Jay C. Flippen

Jay C. Flippen Headshot

Actor

Birth Date: March 6, 1899

Death Date: February 3, 1971

Birth Place: Little Rock, Arkansas

The grizzled face of character actor Jay C. Flippen was familiar to audiences of Hollywood's Golden Age as he appeared in more than 60 films in a career that spanned more than 40 years. With his bulldog jowls and arching eyebrows, he was often cast in roles as gruff or even villainous characters, yet Flippen's background was in comedy, having worked in vaudeville and minstrel shows before moving into radio and onto Broadway. He made his film debut in a largely forgotten comedy short called "Home Edition" in 1929, but it wasn't until the latter half of the '40s that his film career began to take off.

In the 1950s, he appeared in nearly 40 films and successfully broke into television; he went on to make guest appearances on TV throughout his career. Flippen, a reliable supporting actor, appeared alongside legendary screen star James Stewart in eight films, many of which were westerns like the classic "Winchester '73." Yet Flippen took on a wide array of genres during his career, from the Stanley Kubrick film noir "The Killing," to the classic Marlon Brando motorcycle gang drama "The Wild One," to the western musical "Oklahoma!" In his later years, he suffered from illness but continued performing even after having a leg amputated. Flippen's career drew its final curtain in 1971, when the beloved character actor died of an aneurysm. He was survived by his wife of 25 years, screenwriter Ruth Brooks Flippen.

Credits

ORF III - Spezial

Actor
Strap Davis
Show
2014

The Seven Minutes

Actor
Luther Yerkes
Movie
1971

Here Come the BridesStream

Guest Star
Judge Pryor
Series
1968

The Name of the Game

Guest Star
Series
1968

FirecreekStream

Actor
Mr. Pittman
Movie
1968

Hellfighters

Actor
Jack Lomax
Movie
1968

The Sound of Anger

Actor
Judge Prentiss
Movie
1968

That GirlStream

Guest Star
Series
1966

Fame Is the Name of the Game

Actor
Dizzy Shaner
Movie
1966

Portrait of an Unknown Man

Actor
Hugh Ramsey
Movie
1966

A Man Called Shenandoah

Guest Star
Series
1965

The Dean Jones Show

Actor
Cappy Skidmore; Alec's landlord
Show
1965

Cat BallouStream

Actor
Sheriff Cardigan
Movie
1965
90%

Looking for LoveStream

Actor
Mr. Ralph Front
Movie
1964

Grindl

Guest Star
Show
1963

Ensign O'Toole

Actor
Chief Petty Officer Homer Nelson
Show
1962

The Dick Van Dyke ShowStream

Guest Star
Happy Spangler
Series
1961

Bus Stop

Guest Star
Show
1961

Route 66Stream

Guest Star
Series
1960

Stagecoach West

Guest Star
Series
1960

ThrillerStream

Actor
Series
1960

Wild RiverStream

Actor
Hamilton Garth
Movie
1960
92%

Studs Lonigan

Actor
Father Gilhooey
Movie
1960
60%

The Untouchables

Guest Star
Series
1959

Johnny Ringo

Guest Star
Gabe Jethro
Series
1959

BonanzaStream

Guest Star
Series
1959

Gentry's People

Actor
Sergeant Nelson
Show
1959

The David Niven Show

Actor
Sgt. Charley Nelson
Show
1959

RawhideStream

Guest Star
Series
1959

Escape From Red Rock

Actor
Sheriff John Constaine
Movie
1958

From Hell to TexasStream

Actor
Jay Leffertfinger
Movie
1958

Hot Summer Night

Actor
Oren Kobble
Movie
1957

Night Passage

Actor
Ben Kimball
Movie
1957
50%

The Midnight Story

Actor
Sergeant Jack Gillen
Movie
1957

Halliday Brand

Actor
Chad Burris
Movie
1957

The Restless Breed

Actor
Marshal Steve Evans
Movie
1957

Public Pigeon No. One

Actor
Lt. Ross Qualen
Movie
1957

Jet Pilot

Actor
Maj. Gen. Black
Movie
1957

7th CavalryStream

Actor
Sgt. Bates
Movie
1956

The KillingStream

Actor
Marvin Unger
Movie
1956
96%

The King and Four QueensStream

Actor
Bartender
Movie
1956

The Sunday Spectacular: Show Biz From Vaudeville to Video

Guest
Show
1955

Hour of Stars

Actor
Show
1955

GunsmokeStream

Guest Star
Owney
Series
1955

Six Bridges to Cross

Actor
Vincent Concannon
Movie
1955

Oklahoma!Stream

Actor
Ike Skidmore
Movie
1955
86%

Man Without a StarStream

Actor
Strap Davis
Movie
1955
100%

It's Always Fair Weather

Actor
Charles Z. Culloran
Movie
1955

The Far CountryStream

Actor
Rube
Movie
1955
100%

KismetStream

Actor
Jawan
Movie
1955
57%

Climax!

Actor
Series
1954

Carnival StoryStream

Actor
Charley Grayson
Movie
1954

The Wild OneStream

Actor
Sheriff Stew Singer
Movie
1954
76%

Devil's Canyon

Actor
Guard Captain Jack Wells
Movie
1953

Thunder Bay

Actor
Kermit MacDonald
Movie
1953

East of Sumatra

Actor
Mac
Movie
1953

Bend of the River

Actor
Jeremy Baile
Movie
1952
100%

The Las Vegas Story

Actor
Capt. H.A. Harris
Movie
1952

Flying LeathernecksStream

Actor
MSgt. Clancy
Movie
1951
75%

The People Against O'Hara

Actor
Sven Norson
Movie
1951

The Lemon Drop KidStream

Actor
Straight Flush
Movie
1951

The Lady From Texas

Actor
Sheriff Mike McShane
Movie
1951

Two Flags West

Actor
Sgt. Terrance Duey
Movie
1950

Buccaneer's Girl

Actor
Jared Hawkins
Movie
1950

Love That Brute

Actor
Biff Sage
Movie
1950

Winchester '73Stream

Actor
Sgt. Wilkes
Movie
1950
100%

A Woman's Secret

Actor
Police Insp. Jim Fowler
Movie
1949
43%

Oh, You Beautiful Doll

Actor
Lippy Brannigan
Movie
1949

They Live by Night

Actor
T-Dub
Movie
1948
96%