with the same agony. I've only recently realized there's the actor in every human being – and to let it out, let it happen is a very wonderful, very giving thing. But I would have been so much happier in the past if I realized that sooner. You see, I would have relaxed.[9]
Sam Stagg, author of a 2009 book on the making of the film Imitation of Life was critical of Gavin's performance in that film and A Time to Love and a Time to Die:
In both films, Gavin is a foreign body: he slows them down like a virus that must run its course ... What he did in this picture ... he did in all the others – rather, it's what he didn't do: he didn't act with his face, his eyes, his voice, his body. He resembles a chiseled monolith and his facial muscles move as rarely as Nicole Kidman's ... From the outset, critics have called Gavin "wooden". But that critical cliche tells only half. If heartthrobs like Rock Hudson were dreamboats, then Gavin is a glass bottom boat – in dry dock. His depthless transparency exposes his shortcomings ... [Gavin was] eye candy ... low-calorie but filling and incapable of stealing a scene.[51]
Personal life and death
Gavin married actress Cicely Evans in 1957. They had two children and lived in Dennis O'Keefe's former house in Beverly Hills.[52] Gavin's first marriage ended in divorce in 1965. While making No Roses for Robert in Italy in 1967 he dated co-star Luciana Paluzzi.[53]
Gavin was married to Constance Towers, a stage and television actress, from 1974 until his death. The couple first met in 1957 at a party when his godfather, Jimmy McHugh, introduced them. Towers had two children from her previous marriage to Eugene McGrath. Gavin's elder daughter, Cristina, followed in his footsteps and became an actress. His younger daughter, Maria, also followed in Gavin's footsteps, with a master's degree from Stanford, and has a successful career in television production.[54]
Gavin died at his home in Beverly Hills, California on February 9, 2018 of complications from pneumonia. He was also reported to have been fighting leukemia for an undisclosed period of time. Gavin was 86.[55][56]
^ abWise, James E. & Rehill, Anne Collier. Stars in Blue: Movie Actors in America's Sea Services Naval Institute Press, p. 265.
^ abcHopper, Hedda (July 20, 1958). "HE NEVER LEFT HOME: Los Angeles Native John Gavin Wanted No Part of Pictures, So Producers Beat a Path to His Door". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. F12.
^Richard L. Coe (June 28, 1961). "An Artist Is at Work". The Washington Post, Times Herald. p. B10.
^ abcJoe Finnigan (November 20, 1960). "False Rich-Boy Tag Perils Film Career, Gavin Claims". The Washington Post, Times Herald. p. G3.
^ abcdeThomas, Kevin (June 2, 1966). "Gavin Gets Down to Business". Los Angeles Times. p. D-12.
^Drama Arts: School for Future Stars Paying Off Handsomely
Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times 19 Feb 1956: D1.
^Thomas M. Pryor (May 17, 1957). "UNIVERSAL CASTS TWO IN NEW FILM: Jane Powell, George Nader to Appear in 'Female Animal' --Actor Replaces Gavin". New York Times. p. 19.
^Schallert, Edwin (July 17, 1957). "John Gavin Wins Plum Remarque Role; Ford to Face 'Doomed World'". Los Angeles Times. p. 23.
^"Another War, Another New Star". Chicago Daily Tribune. June 29, 1958. p. l10.
^ abcdeTom Donnelly (28 July 1974). "John Gavin: One for the 'Seesaw': John Gavin: One for the 'Seesaw'". The Washington Post. p. L1.
^Scheuer, Philip K. (July 21, 1957). "A Town Called Hollywood: Remarque Enjoys Adapting Own Novel Into Screenplay". Los Angeles Times. p. E2.
^ abThomas M. Pryor (August 11, 1957). "HOLLYWOOD IDEAS: Newcomers Face Stardom at Universal --'South Pacific' on the Horizon Appraisal "Pacific" Launching Movie Slant". New York Times. p. 89.
^Tinee, Mae (January 19, 1958). "A Sneak Look Via Film Test of New Actor". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. e9.
^Hopper, Hedda (April 16, 1958). "José Ferrer to Produce Broadway Play in Fall". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. a6.
^Tinee, Mae (June 22, 1958). "Young Film Newcomer Ambitious, but Level Headed: Current War Picture First Starring Role". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. E9.
^Tinee, Mae (July 4, 1958). "Movie Version of Book by Remarque Excellent: "A TIME TO LOVE and A TIME TO DIE"". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. 14.
^Bosley Crowther (July 10, 1958). "Screen: 'A Time to Love': Remarque Film Opens at Two Theatres". New York Times. p. 22.
^Scott, John L. (July 31, 1958). "'A Time to Love' Is Poignant War Drama". Los Angeles Times. p. B6.
^Richard L. Coe (September 6, 1958). "War Novels Flat on Film". The Washington Post and Times Herald. p. C15.
^HOWARD THOMPSON (September 23, 1959). "MOVIE HOUSE HERE UNDER NEW SET-UP: Rugoff and Becker Chain to Join in Direction of the Paris -- Rights Bought". New York Times. p. 44.
^Thomas M. Pryor (January 28, 1959). "MOVIE EXECUTIVE TO MAKE TV FILMS: Mervyn LeRoy Is Planning Series -- A.F.M. Local Head Vows Fight on Rival". New York Times. p. 34.
^ abcScheuer, Philip K. (February 1, 1963). "Gavin Will Embark on Adventurous Life: News From Unsunny Spain; 'Nevada Smith' a Follow-up". p. D-9.
^ abcHarford, Margaret (July 13, 1967). "Gavin Breaks the Mold: GAVIN". Los Angeles Times. p. C-1.
^ abHopper, Hedda (September 25, 1964). "Looking at Hollywood: John Gavin Signs Pact to Do Outside Films, TV". Chicago Tribune. p. C-11.
^Zylstra, Freida (February 14, 1964). "Salad Maker Makes Debut in New TV Series Tonight". Chicago Tribune. p. B-9.
^MacMinn, Aleene (March 15, 1964). "Gavin's first series". Los Angeles Times. p. E3.
^Finnigan, Joseph (December 31, 1964). "Millions Utilized on Pilots for New Season". Los Angeles Times. p. B15.
^Martin, Betty (June 3, 1966). "Gavin Signs Universal Pact". Los Angeles Times. p. D-12.
^Martin, Betty (February 9, 1968). "MOVIE CALL SHEET: John Gavin Set for Role". Los Angeles Times. p. C-15.
^Thomas, Kevin (March 27, 1970). "'Pussycat, Pussycat' Opens Multiple Run". Los Angeles Times. p. F-15.
^Page, Eleanor (January 30, 1971). "Paging People: A Stylish Benefit". Chicago Tribune. p. n14.
^Evans, Peter (July 25, 1971). "Has Time Banked the Fires of Sexy Agent 007?: Banking the Fires of Agent 007". Los Angeles Times. p. s1.
^Wood, Thomas (November 26, 1972). "Movie's: Search Over---Roger Moore the New James Bond The New Bond". Los Angeles Times. p. S-32.
^Zyda, Joan (September 26, 1973). "Dennis Weaver Seeks Actor Guild Presidency". Los Angeles Times. p. C1.
^Gold, Aaron (May 30, 1973). "Tower Ticker". Chicago Tribune. p. B-2.
^Drake, Sylvie (September 1, 1974). "Will They Love Lucie, Too?: More Stage News More Stage News More Stage News More Stage News More Stage News". Los Angeles Times. p. M-31.
^Sullivan, Dan (September 6, 1974). "Local Girl Makes Good in 'Seesaw': LUCIE IN 'SEESAW'". Los Angeles Times. p. F-1.
^Colander, Pat (August 9, 1974). "Jerry's Just jake with John". Chicago Tribune. p. B-8.
^GAVIN AS GRANT: A TEST OF TASTE Mann, Roderick. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif], July 1, 1980, pg. G-1.
^Bustamante, Jorge (March 6, 1981). "Gavin's Selection: a Slap in Mexico's Face". Los Angeles Times. p. C-7.
^Hopper, Hedda (12 July 1958). "Looking at Hollywood: Ski Murder Film Will Star John Gavin". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. 13.
^Hopper, Hedda (14 January 1959). "Zugsmith's Next Big Film to Be 'The Unvanquished'". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. b3.
^Scheuer,, Philip K (14 August 1959). "John Gavin to Join Wayne in 'Alamo': Sessue Menaces Swiss Family; 'Son of God' at $30 Million?". Los Angeles Times. p. 27.((cite news)): CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
^"Tony Curtis Set for 3 New Films: Robert Mulligan to Direct Star in Two -- 'Rat Race' Editing Is Completed". New York Times. 23 January 1960. p. 15.
^Scheuer, Philip K (3 Apr 1962). "'Pawnbroker' Will Be Steiger Vehicle: McGiver Back at Funmaking; Curious Case of Lotte Lenya". Los Angeles Times. p. C9.
^EUGENE ARCHER (19 August 1961). "NEW YORK LURES MOVIE PRODUCER: Ross Hunter to Work Here on Films and a Musical". New York Times. p. 10.
^Hopper, Hedda (31 August 1962). "Peter Falk, Shelley Winters to Star in 'The Balcony': Actor Turns Down Film with Bardot". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. b8.
^HOWARD THOMPSON (13 April 1963). "Titanus Films Denies Reports That Production Is Falling Off". New York Times. p. 10.
^Hopper, Hedda (25 September 1964). "Looking at Hollywood: John Gavin Signs Pact to Do Outside Films, TV". Chicago Tribune. p. c11.
^"Taylor-Burton Film Fun for Rod Taylor: 'I Remain Healthy,' He Says; Has Nine Pictures Lined Up Hopper, Hedda". Los Angeles Times. 13 February 1963. p. D12.
^Scheuer, Philip K (January 17, 1963). "Revived 'Burlesque' Shows Infirmities: The Gags and the Gals Best Part of UCLA Production". Los Angeles Times. p. C9.
^Alpert, Don (May 5, 1963). "CYD CHARISSE STRANGE THINGS CAN HAPPEN TO A PRETTY GIRL ACTING OVERSEAS". Los Angeles Times. p. L4.
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