Jack Carson
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- Oct 27, 1910
- Died
- Jan 2, 1963 (aged 52)
- Place of birth
- Carman, Manitoba, Canada
- Credits
- 138
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
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
1939Movie
Sweeney Farrell (uncredited)
Bringing Up Baby
1938Movie
Circus Roustabout (uncredited)
The Twilight Zone
1959TV
Harvey Hunnicut
Arsenic and Old Lace
1944Movie
Officer Patrick O'Hara
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
1958Movie
Gooper Pollitt
Bonanza
1959TV
Henry T.P. Comstock
Filmography
I Don't Even Like Apple Pie...
1989Movie
Self (archive footage)
James Stewart: A Wonderful Life
1987Movie
Self (archive footage)
Going Hollywood: The '30s
1984Movie
(archive footage)
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
1983Movie
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Sammy, the Way-Out Seal
1962Movie
Harold Sylvester
The Children of Alda Nuova
1962Movie
Frankie Fane
The Mike Douglas Show
1961TV
Self
Bus Stop
1961TV
Who Killed Julie Greer?
1961Movie
Fairchild
King of the Roaring 20's – The Story of Arnold Rothstein
1961Movie
Timothy W. 'Big Tim' O'Brien
Thriller
1960TV
Burt Lewis
The Bramble Bush
1960Movie
Bert Mosley
Startime
1959TV
Albert Maddon
The Twilight Zone
1959TV
Harvey Hunnicut
Bonanza
1959TV
Henry T.P. Comstock
Rally 'Round the Flag, Boys!
1958Movie
Captain Hoxie
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
1958Movie
Gooper Pollitt
The Tarnished Angels
1957Movie
Jiggs
Alcoa Theatre
1957TV
Augie Adams, Bert Kennedy
The Polly Bergen Show
1957TV
Self
Three Men on a Horse
1957Movie
Patsy
The Tattered Dress
1957Movie
Sheriff Nick Hoak
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
1956TV
Self
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
1956TV
Sundown Smith
Magnificent Roughnecks
1956Movie
Bix Decker
The Steve Allen Show
1956TV
Self
The Bottom of the Bottle
1956Movie
Hal Breckinridge
Arroyo
1955Movie
Lamar Kendall
Screen Director's Playhouse
1955TV
Lamar Kendall
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
1955TV
Frankie Fane
Ain't Misbehavin'
1955Movie
Harold North
The Bob Cummings Show
1955TV
Jack Carson
Phffft
1954Movie
Charlie Nelson
The Wonderful World of Disney
1954TV
Harold Sylvester
Climax!
1954TV
Art Shaddick, Eugene Skinner
The George Gobel Show
1954TV
Self
A Star Is Born
1954Movie
Matt Libby
A Star Is Born World Premiere
1954Movie
Self - Host
Red Garters
1954Movie
Jason Carberry
Dangerous When Wet
1953Movie
Windy Webbe
General Electric Theater
1953TV
Joe Bushwick
The Ford Television Theatre
1952TV
Dan Doyle
This Is Your Life
1952TV
Self
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
1951TV
Danny Scott, Harry Mauldron, Sid Devlin
The Groom Wore Spurs
1951Movie
Ben Castle
Mister Universe
1951Movie
Jeff Clayton
Four Star Revue
1950TV
Host
Lux Video Theatre
1950TV
Garrison, John Mulligan
The Colgate Comedy Hour
1950TV
Self - Host
Bright Leaf
1950Movie
Chris Malley
The Good Humor Man
1950Movie
Biff Jones
Your Show of Shows
1950TV
What's My Line?
1950TV
Self
It's a Great Feeling
1949Movie
Jack Carson
My Dream Is Yours
1949Movie
Doug Blake
John Loves Mary
1949Movie
Fred Taylor
Studio One
1948TV
Harry Breen
Two Guys from Texas
1948Movie
Danny Foster
Romance on the High Seas
1948Movie
Peter Virgil
April Showers
1948Movie
Joe Tyme
Always Together
1947Movie
Bill (uncredited)
So You Want to Be in Pictures
1947Movie
Man Giving Directions (uncredited)
Love and Learn
1947Movie
Jingles Collins
The Time, The Place and The Girl
1946Movie
Jeff Howard
Okay for Sound
1946Movie
Two Guys from Milwaukee
1946Movie
Buzz Williams
One More Tomorrow
1946Movie
Patrick 'Pat' Regan
Mildred Pierce
1945Movie
Wally Fay
Roughly Speaking
1945Movie
Harold C. Pierson
Breakdowns of 1944
1944Movie
Self
Hollywood Canteen
1944Movie
Self
The Doughgirls
1944Movie
Arthur Halstead
Arsenic and Old Lace
1944Movie
Officer Patrick O'Hara
Make Your Own Bed
1944Movie
Jerry Curtis
The Road to Victory
1944Movie
Jack Carson (uncredited)
The Shining Future
1944Movie
Self
Shine on Harvest Moon
1944Movie
The Great Georgetti
Food and Magic
1943Movie
Princess O'Rourke
1943Movie
Dave Campbell
Thank Your Lucky Stars
1943Movie
Self
The Hard Way
1943Movie
Albert Runkel
Breakdowns of 1942
1942Movie
Self
Gentleman Jim
1942Movie
Walter Lawrie
Wings for the Eagle
1942Movie
Brad Maple
Larceny, Inc.
1942Movie
Jeff Randolph
The Male Animal
1942Movie
Joe Ferguson
Blues in the Night
1941Movie
Leo Powell
Breakdowns of 1941
1941Movie
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Navy Blues
1941Movie
'Buttons' Johnson
The Bride Came C.O.D.
1941Movie
Allen Brice
Love Crazy
1941Movie
Ward Willoughby
The Strawberry Blonde
1941Movie
Hugo Barnstead
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
1941Movie
Chuck
Love Thy Neighbor
1940Movie
Policeman
Sandy Gets Her Man
1940Movie
Policeman Tom Garrity
Lucky Partners
1940Movie
Frederick Harper
Queen of the Mob
1940Movie
Agent Ross Waring
Girl in 313
1940Movie
Police Lt. Pat O'Farrell
Typhoon
1940Movie
Mate
Alias the Deacon
1940Movie
Sullivan
Shooting High
1940Movie
Gabby Cross
Enemy Agent
1940Movie
Ralph
Parole Fixer
1940Movie
George Mattison
I Take This Woman
1940Movie
Joe
City of Chance
1940Movie
Narration - Prologue (voice)
The Honeymoon's Over
1939Movie
Tom Donroy
Destry Rides Again
1939Movie
Jack Tyndall
Legion of Lost Flyers
1939Movie
Larry Barrigan
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
1939Movie
Sweeney Farrell (uncredited)
The Escape
1939Movie
Chet Warren
Fifth Avenue Girl
1939Movie
Minnesota (uncredited)
The Kid From Texas
1939Movie
Stanley Brown
Next Time I Marry
1938Movie
Radio Announcer (voice) (uncredited)
Mr. Doodle Kicks Off
1938Movie
Rochet
Carefree
1938Movie
Connors
Having Wonderful Time
1938Movie
Emil Beatty
The Saint in New York
1938Movie
Red Jenks
Vivacious Lady
1938Movie
Waiter Captain
Law of the Underworld
1938Movie
Henchman Johnny
Go Chase Yourself
1938Movie
Warren Miles
This Marriage Business
1938Movie
"Candid" Perry
Condemned Women
1938Movie
Plainclothes Policeman
Maid's Night Out
1938Movie
Rollercoaster Ride Attendant (uncredited)
Night Spot
1938Movie
Shallen
Bringing Up Baby
1938Movie
Circus Roustabout (uncredited)
Everybody's Doing It
1938Movie
Detective Lieutenant
Crashing Hollywood
1938Movie
Dickson
She's Got Everything
1937Movie
Ransome (uncredited)
Quick Money
1937Movie
Coach Woodford
Harris in the Spring
1937Movie
Taxicab Driver
A Rented Riot
1937Movie
High Flyers
1937Movie
Dave Hanlon
Stand-In
1937Movie
Tom Potts
Stage Door
1937Movie
Mr. Milbanks
Music for Madame
1937Movie
Assistant Director
On Again—Off Again
1937Movie
Cop
Too Many Wives
1937Movie
Hodges
You Only Live Once
1937Movie
Attendant in First Gas Station