Jack Carson
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- October 27, 1910
- Died
- January 2, 1963 (aged 52)
- Birthplace
- Carman, Manitoba, Canada
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
Photos
Filmography
I Don't Even Like Apple Pie...
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
James Stewart: A Wonderful Life
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Going Hollywood: The '30s
Movie · as (archive footage)
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
Movie · as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Children of Alda Nuova
Movie · as Frankie Fane
Sammy, the Way-Out Seal
Movie · as Harold Sylvester
King of the Roaring 20's – The Story of Arnold Rothstein
Movie · as Timothy W. 'Big Tim' O'Brien
Who Killed Julie Greer?
Movie · as Fairchild
Bus Stop
TV · 1 ep
The Mike Douglas Show
TV · as Self · 1 ep
The Bramble Bush
Movie · as Bert Mosley
Thriller
TV · as Burt Lewis · 1 ep
The Twilight Zone
TV · as Harvey Hunnicut · 1 ep
Bonanza
TV · as Henry T.P. Comstock · 1 ep
Startime
TV · as Albert Maddon · 1 ep
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Movie · as Gooper Pollitt
Rally 'Round the Flag, Boys!
Movie · as Captain Hoxie
The Tarnished Angels
Movie · as Jiggs
The Tattered Dress
Movie · as Sheriff Nick Hoak
Three Men on a Horse
Movie · as Patsy
Alcoa Theatre
TV · as Augie Adams, Bert Kennedy · 1 ep
The Polly Bergen Show
TV · as Self · 1 ep
The Bottom of the Bottle
Movie · as Hal Breckinridge
Magnificent Roughnecks
Movie · as Bix Decker
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
TV · as Sundown Smith · 1 ep
The Steve Allen Show
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Ain't Misbehavin'
Movie · as Harold North
Arroyo
Movie · as Lamar Kendall
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
TV · as Frankie Fane · 1 ep
Screen Director's Playhouse
TV · as Lamar Kendall · 1 ep
The Bob Cummings Show
TV · as Jack Carson · 1 ep
A Star Is Born
Movie · as Matt Libby
Phffft
Movie · as Charlie Nelson
Red Garters
Movie · as Jason Carberry
A Star Is Born World Premiere
Movie · as Self - Host
Climax!
TV · as Art Shaddick, Eugene Skinner · 1 ep
The George Gobel Show
TV · as Self · 3 eps
The Wonderful World of Disney
TV · as Harold Sylvester · 2 eps
Dangerous When Wet
Movie · as Windy Webbe
General Electric Theater
TV · as Joe Bushwick · 1 ep
This Is Your Life
TV · as Self · 1 ep
The Ford Television Theatre
TV · as Dan Doyle · 1 ep
The Groom Wore Spurs
Movie · as Ben Castle
Mister Universe
Movie · as Jeff Clayton
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
TV · as Danny Scott, Harry Mauldron, Sid Devlin · 1 ep
Bright Leaf
Movie · as Chris Malley
The Good Humor Man
Movie · as Biff Jones
Lux Video Theatre
TV · as Garrison, John Mulligan · 1 ep
Your Show of Shows
TV · 1 ep
The Colgate Comedy Hour
TV · as Self - Host · 4 eps
Four Star Revue
TV · as Host · 1 ep
What's My Line?
TV · as Self · 1 ep
My Dream Is Yours
Movie · as Doug Blake
It's a Great Feeling
Movie · as Jack Carson
John Loves Mary
Movie · as Fred Taylor
Romance on the High Seas
Movie · as Peter Virgil
April Showers
Movie · as Joe Tyme
Two Guys from Texas
Movie · as Danny Foster
Studio One
TV · as Harry Breen · 1 ep
So You Want to Be in Pictures
Movie · as Man Giving Directions (uncredited)
Love and Learn
Movie · as Jingles Collins
Always Together
Movie · as Bill (uncredited)
The Time, The Place and The Girl
Movie · as Jeff Howard
Two Guys from Milwaukee
Movie · as Buzz Williams
One More Tomorrow
Movie · as Patrick 'Pat' Regan
Okay for Sound
Movie
Mildred Pierce
Movie · as Wally Fay
Roughly Speaking
Movie · as Harold C. Pierson
Arsenic and Old Lace
Movie · as Officer Patrick O'Hara
Hollywood Canteen
Movie · as Self
Make Your Own Bed
Movie · as Jerry Curtis
The Doughgirls
Movie · as Arthur Halstead
The Road to Victory
Movie · as Jack Carson (uncredited)
The Shining Future
Movie · as Self
Shine on Harvest Moon
Movie · as The Great Georgetti
Breakdowns of 1944
Movie · as Self
Princess O'Rourke
Movie · as Dave Campbell
The Hard Way
Movie · as Albert Runkel
Thank Your Lucky Stars
Movie · as Self
Food and Magic
Movie
Gentleman Jim
Movie · as Walter Lawrie
Larceny, Inc.
Movie · as Jeff Randolph
The Male Animal
Movie · as Joe Ferguson
Wings for the Eagle
Movie · as Brad Maple
Breakdowns of 1942
Movie · as Self
Love Crazy
Movie · as Ward Willoughby
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Movie · as Chuck
Blues in the Night
Movie · as Leo Powell
The Bride Came C.O.D.
Movie · as Allen Brice
The Strawberry Blonde
Movie · as Hugo Barnstead
Navy Blues
Movie · as 'Buttons' Johnson
Breakdowns of 1941
Movie · as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Girl in 313
Movie · as Police Lt. Pat O'Farrell
Queen of the Mob
Movie · as Agent Ross Waring
Lucky Partners
Movie · as Frederick Harper
Typhoon
Movie · as Mate
Love Thy Neighbor
Movie · as Policeman
Shooting High
Movie · as Gabby Cross
Alias the Deacon
Movie · as Sullivan
Parole Fixer
Movie · as George Mattison
I Take This Woman
Movie · as Joe
Enemy Agent
Movie · as Ralph
City of Chance
Movie · as Narration - Prologue (voice)
Sandy Gets Her Man
Movie · as Policeman Tom Garrity
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Movie · as Sweeney Farrell (uncredited)
Destry Rides Again
Movie · as Jack Tyndall
The Escape
Movie · as Chet Warren
Fifth Avenue Girl
Movie · as Minnesota (uncredited)
The Kid From Texas
Movie · as Stanley Brown
Legion of Lost Flyers
Movie · as Larry Barrigan
The Honeymoon's Over
Movie · as Tom Donroy
Bringing Up Baby
Movie · as Circus Roustabout (uncredited)
Carefree
Movie · as Connors
Having Wonderful Time
Movie · as Emil Beatty
The Saint in New York
Movie · as Red Jenks
This Marriage Business
Movie · as "Candid" Perry
Law of the Underworld
Movie · as Henchman Johnny
Maid's Night Out
Movie · as Rollercoaster Ride Attendant (uncredited)
Mr. Doodle Kicks Off
Movie · as Rochet
Go Chase Yourself
Movie · as Warren Miles
Crashing Hollywood
Movie · as Dickson
Night Spot
Movie · as Shallen
Condemned Women
Movie · as Plainclothes Policeman
Everybody's Doing It
Movie · as Detective Lieutenant
Vivacious Lady
Movie · as Waiter Captain
Next Time I Marry
Movie · as Radio Announcer (voice) (uncredited)
A Rented Riot
Movie
Stage Door
Movie · as Mr. Milbanks
Stand-In
Movie · as Tom Potts
Too Many Wives
Movie · as Hodges
She's Got Everything
Movie · as Ransome (uncredited)
Quick Money
Movie · as Coach Woodford
High Flyers
Movie · as Dave Hanlon
On Again—Off Again
Movie · as Cop
Harris in the Spring
Movie · as Taxicab Driver
You Only Live Once
Movie · as Attendant in First Gas Station
Music for Madame
Movie · as Assistant Director