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Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

140

Gender

Male

Birthday

1910-10-27

Day of Death

1963-01-02 (53 years old)

Place of Birth

Carman, Manitoba, Canada

Also Known As

John Elmer Carson

Jack 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. 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

Acting

Arsenic and Old Lace

1944

Arsenic and Old Lace

as

Officer Patrick O'Hara

Bringing Up Baby

1938

Bringing Up Baby

as

Circus Roustabout (uncredited)

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

1939

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

as

Sweeney Farrell (uncredited)

A Star Is Born

1954

A Star Is Born

as

Matt Libby

Mildred Pierce

1945

Mildred Pierce

as

Wally Fay

Love Crazy

1941

Love Crazy

as

Ward Willoughby

My Dream Is Yours

1949

My Dream Is Yours

as

Doug Blake

Mr. & Mrs. Smith

1941

Mr. & Mrs. Smith

as

Chuck

Princess O'Rourke

1943

Princess O'Rourke

as

Dave Campbell

It's a Great Feeling

1949

It's a Great Feeling

as

Jack Carson

Blues in the Night

1941

Blues in the Night

as

Leo Powell

The Hard Way

1943

The Hard Way

as

Albert Runkel

Carefree

1938

Carefree

as

Connors

The Bride Came C.O.D.

1941

The Bride Came C.O.D.

as

Allen Brice

Dangerous When Wet

1953

Dangerous When Wet

as

Windy Webbe

Romance on the High Seas

1948

Romance on the High Seas

as

Peter Virgil

Gentleman Jim

1942

Gentleman Jim

as

Walter Lawrie

Destry Rides Again

1939

Destry Rides Again

as

Jack Tyndall

Stage Door

1937

Stage Door

as

Mr. Milbanks

Girl in 313

1940

Girl in 313

as

Police Lt. Pat O'Farrell

Having Wonderful Time

1938

Having Wonderful Time

as

Emil Beatty

The Saint in New York

1938

The Saint in New York

as

Red Jenks

Phffft

1954

Phffft

as

Charlie Nelson

Larceny, Inc.

1942

Larceny, Inc.

as

Jeff Randolph

The Male Animal

1942

The Male Animal

as

Joe Ferguson

Bright Leaf

1950

Bright Leaf

as

Chris Malley

Make Your Own Bed

1944

Make Your Own Bed

as

Jerry Curtis

The Strawberry Blonde

1941

The Strawberry Blonde

as

Hugo Barnstead

The Tattered Dress

1957

The Tattered Dress

as

Sheriff Nick Hoak

The Doughgirls

1944

The Doughgirls

as

Arthur Halstead

The Good Humor Man

1950

The Good Humor Man

as

Biff Jones

Wings for the Eagle

1942

Wings for the Eagle

as

Brad Maple

The Groom Wore Spurs

1951

The Groom Wore Spurs

as

Ben Castle

Rally 'Round the Flag, Boys!

1958

Rally 'Round the Flag, Boys!

as

Captain Hoxie

The Bottom of the Bottle

1956

The Bottom of the Bottle

as

Hal Breckinridge

Queen of the Mob

1940

Queen of the Mob

as

Agent Ross Waring

Red Garters

1954

Red Garters

as

Jason Carberry

Roughly Speaking

1945

Roughly Speaking

as

Harold C. Pierson

Lucky Partners

1940

Lucky Partners

as

Frederick Harper

Stand-In

1937

Stand-In

as

Tom Potts

April Showers

1948

April Showers

as

Joe Tyme

The Bramble Bush

1960

The Bramble Bush

as

Bert Mosley

So You Want to Be in Pictures

1947

So You Want to Be in Pictures

as

Man Giving Directions (uncredited)

The Road to Victory

1944

The Road to Victory

as

Jack Carson (uncredited)

This Marriage Business

1938

This Marriage Business

as

"Candid" Perry

Law of the Underworld

1938

Law of the Underworld

as

Henchman Johnny

Typhoon

1940

Typhoon

as

Mate

Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage

1983

Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage

as

Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

Love Thy Neighbor

1940

Love Thy Neighbor

as

Policeman

The Children of Alda Nuova

1962

The Children of Alda Nuova

as

Frankie Fane

Too Many Wives

1937

Too Many Wives

as

Hodges

Maid's Night Out

1938

Maid's Night Out

as

Rollercoaster Ride Attendant (uncredited)

Go Chase Yourself

1938

Go Chase Yourself

as

Warren Miles

Love and Learn

1947

Love and Learn

as

Jingles Collins

Two Guys from Texas

1948

Two Guys from Texas

as

Danny Foster

Two Guys from Milwaukee

1946

Two Guys from Milwaukee

as

Buzz Williams

Shooting High

1940

Shooting High

as

Gabby Cross

Going Hollywood: The '30s

1984

Going Hollywood: The '30s

as

(archive footage)

She's Got Everything

1937

She's Got Everything

as

Ransome (uncredited)

Quick Money

1937

Quick Money

as

Coach Woodford

Crashing Hollywood

1938

Crashing Hollywood

as

Dickson

High Flyers

1937

High Flyers

as

Dave Hanlon

Night Spot

1938

Night Spot

as

Shallen

John Loves Mary

1949

John Loves Mary

as

Fred Taylor

One More Tomorrow

1946

One More Tomorrow

as

Patrick 'Pat' Regan

Shine on Harvest Moon

1944

Shine on Harvest Moon

as

The Great Georgetti

The Escape

1939

The Escape

as

Chet Warren

Navy Blues

1941

Navy Blues

as

'Buttons' Johnson

Condemned Women

1938

Condemned Women

as

Plainclothes Policeman

Ain't Misbehavin'

1955

Ain't Misbehavin'

as

Harold North

Everybody's Doing It

1938

Everybody's Doing It

as

Detective Lieutenant

Alias the Deacon

1940

Alias the Deacon

as

Sullivan

Fifth Avenue Girl

1939

Fifth Avenue Girl

as

Minnesota (uncredited)

Parole Fixer

1940

Parole Fixer

as

George Mattison

The Kid From Texas

1939

The Kid From Texas

as

Stanley Brown

Always Together

1947

Always Together

as

Bill (uncredited)

Enemy Agent

1940

Enemy Agent

as

Ralph

Breakdowns of 1941

1941

Breakdowns of 1941

as

Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

Mister Universe

1951

Mister Universe

as

Jeff Clayton

City of Chance

1940

City of Chance

as

Narration - Prologue (voice)

Sammy, the Way-Out Seal

1962

Sammy, the Way-Out Seal

as

Harold Sylvester

Harris in the Spring

1937

Harris in the Spring

as

Taxicab Driver

Vivacious Lady

1938

Vivacious Lady

as

Waiter Captain

You Only Live Once

1937

You Only Live Once

as

Attendant in First Gas Station

Music for Madame

1937

Music for Madame

as

Assistant Director

Magnificent Roughnecks

1956

Magnificent Roughnecks

as

Bix Decker

Sandy Gets Her Man

1940

Sandy Gets Her Man

as

Policeman Tom Garrity

James Stewart: A Wonderful Life

1988

James Stewart: A Wonderful Life

as

Self (archive footage)

Legion of Lost Flyers

1939

Legion of Lost Flyers

as

Larry Barrigan

Arroyo

1955

Arroyo

as

Lamar Kendall

Studio One

Studio One

as

Harry Breen

The Twilight Zone

The Twilight Zone

as

Harvey Hunnicut

Thriller

Thriller

as

Burt Lewis

Climax!

Climax!

as

Art Shaddick

The Steve Allen Show

The Steve Allen Show

as

Self - Comedian - Various Quiz Show Hosts

Bonanza

Bonanza

as

Henry T.P. Comstock

Alcoa Theatre

Alcoa Theatre

as

Bert Kennedy

Alcoa Theatre

Alcoa Theatre

as

Augie Adams

Lux Video Theatre

Lux Video Theatre

as

John Mulligan

Climax!

Climax!

as

Eugene Skinner

Production

Crew

Directing