John Gavin RIP

John Gavin RIP. Most film buffs, even casual, would've seen a movie he was in, because his credits included several classics (Psycho, Spartacus, Imitation of Life) and some movies that were always on TV (Thoroughly Modern Millie, Tammy Tell Me True) Most film buffs, even casual, probably forgot he was in those movies, because he was always so bland and tended to blend into the furniture (Hitchcock called him "the wooden Indian).

I have an affection for him because I once wrote a short play about he and George Lazenby set during the time Gavin was going to play James Bond in Diamonds Are Forever (I say this to explain why I weirdly know so much about him...).

He was a Ken Doll more than an actor but he made a lot of movies, had a really interesting life (President of SAG, Ambassador to Mexico, a successful businessman, married to Constance Towers), and I love the fact he went completely bald.

So in honour of this backup Rock Hudson, a John Gavin top ten:

1) A Time to Love and a Time to Die (1958) - a forgotten film despite being directed by Douglas Sirk and from the novel by Erich Maria Remarque... no one seems to like it, then or now, and is never gets mentioned today, even by Sirk fans... it's like it barely existed... Gavin had the lead.. yes, it was sympathetic to the Germans but so was The Young Lions, but that had Brando and Clift and A Time to Love had Gavin... he was cast because he looked a bit like Rock Hudson and Universal figured Lew Ayres didn't have much experience when he was in All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)... this didn't turn out as well

2) Imitation of Life (1959) - much loved melodrama which is surprisingly complex - Gavin is adequate as the romantic stakes, but out-acted by everyone

3)Spartacus (1960) - Gavin plays Julius Caesar - he mainly hangs around the film and has a sauna with Charles Laughton which presumably made Laughton's day... I am surprised Gavin didn't make more Ancient World spectacles, he had the right sort of "marble" look

4)Psycho (1960) - Hitchcock famously cast Gavin saying "I guess he'll do" (he was cheap) - he's actually not too bad and the film of course is amazing (he plays Janet Leigh's lover who tackles Tony Perkins at the end... still can't picture him, right?)

5) Midnight Lace (1960) - enjoyable woman-in-peril film with Doris Day haunted by a creepy voice (the script is co written by Aussie Ivan Goff)... Gavin battles gamely against his attempt at a British accent and his abilities when he has to demonstrate PTSD - his hair is fantastic, though

6) Breath of Scandal (1961) - Gavin, I'm not kidding, is better than both Maurice Chevalier and Sophia Loren in this film, mostly because they are so disastrously miscast... the film is awful

7) Tammy Tell Me True (1962) - much of Gavin's career was as a prop for leading ladies - here is was Sandra Dee, with whom he made several films, and had no chemistry - it's a sweet, dim movie though

8) Pedro Paramo (1967) - disclosure: I've never seen this film though apparently the novel on which it is based is famous - it's a Mexican film, in Spanish (Gavin was fluent) - and good on him for doing it, I genuinely hope it's good

9) Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967) - Gavin livens up a little in a fun, if overlong musical

10) Pussycat Pussycat I Love You (1970) - a sequel to What's Up Pussycat without Woody Allen, Peter O'Toole or pretty much anyone connected to the first film and most people forgot existed. It does have Gavin and he's the best thing about it. (Very small praise). Ian MacShane plays the lead.

A special John Gavin "what if" for history... what if Sean Connery had not changed his mind about Diamonds Are Forever, and Gavin played the role...

oh and musical fans might get a kick out of the fact he was in the original production of "Seesaw" directed by Michael Bennett...