John Gavin ( April 8, 1931 – February 9, 2018) was an American film actor who was the United States Ambassador to Mexico from 1981 to 1986 and President of the Screen Actors Guild from 1971 to 1973. He was best known for his performances in the films Imitation of Life (1959), Spartacus (1960), Psycho (1960), and Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967), playing leading roles in a series of films for producer Ross Hunter.
Born Juan Vincent Apablasa in Los Angeles, California, Gavin attended St. John's Military Academy (Los Angeles) and Villanova Prep (Ojai, California), both Catholic schools. He earned a B.A. from Stanford University, where he did senior honors work in Latin American economic history and was a member of Stanford's Naval ROTC unit. He graduated with a degree in economics and Latin American affairs. During the Korean War, Gavin was commissioned in the U.S. Navy serving aboard the USS Princeton offshore Korea where he served as an air intelligence officer from 1951 until the end of the war in 1953. Due to Gavin's fluency in both Spanish and Portuguese, he was assigned as Flag Lieutenant to Admiral Milton E. Miles until he completed his four-year tour of duty in 1955. Following his naval service Gavin offered himself as a technical adviser to family friend, film producer Bryan Foy, who was making a movie about the Princeton. Instead, Foy arranged a screen test with Universal-International. Gavin originally turned down the offer – he had never acted in college – but his father urged him to try it. The test was successful and Gavin signed with the studio. Universal groomed Gavin as a virile, strapping, handsome leading man in the mould of Rock Hudson. They gave him roles in the films Behind the High Wall (1956), Four Girls in Town (1957), and Quantez (also 1957). He was meant to star in The Female Animal (1958) but was too busy on other projects and was replaced by George Nader. Gavin's first big break was being given the lead in A Time to Love and a Time to Die (1958), directed by Douglas Sirk from the novel by Erich Maria Remarque. This drew comparisons with the casting of the similarly-inexperienced Lew Ayres in Universal's film version of All Quiet on the Western Front (1931).
Before A Time to Love and a Time to Die had been released, Gavin had already been cast by Douglas Sirk in another important role – supporting Lana Turner in Imitation of Life (1959). Unlike A Time to Love and a Time to Die, this was a spectacular success at the box office, and Gavin was voted most promising male newcomer for his performance in the film by the Motion Picture Exhibitor. Universal then used him in the epic Spartacus (1960) directed by Stanley Kubrick in a key supporting role as Julius Caesar. He was then cast in the thriller Psycho (1960) for director Alfred Hitchcock.
Both movies were successful critically and commercially. He co-starred against Doris Day in the 1960 thriller Midnight Lace, Sophia Loren in the comedic A Breath of Scandal, Susan Hayward in the melodrama Back Street and with Sandra Dee in Romanoff and Juliet and Tammy Tell Me True. Gavin also appeared periodically on TV during this time in various anthology series; he was directed by a young William Friedkin in an episode of The Alfred Hitchcock Hour. Gavin left Universal in 1962 to freelance and in September 1964 Gavin signed a new contract with Universal which gave him the option to take work outside the studio. Gavin was signed for the role of James Bond in the 1971 film Diamonds Are Forever after prior Bond George Lazenby left the role, but the head of United Artists wanted the box-office insurance of Sean Connery, and made Connery a highly lucrative offer to return as Bond. Gavin's contract was still honored in full. Gavin had been on the Board of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) in 1965. He served one term as Third Vice-President, and two terms as First Vice-President. He was president from 1971 to 1973. In the late 1970s Gavin concentrated on TV and his growing business interests.
Gavin was appointed U.S. Ambassador to Mexico in June 1981 by President Ronald Reagan and served until June 12, 1986. Gavin had numerous business interests parallel to his acting career.
Gavin passed away on February 9, 2018, in Beverly Hills, California
at the age of 86.

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