John Craven (actor)

John Craven (June 22, 1916 – November 24, 1995) was an American actor, and the son of noted character actor Frank Craven. He appeared in films and numerous plays and had many TV roles, but was best remembered for originating the role of George Gibbs in the original stage version of Our Town, in which his father played the role of the Stage Manager. Craven was overlooked in the movie version, however, with the part going to the then-unknown William Holden.

Frank Craven, Martha Scott and John Craven in the original Broadway production of Our Town (1938)

Though born in New York City, he attended Beverly Hills High School, in the early 1930s. His stage family had a long history of alternating generations of men named John with subsequent generations of men named Frank.