John Gavin
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John Gavin (born John Anthony Golenor on April 8, 1931 in Los Angeles) is an Academy Award nominated American film actor and former US Ambassador to Mexico. Gavin is half Mexican and fluent in Spanish.
Gavin is immortalised in a fashion by the fact that he was signed on for the role of James Bond in 1971's Diamonds Are Forever after George Lazenby left the role. However, he never played Bond due to Sean Connery's expensive return to the 007 franchise yet still had his contract honored in full.
Gavin's father's side, the Golenor family, of Irish origin, were early landowners in California when it was still under Spanish rule, though his father Herald changed the family's name to Gavin. His mother was a member of the powerful Pablos family in the Mexican state of Sonora.
He received a B.A. from Stanford University, where he did senior honors work in Latin American economic history, and served in the U.S. Navy in air intelligence from 1952 to 1955.
[edit] Film and stage career
Groomed as a virile, strapping, handsome leading man in the mould of Rock Hudson, some of his most famous roles include A Time to Love and A Time To Die and Imitation of Life (1959) for director Douglas Sirk and producer Ross Hunter, both of whom had earlier helped make a star of Hudson. Gavin also appeared in the seminal thriller Psycho (1960) for director Alfred Hitchcock, the epic Spartacus (1960) directed by Stanley Kubrick, and the 1920s-era Julie Andrews musical Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967) for George Roy Hill, again for producer Ross Hunter. Each of those films was among the most successful box-office attractions of their year of release. Gavin also co-starred with such top leading ladies of the era as Doris Day in the 1960 thriller Midnight Lace, Sophia Loren the same year in the comedic A Breath of Scandal and, in 1961, with Susan Hayward in the melodrama Back Street and in Romanoff and Juliet and Tammy Tell Me True, both with Sandra Dee.
He was president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1971 to 1973. There have also been rumors that he was a coach of the Walla Walla Blue Devils located in Walla Walla, WA. And might have even help coach Drew Bledsoe while he attended the school.
Gavin made a successful 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 and later replaced Ken Howard in the Broadway musical, Seesaw (1973) opposite Michelle Lee. Gavin also toured the country in Seesaw with Lucie Arnaz. Both the Broadway and touring production were directed by Michael Bennett.
A Republican, Gavin was appointed U.S. Ambassador to Mexico in June 1981 by President Ronald Reagan and served until June 1986. Since leaving government service, he has become a successful businessman and civic leader.
He has been married to Constance Towers, a stage and television actress, since 1974. When they wed, Gavin and Towers each had two children from previous marriages, so the couple have four adult children and one grandchild. Gavin's daughter, Cristina Gavin, followed in his footsteps and became an actress.
[edit] External links
| Preceded by Julian Nava |
U.S. Ambassador to Mexico 1981–1986 |
Succeeded by Charles J. Pilliod, Jr. |
| Preceded by Charlton Heston |
President of Screen Actors Guild 1971 – 1973 |
Succeeded by Dennis Weaver |
