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Roscoe Karns

Roscoe Karns

Known for: Acting

Born 06/09/1891
Died 1970-02-06
Place of birth San Bernardino, California, USA

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Roscoe Karns (September 7, 1891 – February 6, 1970) was an American actor who appeared in nearly 150 films between 1915 and 1964. He specialized in cynical, wise-cracking (and often tipsy) characters, and his rapid-fire delivery enlivened many comedies and crime thrillers in the 1930s and 1940s. Though he appeared in numerous silent films, such as Wings and Beggars of Life, his career didn't really take off until sound arrived. Arguably his best-known film role was the annoying bus passenger Oscar Shapeley, who tries to pick up Claudette Colbert in the Oscar-winning comedy It Happened One Night (1934), quickly followed by one of his best performances as the boozy press agent Owen O'Malley in Howard Hawks' Twentieth Century. (Six years later, he co-starred as one of the reporters in another Hawks classic, His Girl Friday.) In 1937, Paramount teamed him with Lynne Overman as a pair of laconic private eyes in two B comedy-mysteries, Murder Goes to College and Partners in Crime. From 1950 to 1954, Karns played the title role in the popular DuMont Television Network series Rocky King, Inside Detective. His son, character actor Todd Karns, also appeared in that series. From 1959 to 1962, Karns was cast as Admiral Walter Shafer in seventy-three of the ninety-five episodes of the CBS military sitcom/drama series, Hennesey, starring Jackie Cooper in the title role of a United States Navy physician, and Abby Dalton as nurse Martha Hale. His final film was another Hawks comedy, Man's Favorite Sport?, in 1964. Karns was born in San Bernardino, California, and died in Los Angeles. Description above from the Wikipedia article Roscoe Karns, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia

Filmography

The Lucy Show Series ★ 7,0

The Lucy Show

Mr. Foley

1962

Richard Diamond, Private Detective Series ★ 6,8

Richard Diamond, Private Detective

Ed Church

1957

December Bride Series ★ 6,3

December Bride

1954

December Bride Series ★ 6,3

December Bride

Charley Allen

1954

Series ★ 6,5

Rocky King, Detective

Police Inspector Rocky King

1950

Hennesey Series ★ 7,7

Hennesey

Capt. Walter Shafer

1959

His Girl Friday Film ★ 7,4

His Girl Friday

McCue

1940

It Happened One Night Film ★ 7,8

It Happened One Night

Oscar Shapeley

1934

Wings Film ★ 7,2

Wings

Lieutenant Cameron

1927

The Jazz Singer Film ★ 6,1

The Jazz Singer

Agent (uncredited)

1927

Dollar Down Film ★ 7,0

Dollar Down

Gene Meadows

1925

Alice in Wonderland Film ★ 6,1

Alice in Wonderland

Tweedledee

1933

The Ten Commandments Film ★ 6,5

The Ten Commandments

The Boy in the Rain (uncredited)

1923

Front Page Woman Film ★ 5,9

Front Page Woman

Toots O'Grady

1935

Man's Favorite Sport? Film ★ 7,0

Man's Favorite Sport?

Major Phipps

1964

Onionhead Film ★ 5,5

Onionhead

'Windy' Woods

1958

Woman of the Year Film ★ 6,9

Woman of the Year

Phil Whittaker

1942

Ladies Must Live Film ★ 7,0

Ladies Must Live

Pete Larrabee

1940

Object: Alimony Film ★ 7,0

Object: Alimony

Al Bryant

1928

A Lady's Profession Film ★ 7,0

A Lady's Profession

Tony

1933

Series

Inside Detective

Police Inspector Rocky King

1950

If I Had a Million Film ★ 6,5

If I Had a Million

Private O'Brien

1932

They Drive by Night Film ★ 6,9

They Drive by Night

Irish McGurn

1940

Beggars of Life Film ★ 7,1

Beggars of Life

Lame Hoppy

1928

Woman Trap Film ★ 8,0

Woman Trap

Mopsy

1936

Copy Film ★ 6,5

Copy

City Editor John Mack

1929

You and Me Film ★ 6,6

You and Me

Cuffy

1938

Dangerous to Know Film ★ 6,6

Dangerous to Know

Duncan

1938

You'd Be Surprised Film ★ 7,0

You'd Be Surprised

Party Guest (uncredited)

1926

Twentieth Century Film ★ 6,8

Twentieth Century

Owen O'Malley

1934

Clarence Film ★ 9,0

Clarence

Clarence Smith

1937

Stage Door Canteen Film ★ 6,3

Stage Door Canteen

Roscoe Karns

1943

Night of Mystery Film ★ 10,0

Night of Mystery

Sergeant Heath

1937

Dirigible Film ★ 5,5

Dirigible

Sock McGuire

1931

Conquering the Woman Film ★ 8,0

Conquering the Woman

Shorty Thompson

1922

The Woman in Red Film ★ 6,0

The Woman in Red

Man in court room (uncredited)

1935

Old Acquaintance Film ★ 7,1

Old Acquaintance

Charlie Archer

1943

Yokel Boy Film ★ 5,8

Yokel Boy

Al Devers

1942

Come On, Marines! Film ★ 5,6

Come On, Marines!

Spud McGurke

1934

Petticoat Politics Film ★ 9,0

Petticoat Politics

Joe Higgins

1941

King of Chinatown Film ★ 5,6

King of Chinatown

Rip Harrigan

1939

Gambling Ship Film ★ 5,8

Gambling Ship

Blooey

1933

Stowaway Film ★ 6,5

Stowaway

Insp. Redding

1932

Tip-Off Girls Film ★ 7,5

Tip-Off Girls

Tom Benson aka Tommy Logan

1938

Bluff Film ★ 10,0

Bluff

Jack Hallowell

1924

Something Always Happens Film ★ 10,0

Something Always Happens

George

1928

Shoot the Works Film ★ 6,7

Shoot the Works

Sailor Burke

1934

Footsteps in the Dark Film ★ 7,0

Footsteps in the Dark

Monahan

1941

His Butler's Sister Film ★ 7,2

His Butler's Sister

Fields

1943

The Navy Way Film ★ 6,3

The Navy Way

Frankie Gimble

1944

The Gay Vagabond Film ★ 9,0

The Gay Vagabond

Arthur Dixon / Jerry Dixon

1941

Warming Up Film ★ 9,0

Warming Up

Hippo

1928

The Inside Story Film ★ 6,6

The Inside Story

Eustace Peabody

1948

The Roadhouse Murder Film ★ 5,0

The Roadhouse Murder

Dale

1932

Cain and Mabel Film ★ 6,4

Cain and Mabel

Reilly

1936

The Life of the Party Film ★ 5,6

The Life of the Party

Sam Perkins

1920

Night After Night Film ★ 6,3

Night After Night

Leo

1932

That's My Man Film ★ 6,7

That's My Man

Toby Gleeton

1947

Everything's on Ice Film ★ 5,3

Everything's on Ice

Felix Miller

1939

Minstrel Man Film ★ 5,5

Minstrel Man

Lasses White

1944

High Pressure Film ★ 5,8

High Pressure

Telephone Salesman (uncredited)

1932

That's Right – You're Wrong Film ★ 6,3

That's Right – You're Wrong

Mal Stamp

1939

I Sell Anything Film ★ 5,0

I Sell Anything

Monk

1934

The Crooked Circle Film ★ 5,2

The Crooked Circle

Harry Carter

1932

Her Own Money Film ★ 10,0

Her Own Money

Jerry Woodward

1922

Riding High Film ★ 5,6

Riding High

Shorty

1943

Thanks for the Memory Film ★ 5,8

Thanks for the Memory

George Kent

1938

Ladies of the Big House Film ★ 6,0

Ladies of the Big House

Frank - Twenty Questions player (uncredited)

1931

The Shopworn Angel Film ★ 9,0

The Shopworn Angel

Dance Director

1928

One Way Passage Film ★ 7,3

One Way Passage

S.S. Maloa Bartender (uncredited)

1932

My Son, The Hero Film ★ 7,0

My Son, The Hero

Big-Time Morgan

1943

Under-Cover Man Film ★ 6,2

Under-Cover Man

Dannie

1932

Today We Live Film ★ 6,3

Today We Live

McGinnis

1933

Two Against the World Film ★ 5,5

Two Against the World

Segall, reporter

1932

Vigilantes of Boomtown Film ★ 4,3

Vigilantes of Boomtown

Bill Delaney

1947

Laughing Sinners Film ★ 5,3

Laughing Sinners

Fred Geer

1931

Lawyer Man Film ★ 6,1

Lawyer Man

Merritt - Reporter (uncredited)

1932

One Way to Love Film ★ 7,0

One Way to Love

Hobie Simmons

1946

Saturday's Children Film ★ 6,9

Saturday's Children

Willie Sands

1940

The Trail of '98 Film ★ 6,1

The Trail of '98

Man on Ship (uncredited)

1928

Hi, Good Lookin'! Film ★ 6,5

Hi, Good Lookin'!

Archie

1944

This Thing Called Love Film ★ 9,0

This Thing Called Love

Harry Bertrand

1929

You Can't Escape Forever Film ★ 6,0

You Can't Escape Forever

'Mac' McTurk

1942

Play Girl Film ★ 5,0

Play Girl

Gambler (uncredited)

1932

Film ★ 10,0

Elmer and Elsie

Rocky Cott

1934

The Flying Fleet Film ★ 6,9

The Flying Fleet

Shipwrecked Radio Operator (uncredited)

1929

One Sunday Afternoon Film ★ 6,6

One Sunday Afternoon

Snappy Downer

1933

Alibi Ike Film ★ 6,2

Alibi Ike

Carey

1935

Beau Sabreur Film ★ 9,0

Beau Sabreur

Buddy

1928

The Women in His Life Film ★ 4,3

The Women in His Life

Aloysius Lester

1933

Dancing Co-Ed Film ★ 6,6

Dancing Co-Ed

Joe Drews

1939

Four Hours to Kill! Film ★ 5,7

Four Hours to Kill!

Johnson

1935

Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven Film ★ 5,8

Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven

Officer Carmody

1948

The Vanishing Pioneer Film ★ 9,0

The Vanishing Pioneer

Ray Hearn

1928

The Family Honor Film ★ 8,0

The Family Honor

Dal Tucker

1920

Troopers Three Film ★ 7,0

Troopers Three

Bugs

1930

A Tragedy at Midnight Film ★ 5,2

A Tragedy at Midnight

Cassidy

1942

Poor Relations Film ★ 8,0

Poor Relations

Henry

1919

Safety in Numbers Film ★ 5,5

Safety in Numbers

Bertram Shapiro

1930

Grand Slam Film ★ 4,6

Grand Slam

Contest Radio Announcer

1933

I Ring Doorbells Film ★ 7,0

I Ring Doorbells

Stubby

1946

Border Flight Film ★ 6,5

Border Flight

Calico Smith

1936

Scandal Street Film ★ 8,0

Scandal Street

Austin Brown

1938

Wings in the Dark Film ★ 6,4

Wings in the Dark

Nick Williams

1935

They Call It Sin Film ★ 6,0

They Call It Sin

Brad - Rehearsal Director (uncredited)

1932

Partners in Crime Film ★ 8,0

Partners in Crime

Sim Perkins

1937

Half Shot at Sunrise Film ★ 10,0

Half Shot at Sunrise

Henry Warren

1941

Film ★ 9,0

Black Eyes and Blues

Alfred Harmon

1941

The Midnight Express Film ★ 4,7

The Midnight Express

Switch Hogan

1924

Murder Goes to College Film ★ 5,0

Murder Goes to College

Sim Perkins

1937

Road to Happiness Film ★ 5,7

Road to Happiness

Charley Grady

1941

Double Alibi Film ★ 5,3

Double Alibi

Jeremiah Jenkins

1940

Many a Slip Film ★ 10,0

Many a Slip

Stan Price

1931

Moran of the Marines Film ★ 7,0

Moran of the Marines

Swatty

1928

Devil's Cargo Film ★ 5,9

Devil's Cargo

Lt. Hardy

1948

The Gorilla Film ★ 9,0

The Gorilla

Simmons

1930

Week-End Marriage Film ★ 5,5

Week-End Marriage

Jim Davis

1932

Red Hot Tires Film ★ 6,0

Red Hot Tires

Bud Keene

1935

Little Accident Film ★ 9,0

Little Accident

Gilbert

1930

Ten Modern Commandments Film ★ 10,0

Ten Modern Commandments

Benny Burnaway

1927

The Foolish Virgin Film ★ 10,0

The Foolish Virgin

Chuck Brady

1924

On Such a Night Film ★ 7,0

On Such a Night

Joe Flynn

1937

Man Trouble Film ★ 7,5

Man Trouble

Scott

1930

The Trouper Film ★ 8,0

The Trouper

1922

The Desert Bride Film ★ 5,5

The Desert Bride

Pvt. Terry

1928

Two-Fisted Film ★ 8,5

Two-Fisted

Chick Moran

1935

Meet the Missus Film ★ 7,0

Meet the Missus

Joe Higgins

1940

New York Nights Film ★ 5,5

New York Nights

Johnny Dolan

1929

The Costello Case Film ★ 8,0

The Costello Case

Blair

1930

Three Married Men Film ★ 8,0

Three Married Men

Peter Cary

1936

Win That Girl Film ★ 10,0

Win That Girl

Johnny Norton II

1928

Other Men's Daughters Film ★ 8,0

Other Men's Daughters

Hubert

1923

Film

Mr. Carlson of Arizona

1915

Jazz Mad Film ★ 8,0

Jazz Mad

Sol Levy

1928

Pleasure Film ★ 4,2

Pleasure

Arnie

1931

The Man Tamer Film ★ 10,0

The Man Tamer

Bradley P. Caldwell Jr

1921

Avalanche Film ★ 9,0

Avalanche

Red Kelly

1946

The Overland Limited Film ★ 10,0

The Overland Limited

Patrick Henry Madden

1925

Ritzy Film ★ 8,0

Ritzy

Smith's Valet

1927

Speed to Spare Film ★ 6,7

Speed to Spare

Kangaroo

1948

Left Over Ladies Film ★ 7,0

Left Over Ladies

'Scoop'

1931

Film ★ 8,0

A Species of Mexican Man

1915

Film ★ 9,0

From Champion to Tramp

The Girl's Father

1915

Film ★ 7,0

A Western Governor's Humanity

The Sheriff

1915