John McGiver

John McGiver - Quick Facts

Profile Overview of 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.

This profile of John McGiver covers Early Life and Family Background, Career and Rise to Fame, Personal Life and Death and Legacy.

The owl-faced, portly actor was frequently mistaken for an Englishman due to his Northeastern elite accent and precise diction. Accordingly, McGiver 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), Who's Minding the Store? (1963), Man's Favorite Sport? (1964) and Midnight Cowboy (1969). He appeared in 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?").

Early Life and Family Background of John McGiver

McGiver was born in Manhattan, New York City, the son of Irish immigrants Patrick Francis McGiver (1871–1942) and Bridget Frances McGiver (née Irwine, 1871–1954). He graduated from the Jesuit-run Regis High School in Manhattan in 1932.

He earned a B.A. In English from Fordham University in 1938 and master's degrees from Columbia University and Catholic University. He became an English teacher and worked as an actor and director in New York's Irish Repertory Theater. 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. 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.

Career and Rise to Fame of John McGiver

John McGiver appeared in the Alfred Hitchcock Presents episodes "Six People No Music" and "Fatal Figures", and the Twilight Zone episodes "Sounds and Silences" and "The Bard". In 1971, he guest-starred in Alias Smith and Jones (season 1, episode 8, 'A Fistful of Diamonds'). In 1964, he appeared in Man's Favorite Sport?. 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.

His most recognized film roles came in 1961–62 when he appeared in The Manchurian Candidate as the principled, incorruptible Senator Jordan, and as a wistful jewelry salesman in Breakfast at Tiffany's. McGiver later played the role of an unhinged religious fanatic, Mr. O'Daniel, in the 1969 film Midnight Cowboy and a small role in Lucille Ball's Mame. 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.

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. Boris, the ninth child in the McGivers' large family, followed in his father's footsteps, working as a professional actor in films and on television since 1987.

Death and Legacy

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

Source: adapted from Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McGiver), text available under CC BY-SA 4.0.