Jay C. Flippen
Jay C. Flippen
Discovered by famed African-American comedian Bert Williams, actor Jay C. Flippen attained his first Broadway stage role in 1920's Broadway Brevities. Entertainers of the period were expected to sing, dance, act and clown with equal expertise, and the young Flippen was no slouch in any of these categories. He not only shared billing with such stage luminaries as Jack Benny and Texas Guinan, but he boned up on his ad-lib skills as a radio announcer for the New York Yankees games. At one time president of the American Guild of Variety Artists, Flippen did as many benefits for worthy causes as he did paid performances and worked tirelessly in all showbiz branches: movies, stage (including the touring version of Olsen and Johnson's Hellzapoppin), radio (he was one of the first game show emcees) and even early experimental television broadcasts. After several years of alternating between raspy-voiced villains and lovable "Pop"- type characters in films, Flippen increased his fan following with a supporting role as C.P.O. Nelson on the 1962 sitcom Ensign O'Toole, which, though it lasted only one network season, was a particular favorite in syndicated reruns. In 1964, Flippen suffered a setback when a gangrenous leg had to be amputated. Choosing not to be what he described as "a turnip," Jay C. Flippen continued his acting career from a wheelchair, performing with vim and vinegar in films and on television until his death. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Filmography of Jay C. Flippen:
- The Wild One with Marlon Brando , Mary Murphy , Robert Keith , Lee Marvin , Ray Teal , Will Wright , Jerry Paris , Alvy Moore , Pat O'Malley , Timothy Carey , Gil Stratton
- Hellfighters with John Wayne , Katharine Ross , Jim Hutton , Vera Miles , Bruce Cabot , Alberto Morin , Chuck Roberson
- Night Passage with James Stewart , Audie Murphy , Dan Duryea , Brandon DeWilde , Hugh Beaumont , Jack Elam , Paul Fix , James Flavin , Ellen Corby , Henry Wills , Chuck Roberson , Ted Mapes , Kenneth Williams
- Kismet with Howard Keel , Ann Blyth , Vic Damone , Monty Woolley , Sebastian Cabot , Mike Mazurki , Jack Elam , Ted DeCorsia
- Firecreek with James Stewart , Henry Fonda , Ed Sr. Begley , James Best , Brooke Bundy , Jack Elam , Gary Lockwood , Dean Jagger , John Qualen
- Marie Galante with Spencer Tracy , Ned Sparks , Helen Morgan , Stepin Fetchit , Sig Rumann
- Brute Force with Burt Lancaster , Hume Cronyn , Charles Bickford , Yvonne DeCarlo , Ann Blyth , Howard Duff , Jeff Corey , John Harmon , John Hoyt , Sam Levene , Charles McGraw , Ray Teal , Crane Whitley , Herbert Heywood , Al Hill , Kenneth MacDonald , Frank Marlowe , Howard M. Mitchell , Gene Roth , Glenn Strange , Billy Wayne
- How the West Was Won with James Stewart , Henry Fonda , Gregory Peck , Debbie Reynolds , Richard Widmark , George Peppard , Karl Malden , John Wayne , Carolyn Jones , Robert Preston , Eli Wallach , Carroll Baker , Lee J. Cobb , Walter Brennan , David Brian , Andy Devine , Raymond Massey , Agnes Moorehead , Thelma Ritter , Mickey Shaughnessy , Russ Tamblyn , Lee VanCleef , Ken Curtis , Saul Gorss , Boyd "Red" Morgan , Gil Perkins , Walter Reed , Chuck Roberson , Gene Roth , Harry Dean Stanton , Karl Swenson , Spencer Tracy , Joseph Sawyer
Jay C. Flippen Trivia
