Joseph Anthony Flynn III (November 8, 1924 â€" July 19, 1974) was an
American character actor. He was best known for his role as Captain
Wallace Binghamton in the 1960s ABC television situation comedy
McHale's Navy. He was also a frequent guest star on 1960s TV shows,
such as Batman, and appeared in several Walt Disney film comedies.He
was born to a physician in Youngstown, Ohio. Flynn graduated from
Rayen High School there and attended Northwestern University. During
World War II he served in the Army Special Services Branch
entertaining the troops, before moving west, in 1946, to pursue acting
and to complete his education. He majored in political science at the
University of Southern California.Flynn's interest in theater was
evident well before his departure from northeastern Ohio. He
established himself early on as a ventriloquist and radio disc jockey.
Flynn also gained local celebrity as a director by guiding the
Canfield Players in such productions as Harvey, Antigone, and Pursuit
of Happiness. He broke into television in pre-network days and, in
1948, starred in his own situation comedy, Yer Old Buddy. The show was
a local affair, produced and broadcast by pioneering Los Angeles
station KTLA.After appearing in a number of stage plays, Flynn
returned to Youngstown, where in 1950, he conducted an unsuccessful
campaign for a seat in the Ohio Senate as a Republican. Following his
electoral defeat, he pursued his acting career and appeared in nearly
30 films, including many Disney films. Flynn later recalled watching
an audience's reaction to his performance in the 1956 horror film The
Indestructible Man starring Lon Chaney, Jr.. Although he played a
serious part in the picture, people laughed, which convinced him that
comedy was his forte.
American character actor. He was best known for his role as Captain
Wallace Binghamton in the 1960s ABC television situation comedy
McHale's Navy. He was also a frequent guest star on 1960s TV shows,
such as Batman, and appeared in several Walt Disney film comedies.He
was born to a physician in Youngstown, Ohio. Flynn graduated from
Rayen High School there and attended Northwestern University. During
World War II he served in the Army Special Services Branch
entertaining the troops, before moving west, in 1946, to pursue acting
and to complete his education. He majored in political science at the
University of Southern California.Flynn's interest in theater was
evident well before his departure from northeastern Ohio. He
established himself early on as a ventriloquist and radio disc jockey.
Flynn also gained local celebrity as a director by guiding the
Canfield Players in such productions as Harvey, Antigone, and Pursuit
of Happiness. He broke into television in pre-network days and, in
1948, starred in his own situation comedy, Yer Old Buddy. The show was
a local affair, produced and broadcast by pioneering Los Angeles
station KTLA.After appearing in a number of stage plays, Flynn
returned to Youngstown, where in 1950, he conducted an unsuccessful
campaign for a seat in the Ohio Senate as a Republican. Following his
electoral defeat, he pursued his acting career and appeared in nearly
30 films, including many Disney films. Flynn later recalled watching
an audience's reaction to his performance in the 1956 horror film The
Indestructible Man starring Lon Chaney, Jr.. Although he played a
serious part in the picture, people laughed, which convinced him that
comedy was his forte.
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