He received the B.A. from Stanford University, where he did senior honors work in Latin American economic history, and served in the U.S. Navy in Air Force intelligence from 1952 to 1955. He has been married to Constance Towers, the stage & television actress, since 1974, and it own Two toddlers together, also when Ii tykes from either Towers' 1st marriage.

A Republican, Gavin was appointed U.S. Ambassador to Mexico in June 1981 by President Ronald Reagan and served until June 1986. Since allowing government service, he has be the successful man of affairs & civic leader.

His best known film roles were within Imitation of Life (1959), Psycho (1960), and Spartacus (1961). He was sign for the role of James Bond in Diamonds Are Forever after George Lazenby left the role; all the same, he never played Attach due to Sean Connery's return. He was president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1971 to 1973.