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.
Known For
Credits
- 1988 · James Stewart: A Wonderful Life as Self (archive footage)
- 1984 · Going Hollywood: The '30s as (archive footage)
- 1983 · Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 1962 · Sammy, the Way-Out Seal as Harold Sylvester
- 1962 · The Children of Alda Nuova as Frankie Fane
- 1961 · The Mike Douglas Show as Self
- 1961 · Bus Stop as
- 1961 · Who Killed Julie Greer? as Fairchild
- 1961 · King of the Roaring 20's – The Story of Arnold Rothstein as Timothy W. 'Big Tim' O'Brien
- 1960 · Thriller as Burt Lewis
- 1960 · The Bramble Bush as Bert Mosley
- 1959 · The Twilight Zone as Harvey Hunnicut
- 1959 · Bonanza as Henry T.P. Comstock
- 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 as Augie Adams
- 1957 · Alcoa Theatre as Bert Kennedy
- 1957 · Alcoa Theatre as
- 1957 · The Tattered Dress as Sheriff Nick Hoak
- 1956 · Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre as Sundown Smith
- 1956 · The Dinah Shore Chevy Show as Self
- 1956 · Magnificent Roughnecks as Bix Decker
- 1956 · The Steve Allen Show as Self - Comedian - Various Quiz Show Hosts
- 1956 · The Bottom of the Bottle as Hal Breckinridge
- 1955 · Arroyo as Lamar Kendall
- 1955 · Screen Director's Playhouse as Lamar Kendall
- 1955 · Alfred Hitchcock Presents as Frankie Fane
- 1955 · Ain't Misbehavin' as Harold North
- 1955 · The Bob Cummings Show as Jack Carson
- 1954 · Phffft as Charlie Nelson
- 1954 · The Wonderful World of Disney as Harold Sylvester
- 1954 · Climax! as Art Shaddick
- 1954 · Climax! as Eugene Skinner
- 1954 · The George Gobel Show as Self
- 1954 · A Star Is Born as Matt Libby
- 1954 · A Star Is Born World Premiere as Self - Host
- 1954 · Red Garters as Jason Carberry
- 1953 · Dangerous When Wet as Windy Webbe
- 1953 · General Electric Theater as Joe Bushwick
- 1953 · General Electric Theater as
- 1952 · The Ford Television Theatre as Dan Doyle
- 1952 · This Is Your Life as Self
- 1951 · Schlitz Playhouse of Stars as Danny Scott
- 1951 · Schlitz Playhouse of Stars as Harry Mauldron
- 1951 · Schlitz Playhouse of Stars as Sid Devlin
- 1951 · The Groom Wore Spurs as Ben Castle
- 1951 · Mister Universe as Jeff Clayton
- 1950 · Four Star Revue as Host
- 1950 · Lux Video Theatre as Garrison
- 1950 · Lux Video Theatre as John Mulligan
- 1950 · The Colgate Comedy Hour as Self - Host
- 1950 · Bright Leaf as Chris Malley
- 1950 · The Good Humor Man as Biff Jones
- 1950 · Your Show of Shows as
- 1950 · What's My Line? as Self - Mystery Guest
- 1949 · It's a Great Feeling as Jack Carson
- 1949 · My Dream Is Yours as Doug Blake
- 1949 · John Loves Mary as Fred Taylor
- 1948 · Studio One as Harry Breen
- 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 · So You Want to Be in Pictures as Man Giving Directions (uncredited)
- 1947 · Love and Learn as Jingles Collins
- 1946 · The Time, The Place and The Girl as Jeff Howard
- 1946 · Okay for Sound as
- 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 · Breakdowns of 1944 as Self
- 1944 · Hollywood Canteen as Self
- 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 · The Road to Victory as Jack Carson (uncredited)
- 1944 · The Shining Future as Self
- 1944 · Shine on Harvest Moon as The Great Georgetti
- 1943 · Food and Magic as
- 1943 · Princess O'Rourke as Dave Campbell
- 1943 · Thank Your Lucky Stars as Self
- 1943 · The Hard Way as Albert Runkel
- 1942 · Breakdowns of 1942 as Self
- 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 · Breakdowns of 1941 as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 1941 · Navy Blues as 'Buttons' Johnson
- 1941 · The Bride Came C.O.D. as Allen Brice
- 1941 · Love Crazy as Ward Willoughby
- 1941 · The Strawberry Blonde as Hugo Barnstead
- 1941 · Mr. & Mrs. Smith as Chuck
- 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 · Alias the Deacon as Sullivan
- 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 · The Escape as Chet Warren
- 1939 · 5th Ave Girl as Minnesota (uncredited)
- 1939 · The Kid From Texas as Stanley Brown
- 1938 · Mr. Doodle Kicks Off as Rochet
- 1938 · Carefree as Connors
- 1938 · Having Wonderful Time as Emil Beatty
- 1938 · The Saint in New York as Red Jenks
- 1938 · Vivacious Lady as Waiter Captain
- 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 · Harris in the Spring as Taxicab Driver
- 1937 · A Rented Riot as
- 1937 · High Flyers as Dave Hanlon
- 1937 · Stand-In as Tom Potts
- 1937 · Stage Door as Mr. Milbanks
- 1937 · Music for Madame as Assistant Director
- 1937 · On Again—Off Again as Cop
- 1937 · Too Many Wives as Hodges
- 1937 · You Only Live Once as Attendant in First Gas Station