JC
Jack Carson
Actor
Born October 27, 1910Died January 2, 1963 (52 years)
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.
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
Filmography
| 2004 | Behind the Tunes: Looney Tunes Go Hollywood · as Doug Blake |
| 1987 | James Stewart: A Wonderful Life - Hosted by Johnny Carson · as Sweeney Farrell - Newsman (clip From Mr. Smith Goes To Washington (1939)) |
| 1984 | Going Hollywood: The '30s · as (archive Footage) |
| 1962 | Sammy, the Way-Out Seal · as Harold Sylvester |
| 1961 | Bus Stop (TV Series) |
| 1961 | The Dick Powell Show (TV Series) · as Fairchild |
| 1961 | King of the Roaring 20's: The Story of Arnold Rothstein · as Timothy W. 'big Tim' O'brien |
| 1960 | Thriller (TV Series) · as Burt Lewis |
| 1960 | The Bramble Bush · as Bert Mosley |
| 1959 | Ford Startime (TV Series) · as Albert Maddon |
| 1959 | The Twilight Zone (TV Series) · as Harvey Hunnicut |
| 1959 | |
| 1958 | Rally 'Round the Flag, Boys! · as Captain Hoxie |
| 1958 | Cat on a Hot Tin Roof · as Gooper |
| 1957 | The Tarnished Angels · as Jiggs |
| 1957 | Alcoa Theatre (TV Series) · as Bert Kennedy |
| 1957 | Date with the Angels (TV Series) · as Herbie |
| 1957 | The Tattered Dress · as Sheriff Nick Hoak |
| 1956 | Zane Grey Theater (TV Series) · as Sundown Smith |
| 1956 | Playhouse 90 (TV Series) · as Capt. Al Mannix |
| 1956 | The Bottom of the Bottle · as Hal Breckinridge |
| 1955 | Screen Directors Playhouse (TV Series) · as Lamar Kendall |
| 1955 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents (TV Series) · as Frankie Fane |
| 1955 | The Joseph Cotten Show: On Trial (TV Series) · as Sid Devlin |
| 1955 | The Jane Wyman Show (TV Series) · as Kendall Loring |
| 1955 | Ain't Misbehavin' · as Harold North |
| 1955 | Damon Runyon Theater (TV Series) · as Byron 'the Brain' Harris |
| 1954 | Phffft · as Charlie Nelson |
| 1954 | Disneyland (TV Series) · as Harold Sylvester |
| 1954 | A Star Is Born · as Matt Libby |
| 1954 | Climax! (TV Series) · as Eugene Skinner |
| 1954 | Studio 57 (TV Series) · as Johnny Darke |
| 1954 | Red Garters · as Jason Carberry |
| 1953 | The United States Steel Hour (TV Series) · as Enoch Mccabe |
| 1953 | Dangerous When Wet · as Windy Webbe |
| 1953 | General Electric Theater (TV Series) · as Joe Bushwick |
| 1952 | Ford Theatre: All Star Theatre (TV Series) · as Dan Doyle |
| 1951 | The Name's the Same (TV Series) · as Guest Celebrity |
| 1951 | The Groom Wore Spurs · as Ben Castle |
| 1951 | Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (TV Series) · as Danny Scott |
| 1951 | Mister Universe · as Jeff Clayton |
| 1950 | Four Star Revue (TV Series) · as Host |
| 1950 | The Lux Video Theatre (TV Series) · as John Mulligan |
| 1950 | Bright Leaf · as Chris Malley |
| 1950 | The Good Humor Man · as Biff Jones |
| 1950 | Your Show of Shows (TV Series) |
| 1949 | John Loves Mary · as Fred Taylor |
| 1949 | My Dream Is Yours · as Doug Blake |
| 1948 | Studio One (TV Series) · as Harry Breen |
| 1948 | Ford Theatre (TV Series) · as Gordon Miller |
| 1948 | Two Guys from Texas · as Danny Foster |
| 1948 | Romance on the High Seas · as Peter Virgil |
| 1948 | April Showers · as Joe Tyme |
| 1947 | Always Together · as Bill (uncredited) |
| 1947 | Love and Learn · as Jingles Collins |
| 1946 | The Time, the Place and the Girl · as Jeff Howard |
| 1946 | Two Guys from Milwaukee · as Buzz Williams |
| 1946 | One More Tomorrow · as Patrick 'pat' Regan |
| 1945 | Mildred Pierce · as Wally Fay |
| 1945 | Roughly Speaking · as Harold C. Pierson |
| 1944 | The Doughgirls · as Arthur Halstead |
| 1944 | Arsenic and Old Lace · as Officer Patrick O'hara |
| 1944 | Make Your Own Bed · as Jerry Curtis |
| 1944 | Shine on Harvest Moon · as The Great Georgetti |
| 1944 | Undercover · as Mexican |
| 1943 | Princess O'Rourke · as Dave Campbell |
| 1943 | The Hard Way · as Albert Runkel |
| 1942 | Gentleman Jim · as Walter Lawrie |
| 1942 | Wings for the Eagle · as Brad Maple |
| 1942 | Larceny, Inc · as Jeff Randolph |
| 1942 | The Male Animal · as Joe Ferguson |
| 1941 | Blues in the Night · as Leo Powell |
| 1941 | Navy Blues · as 'buttons' Johnson |
| 1941 | The Bride Came C.O.D. · as Allen Brice |
| 1941 | Love Crazy · as Ward Willoughby |
| 1941 | Mr. & Mrs. Smith · as Chuck |
| 1941 | The Strawberry Blonde · as Hugo Barnstead |
| 1940 | Love Thy Neighbor · as Policeman |
| 1940 | Sandy Gets Her Man · as Policeman Tom Garrity |
| 1940 | Lucky Partners · as Frederick Harper |
| 1940 | Queen of the Mob · as Agent Ross Waring |
| 1940 | Girl in 313 · as Police Lt. Pat O'farrell |
| 1940 | Typhoon · as Mate |
| 1940 | Shooting High · as Gabby Cross |
| 1940 | Enemy Agent · as Ralph |
| 1940 | I Take This Woman · as Joe |
| 1940 | Parole Fixer · as George Mattison |
| 1940 | City of Chance · as Narration - Prologue (voice) |
| 1939 | Destry Rides Again · as Jack Tyndall |
| 1939 | Legion of Lost Flyers · as Larry Barrigan |
| 1939 | Mr. Smith Goes to Washington · as Sweeney Farrell (uncredited) |
| 1939 | Fifth Avenue Girl · as Minnesota (uncredited) |
| 1939 | The Kid from Texas · as Stanley Brown |
| 1938 | Mr. Doodle Kicks Off · as Rochet |
| 1938 | Carefree · as Connors |
| 1938 | Vivacious Lady · as Waiter Captain |
| 1938 | Having Wonderful Time · as Emil Beatty |
| 1938 | The Saint in New York · as Red Jenks |
| 1938 | Law of the Underworld · as Henchman Johnny |
| 1938 | Go Chase Yourself · as Warren Miles |
| 1938 | This Marriage Business · as "candid" Perry |
| 1938 | Condemned Women · as Plainclothes Policeman |
| 1938 | Maid's Night Out · as Rollercoaster Ride Attendant (uncredited) |
| 1938 | Night Spot · as Shallen |
| 1938 | Bringing Up Baby · as Circus Roustabout (uncredited) |
| 1938 | Everybody's Doing It · as Detective Lieutenant |
| 1938 | Crashing Hollywood · as Dickson |
| 1937 | She's Got Everything · as Ransome (uncredited) |
| 1937 | Quick Money · as Coach Woodford |
| 1937 | High Flyers · as Dave Hanlon |
| 1937 | A Damsel in Distress · as Bit Role |
| 1937 | Stand-In · as Tom Potts |
| 1937 | Stage Door · as Mr. Milbanks |
| 1937 | Music for Madame · as Assistant Director |
| 1937 | Reported Missing! · as Logantown Airport Radioman |
| 1937 | On Again-Off Again · as Cop |
| 1937 | It Could Happen to You · as Truck Driver |
| 1937 | Too Many Wives · as Hodges |
| 1937 | You Only Live Once · as Attendant In First Gas Station |