Charles C. Wilson
Born
July 28, 1894
Died
January 7, 1948 (53 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
New York City, New York, USA
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
Commotion on the Ocean
J.L. Cameron - Managing Editor (archive footage)
1956
Crime on Their Hands
J.L. Cameron
1948
Blazing Across the Pecos
Mayor Ace Brockway
1948
Big Town Scandal
Editor of the Chronicle (uncredited)
1948
Key Witness
Warden (uncredited)
1947
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
Police Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
1947
Meet Mr. Mischief
Harry's Boss
1947
It's a Wonderful Life
Charlie (uncredited)
1946
Gas House Kids
Inspector Shannon
1946
Blonde for a Day
Chief of Police Will Gentry (as Charles Wilson)
1946
Larceny in Her Heart
Chief Gentry (as Charles Wilson)
1946
Passkey to Danger
Police Sergeant
1946
Crime of the Century
Police Lieutenant
1946
Road to Utopia
Official Policeman (uncredited)
1946
Scarlet Street
Watchman (uncredited)
1945
Week-End at the Waldorf
Hi Johns
1945
A Gun in His Hand
Chief of Police (uncredited)
1945
Two O'Clock Courage
Brant - City Editor (uncredited)
1945
The Missing Juror
Mac Ellis (Uncredited)
1944
Crime by Night
District Attorney Hyatt
1944
Hey, Rookie
Sam Jonas
1944
Silver Spurs
Mr. Hawkins
1943
Batman
Captain Arnold
1943
Gentleman Jim
Gurney (uncredited)
1942
The Secret Code
Desk Sgt. Cullen
1942
Escape from Crime
C.L. Reardon - Managing Editor (as Charles Wilson)
1942
Dr. Broadway
District Attorney McNamara
1942
This Gun for Hire
Police Captain
1942
Lady Gangster
Detective
1942
Rings on Her Fingers
1942
The Man Who Returned to Life
Inspector Mensil
1942
Blondie Goes to College
Police Sergeant
1942
The Officer and the Lady
Police Captain Hart
1941
Dressed to Kill
Newspaper Editor
1941
Out of the Fog
1941
Broadway Limited
Detective (as Charles Wilson)
1941
Federal Fugitives
Bruce Lane
1941
Meet John Doe
Charlie Dawson
1941
The Face Behind the Mask
Chief O'Brien
1941
Charter Pilot
Owen
1940
Lady with Red Hair
George Martin (uncredited)
1940
Tin Pan Alley
Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
1940
Knute Rockne All American
Gambler (uncredited)
1940
City for Conquest
Bill - Man Behind MacPherson at Fight (uncredited)
1940
Public Deb No. 1
Sergeant
1940
They Drive by Night
Mike Williams (uncredited)
1940
Millionaires in Prison
R.J. Reynolds, Sunday Editor (uncredited)
1940
Girl in 313
Vincent Brady, Commissioner of Police
1940
Sandy Is a Lady
Sergeant
1940
Gangs of Chicago
1940
He Married His Wife
Warden
1940
Invisible Stripes
Arresting Officer (uncredited)
1939
The Return of Doctor X
Det. Kincaid
1939
The Roaring Twenties
Policeman (uncredited)
1939
Smashing the Money Ring
Capt. Kilrane
1939
Here I Am a Stranger
Managing Editor
1939
Hotel for Women
Albert
1939
The Cowboy Quarterback
Coach Hap Farrell
1939
The House of Fear
Police Chief
1939
Rose of Washington Square
Mike Cavanaugh
1939
Fighting Thoroughbreds
Spencer Bogart
1939
Angels with Dirty Faces
1938
The Spider's Web
Chase
1938
The Night Hawk
Lonigan
1938
Hold That Co-ed
Coach Burke
1938
Tenth Avenue Kid
Commissioner
1938
Gateway
Inspector
1938
When Were You Born
Inspector Jim C. Gregg
1938
Prison Farm
Reardon
1938
Little Miss Thoroughbred
Becker
1938
State Police
Captain Halstead
1938
Sally, Irene and Mary
Covered Wagon Cafe Manager
1938
Daughter of Shanghai
Schwartz (uncredited)
1937
The Adventurous Blonde
Mortimer Gray
1937
Partners in Crime
Inspector Simpson
1937
Life Begins in College
Tom Burke
1937
Broadway Melody of 1938
Horse Auctioneer (uncredited)
1937
One Mile from Heaven
Fletcher
1937
Roaring Timber
Sam Garvin
1937
The Case of the Stuttering Bishop
Hamilton Burger
1937
Night Key
Police Capt. Wallace (uncredited)
1937
Midnight Court
Police Chief
1937
Murder Goes to College
Police Inspector Simpson
1937
The Great O'Malley
Policeman Chiding School Bus Driver (uncredited)
1937
They Wanted to Marry
Clark
1937
You Only Live Once
Police Inspector (uncredited)
1937
Woman in Distress
Editor Herbert Claxton
1937
Mind Your Own Business
Detective
1936
Legion of Terror
Colonel McCollum (as Charles Wilson)
1936
The Magnificent Brute
Murphy
1936
Murder with Pictures
Assistant Editor (uncredited)
1936
Down the Stretch
Tex Reardon
1936
The Gentleman from Louisiana
Diamond Jim Brady
1936
I'd Give My Life
Warden
1936
Grand Jury
City Editor
1936
Earthworm Tractors
H.J. Russell
1936
36 Hours to Kill
F.B.I. Chief
1936
Satan Met a Lady
Detective Pollock
1936
Show Boat
1936
The Mine with the Iron Door
Pitkins
1936
Panic on the Air
Chief Inspector Fitzgerald
1936
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
County Hospital Guard (uncredited)
1936
Big Brown Eyes
Prosecuting Attorney (Uncredited)
1936
The Country Doctor
George the Boat Captain (uncredited)
1936
Strike Me Pink
Hardie
1936
Hitch Hike Lady
Mike - a Racketeer
1935
We're Only Human
Editor of The Daily Star
1935
Show Them No Mercy!
Clifford
1935
Mary Burns, Fugitive
G-Man at dancehall
1935
Music Is Magic
Decker - Theatre Manager (uncredited)
1935
The Case of the Lucky Legs
Police Officer Ricker
1935
Waterfront Lady
Jim McFee aka Mac
1935
The Public Menace
First Detective
1935
Smart Girl
Morgan (uncredited)
1935
After the Dance
Chief of Police
1935
The Glass Key
District Attorney Edward J. Farr
1935
The Nitwits
Police Captain Jennings
1935
Murder in the Fleet
Commander Brown (Uncredited)
1935
Air Hawks
Newspaper editor
1935
Baby Face Harrington
City Editor (uncredited)
1935
Four Hours to Kill!
Taft
1935
The Perfect Clue
District Attorney
1935
Car 99
Trooper Captain Ryan
1935
The Great Hotel Murder
Anthony Wilson
1935
The Gilded Lily
Managing Editor
1935
Here Is My Heart
Captain Dodge (uncredited)
1934
Murder in the Clouds
Lackey
1934
Men of the Night
Benson
1934
The St. Louis Kid
Mr. Harris
1934
Port of Lost Dreams
Warden
1934
The Human Side
Furniture Buyer (uncredited)
1934
Embarrassing Moments
Attorney
1934
The Dragon Murder Case
Det. Hennessey
1934
Name the Woman
Joel Walker
1934
The Circus Clown
Sheldon
1934
The Hell Cat
Graham
1934
Fog Over Frisco
Detective Sergeant O'Hagen
1934
Affairs of a Gentleman
Inspector Quillan
1934
I Believed in You
Magistrate
1934
It Happened One Night
Joe Gordon
1934
The 9th Guest
Burke (Uncredited)
1934
Cross Country Cruise
Detective (Uncredited)
1934
Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen
Chief of Police
1934
Havana Widows
Mr. Timberg
1933
Female
Private Detective Falihee (Uncredited)
1933
College Coach
Charles Hauser
1933
The Kennel Murder Case
Detective Hennessy (uncredited)
1933
No Marriage Ties
Red Moran, City Desk Editor
1933
Mary Stevens, M.D.
Walter Rising
1933
Disgraced!
Thompson, Assistant District Attorney
1933
The Mayor of Hell
Wilson (uncredited)
1933
Private Detective 62
Club Bartender (Uncredited)
1933
Gold Diggers of 1933
Deputy (uncredited)
1933
Elmer, the Great
Mr. Wade (as Charles Wilson)
1933
Hard to Handle
Jailer (uncredited)
1933
The Trans-Atlantic Mystery
Detective Doyle (uncredited)
1932
The Campus Mystery
Detective Reardon
1932
Hot News Margie
Newspaper Editor (uncredited)
1931
My Sin
Guest in Pool Party
1931
Stolen Heaven
Detective
1931
Insurance
Doctor (uncredited)
1930
Getting a Ticket
Motorcycle Cop
1930
Acquitted
Nelson
1929
Broadway Scandals
Jack
1929