- Birth year sometimes given as 1861.
- His nephew, Daniel Marvin, was one of the more than 1500 victims who died in the Titanic disaster on April 15, 1912.
- Older brother of Harry Marvin, inventor of the Biograph camera and co-founder of the Biograph film studio.
- The first cinematographer of director D.W. Griffith. Beginning with The Adventures of Dollie (1908) they made some 100 short films together through 1910.
- Died unexpectedly in Los Angeles, where New York-based Biograph produced films during the winter. The last film Marvin shot, Priscilla's Engagement Ring (1911), was released three weeks after his death.
- Marvin was known as a patient, genial man who liked to describe himself as "Captain of the good ship Take it Easy". This attitude, along with his assured photography skills, made him an ideal cameraman for newcomer D.W. Griffith during his early Biograph years. Marvin later mentored another new Biograph director, Frank Powell, while Griffith forged a stronger collaboration with the more adventurous G.W. Bitzer.
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