Jack Carson
Born
October 27, 1910
Died
January 2, 1963 (52 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Carman, Manitoba, Canada
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

James Stewart: A Wonderful Life
Self (archive footage)
1987

Going Hollywood: The '30s
(archive footage)
1984

Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
1983

Sammy, the Way-Out Seal
Harold Sylvester
1962

The Children of Alda Nuova
Frankie Fane
1962

The Mike Douglas Show
Self · (1 episode)
1961

Bus Stop
(1 episode)
1961

Who Killed Julie Greer?
Fairchild
1961

King of the Roaring 20's – The Story of Arnold Rothstein
Timothy W. 'Big Tim' O'Brien
1961

Thriller
Burt Lewis · (1 episode)
1960

The Bramble Bush
Bert Mosley
1960

The Twilight Zone
Harvey Hunnicut · (1 episode)
1959

Bonanza
Henry T.P. Comstock · (1 episode)
1959

Rally 'Round the Flag, Boys!
Captain Hoxie
1958

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Gooper
1958

The Tarnished Angels
Jiggs
1957

Alcoa Theatre
Augie Adams · (1 episode)
1957

Alcoa Theatre
Bert Kennedy · (1 episode)
1957

Alcoa Theatre
(1 episode)
1957
The Polly Bergen Show
Self · (1 episode)
1957

The Tattered Dress
Sheriff Nick Hoak
1957

The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
Self · (1 episode)
1956

Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
Sundown Smith · (1 episode)
1956

Magnificent Roughnecks
Bix Decker
1956

The Steve Allen Show
Self - Comedian - Various Quiz Show Hosts · (1 episode)
1956

The Bottom of the Bottle
Hal Breckinridge
1956
Arroyo
Lamar Kendall
1955

Screen Director's Playhouse
Lamar Kendall · (1 episode)
1955

Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Frankie Fane · (1 episode)
1955

Ain't Misbehavin'
Harold North
1955

The Bob Cummings Show
Jack Carson · (1 episode)
1955

Phffft
Charlie Nelson
1954

The Wonderful World of Disney
Harold Sylvester · (2 episodes)
1954

Climax!
Art Shaddick · (1 episode)
1954

Climax!
Eugene Skinner · (1 episode)
1954
The George Gobel Show
Self · (3 episodes)
1954

A Star Is Born
Matt Libby
1954
A Star Is Born World Premiere
Self - Host
1954

Red Garters
Jason Carberry
1954

Dangerous When Wet
Windy Webbe
1953

General Electric Theater
Joe Bushwick · (1 episode)
1953

General Electric Theater
(1 episode)
1953

The Ford Television Theatre
Dan Doyle · (1 episode)
1952

This Is Your Life
Self · (1 episode)
1952

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Danny Scott · (1 episode)
1951

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Harry Mauldron · (1 episode)
1951

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Sid Devlin · (1 episode)
1951

The Groom Wore Spurs
Ben Castle
1951

Mister Universe
Jeff Clayton
1951
Four Star Revue
Host · (1 episode)
1950
Lux Video Theatre
Garrison · (1 episode)
1950
Lux Video Theatre
John Mulligan · (1 episode)
1950

The Colgate Comedy Hour
Self - Host · (4 episodes)
1950

Bright Leaf
Chris Malley
1950

The Good Humor Man
Biff Jones
1950

Your Show of Shows
(1 episode)
1950

What's My Line?
Self · (1 episode)
1950

It's a Great Feeling
Jack Carson
1949

My Dream Is Yours
Doug Blake
1949

John Loves Mary
Fred Taylor
1949

Studio One
Harry Breen · (1 episode)
1948

Two Guys from Texas
Danny Foster
1948

Romance on the High Seas
Peter Virgil
1948

April Showers
Joe Tyme
1948

Always Together
Bill (uncredited)
1947
So You Want to Be in Pictures
Man Giving Directions (uncredited)
1947

Love and Learn
Jingles Collins
1947

The Time, The Place and The Girl
Jeff Howard
1946

Okay for Sound
1946

Two Guys from Milwaukee
Buzz Williams
1946

One More Tomorrow
Patrick 'Pat' Regan
1946

Mildred Pierce
Wally Fay
1945

Roughly Speaking
Harold C. Pierson
1945

Breakdowns of 1944
Self
1944

Hollywood Canteen
Self
1944

The Doughgirls
Arthur Halstead
1944

Arsenic and Old Lace
Officer Patrick O'Hara
1944

Make Your Own Bed
Jerry Curtis
1944
The Road to Victory
Jack Carson (uncredited)
1944

The Shining Future
Self
1944

Shine on Harvest Moon
The Great Georgetti
1944

Food and Magic
1943

Princess O'Rourke
Dave Campbell
1943

Thank Your Lucky Stars
Self
1943

The Hard Way
Albert Runkel
1943

Breakdowns of 1942
Self
1942

Gentleman Jim
Walter Lawrie
1942

Wings for the Eagle
Brad Maple
1942

Larceny, Inc.
Jeff Randolph
1942

The Male Animal
Joe Ferguson
1942

Blues in the Night
Leo Powell
1941

Breakdowns of 1941
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
1941

Navy Blues
'Buttons' Johnson
1941

The Bride Came C.O.D.
Allen Brice
1941

Love Crazy
Ward Willoughby
1941

The Strawberry Blonde
Hugo Barnstead
1941

Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Chuck
1941

Love Thy Neighbor
Policeman
1940

Sandy Gets Her Man
Policeman Tom Garrity
1940

Lucky Partners
Frederick Harper
1940

Queen of the Mob
Agent Ross Waring
1940

Girl in 313
Police Lt. Pat O'Farrell
1940

Typhoon
Mate
1940

Alias the Deacon
Sullivan
1940

Shooting High
Gabby Cross
1940

Enemy Agent
Ralph
1940

Parole Fixer
George Mattison
1940

I Take This Woman
Joe
1940

City of Chance
Narration - Prologue (voice)
1940

Destry Rides Again
Jack Tyndall
1939

Legion of Lost Flyers
Larry Barrigan
1939

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Sweeney Farrell (uncredited)
1939

The Escape
Chet Warren
1939

Fifth Avenue Girl
Minnesota (uncredited)
1939

The Kid From Texas
Stanley Brown
1939

Mr. Doodle Kicks Off
Rochet
1938

Carefree
Connors
1938

Having Wonderful Time
Emil Beatty
1938

The Saint in New York
Red Jenks
1938

Vivacious Lady
Waiter Captain
1938

Law of the Underworld
Henchman Johnny
1938

Go Chase Yourself
Warren Miles
1938

This Marriage Business
"Candid" Perry
1938

Condemned Women
Plainclothes Policeman
1938

Maid's Night Out
Rollercoaster Ride Attendant (uncredited)
1938

Night Spot
Shallen
1938

Bringing Up Baby
Circus Roustabout (uncredited)
1938

Everybody's Doing It
Detective Lieutenant
1938

Crashing Hollywood
Dickson
1938

She's Got Everything
Ransome (uncredited)
1937

Quick Money
Coach Woodford
1937

Harris in the Spring
Taxicab Driver
1937

A Rented Riot
1937

High Flyers
Dave Hanlon
1937

Stand-In
Tom Potts
1937

Stage Door
Mr. Milbanks
1937

Music for Madame
Assistant Director
1937

On Again—Off Again
Cop
1937

Too Many Wives
Hodges
1937

You Only Live Once
Attendant in First Gas Station
1937