Jack Carson
101 movies · 18 TV shows
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- Oct 27, 1910
- Died
- Jan 2, 1963 (age 52)
- Place of birth
- Carman, Manitoba, Canada
- Also known as
- John Elmer Carson
Biography
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
John Elmer "Jack" Carson (October 27, 1910 – January 2, 1963) was a Canadian-born, American film actor, with a film career spanning the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s. Though he was primarily used in supporting roles for comic relief, his work in films such as Mildred Pierce (1945) and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958) displayed his mastery of "straight" dramatic actor roles as well. He worked for RKO and MGM (cast opposite Myrna Loy and William Powell in Love Crazy), but most of his memorable work was for Warner Bros. His trademark character was the wisecracking know-it-all, typically and inevitably undone by his own smug cockiness. Carson initially landed bit roles at RKO Radio Pictures in films such as Bringing Up Baby (1938), starring Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn.
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An early standout role for Carson was as a mock-drunk undercover G-Man opposite Richard Cromwell in Universal Pictures's anti-Nazi action drama entitled Enemy Agent. This led to contract-player status with Warner Brothers shortly thereafter. While there, he was teamed with Dennis Morgan in a number of films, supposedly to compete with Paramount's popular Bing Crosby - Bob Hope Road to … pictures.
Most of his work at Warner Brothers was limited to light comedy work with Morgan, and later Doris Day (who in her autobiography would credit Carson as one of her early Hollywood mentors). Critics generally agree that Carson's best work was in Mildred Pierce (1945), where he played the perpetually scheming Wally Fay opposite Joan Crawford in the title role. Also in 1945, he played the role of Harold Pierson, the second husband of Louise Randall, played by Rosalind Russell, in Roughly Speaking. Another role which won accolades for him was as publicist Matt Libby in A Star is Born (1954). One of his last film roles was as the older brother "Gooper" in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958).
His TV appearances, extending into the early 1960s, included The Martha Raye Show, The Guy Mitchell Show, and The Polly Bergen Show in 1957; Alcoa Theatre and Bonanza (Season 1, Ep.9: "Mr. Henry Comstock") in 1959; Thriller ("The Big Blackout") in 1960; and The Twilight Zone (Season 2, Ep. 14: "The Whole Truth") in 1961.
On February 8, 1960, Carson received two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contributions to the television and radio industry. The television star is located at 1560 Vine Street, the radio star is at 6361 Hollywood Boulevard.
In 1983, after his death, Jack Carson was inducted into the Wisconsin Performing Artists Hall of Fame along with his film pal, Dennis Morgan, who was also from Wisconsin.
Profiles IMDb
Known for
Jack Carson: movies and TV shows
Acting (119)
- 1984 Going Hollywood: The '30s
as (archive footage)
- 1962 Sammy, the Way-Out Seal
as Harold Sylvester
- 1962 The Children of Alda Nuova
as Frankie Fane
- 1961
- 1961 Who Killed Julie Greer?
as Fairchild
- 1961 King of the Roaring 20's – The Story of Arnold Rothstein
as Timothy W. 'Big Tim' O'Brien
- 1960
- 1960 The Bramble Bush
as Bert Mosley
- 1959
- 1959
- 1959
- 1958 Rally 'Round the Flag, Boys!
as Captain Hoxie
- 1958 Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
as Gooper Pollitt
- 1957 The Tarnished Angels
as Jiggs
- 1957
- 1957 Three Men on a Horse
as Patsy
- 1957 The Tattered Dress
as Sheriff Nick Hoak
- 1956
- 1956 Magnificent Roughnecks
as Bix Decker
- 1956 The Bottom of the Bottle
as Hal Breckinridge
- 1955 Arroyo
as Lamar Kendall
- 1955
- 1955
- 1955 Ain't Misbehavin'
as Harold North
- 1955
- 1954 Phffft
as Charlie Nelson
- 1954
- 1954
- 1954 A Star Is Born
as Matt Libby
- 1954 Red Garters
as Jason Carberry
- 1953 Dangerous When Wet
as Windy Webbe
- 1953
- 1952
- 1951
- 1951 The Groom Wore Spurs
as Ben Castle
- 1951 Mister Universe
as Jeff Clayton
- 1950
- 1950 Bright Leaf
as Chris Malley
- 1950 The Good Humor Man
as Biff Jones
- 1950
- 1949 It's a Great Feeling
as Jack Carson
- 1949 My Dream Is Yours
as Doug Blake
- 1949 John Loves Mary
as Fred Taylor
- 1948
- 1948 Two Guys from Texas
as Danny Foster
- 1948 Romance on the High Seas
as Peter Virgil
- 1948 April Showers
as Joe Tyme
- 1947 Always Together
as Bill (uncredited)
- 1947 So You Want to Be in Pictures
as Man Giving Directions (uncredited)
- 1947 Love and Learn
as Jingles Collins
- 1946 The Time, The Place and The Girl
as Jeff Howard
- 1946
- 1946 Two Guys from Milwaukee
as Buzz Williams
- 1946 One More Tomorrow
as Patrick 'Pat' Regan
- 1945 Mildred Pierce
as Wally Fay
- 1945 Roughly Speaking
as Harold C. Pierson
- 1944 The Doughgirls
as Arthur Halstead
- 1944 Arsenic and Old Lace
as Officer Patrick O'Hara
- 1944 Make Your Own Bed
as Jerry Curtis
- 1944 The Road to Victory
as Jack Carson (uncredited)
- 1944 Shine on Harvest Moon
as The Great Georgetti
- 1943
- 1943 Princess O'Rourke
as Dave Campbell
- 1943 The Hard Way
as Albert Runkel
- 1942 Gentleman Jim
as Walter Lawrie
- 1942 Wings for the Eagle
as Brad Maple
- 1942 Larceny, Inc.
as Jeff Randolph
- 1942 The Male Animal
as Joe Ferguson
- 1941 Blues in the Night
as Leo Powell
- 1941 Navy Blues
as 'Buttons' Johnson
- 1941 The Bride Came C.O.D.
as Allen Brice
- 1941 Love Crazy
as Ward Willoughby
- 1941 The Strawberry Blonde
as Hugo Barnstead
- 1941 Mr. & Mrs. Smith
as Chuck
- 1940 Love Thy Neighbor
as Policeman
- 1940 Sandy Gets Her Man
as Policeman Tom Garrity
- 1940 Lucky Partners
as Frederick Harper
- 1940 Queen of the Mob
as Agent Ross Waring
- 1940 Girl in 313
as Police Lt. Pat O'Farrell
- 1940 Typhoon
as Mate
- 1940 Alias the Deacon
as Sullivan
- 1940 Shooting High
as Gabby Cross
- 1940 Enemy Agent
as Ralph
- 1940 Parole Fixer
as George Mattison
- 1940 I Take This Woman
as Joe
- 1940 City of Chance
as Narration - Prologue (voice)
- 1939 The Honeymoon's Over
as Tom Donroy
- 1939 Destry Rides Again
as Jack Tyndall
- 1939 Legion of Lost Flyers
as Larry Barrigan
- 1939 Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
as Sweeney Farrell (uncredited)
- 1939 The Escape
as Chet Warren
- 1939 Fifth Avenue Girl
as Minnesota (uncredited)
- 1939 The Kid From Texas
as Stanley Brown
- 1938 Next Time I Marry
as Radio Announcer (voice) (uncredited)
- 1938 Mr. Doodle Kicks Off
as Rochet
- 1938 Carefree
as Connors
- 1938 Having Wonderful Time
as Emil Beatty
- 1938 The Saint in New York
as Red Jenks
- 1938 Vivacious Lady
as Waiter Captain
- 1938 Law of the Underworld
as Henchman Johnny
- 1938 Go Chase Yourself
as Warren Miles
- 1938 This Marriage Business
as "Candid" Perry
- 1938 Condemned Women
as Plainclothes Policeman
- 1938 Maid's Night Out
as Rollercoaster Ride Attendant (uncredited)
- 1938 Night Spot
as Shallen
- 1938 Bringing Up Baby
as Circus Roustabout (uncredited)
- 1938 Everybody's Doing It
as Detective Lieutenant
- 1938 Crashing Hollywood
as Dickson
- 1937 She's Got Everything
as Ransome (uncredited)
- 1937 Quick Money
as Coach Woodford
- 1937 Harris in the Spring
as Taxicab Driver
- 1937
- 1937 High Flyers
as Dave Hanlon
- 1937 Stand-In
as Tom Potts
- 1937 Stage Door
as Mr. Milbanks
- 1937 Music for Madame
as Assistant Director
- 1937 On Again—Off Again
as Cop
- 1937 Too Many Wives
as Hodges
- 1937 You Only Live Once
as Attendant in First Gas Station
Talk shows and appearances (19)
- 1989
- 1987
- 1983
- 1961 The Mike Douglas Show
1 episode
- 1957 The Polly Bergen Show
1 episode
- 1956 The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
1 episode
- 1956 The Steve Allen Show
1 episode
- 1954 The George Gobel Show
3 episodes
- 1954
- 1952 This Is Your Life
1 episode
- 1950 Four Star Revue
1 episode
- 1950 The Colgate Comedy Hour
4 episodes
- 1950 What's My Line?
1 episode
- 1944
- 1944
- 1944
- 1943
- 1942
- 1941