Jack Carson
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.
Filmography
I Don't Even Like Apple Pie...
as Self (Archive Footage)
I Don't Even Like Apple Pie...
as Self (Archive Footage)
James Stewart: A Wonderful Life
as Self (archive footage)
James Stewart: A Wonderful Life
as Self (archive footage)
Going Hollywood: The '30s
as (archive footage)
Going Hollywood: The '30s
as (archive footage)
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Bob Hope's World of Comedy
as Self - Tribute Montage (archive footage)
Bob Hope's World of Comedy
as Self - Tribute Montage (archive footage)
Sammy, the Way-Out Seal
as Harold Sylvester
Sammy, the Way-Out Seal
as Harold Sylvester
The Children of Alda Nuova
as Frankie Fane
The Children of Alda Nuova
as Frankie Fane
Who Killed Julie Greer?
as Fairchild
Who Killed Julie Greer?
as Fairchild
King of the Roaring 20's – The Story of Arnold Rothstein
as Timothy W. 'Big Tim' O'Brien
King of the Roaring 20's – The Story of Arnold Rothstein
as Timothy W. 'Big Tim' O'Brien
The Bramble Bush
as Bert Mosley
The Bramble Bush
as Bert Mosley
Rally 'Round the Flag, Boys!
as Captain Hoxie
Rally 'Round the Flag, Boys!
as Captain Hoxie
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
as Gooper
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
as Gooper
The Tarnished Angels
as Jiggs
The Tarnished Angels
as Jiggs
Three Men on a Horse
as Patsy
Three Men on a Horse
as Patsy
The Tattered Dress
as Sheriff Nick Hoak
The Tattered Dress
as Sheriff Nick Hoak
Magnificent Roughnecks
as Bix Decker
Magnificent Roughnecks
as Bix Decker
The Bottom of the Bottle
as Hal Breckinridge
The Bottom of the Bottle
as Hal Breckinridge
Arroyo
as Lamar Kendall
Arroyo
as Lamar Kendall
Ain't Misbehavin'
as Harold North
Ain't Misbehavin'
as Harold North
Phffft
as Charlie Nelson
Phffft
as Charlie Nelson
A Star Is Born
as Matt Libby
A Star Is Born
as Matt Libby
A Star Is Born World Premiere
as Self - Host
A Star Is Born World Premiere
as Self - Host
Red Garters
as Jason Carberry
Red Garters
as Jason Carberry
Dangerous When Wet
as Windy Webbe
Dangerous When Wet
as Windy Webbe
The Groom Wore Spurs
as Ben Castle
The Groom Wore Spurs
as Ben Castle
Bright Leaf
as Chris Malley
Bright Leaf
as Chris Malley
The Good Humor Man
as Biff Jones
The Good Humor Man
as Biff Jones
It's a Great Feeling
as Jack Carson
It's a Great Feeling
as Jack Carson
My Dream Is Yours
as Doug Blake
My Dream Is Yours
as Doug Blake
John Loves Mary
as Fred Taylor
John Loves Mary
as Fred Taylor
Two Guys from Texas
as Danny Foster
Two Guys from Texas
as Danny Foster
Romance on the High Seas
as Peter Virgil
Romance on the High Seas
as Peter Virgil
April Showers
as Joe Tyme
April Showers
as Joe Tyme
Always Together
as Bill (uncredited)
Always Together
as Bill (uncredited)
So You Want to Be in Pictures
as Man Giving Directions (uncredited)
So You Want to Be in Pictures
as Man Giving Directions (uncredited)
Love and Learn
as Jingles Collins
Love and Learn
as Jingles Collins
The Time, The Place and The Girl
as Jeff Howard
The Time, The Place and The Girl
as Jeff Howard
Okay for Sound
Okay for Sound
Two Guys from Milwaukee
as Buzz Williams
Two Guys from Milwaukee
as Buzz Williams
One More Tomorrow
as Patrick 'Pat' Regan
One More Tomorrow
as Patrick 'Pat' Regan
Mildred Pierce
as Wally Fay
Mildred Pierce
as Wally Fay
Roughly Speaking
as Harold C. Pierson
Roughly Speaking
as Harold C. Pierson
Breakdowns of 1944
as Self
Breakdowns of 1944
as Self
Hollywood Canteen
as Self
Hollywood Canteen
as Self
The Doughgirls
as Arthur Halstead
The Doughgirls
as Arthur Halstead
Arsenic and Old Lace
as Officer Patrick O'Hara
Arsenic and Old Lace
as Officer Patrick O'Hara
Make Your Own Bed
as Jerry Curtis
Make Your Own Bed
as Jerry Curtis
The Road to Victory
as Jack Carson (uncredited)
The Road to Victory
as Jack Carson (uncredited)
The Shining Future
as Self
The Shining Future
as Self
Shine on Harvest Moon
as The Great Georgetti
Shine on Harvest Moon
as The Great Georgetti
Food and Magic
Food and Magic
Thank Your Lucky Stars
as Self
Thank Your Lucky Stars
as Self
Gentleman Jim
as Walter Lawrie
Gentleman Jim
as Walter Lawrie
Wings for the Eagle
as Brad Maple
Wings for the Eagle
as Brad Maple
Larceny, Inc.
as Jeff Randolph
Larceny, Inc.
as Jeff Randolph
The Male Animal
as Joe Ferguson
The Male Animal
as Joe Ferguson
Blues in the Night
as Leo Powell
Blues in the Night
as Leo Powell
Breakdowns of 1941
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Breakdowns of 1941
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Navy Blues
as 'Buttons' Johnson
Navy Blues
as 'Buttons' Johnson
The Bride Came C.O.D.
as Allen Brice
The Bride Came C.O.D.
as Allen Brice
Love Crazy
as Ward Willoughby
Love Crazy
as Ward Willoughby
The Strawberry Blonde
as Hugo Barnstead
The Strawberry Blonde
as Hugo Barnstead
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
as Chuck
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
as Chuck
Love Thy Neighbor
as Policeman
Love Thy Neighbor
as Policeman
Sandy Gets Her Man
as Policeman Tom Garrity
Sandy Gets Her Man
as Policeman Tom Garrity
Lucky Partners
as Frederick Harper
Lucky Partners
as Frederick Harper
Queen of the Mob
as Agent Ross Waring
Queen of the Mob
as Agent Ross Waring
Girl in 313
as Police Lt. Pat O'Farrell
Girl in 313
as Police Lt. Pat O'Farrell
Typhoon
as Mate
Typhoon
as Mate
Alias the Deacon
as Sullivan
Alias the Deacon
as Sullivan
Shooting High
as Gabby Cross
Shooting High
as Gabby Cross
Enemy Agent
as Ralph
Enemy Agent
as Ralph
Parole Fixer
as George Mattison
Parole Fixer
as George Mattison
I Take This Woman
as Joe
I Take This Woman
as Joe
The Honeymoon's Over
as Tom Donroy
The Honeymoon's Over
as Tom Donroy
Destry Rides Again
as Jack Tyndall
Destry Rides Again
as Jack Tyndall
Legion of Lost Flyers
as Larry Barrigan
Legion of Lost Flyers
as Larry Barrigan
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
as Sweeney Farrell (uncredited)
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
as Sweeney Farrell (uncredited)
The Escape
as Chet Warren
The Escape
as Chet Warren
Fifth Avenue Girl
as Minnesota (uncredited)
Fifth Avenue Girl
as Minnesota (uncredited)
The Kid From Texas
as Stanley Brown
The Kid From Texas
as Stanley Brown
Next Time I Marry
as Radio Announcer (voice) (uncredited)
Next Time I Marry
as Radio Announcer (voice) (uncredited)
Mr. Doodle Kicks Off
as Rochet
Mr. Doodle Kicks Off
as Rochet
Carefree
as Connors
Carefree
as Connors
Having Wonderful Time
as Emil Beatty
Having Wonderful Time
as Emil Beatty
The Saint in New York
as Red Jenks
The Saint in New York
as Red Jenks
Vivacious Lady
as Waiter Captain
Vivacious Lady
as Waiter Captain
Law of the Underworld
as Henchman Johnny
Law of the Underworld
as Henchman Johnny
Go Chase Yourself
as Warren Miles
Go Chase Yourself
as Warren Miles
Condemned Women
as Plainclothes Policeman
Condemned Women
as Plainclothes Policeman
Maid's Night Out
as Rollercoaster Ride Attendant (uncredited)
Maid's Night Out
as Rollercoaster Ride Attendant (uncredited)
Night Spot
as Shallen
Night Spot
as Shallen
Everybody's Doing It
as Detective Lieutenant
Everybody's Doing It
as Detective Lieutenant
Crashing Hollywood
as Dickson
Crashing Hollywood
as Dickson
She's Got Everything
as Ransome (uncredited)
She's Got Everything
as Ransome (uncredited)
Quick Money
as Coach Woodford
Quick Money
as Coach Woodford
Harris in the Spring
as Taxicab Driver
Harris in the Spring
as Taxicab Driver
Stand-In
as Tom Potts
Stand-In
as Tom Potts
Stage Door
as Mr. Milbanks
Stage Door
as Mr. Milbanks
Music for Madame
as Assistant Director
Music for Madame
as Assistant Director
On Again—Off Again
as Cop
On Again—Off Again
as Cop
You Only Live Once
as Attendant in First Gas Station
You Only Live Once
as Attendant in First Gas Station