Charles Cahill Wilson
Known for: Acting
Charles Cahill Wilson (July 29, 1894 – January 7, 1948) was an American screen and stage actor. He appeared in numerous films during the Golden Age of Hollywood from the late 1920s to late 1940s. Born in New York City in 1894, the white-haired, burly actor was often typecast as an earnest police officer, newspaper editor or principal. He appeared in over 250 films between 1928 and 1948, mostly playing small supporting roles with a few sentences. Charles Wilson began his acting career at the theatre, including roles in six Broadway plays between 1918 and 1931. In 1928, he directed the Hollywood comedy Lucky Boy (1928), where he also made his film debut. According to the Internet Movie Database, Lucky Boy was Wilson's only film as a director. His most notable role was probably Clark Gable's "wonderfully aggravated" newspaper boss in Frank Capra's comedy It Happened One Night, which won five Academy Awards in 1935. He was also cast in small roles in other Capra movies such as Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936) and It's a Wonderful Life (1946). Shortly before his death, Wilson appeared as the boss of the Three Stooges in the two-reel comedy Crime on Their Hands (1948).
Filmography
Film
It's a Wonderful Life
Charlie (uncredited)
1946
Film
It Happened One Night
Joe Gordon
1934
Film
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
County Hospital Guard (uncredited)
1936
Film
This Gun for Hire
Police Captain
1942
Film
Scarlet Street
Watchman (uncredited)
1945
Film
Meet John Doe
Charlie Dawson
1941
Film
You Only Live Once
Police Inspector (uncredited)
1937
Film
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
Police Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
1947
Film
Batman
Captain Arnold
1943
Film
The Roaring Twenties
Policeman (uncredited)
1939
Film
Angels with Dirty Faces
1938
Film
Gold Diggers of 1933
Deputy (uncredited)
1933
Film
The 9th Guest
Burke (Uncredited)
1934
Film
They Drive by Night
Mike Williams (uncredited)
1940
Film
Invisible Stripes
Arresting Officer (uncredited)
1939
Film
The Mayor of Hell
Wilson (uncredited)
1933
Film
The Gilded Lily
Managing Editor
1935
Film
Gentleman Jim
Gurney (uncredited)
1942
Film
Knute Rockne All American
Gambler (uncredited)
1940
Film
The Face Behind the Mask
Chief O'Brien
1941
Film
City for Conquest
Bill - Man Behind MacPherson at Fight (uncredited)
1940
Film
Out of the Fog
1941
Film
Show Boat
1936
Film
Road to Utopia
Official Policeman (uncredited)
1946
Film
Strike Me Pink
Hardie
1936
Film
Blonde for a Day
Chief of Police Will Gentry (as Charles Wilson)
1946
Film
The Kennel Murder Case
Detective Hennessy (uncredited)
1933
Film
Lady with Red Hair
George Martin (uncredited)
1940
Film
The Hell Cat
Graham
1934
Film
Satan Met a Lady
Detective Pollock
1936
Film
The Return of Doctor X
Det. Kincaid
1939
Film
Rings on Her Fingers
1942
Film
Sally, Irene and Mary
Covered Wagon Cafe Manager
1938
Film
The Great O'Malley
Policeman Chiding School Bus Driver (uncredited)
1937
Film
Big Brown Eyes
Prosecuting Attorney (Uncredited)
1936
Film
Female
Private Detective Falihee (Uncredited)
1933
Film
Night Key
Police Capt. Wallace (uncredited)
1937
Film
Broadway Melody of 1938
Horse Auctioneer (uncredited)
1937
Film
Private Detective 62
Club Bartender (Uncredited)
1933
Film
That’s My Story
Cummings
1937
Film
Smart Girl
Morgan (uncredited)
1935
Film
Silver Spurs
Mr. Hawkins
1943
Film
Two O'Clock Courage
Brant - City Editor (uncredited)
1945
Film
Elmer, the Great
Mr. Wade (as Charles Wilson)
1933
Film
Crime by Night
District Attorney Hyatt
1944
Film
Daughter of Shanghai
Schwartz (uncredited)
1937
Film
The Country Doctor
George the Boat Captain (uncredited)
1936
Film
Dr. Broadway
District Attorney McNamara
1942
Film
The Return of Jimmy Valentine
Kelley
1936
Film
Find the Witness
Charley Blair (uncredited)
1937
Film
Broadway Limited
Detective (as Charles Wilson)
1941
Film
Rose of Washington Square
Mike Cavanaugh
1939
Film
The Case of the Stuttering Bishop
Hamilton Burger
1937
Film
The Secret Code
Desk Sgt. Cullen
1942
Film
Fog Over Frisco
Detective Sergeant O'Hagen
1934
Film
Public Deb No. 1
Sergeant
1940
Film
The Great Hotel Murder
Anthony Wilson
1935
Film
We're Only Human
Editor of The Daily Star
1935
Film
Murder in the Fleet
Commander Brown (Uncredited)
1935
Film
36 Hours to Kill
F.B.I. Chief
1936
Film
Name the Woman
Joel Walker
1934
Film
Passkey to Danger
Police Sergeant
1946
Film
The Case of the Curious Bride
Ferry Captain (uncredited)
1935
Film
Blondie Goes to College
Police Sergeant
1942
Film
He Married His Wife
Warden
1940
Film
Gas House Kids
Inspector Shannon
1946
Film
Men of the Hour
Harper
1935
Film
The Spider's Web
Chase
1938
Film
Hey, Rookie
Sam Jonas
1944
Film
Gateway
Inspector
1938
Film
Week-End at the Waldorf
Hi Johns
1945
Film
The Man Who Returned to Life
Inspector Mensil
1942
Film
Charter Pilot
Owen
1940
Film
Escape from Crime
C.L. Reardon - Managing Editor (as Charles Wilson)
1942
Film
Baby Face Harrington
City Editor (uncredited)
1935
Film
Hold That Co-ed
Coach Burke
1938
Film
Murder with Pictures
Assistant Editor (uncredited)
1936
Film
Prison Farm
Reardon
1938
Film
Lady Gangster
Detective
1942
Film
I Believed in You
Magistrate
1934
Film
Crime of the Century
Police Lieutenant
1946
Film
Hotel for Women
Albert
1939
Film
Larceny in Her Heart
Chief Gentry (as Charles Wilson)
1946
Film
After the Dance
Chief of Police
1935
Film
The Dragon Murder Case
Det. Hennessey
1934
Film
Shadows of Sing Sing
1933
Film
Music Is Magic
Decker - Theatre Manager (uncredited)
1935
Film
Broadway Scandals
Jack
1929
Film
College Coach
Charles Hauser
1933
Film
Hard to Handle
Jailer (uncredited)
1933
Film
Air Hawks
Newspaper editor
1935
Film
Embarrassing Moments
Attorney
1934
Film
Here Is My Heart
Captain Dodge (uncredited)
1934
Film
The House of Fear
Police Chief
1939
Film
Four Hours to Kill!
Taft
1935
Film
Dressed to Kill
Newspaper Editor
1941
Film
Song of Love
Traveling Salesman
1929
Film
Earthworm Tractors
H.J. Russell
1936
Film
Partners in Crime
Inspector Simpson
1937
Film
Smashing the Money Ring
Capt. Kilrane
1939
Film
Murder in the Clouds
Lackey
1934
Film
State Police
Captain Halstead
1938
Film
The Officer and the Lady
Police Captain Hart
1941
Film
The Adventurous Blonde
Mortimer Gray
1937
Film
Waterfront Lady
Jim McFee aka Mac
1935
Film
The Public Menace
First Detective
1935
Film
Down the Stretch
Tex Reardon
1936
Film
Millionaires in Prison
R.J. Reynolds, Sunday Editor (uncredited)
1940
Film
Gangs of Chicago
1940
Film
Tin Pan Alley
Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
1940
Film
Mary Burns, Fugitive
G-Man at dancehall
1935
Film
The Missing Juror
Mac Ellis (uncredited)
1944
Film
Here I Am a Stranger
Managing Editor
1939
Film
Show Them No Mercy!
Clifford
1935
Film
Key Witness
Warden (uncredited)
1947
Film
When Were You Born
Inspector Jim C. Gregg
1938
Film
The Glass Key
District Attorney Edward J. Farr
1935
Film
Murder Goes to College
Police Inspector Simpson
1937
Film
The St. Louis Kid
Mr. Harris
1934
Film
The Nitwits
Police Captain Jennings
1935
Film
The Magnificent Brute
Murphy
1936
Film
Mary Stevens, M.D.
Walter Rising
1933
Film
A Gun in His Hand
Chief of Police (uncredited)
1945
Film
The Case of the Lucky Legs
Police Officer Ricker
1935
Film
Midnight Court
Police Chief
1937
Film
Little Miss Thoroughbred
Becker
1938
Film
Roaring Timber
Sam Garvin
1937
Film
Car 99
Trooper Captain Ryan
1935
Film
Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen
Chief of Police
1934
Film
Commotion on the Ocean
J.L. Cameron - Managing Editor (archive footage)
1956
Film
My Sin
Guest in Pool Party
1931
Film
Havana Widows
Mr. Timberg
1933
Film
No Marriage Ties
Red Moran, City Desk Editor
1933
Film
Stolen Heaven
Detective
1931
Film
Tenth Avenue Kid
Commissioner
1938
Film
Disgraced!
Thompson, Assistant District Attorney
1933
Film
Woman in Distress
Editor Herbert Claxton
1937
Film
Affairs of a Gentleman
Inspector Quillan
1934
Film
One Mile from Heaven
Fletcher
1937
Film
Mind Your Own Business
Detective
1936
Film
Federal Fugitives
Bruce Lane
1941
Film
Life Begins in College
Tom Burke
1937
Film
White Lies
Defense Attorney (uncredited)
1935
Film
Sandy Is a Lady
Sergeant
1940
Film
The Gentleman from Louisiana
Diamond Jim Brady
1936
Fighting Thoroughbreds
Spencer Bogart
1939
Film
The Night Hawk
Lonigan
1938
Film
Men of the Night
Benson
1934
Film
The Circus Clown
Sheldon
1934
I'd Give My Life
Warden
1936
Film
Hot News Margie
Newspaper Editor (uncredited)
1931
Film
Girl in 313
Vincent Brady, Commissioner of Police
1940
Film
Big Town Scandal
Editor of the Chronicle (uncredited)
1948
Film
Hitch Hike Lady
Mike - a Racketeer
1935
Film
Cross Country Cruise
Detective (Uncredited)
1934
Film
Panic on the Air
Fitzgerald
1936
Film
The Human Side
Furniture Buyer (uncredited)
1934
Film
Port of Lost Dreams
Warden
1934
Film
Crime on Their Hands
J.L. Cameron
1948
Film
The Mine with the Iron Door
Pitkins
1936
The Campus Mystery
Detective Reardon
1932
Film
Legion of Terror
Colonel McCollum (as Charles Wilson)
1936
Film
The Perfect Clue
District Attorney
1935
Film
Acquitted
Nelson
1929
Film
They Wanted to Marry
Clark
1937
Film
Grand Jury
City Editor
1936
Film
The Cowboy Quarterback
Coach Hap Farrell
1939
Film
Getting a Ticket
Motorcycle Cop
1930
Film
The Trans-Atlantic Mystery
Detective Doyle (uncredited)
1932
Film
Blazing Across the Pecos
Mayor Ace Brockway
1948
Meet Mr. Mischief
Harry's Boss
1947
Film
Insurance
Doctor (uncredited)
1930