John McGiver was an American character actor known for his distinctive, eloquent delivery and often pompous demeanor in film and television, born on November 5, 1913, in Manhattan, New York City. He was one of ten children in an Irish-American family and was educated at the Jesuit-run Regis High School in New York. He later earned a bachelor’s degree from Fordham University and a master’s in English from Columbia University.
Before pursuing acting full-time, McGiver was a dedicated educator, teaching English and speech at various New York high schools and colleges. During World War II, he served as an officer in the U.S. Army’s 7th Armored Division1, seeing action in Europe. After the war, he began performing in theater and gradually transitioned into television and film during the 1950s.
Movies
- The Man in the Raincoat (1957)
- Love in the Afternoon (1957)
- I Married a Woman (1958)
- Once Upon a Horse… (1958)
- The Gazebo (1959)
- Love in a Goldfish Bowl (1961)
- Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)
- Bachelor in Paradise (1961)
- Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation (1962)
- The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
- Period of Adjustment (1962)
- Who’s Got the Action? (1962)
- Something’s Got to Give (1962)
- My Six Loves (1963)
- Johnny Cool (1963)
- Take Her, She’s Mine (1963)
- Who’s Minding the Store? (1963)
- Man’s Favorite Sport? (1964)
- A Global Affair (1964)
- Marriage on the Rocks (1965)
- Made in Paris (1966) (Louis Jourdan)
- The Glass Bottom Boat (1966)
- The Spirit Is Willing (1967)
- Fitzwilly (1967)
- Midnight Cowboy (1969)
- Lawman (1971)
- Arnold (1973)
- Mame (1974)
- The Apple Dumpling Gang (1975)
McGiver became known for his appearances in over a hundred television shows and nearly fifty films, often playing stuffy bureaucrats or upper-crust figures with impeccable diction, as seen in movies like Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961), Midnight Cowboy (1969), and The Manchurian Candidate (1962). Despite often being in supporting roles, his memorable performances and unique presence made him a favorite among directors and audiences. He was also a regular guest on classic TV series such as The Twilight Zone, Bewitched, Gilligan’s Island, and The Patty Duke Show.
TV
- The Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1958–1959) (2 episodes)
- The Tab Hunter Show (1960)
- The Barbara Stanwyck Show (1961)
- Bonanza (1961)
- McKeever & the Colonel (1962–1963) (6 episodes)
- The Twilight Zone (1963–1964) (2 episodes)
- The Lucy Show (1963–1964) (2 episodes)
- Jimmy Stewart Show (1971–1972) (24 episodes)
- The Patty Duke Show (1963–1964) (5 episodes)
- The Fugitive (1964)
- The Beverly Hillbillies (1964)
- Many Happy Returns (1964–1965) (26 episodes)
- The Rogues (1965)
- Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1965)
- The Dick Van Dyke Show (1965)
- Gidget (1966)
- The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1966)
- I Dream of Jeannie (1966)
- Gilligan’s Island (1966)
- Honey West (1966)
- Mr. Terrific (1967) (17 episodes)
- The Wild Wild West (1967)
- The High Chaparral (1968)
- Bewitched (1971)
- Alias Smith and Jones (1971–1972) (2 episodes)
- Ellery Queen (1975) (final appearance)
In his personal life, McGiver was a devout Roman Catholic and married Ruth Schmigelsky in 1947; together they had ten children. Although he never won major awards, he was widely respected for his consistent and scene-stealing work in character roles.
John McGiver died of a heart attack on September 9, 1975, at the age of 61, at his home in West Fulton, New York. He was survived by his wife Ruth and their ten children.
Footnotes
- The U.S. Army’s 7th Armored Division, nicknamed the “Lucky Seventh,” was activated on March 1, 1942, at Camp Polk, Louisiana. It played a significant role during World War II, particularly in the European Theater. After landing in France in August 1944, the division took part in the rapid advance across northern France, helping to liberate Chartres and entering Belgium by September. It saw intense combat during the Battle of the Bulge, especially in the defense of St. Vith, where it delayed the German advance. The 7th Armored continued its advance into Germany, capturing several towns and helping to encircle the Ruhr Pocket before the war ended in May 1945. The division was inactivated in October 1945 but left a legacy of mobility and resilience in armored warfare. ↩︎
Further Reading
Sources
- Wikipedia “John McGiver” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McGiver
- IMDB “John McGiver” https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0569410/?ref_=mv_close
- Rotten Tomatoes “John McGiver” https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/john_mcgiver
- TMBD “John McGiver” https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1943-john-mcgiver?language=en-US
- elcinema “John McGiver(1913 – 1975)” https://elcinema.com/en/person/2120146/
