Jack Carson
Known for Acting · 139 credits
- Born
- 1910-10-27
- Died
- 1963-01-02
- Place of birth
- Carman, Manitoba, Canada
- Also known as
- John Elmer Carson
Biography
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.
Known For
TV Shows (27)
The Mike Douglas Show
1961
as Self
Bonanza
1959
as Henry T.P. Comstock
What's My Line?
1950
as Self
The Twilight Zone
1959
as Harvey Hunnicut
Climax!
1954
as Art Shaddick / Eugene Skinner
Studio One
1948
as Harry Breen
The Colgate Comedy Hour
1950
as Self - Host
Thriller
1960
as Burt Lewis
The Steve Allen Show
1956
as Self
This Is Your Life
1952
as Self
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
1956
as Sundown Smith
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
1955
as Frankie Fane
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
1956
as Self
The Bob Cummings Show
1955
as Jack Carson
Alcoa Theatre
1957
as Augie Adams / Bert Kennedy
Startime
1959
as Albert Maddon
Lux Video Theatre
1950
as Garrison / John Mulligan
The George Gobel Show
1954
as Self
The Wonderful World of Disney
1954
as Harold Sylvester
The Ford Television Theatre
1952
as Dan Doyle
Screen Director's Playhouse
1955
as Lamar Kendall
Your Show of Shows
1950
Bus Stop
1961
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
1951
as Danny Scott / Harry Mauldron / Sid Devlin
General Electric Theater
1953
as Joe Bushwick
The Polly Bergen Show
1957
as Self
Four Star Revue
1950
as Host
Movies (112)
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
1939
as Sweeney Farrell (uncredited)
Arsenic and Old Lace
1944
as Officer Patrick O'Hara
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
1958
as Gooper
Mildred Pierce
1945
as Wally Fay
Bringing Up Baby
1938
as Circus Roustabout (uncredited)
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
1941
as Chuck
Mister Universe
1951
as Jeff Clayton
A Star Is Born
1954
as Matt Libby
Vivacious Lady
1938
as Waiter Captain
Fifth Avenue Girl
1939
as Minnesota (uncredited)
The Tattered Dress
1957
as Sheriff Nick Hoak
Bob Hope's World of Comedy
1976
as Self - Tribute Montage (archive footage)
Stage Door
1937
as Mr. Milbanks
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
1983
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Princess O'Rourke
1943
as Dave Campbell
The Bride Came C.O.D.
1941
as Allen Brice
Destry Rides Again
1939
as Jack Tyndall
You Only Live Once
1937
as Attendant in First Gas Station
Breakdowns of 1942
1942
as Self
The Tarnished Angels
1957
as Jiggs
Romance on the High Seas
1948
as Peter Virgil
Phffft
1954
as Charlie Nelson
The Male Animal
1942
as Joe Ferguson
The Honeymoon's Over
1939
as Tom Donroy
Hollywood Canteen
1944
as Self
John Loves Mary
1949
as Fred Taylor
The Bottom of the Bottle
1956
as Hal Breckinridge
Gentleman Jim
1942
as Walter Lawrie
Breakdowns of 1941
1941
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Strawberry Blonde
1941
as Hugo Barnstead
Queen of the Mob
1940
as Agent Ross Waring
The Bramble Bush
1960
as Bert Mosley
Go Chase Yourself
1938
as Warren Miles
She's Got Everything
1937
as Ransome (uncredited)
I Don't Even Like Apple Pie...
1989
as Self (Archive Footage)
Roughly Speaking
1945
as Harold C. Pierson
Rally 'Round the Flag, Boys!
1958
as Captain Hoxie
Ain't Misbehavin'
1955
as Harold North
Too Many Wives
1937
as Hodges
Bright Leaf
1950
as Chris Malley
Thank Your Lucky Stars
1943
as Self
James Stewart: A Wonderful Life
1987
as Self (archive footage)
Arroyo
1955
as Lamar Kendall
Carefree
1938
as Connors
Maid's Night Out
1938
as Rollercoaster Ride Attendant (uncredited)
The Good Humor Man
1950
as Biff Jones
Blues in the Night
1941
as Leo Powell
Larceny, Inc.
1942
as Jeff Randolph
Sammy, the Way-Out Seal
1962
as Harold Sylvester
Love Crazy
1941
as Ward Willoughby
It's a Great Feeling
1949
as Jack Carson
Stand-In
1937
as Tom Potts
Magnificent Roughnecks
1956
as Bix Decker
The Groom Wore Spurs
1951
as Ben Castle
Make Your Own Bed
1944
as Jerry Curtis
Having Wonderful Time
1938
as Emil Beatty
Breakdowns of 1944
1944
as Self
Girl in 313
1940
as Police Lt. Pat O'Farrell
One More Tomorrow
1946
as Patrick 'Pat' Regan
City of Chance
1940
as Narration - Prologue (voice)
This Marriage Business
1938
as "Candid" Perry
Law of the Underworld
1938
as Henchman Johnny
The Doughgirls
1944
as Arthur Halstead
April Showers
1948
as Joe Tyme
Everybody's Doing It
1938
as Detective Lieutenant
My Dream Is Yours
1949
as Doug Blake
The Hard Way
1943
as Albert Runkel
Two Guys from Milwaukee
1946
as Buzz Williams
Shine on Harvest Moon
1944
as The Great Georgetti
Crashing Hollywood
1938
as Dickson
Going Hollywood: The '30s
1984
as (archive footage)
Alias the Deacon
1940
as Sullivan
Wings for the Eagle
1942
as Brad Maple
The Saint in New York
1938
as Red Jenks
Love and Learn
1947
as Jingles Collins
King of the Roaring 20's – The Story of Arnold Rothstein
1961
as Timothy W. 'Big Tim' O'Brien
Lucky Partners
1940
as Frederick Harper
Who Killed Julie Greer?
1961
as Fairchild
The Shining Future
1944
as Self
Red Garters
1954
as Jason Carberry
Next Time I Marry
1938
as Radio Announcer (voice) (uncredited)
Navy Blues
1941
as 'Buttons' Johnson
Shooting High
1940
as Gabby Cross
On Again—Off Again
1937
as Cop
A Star Is Born World Premiere
1954
as Self - Host
Okay for Sound
1946
The Kid From Texas
1939
as Stanley Brown
The Road to Victory
1944
as Jack Carson (uncredited)
Night Spot
1938
as Shallen
Dangerous When Wet
1953
as Windy Webbe
The Escape
1939
as Chet Warren
I Take This Woman
1940
as Joe
Legion of Lost Flyers
1939
as Larry Barrigan
Love Thy Neighbor
1940
as Policeman
Mr. Doodle Kicks Off
1938
as Rochet
Two Guys from Texas
1948
as Danny Foster
Music for Madame
1937
as Assistant Director
Parole Fixer
1940
as George Mattison
Typhoon
1940
as Mate
Three Men on a Horse
1957
as Patsy
Always Together
1947
as Bill (uncredited)
Sandy Gets Her Man
1940
as Policeman Tom Garrity
Quick Money
1937
as Coach Woodford
Enemy Agent
1940
as Ralph
Food and Magic
1943
The Time, The Place and The Girl
1946
as Jeff Howard
Condemned Women
1938
as Plainclothes Policeman
The Children of Alda Nuova
1962
as Frankie Fane
High Flyers
1937
as Dave Hanlon
So You Want to Be in Pictures
1947
as Man Giving Directions (uncredited)
Harris in the Spring
1937
as Taxicab Driver
A Rented Riot
1937
About 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… With 139 credits spanning from 1937 to 1989, Jack Carson has appeared in 112 films and 27 TV shows.
Fans searching for Jack Carson movies, Jack Carson filmography, or the latest projects starring Jack Carson can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Jack Carson Movies
- Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) — as Sweeney Farrell (uncredited)
- Arsenic and Old Lace (1944) — as Officer Patrick O'Hara
- Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958) — as Gooper
- Mildred Pierce (1945) — as Wally Fay
- Bringing Up Baby (1938) — as Circus Roustabout (uncredited)
Where to Watch Jack Carson Films
Most Jack Carson movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Jack Carson, check our movies catalogue and browse page.