Joseph Kenneth Shovlin (June 30, 1902 – April 14, 1974), known professionally as Michael Whalen, was an American actor who starred in motion pictures and television, including Son of a Badman[2] and Wee Willie Winkie.

[3] The young Joe Shovlin was headed for a career in retail; he managed a Woolworth's department store in his native Pennsylvania until he resigned the post in 1925.

A visit to New York led to his working on the stage and in radio; he sang on stations WGBS and WABC.

[4] He moved to Los Angeles in 1933 to continue his stage career, and was signed as a potential leading man by 20th Century-Fox in 1935.

Fox cast Whalen as the juvenile lead in four big-budget "A" pictures, where the darkly handsome actor registered pleasantly but not outstandingly.