Trivia

During an aborted attempt to reboot the franchise with an American actor, he signed on for the role of James Bond to replace George Lazenby in Les diamants sont éternels (1971). At the last minute the producers met Sean Connery's salary demand and abruptly replaced Gavin. Though he still got paid the full salary.

(1952-1955) Served as air intelligence officer with the Navy's Office of Naval Intelligence.

Served as U.S. Ambassador to Mexico by appointment by his friend, US president Ronald Reagan from June 1981 to June 1986. Both Gavin and Reagan had served as president of the Screen Actors Guild.

Served in the Navy (1952-1955) during and after the Korean War. He was an air intelligence officer. Due to his fluency in both Spanish and English he was also a flag lieutenant.

Broke into films following his military service when he became a technical adviser to a film about the Navy. His strong good looks and resemblance to Rock Hudson were instantly noticed which prompted a successful screen test at Universal. Although he was reluctant, they offered him a contract he couldn't refuse financially.

Alfred Hitchcock was unhappy with his performance in Psychose (1960). He thought John's acting style was wooden and referred to him as "The Stiff" in interviews.

(1971-1973) President of Screen Actors Guild (SAG).

His parents wanted him to become a lawyer and John himself expressed an early interest in law, Latin America and diplomacy. He earned a BA from Stanford University after attending St John's Military Academy and Villanova Prep School. He was a member of Stanford's Naval ROTC unit.

John was the son of Delia Diana Pablos and Juan Vincent Apablasa, and was of Mexican, Chilean, and Spanish descent. His stepfather was Herald Ray Golenor, a well-to-do mining engineer. His father was descended from California landowners when it was still under Spanish rule. His mother was a member of a prestigious ranching dynasty in Sonora. John eventually took his stepfather's surname.

In the same year, 1960, he worked for two legendary directors: Psycho with Alfred Hitchcock and Spartacus with Stanley Kubrick.