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).
Known For
It's a Wonderful Life
(1946)
Charlie (uncredited)
Gold Diggers of 1933
(1933)
Deputy (uncredited)
Batman
(1943)
Captain Arnold
Gentleman Jim
(1942)
Gurney (uncredited)
It Happened One Night
(1934)
Joe Gordon
Scarlet Street
(1945)
Watchman (uncredited)
This Gun for Hire
(1942)
Police Captain
The Roaring Twenties
(1939)
Policeman (uncredited)
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
(1947)
Police Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
Meet John Doe
(1941)
Charlie Dawson
They Drive by Night
(1940)
Mike Williams (uncredited)
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
(1936)
County Hospital Guard (uncredited)
Public Deb No. 1
(1940)
Sergeant
Road to Utopia
(1946)
Official Policeman (uncredited)
The Gilded Lily
(1935)
Managing Editor
Gangs of Chicago
(1940)
Full Filmography
Acting
Broadway Scandals
(1929)
Jack
Acquitted
(1929)
Nelson
Getting a Ticket
(1930)
Motorcycle Cop
Insurance
(1930)
Doctor (uncredited)
Stolen Heaven
(1931)
Detective
Hot News Margie
(1931)
Newspaper Editor (uncredited)
The Trans-Atlantic Mystery
(1932)
Detective Doyle (uncredited)
The Mayor of Hell
(1933)
Wilson (uncredited)
Hard to Handle
(1933)
Jailer (uncredited)
College Coach
(1933)
Charles Hauser
Mary Stevens, M.D.
(1933)
Walter Rising
Havana Widows
(1933)
Mr. Timberg
Disgraced!
(1933)
Thompson, Assistant District Attorney
No Marriage Ties
(1933)
Red Moran, City Desk Editor
Private Detective 62
(1933)
Club Bartender (Uncredited)
The Kennel Murder Case
(1933)
Detective Hennessy (uncredited)
Female
(1933)
Private Detective Falihee (Uncredited)
Gold Diggers of 1933
(1933)
Deputy (uncredited)
Elmer, the Great
(1933)
Mr. Wade (as Charles Wilson)
It Happened One Night
(1934)
Joe Gordon
The Dragon Murder Case
(1934)
Det. Hennessey
The Circus Clown
(1934)
Sheldon
The St. Louis Kid
(1934)
Mr. Harris
Port of Lost Dreams
(1934)
Warden
The Hell Cat
(1934)
Graham
Fog Over Frisco
(1934)
Detective Sergeant O'Hagen
Affairs of a Gentleman
(1934)
Inspector Quillan
Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen
(1934)
Chief of Police
Here Is My Heart
(1934)
Captain Dodge (uncredited)
Men of the Night
(1934)
Benson
Murder in the Clouds
(1934)
Lackey
The Human Side
(1934)
Furniture Buyer (uncredited)
The 9th Guest
(1934)
Burke (Uncredited)
Cross Country Cruise
(1934)
Detective (Uncredited)
Embarrassing Moments
(1934)
Attorney
Name the Woman
(1934)
Joel Walker
The Glass Key
(1935)
District Attorney Edward J. Farr
The Gilded Lily
(1935)
Managing Editor
Four Hours to Kill!
(1935)
Taft
Waterfront Lady
(1935)
Jim McFee aka Mac
The Case of the Lucky Legs
(1935)
Police Officer Ricker
Show Them No Mercy!
(1935)
Clifford
Air Hawks
(1935)
Newspaper editor
Car 99
(1935)
Trooper Captain Ryan
We're Only Human
(1935)
Editor of The Daily Star
After the Dance
(1935)
Chief of Police
Music Is Magic
(1935)
Decker - Theatre Manager (uncredited)
Baby Face Harrington
(1935)
City Editor
The Nitwits
(1935)
Police Captain Jennings
Murder in the Fleet
(1935)
Commander Brown (Uncredited)
Mary Burns, Fugitive
(1935)
G-Man at dancehall
The Great Hotel Murder
(1935)
Anthony Wilson
The Public Menace
(1935)
First Detective
The Perfect Clue
(1935)
District Attorney
Hitch Hike Lady
(1935)
Mike - a Racketeer
Smart Girl
(1935)
Morgan (uncredited)
Satan Met a Lady
(1936)
Detective Pollock
Earthworm Tractors
(1936)
H.J. Russell
I'd Give My Life
(1936)
Warden
Grand Jury
(1936)
City Editor
Big Brown Eyes
(1936)
Prosecuting Attorney (Uncredited)
36 Hours to Kill
(1936)
F.B.I. Chief
The Gentleman from Louisiana
(1936)
Diamond Jim Brady
Strike Me Pink
(1936)
Hardie
The Country Doctor
(1936)
George the Boat Captain (uncredited)
The Magnificent Brute
(1936)
Murphy
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
(1936)
County Hospital Guard (uncredited)
Legion of Terror
(1936)
Colonel McCollum (as Charles Wilson)
Down the Stretch
(1936)
Tex Reardon
The Mine with the Iron Door
(1936)
Pitkins
Mind Your Own Business
(1936)
Detective
Panic on the Air
(1936)
Chief Inspector Fitzgerald
Show Boat
(1936)
Broadway Melody of 1938
(1937)
Horse Auctioneer (uncredited)
They Wanted to Marry
(1937)
Clark
The Case of the Stuttering Bishop
(1937)
Hamilton Burger
Midnight Court
(1937)
Police Chief
The Great O'Malley
(1937)
Policeman Chiding School Bus Driver (uncredited)
Life Begins in College
(1937)
Tom Burke
One Mile from Heaven
(1937)
Fletcher
Roaring Timber
(1937)
Sam Garvin
Woman in Distress
(1937)
Editor Herbert Claxton
The Adventurous Blonde
(1937)
Mortimer Gray
You Only Live Once
(1937)
Police Inspector (uncredited)
Night Key
(1937)
Police Capt. Wallace (uncredited)
Partners in Crime
(1937)
Inspector Simpson
Murder Goes to College
(1937)
Police Inspector Simpson
Tenth Avenue Kid
(1938)
Commissioner
When Were You Born
(1938)
Inspector Jim C. Gregg
Hold That Co-ed
(1938)
Coach Burke
The Spider's Web
(1938)
Chase
Sally, Irene and Mary
(1938)
Covered Wagon Cafe Manager
Little Miss Thoroughbred
(1938)
Becker
Prison Farm
(1938)
Reardon
Gateway
(1938)
Inspector
State Police
(1938)
Captain Halstead
The Night Hawk
(1938)
Lonigan
The Return of Doctor X
(1939)
Det. Kincaid
The Cowboy Quarterback
(1939)
Coach Hap Farrell
Here I Am a Stranger
(1939)
Managing Editor
Rose of Washington Square
(1939)
Mike Cavanaugh
Smashing the Money Ring
(1939)
Capt. Kilrane
The House of Fear
(1939)
Police Chief
The Roaring Twenties
(1939)
Policeman (uncredited)
Fighting Thoroughbreds
(1939)
Spencer Bogart
Hotel for Women
(1939)
Albert
Invisible Stripes
(1939)
Arresting Officer (uncredited)
He Married His Wife
(1940)
Warden
Charter Pilot
(1940)
Owen
Sandy Is a Lady
(1940)
Sergeant
City for Conquest
(1940)
Bill - Man Behind MacPherson at Fight (uncredited)
Tin Pan Alley
(1940)
Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
They Drive by Night
(1940)
Mike Williams (uncredited)
Knute Rockne All American
(1940)
Gambler (uncredited)
Lady with Red Hair
(1940)
George Martin (uncredited)
Millionaires in Prison
(1940)
R.J. Reynolds, Sunday Editor (uncredited)
Girl in 313
(1940)
Vincent Brady, Commissioner of Police
Public Deb No. 1
(1940)
Sergeant
Gangs of Chicago
(1940)
The Face Behind the Mask
(1941)
Chief O'Brien
Federal Fugitives
(1941)
Bruce Lane
Broadway Limited
(1941)
Detective (as Charles Wilson)
Dressed to Kill
(1941)
Newspaper Editor
Meet John Doe
(1941)
Charlie Dawson
Out of the Fog
(1941)
The Officer and the Lady
(1941)
Police Captain Hart
Lady Gangster
(1942)
Detective
This Gun for Hire
(1942)
Police Captain
Escape from Crime
(1942)
C.L. Reardon - Managing Editor (as Charles Wilson)
Gentleman Jim
(1942)
Gurney (uncredited)
Blondie Goes to College
(1942)
Police Sergeant
The Secret Code
(1942)
Desk Sgt. Cullen
Rings on Her Fingers
(1942)
The Man Who Returned to Life
(1942)
Dr. Broadway
(1942)
District Attorney McNamara
Silver Spurs
(1943)
Mr. Hawkins
Batman
(1943)
Captain Arnold
Crime by Night
(1944)
District Attorney Hyatt
The Missing Juror
(1944)
Mac Ellis (Uncredited)
Hey, Rookie
(1944)
Sam Jonas
Week-End at the Waldorf
(1945)
Hi Johns
Scarlet Street
(1945)
Watchman (uncredited)
A Gun in His Hand
(1945)
Chief of Police (uncredited)
It's a Wonderful Life
(1946)
Charlie (uncredited)
Larceny in Her Heart
(1946)
Chief Gentry (as Charles Wilson)
Blonde for a Day
(1946)
Chief of Police Will Gentry (as Charles Wilson)
Passkey to Danger
(1946)
Police Sergeant
Road to Utopia
(1946)
Official Policeman (uncredited)
Gas House Kids
(1946)
Inspector Shannon
Crime of the Century
(1946)
Police Lieutenant
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
(1947)
Police Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
Meet Mr. Mischief
(1947)
Harry's Boss
Key Witness
(1947)
Warden (uncredited)
Crime on Their Hands
(1948)
J.L. Cameron
Blazing Across the Pecos
(1948)
Mayor Ace Brockway
Big Town Scandal
(1948)
Editor of the Chronicle (uncredited)
Commotion On The Ocean
(1956)
J.L. Cameron - Managing Editor (archive footage)
Directing