John McGiver

John Irwin McGiver (November 5, 1913 – September 9, 1975) was an American character actor who made more than a hundred appearances in television and motion pictures over a two-decade span from 1955 to 1975.[1]

John McGiver
McGiver in Midnight Cowboy (1969)
Born
John Irwin McGiver

(1913-11-05)November 5, 1913
Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
DiedSeptember 9, 1975(1975-09-09) (aged 61)
West Fulton, New York, U.S.
EducationFordham University
Columbia University
Catholic University of America
OccupationActor
Years active1955–1975
Spouse(s)
Ruth Schmigelsky
​
​
(m. 1947; his death 1975)​
Children10, including actor Boris McGiver
Military career
Allegiance United States
Service/branch United States Army
Unit7th Armored Division
Battles/warsWorld War II

The owl-faced, portly character actor with his mid-Atlantic accent and precise diction, was often cast as pompous Englishmen and other stuffy, aristocratic and bureaucratic types. He was known for his performances in such films as Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961); The Manchurian Candidate (1962); and Who's Minding the Store? (1963). He appeared on many television shows and commercials during the 1960s and early 1970s, including the first of a long running popular series of commercials for the American Express charge card ("Do you know me?").[2]

Early life

McGiver was born in Manhattan, New York City, the son of Irish immigrants.[3] He graduated from the Jesuit-run Regis High School in Manhattan in 1932.[4]

He earned a B.A. in English from Fordham University in 1938 and master's degrees from Columbia University and Catholic University.[1] He became an English teacher and worked as an actor and director in New York's Irish Repertory Theater.[5] He interrupted those activities and enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1942 and served as an officer in the U.S. Army's 7th Armored Division in Europe during World War II.[6] Returning to civilian life, he continued to teach English and speech at Christopher Columbus High School in the Bronx and worked occasionally in off-Broadway plays until 1955, when he became a full-time actor.[7]

Career

In 1959, McGiver appeared in the episode "The Assassin" of NBC's espionage drama Five Fingers, starring David Hedison. In 1962, he appeared as Gramps in the episode "The Seventh Day of Creation" of the NBC medical drama about psychiatry, The Eleventh Hour, starring Wendell Corey and Jack Ging. He appeared in the Alfred Hitchcock Presents episodes "Six People No Music" and "Fatal Figures", and the Twilight Zone episode "Sounds and Silences". In 1971 he guest-starred in Alias Smith and Jones (season 1, episode 8, 'A Fistful of Diamonds'). In 1966, he appeared in Man's Favorite Sport?, which starred Rock Hudson and Paula Prentiss. Between 1963 and 1964, McGiver appeared in five episodes of The Patty Duke Show as J.R. Castle, who was Martin Lane's boss at the fictional newspaper The Chronicle.[2]

In the 1964–1965 television season, McGiver played the widower Walter Burnley, the head of the complaint department of a fictitious Los Angeles department store in the CBS sitcom Many Happy Returns. His costars included Elinor Donahue, Mark Goddard, Mickey Manners, and Elena Verdugo.[2] He was also in an episode of Gilligan's Island in 1966, "The Man With a Net". He also made one guest appearance on ABC's hit fantasy sitcom Bewitched over the course of its eight seasons (1964–72).

Personal life

McGiver was married to Ruth Schmigelsky from 1947 until his death; they had ten children: Brigit, Maria, Terry, Basil, Clare, Oliver, Ian, Clemens, Boris, and Cornelia.[8] Boris, the eighth child in the McGivers' large family, followed in his father's footsteps, working as a professional actor in films and on television since 1987.[9]

Death

McGiver, at age 61, died of a heart attack on September 9, 1975 at his home in West Fulton, New York.[1][10] His remains were cremated.

Selected filmography

Television
McGiver was a regular performer on
McGiver also appeared on

Stage

Broadway theatre roles included:

References
  1. Freeman, William M. (September 10, 1975). "John McGiver, Actor, 62, Dies. Did TV, Film Character Roles" (PDF). New York Times. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
  2. John McGiver at IMDb
  3. U.S. Census, January 1, 1920, State of New York, County of New York, enumeration district 681, p. 15A, family 319.
  4. "Multimedia Gallery: Regis Actors and Directors". Regis High School. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
  5. "War Provided Background For C.U. Play", The Washington Post, June 8, 1947, pg. L2.
  6. National Archives and Records Administration, U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938–1946 [database on-line], Provo, UT, US: The Generations Network, Inc., 2005.
  7. Shanley, John P. (June 1, 1958). "John M'Giver–Teacher who Took a Chance" (PDF). New York Times. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
  8. "Other Deaths: John McGiver, Veteran Actor". Boca Raton News. September 10, 1975. pp. 9A.
  9. Buell, Bill (April 7, 2016). "Actor McGiver following in his father's footsteps". The Daily Gazette. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  10. "Character Actor John McGiver Dies". The Telegraph. September 10, 1975. p. 2.
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