John Finnegan (actor) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids John P. Finnegan
Publicity Photo of John Finnegan
Born	(1926-08-18)August 18, 1926 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 (born August 18, 1926 – died July 29, 2012) was an American actor. He appeared in many movies and TV shows during his career. He was especially known for his recurring role in the popular TV series Columbo. You might also recognize his voice as the bad guy, Warren T. Rat, in the animated movie An American Tail from 1986.

Finnegan was a good friend of the famous director and actor John Cassavetes. He acted in five of Cassavetes' films. These included Gloria (1980) and Big Trouble (1986). Big Trouble also starred Peter Falk, who was the main actor in Columbo.

Early Life and Career Beginnings

John Finnegan was one of 11 children. His parents were immigrants from Ireland. He served in the United States Navy during World War II. This was a very important time in history.

After the war, Finnegan became friends with John Cassavetes and Peter Falk. They all met at the Actors Studio in New York City. This was a special place where actors learned and practiced their craft. When Finnegan moved to Los Angeles in the early 1950s, his friends helped him start his acting career.

Notable Acting Roles

John Finnegan had many memorable roles throughout his career. He often played characters that were tough or a bit quirky. His work with director John Cassavetes was very important to him.

Voice Acting in An American Tail

One of his most famous roles was not seen, but heard! He provided the voice for Warren T. Rat in the animated film An American Tail. This movie tells the story of a young mouse named Fievel. Warren T. Rat was a tricky and villainous character.

Appearances in Columbo

Finnegan was well-known for his many appearances in the TV series Columbo. In this show, Peter Falk played a clever detective. Finnegan often played different characters in various episodes. This made him a familiar face to fans of the series.

Other Film Roles

Finnegan also appeared in several other notable films. He was in Heroes (1977) and The Natural (1984). He also played Judge Edward A. Haggerty in Oliver Stone's movie JFK (1991). These roles showed his versatility as an actor.

Later Life and Passing

John Finnegan continued acting until the early 2000s. He passed away on July 29, 2012. He was 85 years old. He died at his home in Palm Desert, California, due to complications from pneumonia.

Selected Filmography