---
name: "John Finnegan"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/john-finnegan"
fi1m_id: "john-finnegan"
imdb_id: "nm0278201"
tmdb_id: 40351
wikidata_id: "Q3088044"
roles: []
born: "18 August 1926"
died: "29 July 2012"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 4
average_fi1m_score: 76
average_over: 4
updated: "2026-09-26T01:12:16.348759+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."
---

# John Finnegan

## Identity

John Finnegan

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/john-finnegan
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** john-finnegan
- **IMDb ID:** nm0278201
- **TMDB ID:** 40351
- **Wikidata ID:** Q3088044
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Finnegan_(actor), https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3088044, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0278201/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/40351

Actor. Born 18 August 1926 in New York City, New York, USA. Died 29 July 2012.

## Details

- **Born:** 18 August 1926, New York City, New York, USA
- **Died:** 29 July 2012
- **Active:** 1976–1991
- **Also known as:** J.P. Finnegan, John P. Finnegan
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1970s 78 (1), 1980s 72 (2), 1990s 80 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 76 to 64 across 4 titles
- **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 3 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 1 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 4, Thriller 3, Crime 2, History 1
- **Screen time:** 10 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $257m across 3 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Finnegan_(actor), https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3088044, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0278201/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/40351

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*The Natural*](https://film.one/film/the-natural.md) (67)

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

## Biography

John Finnegan was an American film and television actor. He appeared in five films directed by John Cassavetes, including *A Woman Under the Influence* (1974), *Gloria* (1980) and *Big Trouble* (1986). He had a recurring role across multiple episodes of the series *Columbo* and voiced the character Warren T. Rat in *An American Tail* (1986).

He trained at the Actors Studio in New York City, where he became friends with Cassavetes and Peter Falk. The two helped him relocate to Los Angeles in the early 1950s. Other credits include *The Natural* (1984), in which he played Sam Simpson, and the role of Judge Edward A. Haggerty in *JFK* (1991).

Finnegan died on 29 July 2012 in Palm Desert, California.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, hollywoodreporter.com.*

## On Fi1m (4)

- *JFK* (1991), Fi1m 80, as Judge Haggerty — [page](https://film.one/film/jfk.md)
- *The Natural* (1984), Fi1m 67, as Sam Simpson — [page](https://film.one/film/the-natural.md)
- *Gloria* (1980), Fi1m 78, as Frank — [page](https://film.one/film/gloria-1980.md)
- *The Killing of a Chinese Bookie* (1976), Fi1m 78, as Taxi Driver — [page](https://film.one/film/the-killing-of-a-chinese-bookie.md)

## Complete filmography (46)

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

- *The Independent* (2000), as Guard
- *Vegas Vacation* (1997), as Hoover Dam Guide
- *Mars Attacks!* (1996), as Speaker of the House
- *ER* (1994), series, as Mitchell — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/er.md)
- *Last Action Hero* (1993), as Watch Commander
- *JFK* (1991), as Judge Haggerty — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/jfk.md)
- *Come See the Paradise* (1990), as Brennan
- *The Knife and Gun Club* (1990), as Mr. Warshawski
- *The Last of the Finest* (1990), as Tommy Grogan
- *Big Man on Campus* (1989), as Judge Ferguson
- *Finish Line* (1989), as Purdy Hall
- *An American Tail* (1986), as Warren T. Rat (voice)
- *Big Trouble* (1986), as Det. Murphy
- *The Deacon Street Deer* (1986), as Sidney
- *Matlock* (1986), series, as Mr. Gillespie
- *The Journey of Natty Gann* (1985), as Logging Boss
- *The Hoboken Chicken Emergency* (1984), as Policeman
- *Murder, She Wrote* (1984), series, as Uncle Charlie, Douglas Foudy
- *The Natural* (1984), as Sam Simpson — Fi1m 67, [page](https://film.one/film/the-natural.md)
- *Love Streams* (1984), as Taxi Driver (Animals)
- *Terror at Alcatraz* (1982), as Murphy
- *Rehearsal for Murder* (1982), as Damon
- *Gloria* (1980), as Frank — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/gloria-1980.md)
- *Little Miss Marker* (1980), as Casino Clerk
- *The In-Laws* (1979), as Deliveryman #1
- *Bloodbrothers* (1978), as Bartender
- *The Amazing Spider-Man* (1978), series, Actor
- *Nowhere to Run* (1978), as O'Neil
- *Opening Night* (1977), as Bobby
- *Heroes* (1977), as Mr. Munro
- *Lucan* (1977), as Jess
- *Nickelodeon* (1976), as Kathleen's Director
- *Quincy, M.E.* (1976), series, as Joe Ives
- *Rich Man, Poor Man - Book II* (1976), series, as Reporter
- *Street Killing* (1976), as Alex Lesko
- *The Killing of a Chinese Bookie* (1976), as Taxi Driver — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/the-killing-of-a-chinese-bookie.md)
- *Mallory: Circumstantial Evidence* (1976), as Deputy Marshal Vieter
- *Capone* (1975), as N.Y. Police Lt.
- *Conspiracy of Terror* (1975), as Sgt. Carroll
- *Ellery Queen: Too Many Suspects* (1975), as Matthew Thomas Cleary
- *A Woman Under the Influence* (1974), as Clancy
- *Terror on the 40th Floor* (1974), as Stark
- *Play It as It Lays* (1972), as Frank
- *Banacek* (1972), series, as Lt. Hallohan
- *Columbo* (1971), series, as Guard, Police Chief, Lieutenant Dreyer, Sean Jarvis, Carl, Barney, Workman #1, Quentin Corbett, Sergeant · Assistant Director — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/columbo.md)
- *McCloud* (1970), series, as Doorman, Mounted Sergeant, 1st Sergeant, Detective (uncredited)

---
© 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/john-finnegan