Jack Carson
Known for: Acting
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
Series
The Mike Douglas Show
Self
1961
Series
Bonanza
Henry T.P. Comstock
1959
Series
Climax!
Art Shaddick
1954
Series
Climax!
Eugene Skinner
1954
Series
The Twilight Zone
Harvey Hunnicut
1959
Series
What's My Line?
Self
1950
Series
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
Sundown Smith
1956
Series
Studio One
Harry Breen
1948
Series
The Colgate Comedy Hour
Self - Host
1950
Series
Thriller
Burt Lewis
1960
Series
The Steve Allen Show
Self
1956
Series
The Ford Television Theatre
Dan Doyle
1952
Series
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Frankie Fane
1955
Series
Screen Director's Playhouse
Lamar Kendall
1955
Series
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
Self
1956
Series
Startime
Albert Maddon
1959
Series
Alcoa Theatre
Augie Adams
1957
Series
Alcoa Theatre
Bert Kennedy
1957
Series
Alcoa Theatre
1957
Lux Video Theatre
Garrison
1950
Lux Video Theatre
John Mulligan
1950
Series
This Is Your Life
Self
1952
Series
The Bob Cummings Show
Jack Carson
1955
Series
Your Show of Shows
1950
The George Gobel Show
Self
1954
Series
Bus Stop
1961
Series
The Wonderful World of Disney
Harold Sylvester
1954
Series
General Electric Theater
Joe Bushwick
1953
Series
General Electric Theater
1953
Film
Mildred Pierce
Wally Fay
1945
Film
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Gooper
1958
Film
The Strawberry Blonde
Hugo Barnstead
1941
Series
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Danny Scott
1951
Series
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Harry Mauldron
1951
Series
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Sid Devlin
1951
Film
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Sweeney Farrell (uncredited)
1939
Film
Bringing Up Baby
Circus Roustabout (uncredited)
1938
Film
Arsenic and Old Lace
Officer Patrick O'Hara
1944
Film
A Star Is Born
Matt Libby
1954
Film
Princess O'Rourke
Dave Campbell
1943
Film
Stage Door
Mr. Milbanks
1937
Film
Vivacious Lady
Waiter Captain
1938
Film
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Chuck
1941
Film
Stand-In
Tom Potts
1937
Film
The Tarnished Angels
Jiggs
1957
Film
Hollywood Canteen
Self
1944
Film
Phffft
Charlie Nelson
1954
Film
James Stewart: A Wonderful Life
Self (archive footage)
1987
Film
A Star Is Born World Premiere
Self - Host
1954
Film
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
1983
Film
The Good Humor Man
Biff Jones
1950
Film
The Time, The Place and The Girl
Jeff Howard
1946
Film
Dangerous When Wet
Windy Webbe
1953
Film
Destry Rides Again
Jack Tyndall
1939
Film
The Tattered Dress
Sheriff Nick Hoak
1957
Film
Gentleman Jim
Walter Lawrie
1942
Film
Quick Money
Coach Woodford
1937
Film
Breakdowns of 1942
Self
1942
Film
She's Got Everything
Ransome (uncredited)
1937
Film
You Only Live Once
Attendant in First Gas Station
1937
Film
High Flyers
Dave Hanlon
1937
Film
Love Crazy
Ward Willoughby
1941
Bob Hope's World of Comedy
Self - Tribute Montage (archive footage)
1976
Film
My Dream Is Yours
Doug Blake
1949
Film
April Showers
Joe Tyme
1948
Film
Carefree
Connors
1938
Film
Breakdowns of 1941
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
1941
Film
It's a Great Feeling
Jack Carson
1949
Film
The Saint in New York
Red Jenks
1938
Film
Rally 'Round the Flag, Boys!
Captain Hoxie
1958
Film
Roughly Speaking
Harold C. Pierson
1945
Film
Go Chase Yourself
Warren Miles
1938
Film
The Male Animal
Joe Ferguson
1942
Film
Lucky Partners
Frederick Harper
1940
Film
Thank Your Lucky Stars
Self
1943
Film
Okay for Sound
1946
Film
The Hard Way
Albert Runkel
1943
The Polly Bergen Show
Self
1957
Film
Bright Leaf
Chris Malley
1950
Film
Next Time I Marry
Radio Announcer (voice) (uncredited)
1938
Film
The Escape
Chet Warren
1939
Film
King of the Roaring 20's – The Story of Arnold Rothstein
Timothy W. 'Big Tim' O'Brien
1961
Film
I Take This Woman
Joe
1940
Film
Romance on the High Seas
Peter Virgil
1948
Film
Shooting High
Gabby Cross
1940
Film
Queen of the Mob
Agent Ross Waring
1940
Film
The Bride Came C.O.D.
Allen Brice
1941
Film
Magnificent Roughnecks
Bix Decker
1956
Film
Love and Learn
Jingles Collins
1947
Film
The Doughgirls
Arthur Halstead
1944
Film
Enemy Agent
Ralph
1940
Film
Typhoon
Mate
1940
Film
The Kid From Texas
Stanley Brown
1939
Film
The Bottom of the Bottle
Hal Breckinridge
1956
Film
Breakdowns of 1944
Self
1944
Film
Law of the Underworld
Henchman Johnny
1938
Film
City of Chance
Narration - Prologue (voice)
1940
Film
Fifth Avenue Girl
Minnesota (uncredited)
1939
The Road to Victory
Jack Carson (uncredited)
1944
Film
Everybody's Doing It
Detective Lieutenant
1938
Film
One More Tomorrow
Patrick 'Pat' Regan
1946
Film
John Loves Mary
Fred Taylor
1949
Film
Shine on Harvest Moon
The Great Georgetti
1944
Film
Food and Magic
1943
Film
Larceny, Inc.
Jeff Randolph
1942
Film
Maid's Night Out
Rollercoaster Ride Attendant (uncredited)
1938
Film
Girl in 313
Police Lt. Pat O'Farrell
1940
Film
Navy Blues
'Buttons' Johnson
1941
Film
Going Hollywood: The '30s
(archive footage)
1984
Film
The Groom Wore Spurs
Ben Castle
1951
Film
Two Guys from Texas
Danny Foster
1948
Film
Sandy Gets Her Man
Policeman Tom Garrity
1940
So You Want to Be in Pictures
Man Giving Directions (uncredited)
1947
Film
The Bramble Bush
Bert Mosley
1960
Film
On Again—Off Again
Cop
1937
Film
Music for Madame
Assistant Director
1937
Film
Sammy, the Way-Out Seal
Harold Sylvester
1962
Film
Mister Universe
Jeff Clayton
1951
Film
Ain't Misbehavin'
Harold North
1955
Four Star Revue
Host
1950
Film
Make Your Own Bed
Jerry Curtis
1944
Film
Love Thy Neighbor
Policeman
1940
Film
Two Guys from Milwaukee
Buzz Williams
1946
Film
Blues in the Night
Leo Powell
1941
Film
Mr. Doodle Kicks Off
Rochet
1938
Film
Having Wonderful Time
Emil Beatty
1938
Film
Red Garters
Jason Carberry
1954
Film
Crashing Hollywood
Dickson
1938
Film
Alias the Deacon
Sullivan
1940
Film
Parole Fixer
George Mattison
1940
Film
Night Spot
Shallen
1938
Film
This Marriage Business
"Candid" Perry
1938
Film
Who Killed Julie Greer?
Fairchild
1961
Film
The Children of Alda Nuova
Frankie Fane
1962
Film
Condemned Women
Plainclothes Policeman
1938
Film
Three Men on a Horse
Patsy
1957
Film
Too Many Wives
Hodges
1937
Film
A Rented Riot
1937
Film
Harris in the Spring
Taxicab Driver
1937
Film
Always Together
Bill (uncredited)
1947
Film
Wings for the Eagle
Brad Maple
1942
Film
Legion of Lost Flyers
Larry Barrigan
1939
Film
The Honeymoon's Over
Tom Donroy
1939
Film
Arroyo
Lamar Kendall
1955
Film
The Shining Future
Self
1944