Van Heflin
Biography
Van Heflin was an American stage, radio, film, and television actor. He was born in Walters, Oklahoma, and studied at the University of Oklahoma and Yale, where he earned a master's degree in theater. Heflin launched his career on Broadway in the late 1920s and 1930s before moving into films. He appeared in numerous films and television shows, earning recognition for his versatility and steady craftsmanship. Heflin's career spanned four decades, during which he worked as a character player and occasional leading man. He is known for his performances in Westerns and noirs, including films such as Shane and 3:10 to Yuma.
Career overview
Van Heflin was an American actor who began his career on Broadway in the late 1920s and 1930s. He went on to work in films, eventually becoming a respected character player and occasional leading man. Heflin's versatility and steady craftsmanship made him a sought-after actor across four decades.
He appeared in a variety of films, including Westerns and noirs. Heflin's performances in these genres were notable, and he is remembered for his strong turns in several notable films. The exact titles of these films are not specified in the provided information, but it is mentioned that he appeared in Shane, 3:10 to Yuma, and Gunman's Walk.
Heflin's career spanned multiple media, including stage, radio, film, and television. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Johnny Eager. The exact number of films and television shows in which Heflin appeared is not specified, but it is mentioned that he had a total of 80 known credits.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
82 titles- Breakpoint: A Counter History of Progress (2019) as Self (archive footage)
- Barbara Stanwyck: Straight Down the Line (1997) as Self (archive footage)
- Barbara Stanwyck: Fire and Desire (1991) as Self (archive footage)
- That's Entertainment! (1974) as (archive footage) (uncredited)
- The Men Who Made the Movies: Vincente Minnelli (1973) as Self (archive footage)
- The Last Child (1971) as Senator Quincy George
- Airport (1970) as D. O. Guerrero
- The Big Bounce (1969) as Sam Mirakian
- Certain Honorable Men (1968) as Champ Donohue
- The Ruthless Four (1968) as Sam Cooper
- A Case of Libel (1968) as Robert Sloane
- The Man Outside (1967) as Bill MacLean
- Stagecoach (1966) as Marshal Curly Wilcox
- The Thin Blue Line (1966) as Self - Narrator (voice)
- The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965) as Bar Amand
- Once a Thief (1965) as Inspector Mike Vido
- The Bold Men (1965) as Narrator
- Pro Football: Mayhem on a Sunday Afternoon (1965)
- The Teen-Age Revolution (1965) as Narrator/Host
- Cry of Battle (1963) as Joe Trent
- The Wastrel (1961) as Duncan Bell
- Ricochet (1961) as Sergeant Paul Maxon
- Under Ten Flags (1960) as Captain Bernhard Rogge
- Five Branded Women (1960) as Velko
- They Came to Cordura (1959) as Sgt. John Chawk
- Gunman's Walk (1958) as Lee Hackett
- Tempest (1958) as Emelyan Pugachov
- 3:10 to Yuma (1957) as Dan Evans
- The Dark Side of the Earth (1957) as Col. Sten
- Playhouse 90 (1956) as Bill Kilcoyne
- Playhouse 90 (1956) as Captain
- Patterns (1956) as Fred Staples
- Battle Cry (1955) as Major Sam Huxley
- Count Three and Pray (1955) as Luke Fargo
- Black Widow (1954) as Peter Denver
- The Raid (1954) as Maj. Neal Benton
- Woman's World (1954) as Jerry Talbot
- A Star Is Born World Premiere (1954) as Self
- Tanganyika (1954) as John Gale
- The Oscars (1953) as Self
- Shane (1953) as Joe Starrett
- Wings of the Hawk (1953) as Irish Gallager
- South of Algiers (1953) as Nicholas Chapman
- This Is Your Life (1952) as Self
- My Son John (1952) as Stedman
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Joseph
- The Prowler (1951) as Webb Garwood
- Tomahawk (1951) as Bridger
- Week-End with Father (1951) as Brad Stubbs
- Robert Montgomery Presents (1950) as Dr. Martin Arrowsmith
- What's My Line? (1950) as Self
- What's My Line? (1950) as Self - Panelist
- University U.S.A. (1950) as Narrator
- East Side, West Side (1949) as Mark Dwyer
- Madame Bovary (1949) as Charles Bovary
- Act of Violence (1949) as Frank R. Enley
- The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) as Self
- The Three Musketeers (1948) as Athos
- Tap Roots (1948) as Keith Alexander
- B.F.'s Daughter (1948) as Thomas W. 'Tom' Brett
- The Secret Land (1948) as Narrator
- Green Dolphin Street (1947) as Timothy Haslam
- Possessed (1947) as David Sutton
- Till the Clouds Roll By (1946) as James I. Hessler
- The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (1946) as Sam Masterson
- Land and Live in the Desert (1945) as Narrator (voice)
- Land and Live in the Jungle (1944) as 1st Lieutenant Lynn Harrison
- Presenting Lily Mars (1943) as John Thornway
- Tennessee Johnson (1942) as Andrew Johnson
- Seven Sweethearts (1942) as Henry Taggart
- Grand Central Murder (1942) as 'Rocky' Custer
- Kid Glove Killer (1942) as Gordon McKay
- H.M. Pulham, Esq. (1941) as Bill King
- Johnny Eager (1941) as Jeff Hartnett
- The Feminine Touch (1941) as Elliott Morgan
- Santa Fe Trail (1940) as Rader
- Back Door to Heaven (1939) as John Shelley
- Annapolis Salute (1937) as Clay V. Parker
- Flight from Glory (1937) as George Wilson
- Saturday's Heroes (1937) as Val
- The Outcasts of Poker Flat (1937) as Rev. Samuel Woods
- A Woman Rebels (1936) as Lord Gerald Waring Gaythorne
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Van Heflin best known for?
Van Heflin is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Breakpoint: A Counter History of Progress (2019), That's Entertainment! (1974), Airport (1970), The Ruthless Four (1968).
When and where was Van Heflin born?
Van Heflin was born on December 13, 1910 in Walters, Oklahoma, USA. They passed away on July 23, 1971.
How many credits does Van Heflin have?
Van Heflin has accumulated over 82 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1936 to 2019.
What is Van Heflin's background in cinema and television?
Van Heflin was an American stage, radio, film, and television actor. He was born in Walters, Oklahoma, and studied at the University of Oklahoma and Yale, where he earned a master's degree in theater. Heflin launched his career on Broadway in the late 1920s and 1930s before moving into films. He appeared in numerous fi...
Van Heflin by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Joseph — aged about 40
- A Star Is Born World Premiere (1954) as Self — aged about 43
- Breakpoint: A Counter History of Progress (2019) as Self (archive footage) — aged about 108
- Playhouse 90 (1956) as Bill Kilcoyne — aged about 45
- Playhouse 90 (1956) as Captain — aged about 45
- That's Entertainment! (1974) as (archive footage) (uncredited) — aged about 63
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