Charles C. Wilson
Acting • Born 1894-07-28 – Died 1948-01-07
Biography
Charles Cahill Wilson (July 29, 1894 – January 7, 1948) was an American screen and stage actor. He appeared in numerous films during the Golden Age of Hollywood from the late 1920s to late 1940s. Born in New York City in 1894, the white-haired, burly actor was often typecast as an earnest police officer, newspaper editor or principal. He appeared in over 250 films between 1928 and 1948, mostly playing small supporting roles with a few sentences. Charles Wilson began his acting career at the theatre, including roles in six Broadway plays between 1918 and 1931. In 1928, he directed the Hollywood comedy Lucky Boy (1928), where he also made his film debut. According to the Internet Movie Database, Lucky Boy was Wilson's only film as a director. His most notable role was probably Clark Gable's "wonderfully aggravated" newspaper boss in Frank Capra's comedy It Happened One Night, which won five Academy Awards in 1935. He was also cast in small roles in other Capra movies such as Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936) and It's a Wonderful Life (1946). Shortly before his death, Wilson appeared as the boss of the Three Stooges in the two-reel comedy Crime on Their Hands (1948).
Filmography
170 credits
It Happened One Night
Movie • 1934
Joe Gordon
The Return of Doctor X
Movie • 1939
Det. Kincaid
Lady Gangster
Movie • 1942
Detective
Name the Woman
Movie • 1934
Joel Walker
Gold Diggers of 1933
Movie • 1933
Deputy (uncredited)
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
Movie • 1947
Police Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
Satan Met a Lady
Movie • 1936
Detective Pollock
The Face Behind the Mask
Movie • 1941
Chief O'Brien
The Officer and the Lady
Movie • 1941
Police Captain Hart
The Glass Key
Movie • 1935
District Attorney Edward J. Farr
Broadway Melody of 1938
Movie • 1937
Horse Auctioneer (uncredited)
Earthworm Tractors
Movie • 1936
H.J. Russell
The Perfect Clue
Movie • 1935
District Attorney
Elmer, the Great
Movie • 1933
Mr. Wade (as Charles Wilson)
This Gun for Hire
Movie • 1942
Police Captain
Show Boat
Movie • 1936
The Dragon Murder Case
Movie • 1934
Det. Hennessey
Escape from Crime
Movie • 1942
C.L. Reardon - Managing Editor (as Charles Wilson)
Murder Goes to College
Movie • 1937
Police Inspector Simpson
Gas House Kids
Movie • 1946
Inspector Shannon
Week-End at the Waldorf
Movie • 1945
Hi Johns
The Mayor of Hell
Movie • 1933
Wilson (uncredited)
Smart Girl
Movie • 1935
Morgan (uncredited)
Four Hours to Kill!
Movie • 1935
Taft
The Cowboy Quarterback
Movie • 1939
Coach Hap Farrell
Tenth Avenue Kid
Movie • 1938
Commissioner
Crime on Their Hands
Movie • 1948
J.L. Cameron
Crime by Night
Movie • 1944
District Attorney Hyatt
The Case of the Lucky Legs
Movie • 1935
Police Officer Ricker
Hard to Handle
Movie • 1933
Jailer (uncredited)
College Coach
Movie • 1933
Charles Hauser
Show Them No Mercy!
Movie • 1935
Clifford
I'd Give My Life
Movie • 1936
Warden
Commotion on the Ocean
Movie • 1956
J.L. Cameron - Managing Editor (archive footage)
Broadway Scandals
Movie • 1929
Jack
Mary Stevens, M.D.
Movie • 1933
Walter Rising
Air Hawks
Movie • 1935
Newspaper editor
Grand Jury
Movie • 1936
City Editor
He Married His Wife
Movie • 1940
Warden
The Trans-Atlantic Mystery
Movie • 1932
Detective Doyle (uncredited)
Getting a Ticket
Movie • 1930
Motorcycle Cop
Federal Fugitives
Movie • 1941
Bruce Lane
When Were You Born
Movie • 1938
Inspector Jim C. Gregg
Havana Widows
Movie • 1933
Mr. Timberg
Hold That Co-ed
Movie • 1938
Coach Burke
Car 99
Movie • 1935
Trooper Captain Ryan
The Spider's Web
Movie • 1938
Chase
Here I Am a Stranger
Movie • 1939
Managing Editor
Partners in Crime
Movie • 1937
Inspector Simpson
The Gilded Lily
Movie • 1935
Managing Editor
The Circus Clown
Movie • 1934
Sheldon
Sally, Irene and Mary
Movie • 1938
Covered Wagon Cafe Manager
Hitch Hike Lady
Movie • 1935
Mike - a Racketeer
Silver Spurs
Movie • 1943
Mr. Hawkins
We're Only Human
Movie • 1935
Editor of The Daily Star
Gangs of Chicago
Movie • 1940
Stolen Heaven
Movie • 1931
Detective
The St. Louis Kid
Movie • 1934
Mr. Harris
They Wanted to Marry
Movie • 1937
Clark
Port of Lost Dreams
Movie • 1934
Warden
The Night Hawk
Movie • 1938
Lonigan
The Hell Cat
Movie • 1934
Graham
Big Brown Eyes
Movie • 1936
Prosecuting Attorney (Uncredited)
Broadway Limited
Movie • 1941
Detective (as Charles Wilson)
Blazing Across the Pecos
Movie • 1948
Mayor Ace Brockway
Meet Mr. Mischief
Movie • 1947
Harry's Boss
Disgraced!
Movie • 1933
Thompson, Assistant District Attorney
Rose of Washington Square
Movie • 1939
Mike Cavanaugh
After the Dance
Movie • 1935
Chief of Police
Fog Over Frisco
Movie • 1934
Detective Sergeant O'Hagen
36 Hours to Kill
Movie • 1936
F.B.I. Chief
Music Is Magic
Movie • 1935
Decker - Theatre Manager (uncredited)
Baby Face Harrington
Movie • 1935
City Editor (uncredited)
The Gentleman from Louisiana
Movie • 1936
Diamond Jim Brady
Crime of the Century
Movie • 1946
Police Lieutenant
The Case of the Stuttering Bishop
Movie • 1937
Hamilton Burger
Key Witness
Movie • 1947
Warden (uncredited)
Smashing the Money Ring
Movie • 1939
Capt. Kilrane
Affairs of a Gentleman
Movie • 1934
Inspector Quillan
Strike Me Pink
Movie • 1936
Hardie
The Nitwits
Movie • 1935
Police Captain Jennings
Little Miss Thoroughbred
Movie • 1938
Becker
The Man Who Returned to Life
Movie • 1942
Inspector Mensil
Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen
Movie • 1934
Chief of Police
The House of Fear
Movie • 1939
Police Chief
Dr. Broadway
Movie • 1942
District Attorney McNamara
Hot News Margie
Movie • 1931
Newspaper Editor (uncredited)
The Roaring Twenties
Movie • 1939
Policeman (uncredited)
Murder in the Fleet
Movie • 1935
Commander Brown (Uncredited)
Big Town Scandal
Movie • 1948
Editor of the Chronicle (uncredited)
Midnight Court
Movie • 1937
Police Chief
The Country Doctor
Movie • 1936
George the Boat Captain (uncredited)
The Great O'Malley
Movie • 1937
Policeman Chiding School Bus Driver (uncredited)
It's a Wonderful Life
Movie • 1946
Charlie (uncredited)
No Marriage Ties
Movie • 1933
Red Moran, City Desk Editor
Scarlet Street
Movie • 1945
Watchman (uncredited)
The Magnificent Brute
Movie • 1936
Murphy
Dressed to Kill
Movie • 1941
Newspaper Editor
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
Movie • 1936
County Hospital Guard (uncredited)
Life Begins in College
Movie • 1937
Tom Burke
Murder with Pictures
Movie • 1936
Assistant Editor (uncredited)
Legion of Terror
Movie • 1936
Colonel McCollum (as Charles Wilson)
Fighting Thoroughbreds
Movie • 1939
Spencer Bogart
Charter Pilot
Movie • 1940
Owen
Two O'Clock Courage
Movie • 1945
Brant - City Editor (uncredited)
Larceny in Her Heart
Movie • 1946
Chief Gentry (as Charles Wilson)
Sandy Is a Lady
Movie • 1940
Sergeant
Down the Stretch
Movie • 1936
Tex Reardon
The Mine with the Iron Door
Movie • 1936
Pitkins
Mary Burns, Fugitive
Movie • 1935
G-Man at dancehall
One Mile from Heaven
Movie • 1937
Fletcher
Gentleman Jim
Movie • 1942
Gurney (uncredited)
Prison Farm
Movie • 1938
Reardon
Gateway
Movie • 1938
Inspector
Tin Pan Alley
Movie • 1940
Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
Waterfront Lady
Movie • 1935
Jim McFee aka Mac
City for Conquest
Movie • 1940
Bill - Man Behind MacPherson at Fight (uncredited)
Hotel for Women
Movie • 1939
Albert
They Drive by Night
Movie • 1940
Mike Williams (uncredited)
Knute Rockne All American
Movie • 1940
Gambler (uncredited)
Lady with Red Hair
Movie • 1940
George Martin (uncredited)
Millionaires in Prison
Movie • 1940
R.J. Reynolds, Sunday Editor (uncredited)
Girl in 313
Movie • 1940
Vincent Brady, Commissioner of Police
Blonde for a Day
Movie • 1946
Chief of Police Will Gentry (as Charles Wilson)
Here Is My Heart
Movie • 1934
Captain Dodge (uncredited)
Passkey to Danger
Movie • 1946
Police Sergeant
Blondie Goes to College
Movie • 1942
Police Sergeant
Private Detective 62
Movie • 1933
Club Bartender (Uncredited)
Men of the Night
Movie • 1934
Benson
The Secret Code
Movie • 1942
Desk Sgt. Cullen
Roaring Timber
Movie • 1937
Sam Garvin
Mind Your Own Business
Movie • 1936
Detective
Murder in the Clouds
Movie • 1934
Lackey
Woman in Distress
Movie • 1937
Editor Herbert Claxton
The Kennel Murder Case
Movie • 1933
Detective Hennessy (uncredited)
A Gun in His Hand
Movie • 1945
Chief of Police (uncredited)
The Adventurous Blonde
Movie • 1937
Mortimer Gray
Batman
Movie • 1943
Captain Arnold
Public Deb No. 1
Movie • 1940
Sergeant
State Police
Movie • 1938
Captain Halstead
The Human Side
Movie • 1934
Furniture Buyer (uncredited)
Panic on the Air
Movie • 1936
Chief Inspector Fitzgerald
Rings on Her Fingers
Movie • 1942
Road to Utopia
Movie • 1946
Official Policeman (uncredited)
The Great Hotel Murder
Movie • 1935
Anthony Wilson
Meet John Doe
Movie • 1941
Charlie Dawson
You Only Live Once
Movie • 1937
Police Inspector (uncredited)
Invisible Stripes
Movie • 1939
Arresting Officer (uncredited)
Female
Movie • 1933
Private Detective Falihee (Uncredited)
Cross Country Cruise
Movie • 1934
Detective (Uncredited)
The 9th Guest
Movie • 1934
Burke (Uncredited)
Embarrassing Moments
Movie • 1934
Attorney
The Public Menace
Movie • 1935
First Detective
Insurance
Movie • 1930
Doctor (uncredited)
The Missing Juror
Movie • 1944
Mac Ellis (uncredited)
Night Key
Movie • 1937
Police Capt. Wallace (uncredited)
Out of the Fog
Movie • 1941
Acquitted
Movie • 1929
Nelson
Hey, Rookie
Movie • 1944
Sam Jonas
My Sin
Movie • 1931
Guest in Pool Party
Daughter of Shanghai
Movie • 1937
Schwartz (uncredited)
Angels with Dirty Faces
Movie • 1938
I Believed in You
Movie • 1934
Magistrate
The Campus Mystery
Movie • 1932
Detective Reardon
The Case of the Curious Bride
Movie • 1935
Ferry Captain (uncredited)
White Lies
Movie • 1935
Defense Attorney (uncredited)
Shadows of Sing Sing
Movie • 1933
Men of the Hour
Movie • 1935
Harper
Find the Witness
Movie • 1937
Charley Blair (uncredited)
Song of Love
Movie • 1929
Traveling Salesman