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