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.[2][3][4]
During the Korean War, Gavin was commissioned in the U.S. Navy serving aboard the USS Princeton 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.[5]
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.[6]
Entry into acting
Following his naval service, Gavin offered himself as a technical adviser to family friend and film producer Bryan Foy, who was making a movie about the Princeton. Instead, Foy arranged a screen test for Gavin with Universal-International. Gavin initially refused the offer, but his father urged him to try it. The test was successful and Gavin signed with the studio.[7][8] "They offered me so much money I couldn't resist", he said later.[9]
Gavin's break was the lead in A Time to Love and a Time to Die (1958), directed by Douglas Sirk from the novel by Erich Maria Remarque. His casting drew comparisons with the casting of the similarly inexperienced Lew Ayres in Universal's film version of All Quiet on the Western Front (1931).[12][13] Sirk cast Gavin for the young actor's inexperience, fresh looks, and earnest manner.[14] The film was not a success when it was released, although Gavin received praise for his performance.[14]
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 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.[15]
Gavin appeared as Julius Caesar in Universal's epic Spartacus (1960) directed by Stanley Kubrick.[16] He was 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, saying, "I think Hitch really got frosted with me."[14] 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.'[18]
Gavin disliked comparisons to Rock Hudson and in a 1960 interview said he considered quitting acting to take up law.[6] He left Universal in 1962. He signed to make several movies in Europe including The Assassins, The Challenge and Night Call.[17] However, he pulled out of The Assassins (which became Assassins of Rome (1965)), Night Call and The Challenge were never made.[19] In early 1964, he starred in the TV series Destry.[20] 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.[19] He appeared in the television series, Convoy, which was cancelled after a short run.[21] He appeared in Mexican film Pedro Páramo (1967), based on the novel by Juan Rulfo. His next role was that of Mary Tyler Moore's character's stuffy boyfriend in Universal's 1920s-era musical Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967). Gavin saw the role as an opportunity to parody his performances in Ross Hunter films.[9]
Gavin was on the board of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) in 1965. He served a term as third vice president and two terms as president from 1971 to 1973.[27] During his presidency Gavin testified before the Federal Trade Commission on phone talent[clarification needed] 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.[28]
Gavin's presidency in the Screen Actors Guild came to an end when he was defeated by Dennis Weaver in 1973. Gavin was the first incumbent president to be defeated by an independent challenger.[29]
Theatre
Gavin made a 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 at the South Shore Music Circus twentieth anniversary summer season June 29-July 4, 1970 in Massachusetts.[citation needed]
In 1973, Gavin replaced Ken Howard in the Broadway musical Seesaw opposite Michele Lee.[30] 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.[31] He played the role for seven months and toured the United States in the role with Lucie Arnaz. Both the Broadway and touring production were directed by Michael Bennett.[14]
In June 1986 following his work as ambassador to Mexico, Gavin became vice-president of Atlantic Richfield 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.[35][36]
Gavin was president of Gamma Holdings, a global capital and consulting company which he helped found in 1968.[37] 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.[citation needed] 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.[citation needed]
Gavin served on various pro bono 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.[38][39]
Personal life
Gavin married actress Cicely Evans in 1957. They had two children and lived in Beverly Hills.[40] The marriage ended in divorce in 1965. While making No Roses for Robert in Italy in 1967, Gavin dated co-star Luciana Paluzzi.[41]
In 1974, Gavin married stage and television actress Constance Towers. The two were introduced at a party in 1957 by Gavin's godfather, Jimmy McHugh. Towers had two children from her previous marriage to Eugene McGrath. Gavin and Towers remained married until his death in 2018.[42]
Death
Gavin died of complications from pneumonia after a long battle with leukemia on February 9, 2018, at his home in Beverly Hills, California.[43][44]
^Richard L. Coe (June 28, 1961). "An Artist Is at Work". The Washington Post and Times-Herald. p. B10.
^ abJoe Finnigan (November 20, 1960). "False Rich-Boy Tag Perils Film Career, Gavin Claims". The Washington Post and Times-Herald. p. G3.
^Wise, James E. & Rehill, Anne Collier. Stars in Blue: Movie Actors in America's Sea Services Naval Institute Press, pg. 265.
^Hopper, 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.
^ abThomas, Kevin (June 2, 1966). "Gavin Gets Down to Business". Los Angeles Times. p. D-12.
^Scheuer, Philip K. (Feb 19, 1956). "Drama Arts: School for Future Stars Paying Off Handsomely". Los Angeles Times. p. 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". The 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 (July 28, 1974). "John Gavin: One for the 'Seesaw': John Gavin: One for the 'Seesaw'". The Washington Post. p. L1.
^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". The 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". The New York Times. p. 34.
^ abScheuer, Philip K. (February 1, 1963). "Gavin Will Embark on Adventurous Life: News From Unsunny Spain; 'Nevada Smith' a Follow-up". p. D-9.
^Harford, 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.
^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.
^Wood, Thomas (November 26, 1972). "Movie's: Search Over---Roger Moore the New James Bond The New Bond". Los Angeles Times. p. S-32.