---
name: "Jay C. Flippen"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/jay-c-flippen"
fi1m_id: "jay-c-flippen"
imdb_id: "nm0282435"
tmdb_id: 3338
wikidata_id: "Q330847"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "5 March 1899"
died: "3 February 1971"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 3
average_fi1m_score: 76
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 2
updated: "2026-09-25T07:18:01.425979+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Jay C. Flippen

## Identity

Jay C. Flippen

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/jay-c-flippen
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** jay-c-flippen
- **IMDb ID:** nm0282435
- **TMDB ID:** 3338
- **Wikidata ID:** Q330847
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jay_C._Flippen, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q330847, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0282435/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/3338

Actor. Born 5 March 1899 in Little Rock, Arkansas, USA. Died 3 February 1971.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 5 March 1899, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
- **Died:** 3 February 1971
- **Active:** 1950–1955
- **Also known as:** John Constantine Flippen Jr.
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 3: 2 acting, 1 other
- **Average Fi1m score:** 76, as actor, over 2 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1950s 76 (2), 1960s 62 (1)
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jay_C._Flippen, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q330847, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0282435/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/3338

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Winchester '73*](https://film.one/film/winchester-73.md) (81), [*Oklahoma!*](https://film.one/film/oklahoma.md) (72)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Jay C. Flippen

> Jay C. Flippen's rasp and craggy face make authority look worn rather than grand. We rate his dependable supporting work, especially in westerns, though the sergeants and sheriffs should not obscure an actor who could also handle comedy.

When Jay C. Flippen gives an order, the rasp suggests he would rather not have to repeat it. His craggy face suits a sergeant or sheriff, and that authority carries over to the weary criminals he also played. His film career took hold in the mid-1940s, after years of stage work that included vaudeville. Playing escaped convict Henry 'T-Dub' Mansfield in *They Live by Night* (1949) helped establish him in features; tough supporting parts would become his regular employment.

*Winchester '73* (1950) is where we would start, with Flippen playing Sergeant Wilkes for Anthony Mann alongside James Stewart. We were unsettled by Stewart's anger, which makes the pursuit of a gun feel sour and dangerous. Flippen's gruffness belongs in that company, although the rifle's travels sometimes leave the supporting characters looking too conveniently arranged. His work with Mann and Stewart continued in *Bend of the River* (1952) and *The Far Country* (1954), a useful run of films for anyone interested in how a director builds a cast around a star.

*Oklahoma* (1955), in which he plays Skidmore, offers a useful correction to the idea that he was only there to growl. Lighter comedy and musical roles were also part of his work, drawing on that stage background. We recommend the film to musical lovers for Richard Rodgers's songs and the opening location photography. The courtship is less convincing once the singing stops, and 148 minutes gives the stiff passages too much time. We would still choose his western work first; the musical is a worthwhile detour.

Nor should the westerns crowd out Marvin Unger, the bookkeeper and gang member he plays in Stanley Kubrick's *The Killing* (1956). By *Cat Ballou* (1965), Sheriff Cardigan puts him in a comic western, still making use of that familiar authority. Start with Mann, then try the lighter parts before deciding that the rasp tells the whole story.

## Biography

Jay C. Flippen, also credited as John Constantine Flippen Jr., was an American character actor. Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, he began his career in vaudeville and minstrel shows in the 1920s, later working in radio and on Broadway before moving into feature films in earnest in 1947.

He appeared in supporting roles in numerous films of the 1940s and 1950s, often as sergeants, police officers or criminals, particularly in westerns and film noir. Notable credits include *Winchester '73* (1950) as Sergeant Wilkes, *The Killing* (1956) as Marvin Unger, *Oklahoma!* (1955) as Skidmore, *The Wild One* (1953) as Sheriff Stew Singer, and *Cat Ballou* (1965) as Sheriff Cardigan. He also featured in several films with James Stewart and John Wayne. Flippen was married to screenwriter Ruth Brooks Flippen from 1947 until his death in Los Angeles in 1971.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, encyclopediaofarkansas.net, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (3)

### Performed in (2) — the average rests on these

- *Oklahoma!* (1955), Fi1m 72, as Skidmore — [page](https://film.one/film/oklahoma.md)
- *Winchester '73* (1950), Fi1m 81, as Sergeant Wilkes — [page](https://film.one/film/winchester-73.md)

### Also credited (1) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited

- *How the West Was Won* (1962), Fi1m 62, as Huggins (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/how-the-west-was-won.md)

## Complete filmography (91)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Mooch Goes to Hollywood* (1971), as Jay C. Flippen - Party guest (uncredited)
- *The Seven Minutes* (1971), as Luther Yerkes
- *Who Killed the Mysterious Mr. Foster?* (1971), as Sheriff Ben
- *The Old Man Who Cried Wolf* (1970), as Pawnbroker
- *Bracken's World* (1969), series, Actor
- *The Sound of Anger* (1968), as Judge Prentiss
- *Hellfighters* (1968), as Jack Lomax
- *The Name of the Game* (1968), series, as Grover, Zack Witten
- *Firecreek* (1968), as Mr. Pittman
- *Judd, for the Defense* (1967), series, Actor
- *The Spirit Is Willing* (1967), as Mother
- *Ironside* (1967), series, Actor
- *Fame Is the Name of the Game* (1966), as Dizzy Shaner
- *That Girl* (1966), series, Actor
- *Cat Ballou* (1965), as Sheriff Cardigan
- *The Greatest Story Ever Told* (1965), as Drunken Soldier - Herod Antipas' Court
- *Looking for Love* (1964), as Ralph Front
- *Kraft Suspense Theatre* (1963), series, as Hugh Ramsey
- *Burke's Law* (1963), series, as Bill, the Desk Sergeant, Lieutenant Grogan
- *Vacation Playhouse* (1963), series, as Cappy Skidmore
- *Six Gun Law* (1962), Actor
- *How the West Was Won* (1962), as Huggins (uncredited) — Fi1m 62, [page](https://film.one/film/how-the-west-was-won.md)
- *Ensign O'Toole* (1962), series, as Chief Petty Officer Homer Nelson
- *The Virginian* (1962), series, as Pa Colby, Asa Keogh
- *The Dick Van Dyke Show* (1961), series, as Happy Spangler
- *Bus Stop* (1961), series, Actor
- *The Plunderers* (1960), as Sheriff McCauley
- *Route 66* (1960), series, Actor
- *Thriller* (1960), series, as Harry Gans
- *Studs Lonigan* (1960), as Father Gilhooey
- *Wild River* (1960), as Hamilton Garth
- *Johnny Ringo* (1959), series, as Jay C. Flippen
- *Bonanza* (1959), series, as Barney Fuller
- *Rawhide* (1959), series, as Marshal Lindstrom, Bigger Seton, Sergeant Shaler
- *Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse* (1958), series, Actor
- *Wanted: Dead or Alive* (1958), series, as Chute Wilson
- *From Hell to Texas* (1958), as Jake Leffertfinger
- *No Time at All* (1958), as Happy Gallant
- *Escape from Red Rock* (1957), as Sheriff John Costaine
- *Jet Pilot* (1957), as Maj. Gen. Black
- *The Deerslayer* (1957), as Old Tom Hutter
- *Run of the Arrow* (1957), as Walking Coyote
- *Night Passage* (1957), as Ben Kimball
- *The Midnight Story* (1957), as Sgt. Jack Gillen
- *Public Pigeon No. 1* (1957), as Lt. Ross Qualen
- *The Restless Breed* (1957), as Marshal Steve Evans
- *Hot Summer Night* (1957), as Oren Kobble
- *The Halliday Brand* (1957), as Chad Burris
- *The King and Four Queens* (1956), as Bartender
- *7th Cavalry* (1956), as Sgt. Bates
- *Playhouse 90* (1956), series, as Happy Gallant
- *The Killing* (1956), as Marvin Unger
- *Oklahoma!* (1955), as Skidmore — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/oklahoma.md)
- *Kismet* (1955), as Jawan
- *The 20th Century Fox Hour* (1955), series, Actor
- *Gunsmoke* (1955), series, as Owney
- *It's Always Fair Weather* (1955), as Charles Z. Culloran
- *Strategic Air Command* (1955), as Tom Doyle
- *Man Without a Star* (1955), as Strap Davis
- *Six Bridges to Cross* (1955), as Vincent Concannon
- *Climax!* (1954), series, as Joe, Detective, Ed Bagley, Happy
- *Carnival Story* (1954), as Charley Grayson
- *The Far Country* (1954), as Rube
- *The Wild One* (1953), as Sheriff Stew Singer
- *East of Sumatra* (1953), as Mac
- *Devil's Canyon* (1953), as Jack Wells
- *Thunder Bay* (1953), as Kermit MacDonald
- *Woman of the North Country* (1952), as Axel Nordlund
- *The Las Vegas Story* (1952), as Capt. H.A. Harris
- *Bend of the River* (1952), as Jeremy Baile
- *The Model and the Marriage Broker* (1951), as Dan Chancellor
- *The People Against O'Hara* (1951), as Sven Norson
- *The Lady from Texas* (1951), as Sheriff Mike McShane
- *Flying Leathernecks* (1951), as MSgt. Clancy, Line Chief
- *The Lemon Drop Kid* (1951), as Straight Flush Tony
- *Two Flags West* (1950), as Terrance Duey
- *Lux Video Theatre* (1950), series, as Mr. Lavery
- *Winchester '73* (1950), as Sergeant Wilkes — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/winchester-73.md)
- *Love That Brute* (1950), as Biff Sage
- *The Yellow Cab Man* (1950), as Hugo
- *Buccaneer's Girl* (1950), as Jared Hawkins
- *Oh, You Beautiful Doll* (1949), as Lippy Brannigan
- *They Live by Night* (1949), as Henry "T-Dub" Mansfield
- *Trapped* (1949), as Bartender (uncredited)
- *Down to the Sea in Ships* (1949), as Luke Sewell
- *A Woman's Secret* (1949), as Police Insp. Jim Fowler
- *Intrigue* (1947), as Mike, the bartender
- *Brute Force* (1947), as Hodges (guard)
- *Flippen's Frolics* (1936), Actor
- *Marie Galante* (1934), as Sailor in Bar
- *Million Dollar Ransom* (1934), as Singer (Uncredited)

## Gallery

- ![Jay C. Flippen](https://film.one/media/person/1241609/gallery-063727839e22.jpg) Jay C. Flippen — Trailer screenshot (MGM), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/18/Jay_C._Flippen_in_Hot_Summer_Night_trailer.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Jay C. Flippen](https://film.one/media/person/1241609/gallery-6b32b76f8769.jpg) Jay C. Flippen — Image via TMDB

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/jay-c-flippen