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