Men Of Character Character Actors
Joe Flynn
McHale's Navy (TV)/ Captain Binghamton
The Love Bug/ Havershaw
The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes/ Dean Higgins
How To Frame A Figg/ Kermit Sanderson
Joe Flynn was an American character actor who appeared in films and TV from 1948 until 1974.
He was born Joseph A. Flynn in Youngstown, OH in 1924,the son of a physician.
Flynn was noted for his role as Captain Binghamton in the TV sitcom McHales Havy.
He attended Raven High School at Younstown and then attended the University of Notre Dame.
After that he spent three years in the Army Medical Corps before moving west to pursue an acting career and to complete his education. He majored in political science at the University of Southern California.
He became interested in theater back during his time in Youngstown.
In his early years he was a ventriloquist and a dick jockey on a radio station.
He also became a local celebrity by guiding the Canfield (Ohio) Players in such productions of Pursuit Of Happiness and Harvey.
He made his debut on television 1950 in the TV movie Lets Join Joanie. He also appeared in pre network days in his own situation comedy Yer Old Buddy.
His film debut came in 1954 in The Big Chase
Mr. Flynn appeared in several Disney movies and later was a voice actor for Disney animated films.
Some of Joe Flynn's film roles were:
The Babe Ruth Story (1948) as An Extra
The Big Chase (1954) as Milton Graves - Reporter
The Seven Little Foys (1955) as A Priest
Trial (1955) as Speakers Bureau
The Steel Jungle (1956) as Martin's Henchman
Indestructible Man (1956) as Bradshaw's Assistant
The Boss (1956) as Ernie Jackson
Portland Expose (1957) as Ted Carl
Panama Sal (1957) as Barrington Ashbrook
This Happy Feeling (1958) as Dr McCafferty
Go, Johnny, Go (1959) as Head Usher
-30- (1959) as Hymie Shapiro
Cry For Happy (1961) as John McIntosh
The Last Time I Saw Archie (1961) as Pvt. Russell Drexler
Lover Come Back (1961) as Hadley
Son Of Flubber (1963) as Rex Williams
McHale's Navy (1964) as Capt. Binghamton
McHale's Navy Joins The Air Force (1965) as Captain Binghamton
Divorce American Style (1967) as Lionel Blandsforth
Ready & Willing (1967-TV) as Sgt. Joe Ready
Did You Hear The One About The Traveling Saleslady?(1968) as Hubert Shelton
The Love Bug (1968) as Havershaw
Vernon's Volunteers (1069-TV) as The Mayor
The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes (1969) as Dean Higgins
Hoe To Frame A Figg (1971) as Kermit Sanderson
The Barefoot Executive (1971) as Francis X. Wilbanks
The Million Dollar Duck (1971) as Finley Hooper
Amateur's Guide To Love (1971-TV) as Host
Now You See Him, Now You Don't (1972) as Dean Higgins
Gentle Savage (1973) as Chief Deputy Moody
The Toy Game (1973-TV) as Bradford Newton
The Girl Most Likely to.... (1973) as Dr. Green
Superdad (1973) as Cyrus Hershberger
The Strongest Man In The World (1975) as Dean Higgins
The Rescuers (1977-animated) as Mr. Snoop (voice)
Joe Flynn starred as Captain Wallace Binghamton on the TV series McHale's Navy from 1962 to 1966.
He also appeared in other TV programs such as Jane Wyman Presents The Fireside Theater, Highway Patrol, The Ford Television Theater, The Court Of Last Resort, The Life Of Riley, The Silent Service, The Real McCoys, The Restless Gun, Rescue 8, Man With A Camera, The Twilight Zone, Lockup, Overland Trail, M Squad, Pony Express, Wagon Train, Make Room For Daddy, Hawaiian Eye, Bachelor Father, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Joey Bishop Shoe, The Jack Benny Program, Gunsmoke, The Adventures Of Ozzie & Harriet, Channing, Batman, Laredo, Blondie, I Dream Of Jeannie, Family Affair, The Jackie Gleason Show, The Tim Conway Show, Walt Disney's Wonderful World Of Color, The Name Of The Game, That Girl, Alias Smith And Jones, Love American Style, Night Gallery, Insight, The Barbara Eden Show and,The Magician,
In addition to the McHale's Navy TV series Flynn also played in two full length films namely McHale's Navy and McHale's Navy Joins The Air Force.
In the early 1970's he spearheaded a movement on behalf of the Screen Actor's Guild for more equitable distributions of residual payments.
Flynn was married to Shirley Haskin from 1955 until his death. The couple had two children
Joe Flynn passed away in 1974 at age 49 . His body was found in his swimming pool apparently a victim of a heart attack.
I really enjoyed this actor as Captain Binghamton in the TV series McHale's Navy as well as the two full length McHale's Navy films. Other films that I enjoyed him in were The Computer Wore Tennis Shows, The Strongest Man In The World, How To Frame A Figg, The Barefoot Executive, Now You See Him Now You Don't and The Love Bug
Louie The Movie Buff