John Finnegan (actor)

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.

John P. Finnegan
Publicity Photo of John Finnegan
Born(1926-08-18)August 18, 1926[1]
New York City, New York, U.S.
DiedJuly 29, 2012(2012-07-29) (aged 85)
Palm Desert, California, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
OccupationActor
Years active1970–2004
Spouse(s)Carolynn Jacobs Finnegan (2nd wife, 1992–2012; his death)

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

References
  1. "PASSINGS: John Finnegan". Los Angeles Times. August 2, 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-02.
  2. "American Tail villain John Finnegan dead at 85". Big Cartoon News. 2012-08-03.
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