John Finnegan (actor) : Background, Partial filmography Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

John Finnegan (actor)

American actor (1926–2012)

John P. Finnegan
Publicity Photo of John Finnegan
Born	(1926-08-18)August 18, 1926^[1] New York City, New York, U.S.
Died	July 29, 2012(2012-07-29) (aged 85) Palm Desert, California, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1970–2004
Spouse(s)	Carolynn Jacobs Finnegan (2nd wife, 1992–2012; his death)

John P. "J.P." Finnegan (August 18, 1926 – July 29, 2012) was an American film and television actor, mostly known for his recurrent role on the American crime fiction series Columbo. He voiced the villainous character Warren T. Rat in the Don Bluth’s 1986 film An American Tail.

A friend of director/actor John Cassavetes, Finnegan appeared in five of his films, including A Woman Under the Influence (1974), Gloria (1980) and Big Trouble (1986), which also starred Columbo star Peter Falk. He also appeared in Heroes (1977), The Natural (1984), School Spirit (1985), Big Man on Campus (1989) and Come See the Paradise (1990), and portrayed Judge Edward A. Haggerty in Oliver Stone's JFK (1991).^[2]

Background

One of 11 children born to Irish immigrant parents, Finnegan served in the United States Navy during World War II. He became friends with Cassavetes and Falk at the Actors Studio in his native New York City. They helped Finnegan in the early 1950s, when he moved to Los Angeles.^[2]

Finnegan died on July 29, 2012, at his home in Palm Desert, California from complications of pneumonia, aged 85.

Partial filmography

Play It as It Lays (1972) - Frank
A Woman Under the Influence (1974) - Clancy
Capone (1975) - N.Y. Police Lt.
The Killing of a Chinese Bookie (1976) - Taxi Driver
Nickelodeon (1976) - Kathleen's Director
Heroes (1977) - Mr. Munro
Opening Night (1977) - Bobby
Bloodbrothers (1978) - Bartender
The In-Laws (1979) - Deliveryman #1
Little Miss Marker (1980) - Casino Clerk
Gloria (1980) - Frank
Love Streams (1984) - Taxi Driver
The Natural (1984) - Sam Simpson
The Journey of Natty Gann (1985) - Logging Boss
School Spirit (1985) - Pinky Batson
Big Trouble (1986) - Det. Murphy
An American Tail (1986) - Warren T. Rat (voice)
The Law & Harry McGraw (1986) - Lester - Episode: "Harry Does the Hustle"
Spellbinder (1988) - George (uncredited)
Big Man on Campus (1989) - Judge Ferguson
The Last of the Finest (1990) - Tommy Grogan
Come See the Paradise (1990) - Brennan
JFK (1991) - Judge Haggerty
Last Action Hero (1993) - Watch Commande
Columbo - S10 E10 (1995)
Mars Attacks! (1996) - Speaker of the House
Vegas Vacation (1997) - Arty, the Hoover Dam Guide
The Independent (2000) - Guard

References

^ "PASSINGS: John Finnegan". Los Angeles Times. August 2, 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-02.
^ ^a ^b "American Tail villain John Finnegan dead at 85". Big Cartoon News. 2012-08-03. Archived from the original on January 17, 2013.