Jay C. Flippen

'Jay C. Flippen' (qv) could probably be characterized these days as one of those craggy, distinctive faces you know but whose name escapes you while viewing scores of old '50s and '60s movies and TV. Playing both sides of the law throughout his career, his distinctive bulldog mug, beetle brows, bulky features, and silver-white hair were ideally suited for roles as criminals and rugged adventurers, while his background as a standup comedian in burlesque, vaudeville and minstrel shows made him a natural to obtain roles in occasional fluffy slapstick and light musical comedy as well.Born John Constantine Flippen on March 6, 1899, in Little Rock, Arkansas, the boy lost his father, Jay Charles Flippen, a bookkeeper, at age 9 and his older sister, Era, a year later. His mother, Emma Pack Flippen, earned income as a dance and theatre instructor. Picking up on his mother's interest, Flippen joined the Al G. Field Minstrels at age 16. He was discovered by African-American star comedian 'Bert Williams' (qv) in the 1920s, and was Williams' Broadway black face understudy and tour replacement for the 1920 musical revue "Broadway Brevities." Between 1924 and 1929, Flippen recorded scores of songs for Pathé Columbia, Perfect and Brunswick Records.A veteran radio announcer for Yankee baseball games, Flippen was a lifelong baseball fan who forged friendships with several major league baseball stars. He also appeared on Broadway throughout the mid-1920's (and on), including "June Days" (1925), "Hello, Lola" (1926), "The Great Temptation" (1926), "Padlocks of 1927" (1927), "Second Little Show" (1930), the musical "Hellzapoppin'" (1941) and "Take a Bow" (1944).Flippen made his film debut in the short _The Ham What Am (1928)_ (qv), which captured a vaudeville performance, followed by a few other early 1930's shorts. He didn't move strongly into feature films until post-World War II where he could be counted on to provide his patented gruff and bluster in primarily war stories, film noir and westerns whether playing a sheriff, farmer, cop, prison warden, military high-ranker or bartender.After playing Hodges, a guard, in _Brute Force (1947)_ (qv), he appeared in other crime yarns including _Intrigue (1947)_ (qv), _They Live by Night (1948)_ (qv), _A Woman's Secret (1949)_ (qv), _The Las Vegas Story (1952)_ (qv), _The Wild One (1953)_ (qv), _The Killing (1956)_ (qv), _The Midnight Story (1957)_ (qv), _Studs Lonigan (1960)_ (qv) and, _The Seven Minutes (1971)_ (qv). His also dominated in such westerns as _The Lady from Texas (1951)_ (qv), _Devil's Canyon (1953)_ (qv), _Man Without a Star (1955)_ (qv), _Oklahoma! (1955)_ (qv) (as Ike Skidmore), _The Restless Breed (1957)_ (qv), _Run of the Arrow (1957)_ (qv), _The Deerslayer (1957)_ (qv), _From Hell to Texas (1958)_ (qv) and _The Plunderers (1960)_ (qv).Flippen supported many a top Hollywood male star during his four-decade film career. His atmospheric characters notably supported 'James Stewart' (qv) in several of his top-notch vehicles, including _Winchester '73 (1950)_ (qv), _Bend of the River (1952)_ (qv), _Thunder Bay (1953)_ (qv), _The Far Country (1954)_ (qv), _Strategic Air Command (1955)_ (qv), _The Restless Breed (1957)_ (qv), _Night Passage (1957)_ (qv), and _Firecreek (1968)_ (qv).The veteran was a regular player on 60's TV as well, including such popular programs as "Bonanza," "The Untouchables," "Route 66," "The Dick Van Dyke Show," 'Burke's Law," "Gunsmoke," "Rawhide," "That Girl," "The Name of the Game" and "Here Come the Brides." He also co-starred as an Chief Petty Officer in the one-season comedy series _Ensign O'Toole (1962)_ (qv) starring 'Dean Jones' (qv).In later years Flippen was dogged by illness. While filming his sheriff role in the classic comedy western _Cat Ballou (1965)_ (qv), he had to have his leg amputated after a minor scrape, probably aggravated by diabetes, turned into a severe infection. He continued his career often in a wheelchair as demonstrated in such TV performances on "The Virginian" and "Ironside."::Gary Brumburgh / [email protected]