John Flynn was a director known for his exceptional skill in crafting crime pictures that were both efficient and underrated. His films were characterized by their tight plots, hard-hitting tone, and a directorial style that was taut, streamlined, and economical.
Born on March 14, 1932, in Chicago, Illinois, John was raised in Manhattan Beach, California. He served in the coast guard, where he studied journalism with renowned author Alex Haley, and later received a degree in journalism from UCLA.
John began his career in the film industry as an apprentice to director Robert Wise on "Odds Against Tomorrow" and later worked as a script supervisor for "West Side Story." He then went on to work as a second unit director on films such as "Kid Galahad," "Two for the Seesaw," and "The Great Escape."
John made his directorial debut with the obscure "The Sergent" and followed it up with another little-seen film, "The Jerusalem File." However, it was his subsequent film, the gritty "The Outfit," that brought him his first substantial commercial success.
John's subsequent films continued to receive critical acclaim, including the cult classic "Rolling Thunder," the urban vigilante thriller "Defiance," the Steven Seagal action vehicle "Out for Justice," and the virtual reality horror outing "Brainscan." He also directed two made-for-cable-TV pictures in the early 1990s, "Nails" and "Scam," as well as the direct-to-video mobster film "Protection."
John Flynn passed away at the age of 75 on April 4, 2007.
