Jack Carson
Acting
Born: October 27, 1910 · Carman, Manitoba, Canada
Died: January 2, 1963 (aged 52)
Highest Rated
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. 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.
Known for
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
1939
Bringing Up Baby
1938
Arsenic and Old Lace
1944
The Twilight Zone
1959
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
1958
Bonanza
1959
Mildred Pierce
1945
A Star Is Born
1954
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
1955
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
1941
Destry Rides Again
1939
You Only Live Once
1937
Photos (3)
Movies (99)
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Sweeney Farrell (uncredited)
Bringing Up Baby
Circus Roustabout (uncredited)
Arsenic and Old Lace
Officer Patrick O'Hara
Mildred Pierce
Wally Fay
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Gooper
A Star Is Born
Matt Libby
You Only Live Once
Attendant in First Gas Station
The Strawberry Blonde
Hugo Barnstead
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Chuck
Destry Rides Again
Jack Tyndall
Dangerous When Wet
Windy Webbe
Romance on the High Seas
Peter Virgil
The Tarnished Angels
Jiggs
Stage Door
Mr. Milbanks
Carefree
Connors
Vivacious Lady
Waiter Captain
The Good Humor Man
Biff Jones
Gentleman Jim
Walter Lawrie
Love Crazy
Ward Willoughby
Rally 'Round the Flag, Boys!
Captain Hoxie
Mister Universe
Jeff Clayton
My Dream Is Yours
Doug Blake
Phffft
Charlie Nelson
Fifth Avenue Girl
Minnesota (uncredited)
Bright Leaf
Chris Malley
Shine on Harvest Moon
The Great Georgetti
One More Tomorrow
Patrick 'Pat' Regan
Go Chase Yourself
Warren Miles
The Bride Came C.O.D.
Allen Brice
She's Got Everything
Ransome (uncredited)
The Male Animal
Joe Ferguson
The Tattered Dress
Sheriff Nick Hoak
Sammy, the Way-Out Seal
Harold Sylvester
The Hard Way
Albert Runkel
It's a Great Feeling
Jack Carson
King of the Roaring 20's – The Story of Arnold Rothstein
Timothy W. 'Big Tim' O'Brien
Princess O'Rourke
Dave Campbell
Ain't Misbehavin'
Harold North
Maid's Night Out
Rollercoaster Ride Attendant (uncredited)
Who Killed Julie Greer?
Fairchild
Larceny, Inc.
Jeff Randolph
The Honeymoon's Over
Tom Donroy
Parole Fixer
George Mattison
The Bottom of the Bottle
Hal Breckinridge
Blues in the Night
Leo Powell
The Saint in New York
Red Jenks
Law of the Underworld
Henchman Johnny
The Doughgirls
Arthur Halstead
High Flyers
Dave Hanlon
Alias the Deacon
Sullivan
John Loves Mary
Fred Taylor
Navy Blues
'Buttons' Johnson
I Take This Woman
Joe
Red Garters
Jason Carberry
Stand-In
Tom Potts
The Bramble Bush
Bert Mosley
Too Many Wives
Hodges
Music for Madame
Assistant Director
Always Together
Bill (uncredited)
Girl in 313
Police Lt. Pat O'Farrell
Queen of the Mob
Agent Ross Waring
City of Chance
Narration - Prologue (voice)
Two Guys from Milwaukee
Buzz Williams
The Groom Wore Spurs
Ben Castle
The Kid From Texas
Stanley Brown
Crashing Hollywood
Dickson
April Showers
Joe Tyme
Next Time I Marry
Radio Announcer (voice) (uncredited)
The Children of Alda Nuova
Frankie Fane
Going Hollywood: The '30s
(archive footage)
The Escape
Chet Warren
Everybody's Doing It
Detective Lieutenant
Make Your Own Bed
Jerry Curtis
Typhoon
Mate
Okay for Sound
1946
Two Guys from Texas
Danny Foster
Having Wonderful Time
Emil Beatty
Quick Money
Coach Woodford
This Marriage Business
"Candid" Perry
Love Thy Neighbor
Policeman
On Again—Off Again
Cop
The Time, The Place and The Girl
Jeff Howard
Lucky Partners
Frederick Harper
Love and Learn
Jingles Collins
Magnificent Roughnecks
Bix Decker
Wings for the Eagle
Brad Maple
Night Spot
Shallen
Enemy Agent
Ralph
Roughly Speaking
Harold C. Pierson
Condemned Women
Plainclothes Policeman
A Rented Riot
1937
Mr. Doodle Kicks Off
Rochet
Legion of Lost Flyers
Larry Barrigan
Three Men on a Horse
Patsy
Shooting High
Gabby Cross
Harris in the Spring
Taxicab Driver
Sandy Gets Her Man
Policeman Tom Garrity
Arroyo
Lamar Kendall
Food and Magic
1943
TV Shows (23)
Bonanza
Henry T.P. Comstock · 1 eps
The Twilight Zone
Harvey Hunnicut · 1 eps
Climax!
Art Shaddick · 1 eps
Climax!
Eugene Skinner · 1 eps
Studio One
Harry Breen · 1 eps
Thriller
Burt Lewis · 1 eps
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Frankie Fane · 1 eps
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
Sundown Smith · 1 eps
The Ford Television Theatre
Dan Doyle · 1 eps
The Bob Cummings Show
Jack Carson · 1 eps
Startime
Albert Maddon · 1 eps
Your Show of Shows
1 eps
Alcoa Theatre
Bert Kennedy · 1 eps
Alcoa Theatre
Augie Adams · 1 eps
Alcoa Theatre
1 eps
Screen Director's Playhouse
Lamar Kendall · 1 eps
Bus Stop
1 eps
The Wonderful World of Disney
Harold Sylvester · 2 eps
General Electric Theater
Joe Bushwick · 1 eps
General Electric Theater
1 eps
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Danny Scott · 1 eps
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Harry Mauldron · 1 eps
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Sid Devlin · 1 eps
Self / Appearances (16)
The Mike Douglas Show
Self · 1 eps
The Colgate Comedy Hour
Self - Host · 4 eps
What's My Line?
Self · 1 eps
The Steve Allen Show
Self · 1 eps
This Is Your Life
Self · 1 eps
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
Self · 1 eps
Hollywood Canteen
Self
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
A Star Is Born World Premiere
Self - Host
Thank Your Lucky Stars
Self
Breakdowns of 1941
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
James Stewart: A Wonderful Life
Self (archive footage)
I Don't Even Like Apple Pie...
Self (Archive Footage)
Breakdowns of 1942
Self
Breakdowns of 1944
Self
The Shining Future
Self