CINEFILER

Jack Carson

Born
October 27, 1910
Died
January 2, 1963
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
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
(1958)
Gooper
Mildred Pierce
(1945)
Wally Fay
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
(1939)
Sweeney Farrell (uncredited)
A Star Is Born
(1954)
Matt Libby
Love Crazy
(1941)
Ward Willoughby
Arsenic and Old Lace
(1944)
Officer Patrick O'Hara
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
(1941)
Chuck
Hollywood Canteen
(1944)
Self
You Only Live Once
(1937)
Attendant in First Gas Station
Bringing Up Baby
(1938)
Circus Roustabout (uncredited)
Gentleman Jim
(1942)
Walter Lawrie
It's a Great Feeling
(1949)
Jack Carson
Bright Leaf
(1950)
Chris Malley
Stage Door
(1937)
Mr. Milbanks
Destry Rides Again
(1939)
Jack Tyndall
Stand-In
(1937)
Tom Potts
Full Filmography
Acting
She's Got Everything
(1937)
Ransome (uncredited)
Harris in the Spring
(1937)
Taxicab Driver
Stage Door
(1937)
Mr. Milbanks
Stand-In
(1937)
Tom Potts
A Rented Riot
(1937)
Too Many Wives
(1937)
Hodges
Music for Madame
(1937)
Assistant Director
Quick Money
(1937)
Coach Woodford
On Again—Off Again
(1937)
Cop
You Only Live Once
(1937)
Attendant in First Gas Station
High Flyers
(1937)
Dave Hanlon
Law of the Underworld
(1938)
Henchman Johnny
Vivacious Lady
(1938)
Charlie
Night Spot
(1938)
Shallen
This Marriage Business
(1938)
"Candid" Perry
Bringing Up Baby
(1938)
Circus Roustabout (uncredited)
Carefree
(1938)
Connors
Maid's Night Out
(1938)
Rollercoaster Ride Attendant (uncredited)
Crashing Hollywood
(1938)
Dickson
Condemned Women
(1938)
Plainclothes Policeman
Mr. Doodle Kicks Off
(1938)
Rochet
Go Chase Yourself
(1938)
Warren Miles
Everybody's Doing It
(1938)
Detective Lieutenant
Having Wonderful Time
(1938)
Emil Beatty
The Saint in New York
(1938)
Red Jenks
Destry Rides Again
(1939)
Jack Tyndall
The Kid From Texas
(1939)
Stanley Brown
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
(1939)
Sweeney Farrell (uncredited)
5th Ave Girl
(1939)
Minnesota (uncredited)
The Escape
(1939)
Chet Warren
Legion of Lost Flyers
(1939)
Larry Barrigan
City of Chance
(1940)
Narration - Prologue (voice)
Shooting High
(1940)
Gabby Cross
Girl in 313
(1940)
Police Lt. Pat O'Farrell
Love Thy Neighbor
(1940)
Policeman
Typhoon
(1940)
Mate
I Take This Woman
(1940)
Joe
Enemy Agent
(1940)
Ralph
Alias the Deacon
(1940)
Sullivan
Queen of the Mob
(1940)
Agent Ross Waring
Lucky Partners
(1940)
Frederick Harper
Sandy Gets Her Man
(1940)
Policeman Tom Garrity
Parole Fixer
(1940)
George Mattison
The Strawberry Blonde
(1941)
Hugo Barnstead
The Bride Came C.O.D.
(1941)
Allen Brice
Blues in the Night
(1941)
Leo Powell
Love Crazy
(1941)
Ward Willoughby
Breakdowns of 1941
(1941)
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Navy Blues
(1941)
'Buttons' Johnson
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
(1941)
Chuck
Wings for the Eagle
(1942)
Brad Maple
The Male Animal
(1942)
Joe Ferguson
Larceny, Inc.
(1942)
Jeff Randolph
Gentleman Jim
(1942)
Walter Lawrie
Breakdowns of 1942
(1942)
Self
Food and Magic
(1943)
Thank Your Lucky Stars
(1943)
Self
The Hard Way
(1943)
Albert Runkel
Princess O'Rourke
(1943)
Dave Campbell
The Doughgirls
(1944)
Arthur Halstead
Make Your Own Bed
(1944)
Jerry Curtis
Hollywood Canteen
(1944)
Self
The Road to Victory
(1944)
Jack Carson (uncredited)
The Shining Future
(1944)
Self
Shine on Harvest Moon
(1944)
The Great Georgetti
Breakdowns of 1944
(1944)
Self
Arsenic and Old Lace
(1944)
Officer Patrick O'Hara
Roughly Speaking
(1945)
Harold C. Pierson
Mildred Pierce
(1945)
Wally Fay
Two Guys from Milwaukee
(1946)
Buzz Williams
The Time, The Place and The Girl
(1946)
Jeff Howard
Okay for Sound
(1946)
One More Tomorrow
(1946)
Patrick 'Pat' Regan
Love and Learn
(1947)
Jingles Collins
So You Want to Be in Pictures
(1947)
Man Giving Directions (uncredited)
Always Together
(1947)
Bill (uncredited)
Two Guys from Texas
(1948)
Danny Foster
April Showers
(1948)
Joe Tyme
Romance on the High Seas
(1948)
Peter Virgil
John Loves Mary
(1949)
Fred Taylor
It's a Great Feeling
(1949)
Jack Carson
My Dream Is Yours
(1949)
Doug Blake
The Good Humor Man
(1950)
Biff Jones
Bright Leaf
(1950)
Chris Malley
The Groom Wore Spurs
(1951)
Ben Castle
Mister Universe
(1951)
Jeff Clayton
Dangerous When Wet
(1953)
Windy Weebe
Red Garters
(1954)
Jason Carberry
Phffft
(1954)
Charlie Nelson
A Star Is Born World Premiere
(1954)
Self - Host
A Star Is Born
(1954)
Matt Libby
Ain't Misbehavin'
(1955)
Harold North
The Bottom of the Bottle
(1956)
Hal Breckinridge
Magnificent Roughnecks
(1956)
Bix Decker
The Tattered Dress
(1957)
Sheriff Nick Hoak
The Tarnished Angels
(1957)
Jiggs
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
(1958)
Gooper
Rally 'Round the Flag, Boys!
(1958)
Captain Hoxie
The Bramble Bush
(1960)
Bert Mosley
King of the Roaring 20's – The Story of Arnold Rothstein
(1961)
Timothy W. 'Big Tim' O'Brien
Who Killed Julie Greer?
(1961)
Fairchild
Sammy, the Way-Out Seal
(1962)
Harold Sylvester
The Children of Alda Nuova
(1962)
Frankie Fane
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
(1983)
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Going Hollywood: The '30s
(1984)
(archive footage)
James Stewart: A Wonderful Life
(1988)
Self (archive footage)
Data provided by TMDB