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.
138 acting credits
Acting · 138
The Mike Douglas Show
1961
Bonanza
1959
The Twilight Zone
1959
Climax!
1954
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
1956
What's My Line?
1950
Studio One
1948
Thriller
1960
The Colgate Comedy Hour
1950
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
1955
The Steve Allen Show
1956
The Ford Television Theatre
1952
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
1956
Startime
1959
Alcoa Theatre
1957
This Is Your Life
1952
Your Show of Shows
1950
Screen Director's Playhouse
1955
Lux Video Theatre
1950
Bus Stop
1961
The Bob Cummings Show
1955
The Wonderful World of Disney
1954
The George Gobel Show
1954
Mildred Pierce
1945
General Electric Theater
1953
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
1939
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
1951
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
1958
Arsenic and Old Lace
1944
Bringing Up Baby
1938
A Star Is Born
1954
Stage Door
1937
James Stewart: A Wonderful Life
1987
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
1941
Gentleman Jim
1942
Phffft
1954
Love Crazy
1941
Destry Rides Again
1939
The Strawberry Blonde
1941
Going Hollywood: The '30s
1984
Stand-In
1937
Dangerous When Wet
1953
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
1983
Vivacious Lady
1938
A Star Is Born World Premiere
1954
King of the Roaring 20's – The Story of Arnold Rothstein
1961
The Hard Way
1943
The Tattered Dress
1957
Hollywood Canteen
1944
You Only Live Once
1937
Girl in 313
1940
Romance on the High Seas
1948
The Tarnished Angels
1957
Shooting High
1940
Bright Leaf
1950
Thank Your Lucky Stars
1943
It's a Great Feeling
1949
The Male Animal
1942
Shine on Harvest Moon
1944
My Dream Is Yours
1949
Carefree
1938
She's Got Everything
1937
Rally 'Round the Flag, Boys!
1958
Breakdowns of 1942
1942
Larceny, Inc.
1942
Parole Fixer
1940
Love Thy Neighbor
1940
Bob Hope's World of Comedy
1976
Always Together
1947
April Showers
1948
High Flyers
1937
Typhoon
1940
I Take This Woman
1940
The Doughgirls
1944
The Bride Came C.O.D.
1941
Princess O'Rourke
1943
The Good Humor Man
1950
The Time, The Place and The Girl
1946
Sammy, the Way-Out Seal
1962
The Groom Wore Spurs
1951
Having Wonderful Time
1938
Enemy Agent
1940
The Polly Bergen Show
1957
Lucky Partners
1940
Blues in the Night
1941
Next Time I Marry
1938
The Escape
1939
Music for Madame
1937
The Bottom of the Bottle
1956
Roughly Speaking
1945
The Saint in New York
1938
Navy Blues
1941
The Children of Alda Nuova
1962
John Loves Mary
1949
Law of the Underworld
1938
Four Star Revue
1950
Fifth Avenue Girl
1939
Legion of Lost Flyers
1939
On Again—Off Again
1937
The Kid From Texas
1939
Everybody's Doing It
1938
Two Guys from Milwaukee
1946
Wings for the Eagle
1942
Night Spot
1938
Okay for Sound
1946
Mr. Doodle Kicks Off
1938
The Road to Victory
1944
Crashing Hollywood
1938
Who Killed Julie Greer?
1961
Breakdowns of 1941
1941
Condemned Women
1938
Sandy Gets Her Man
1940
Maid's Night Out
1938
So You Want to Be in Pictures
1947
Mister Universe
1951
Queen of the Mob
1940
Quick Money
1937
Alias the Deacon
1940
The Bramble Bush
1960
Go Chase Yourself
1938
City of Chance
1940
Make Your Own Bed
1944
Magnificent Roughnecks
1956
Ain't Misbehavin'
1955
Breakdowns of 1944
1944
Food and Magic
1943
Red Garters
1954
The Shining Future
1944
Love and Learn
1947
One More Tomorrow
1946
Two Guys from Texas
1948
A Rented Riot
1937
Harris in the Spring
1937
Three Men on a Horse
1957
Too Many Wives
1937
This Marriage Business
1938
The Honeymoon's Over
1939
Arroyo
1955