Jack Carson
Acting • Born 1910-10-27 – Died 1963-01-02
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.
Filmography
143 credits
Arsenic and Old Lace
Movie • 1944
Officer Patrick O'Hara
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Movie • 1958
Gooper
Bringing Up Baby
Movie • 1938
Circus Roustabout (uncredited)
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Movie • 1939
Sweeney Farrell (uncredited)
A Star Is Born
Movie • 1954
Matt Libby
Mildred Pierce
Movie • 1945
Wally Fay
Love Crazy
Movie • 1941
Ward Willoughby
My Dream Is Yours
Movie • 1949
Doug Blake
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Movie • 1941
Chuck
Princess O'Rourke
Movie • 1943
Dave Campbell
It's a Great Feeling
Movie • 1949
Jack Carson
Blues in the Night
Movie • 1941
Leo Powell
The Hard Way
Movie • 1943
Albert Runkel
Carefree
Movie • 1938
Connors
The Bride Came C.O.D.
Movie • 1941
Allen Brice
A Rented Riot
Movie • 1937
King of the Roaring 20's – The Story of Arnold Rothstein
Movie • 1961
Timothy W. 'Big Tim' O'Brien
Dangerous When Wet
Movie • 1953
Windy Webbe
Romance on the High Seas
Movie • 1948
Peter Virgil
Thank Your Lucky Stars
Movie • 1943
Self
Gentleman Jim
Movie • 1942
Walter Lawrie
Destry Rides Again
Movie • 1939
Jack Tyndall
Stage Door
Movie • 1937
Mr. Milbanks
The Tarnished Angels
Movie • 1957
Jiggs
Hollywood Canteen
Movie • 1944
Self
Girl in 313
Movie • 1940
Police Lt. Pat O'Farrell
Having Wonderful Time
Movie • 1938
Emil Beatty
The Saint in New York
Movie • 1938
Red Jenks
Phffft
Movie • 1954
Charlie Nelson
Larceny, Inc.
Movie • 1942
Jeff Randolph
The Male Animal
Movie • 1942
Joe Ferguson
Bright Leaf
Movie • 1950
Chris Malley
Make Your Own Bed
Movie • 1944
Jerry Curtis
The Strawberry Blonde
Movie • 1941
Hugo Barnstead
The Tattered Dress
Movie • 1957
Sheriff Nick Hoak
The Doughgirls
Movie • 1944
Arthur Halstead
The Good Humor Man
Movie • 1950
Biff Jones
Wings for the Eagle
Movie • 1942
Brad Maple
The Groom Wore Spurs
Movie • 1951
Ben Castle
The Time, The Place and The Girl
Movie • 1946
Jeff Howard
Rally 'Round the Flag, Boys!
Movie • 1958
Captain Hoxie
The Bottom of the Bottle
Movie • 1956
Hal Breckinridge
Queen of the Mob
Movie • 1940
Agent Ross Waring
Red Garters
Movie • 1954
Jason Carberry
Roughly Speaking
Movie • 1945
Harold C. Pierson
Lucky Partners
Movie • 1940
Frederick Harper
Stand-In
Movie • 1937
Tom Potts
April Showers
Movie • 1948
Joe Tyme
The Bramble Bush
Movie • 1960
Bert Mosley
So You Want to Be in Pictures
Movie • 1947
Man Giving Directions (uncredited)
The Road to Victory
Movie • 1944
Jack Carson (uncredited)
This Marriage Business
Movie • 1938
"Candid" Perry
Law of the Underworld
Movie • 1938
Henchman Johnny
Typhoon
Movie • 1940
Mate
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
Movie • 1983
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Love Thy Neighbor
Movie • 1940
Policeman
The Children of Alda Nuova
Movie • 1962
Frankie Fane
Too Many Wives
Movie • 1937
Hodges
Maid's Night Out
Movie • 1938
Rollercoaster Ride Attendant (uncredited)
Mr. Doodle Kicks Off
Movie • 1938
Rochet
Go Chase Yourself
Movie • 1938
Warren Miles
Love and Learn
Movie • 1947
Jingles Collins
Two Guys from Texas
Movie • 1948
Danny Foster
The Shining Future
Movie • 1944
Self
Two Guys from Milwaukee
Movie • 1946
Buzz Williams
Shooting High
Movie • 1940
Gabby Cross
Going Hollywood: The '30s
Movie • 1984
(archive footage)
She's Got Everything
Movie • 1937
Ransome (uncredited)
Quick Money
Movie • 1937
Coach Woodford
Crashing Hollywood
Movie • 1938
Dickson
High Flyers
Movie • 1937
Dave Hanlon
Night Spot
Movie • 1938
Shallen
John Loves Mary
Movie • 1949
Fred Taylor
One More Tomorrow
Movie • 1946
Patrick 'Pat' Regan
Shine on Harvest Moon
Movie • 1944
The Great Georgetti
Who Killed Julie Greer?
Movie • 1961
Fairchild
The Escape
Movie • 1939
Chet Warren
Navy Blues
Movie • 1941
'Buttons' Johnson
On Again—Off Again
Movie • 1937
Cop
Condemned Women
Movie • 1938
Plainclothes Policeman
Ain't Misbehavin'
Movie • 1955
Harold North
Everybody's Doing It
Movie • 1938
Detective Lieutenant
Alias the Deacon
Movie • 1940
Sullivan
Fifth Avenue Girl
Movie • 1939
Minnesota (uncredited)
Parole Fixer
Movie • 1940
George Mattison
The Kid From Texas
Movie • 1939
Stanley Brown
I Take This Woman
Movie • 1940
Joe
Always Together
Movie • 1947
Bill (uncredited)
Enemy Agent
Movie • 1940
Ralph
Breakdowns of 1941
Movie • 1941
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Mister Universe
Movie • 1951
Jeff Clayton
City of Chance
Movie • 1940
Narration - Prologue (voice)
Sammy, the Way-Out Seal
Movie • 1962
Harold Sylvester
Harris in the Spring
Movie • 1937
Taxicab Driver
Vivacious Lady
Movie • 1938
Waiter Captain
You Only Live Once
Movie • 1937
Attendant in First Gas Station
Music for Madame
Movie • 1937
Assistant Director
Magnificent Roughnecks
Movie • 1956
Bix Decker
Food and Magic
Movie • 1943
A Star Is Born World Premiere
Movie • 1954
Self - Host
Breakdowns of 1944
Movie • 1944
Self
Sandy Gets Her Man
Movie • 1940
Policeman Tom Garrity
Okay for Sound
Movie • 1946
James Stewart: A Wonderful Life
Movie • 1987
Self (archive footage)
Breakdowns of 1942
Movie • 1942
Self
Legion of Lost Flyers
Movie • 1939
Larry Barrigan
Arroyo
Movie • 1955
Lamar Kendall
Three Men on a Horse
Movie • 1957
Patsy
Next Time I Marry
Movie • 1938
Radio Announcer (voice) (uncredited)
The Honeymoon's Over
Movie • 1939
Tom Donroy
Studio One
TV • 1948
Harry Breen
General Electric Theater
TV • 1953
Joe Bushwick
The Twilight Zone
TV • 1959
Harvey Hunnicut
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
TV • 1955
Frankie Fane
Bus Stop
TV • 1961
Thriller
TV • 1960
Burt Lewis
Lux Video Theatre
TV • 1950
Garrison
Your Show of Shows
TV • 1950
This Is Your Life
TV • 1952
Self
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
TV • 1951
Danny Scott
Climax!
TV • 1954
Art Shaddick
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
TV • 1956
Self
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
TV • 1956
Sundown Smith
The Steve Allen Show
TV • 1956
Self
The Colgate Comedy Hour
TV • 1950
Self - Host
Four Star Revue
TV • 1950
Host
The Mike Douglas Show
TV • 1961
Self
The George Gobel Show
TV • 1954
Self
Bonanza
TV • 1959
Henry T.P. Comstock
Alcoa Theatre
TV • 1957
Bert Kennedy
Alcoa Theatre
TV • 1957
Augie Adams
Alcoa Theatre
TV • 1957
The Bob Cummings Show
TV • 1955
Jack Carson
Screen Director's Playhouse
TV • 1955
Lamar Kendall
The Wonderful World of Disney
TV • 1954
Harold Sylvester
The Ford Television Theatre
TV • 1952
Dan Doyle
General Electric Theater
TV • 1953
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
TV • 1951
Harry Mauldron
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
TV • 1951
Sid Devlin
Lux Video Theatre
TV • 1950
John Mulligan
Climax!
TV • 1954
Eugene Skinner
What's My Line?
TV • 1950
Self
The Polly Bergen Show
TV • 1957
Self