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Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Birthday
October 27, 1910
Died
January 2, 1963
Place of Birth
Carman, Manitoba, Canada
Also Known As
- John Elmer Carson
Jack Carson
0.4 Popularity
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
6.0
Self (archive footage)
James Stewart: A Wonderful Life
1987
10.0
(archive footage)
Going Hollywood: The '30s
1984
6.5
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
1983
6.3
Harold Sylvester
Sammy, the Way-Out Seal
1962
7.0
Frankie Fane
The Children of Alda Nuova
1962
5.4
Self
The Mike Douglas Show
1961
0.0
Bus Stop
1961
0.0
Fairchild
Who Killed Julie Greer?
1961
6.0
Timothy W. 'Big Tim' O'Brien
King of the Roaring 20's – The Story of Arnold Rothstein
1961
6.6
Burt Lewis
Thriller
1960
Credits
James Stewart: A Wonderful Life
as Self (archive footage)
1987
6.0
Going Hollywood: The '30s
as (archive footage)
1984
10.0
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
1983
6.5
Sammy, the Way-Out Seal
as Harold Sylvester
1962
6.3
The Children of Alda Nuova
as Frankie Fane
1962
7.0
The Mike Douglas Show
as Self
1961
5.4
Bus Stop
1961
0.0
Who Killed Julie Greer?
as Fairchild
1961
0.0
King of the Roaring 20's – The Story of Arnold Rothstein
as Timothy W. 'Big Tim' O'Brien
1961
6.0
Thriller
as Burt Lewis
1960
6.6
The Bramble Bush
as Bert Mosley
1960
4.6
The Twilight Zone
as Harvey Hunnicut
1959
8.5
Bonanza
as Henry T.P. Comstock
1959
7.5
Rally 'Round the Flag, Boys!
as Captain Hoxie
1958
5.2
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
as Gooper
1958
7.6
The Tarnished Angels
as Jiggs
1957
6.7
Alcoa Theatre
as Augie Adams
1957
6.5
Alcoa Theatre
as Bert Kennedy
1957
6.5
Alcoa Theatre
1957
6.5
🎬
The Polly Bergen Show
as Self
1957
0.0
Three Men on a Horse
as Patsy
1957
0.0
The Tattered Dress
as Sheriff Nick Hoak
1957
5.2
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
as Sundown Smith
1956
6.0
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
as Self
1956
6.0
Magnificent Roughnecks
as Bix Decker
1956
0.0
The Steve Allen Show
as Self - Comedian - Various Quiz Show Hosts
1956
5.6
The Bottom of the Bottle
as Hal Breckinridge
1956
5.1
🎬
Arroyo
as Lamar Kendall
1955
0.0
Screen Director's Playhouse
as Lamar Kendall
1955
6.5
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
as Frankie Fane
1955
7.8
Ain't Misbehavin'
as Harold North
1955
5.0
The Bob Cummings Show
as Jack Carson
1955
6.1
Phffft
as Charlie Nelson
1954
6.1
The Wonderful World of Disney
as Harold Sylvester
1954
7.8
Climax!
as Art Shaddick
1954
3.3
Climax!
as Eugene Skinner
1954
3.3
🎬
The George Gobel Show
as Self
1954
7.3
A Star Is Born
as Matt Libby
1954
7.1
A Star Is Born World Premiere
as Self - Host
1954
8.0
Red Garters
as Jason Carberry
1954
4.7
Dangerous When Wet
as Windy Webbe
1953
5.9
General Electric Theater
as Joe Bushwick
1953
6.4
General Electric Theater
1953
6.4
The Ford Television Theatre
as Dan Doyle
1952
7.3
This Is Your Life
as Self
1952
6.4
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
as Danny Scott
1951
7.2
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
as Harry Mauldron
1951
7.2
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
as Sid Devlin
1951
7.2
The Groom Wore Spurs
as Ben Castle
1951
4.4
Mister Universe
as Jeff Clayton
1951
5.0
🎬
Four Star Revue
as Host
1950
6.7
🎬
Lux Video Theatre
as Garrison
1950
6.3
🎬
Lux Video Theatre
as John Mulligan
1950
6.3
The Colgate Comedy Hour
as Self - Host
1950
6.8
Bright Leaf
as Chris Malley
1950
5.7
The Good Humor Man
as Biff Jones
1950
6.0
Your Show of Shows
1950
6.3
What's My Line?
as Self
1950
6.9
It's a Great Feeling
as Jack Carson
1949
5.8
My Dream Is Yours
as Doug Blake
1949
6.4
John Loves Mary
as Fred Taylor
1949
4.2
Studio One
as Harry Breen
1948
5.0
Two Guys from Texas
as Danny Foster
1948
6.0
Romance on the High Seas
as Peter Virgil
1948
6.7
April Showers
as Joe Tyme
1948
6.0
Always Together
as Bill (uncredited)
1947
6.7
🎬
So You Want to Be in Pictures
as Man Giving Directions (uncredited)
1947
5.8
Love and Learn
as Jingles Collins
1947
5.5
The Time, The Place and The Girl
as Jeff Howard
1946
5.4
Okay for Sound
1946
5.0
Two Guys from Milwaukee
as Buzz Williams
1946
4.4
One More Tomorrow
as Patrick 'Pat' Regan
1946
5.5
Mildred Pierce
as Wally Fay
1945
7.6
Roughly Speaking
as Harold C. Pierson
1945
6.8
Breakdowns of 1944
as Self
1944
6.5
Hollywood Canteen
as Self
1944
7.3
The Doughgirls
as Arthur Halstead
1944
7.0
Arsenic and Old Lace
as Officer Patrick O'Hara
1944
7.6
Make Your Own Bed
as Jerry Curtis
1944
5.8
🎬
The Road to Victory
as Jack Carson (uncredited)
1944
5.5
The Shining Future
as Self
1944
4.0
Shine on Harvest Moon
as The Great Georgetti
1944
6.0
Food and Magic
1943
5.0
Princess O'Rourke
as Dave Campbell
1943
6.3
Thank Your Lucky Stars
as Self
1943
6.0
The Hard Way
as Albert Runkel
1943
6.3
Breakdowns of 1942
as Self
1942
6.0
Gentleman Jim
as Walter Lawrie
1942
7.1
Wings for the Eagle
as Brad Maple
1942
5.7
Larceny, Inc.
as Jeff Randolph
1942
7.0
The Male Animal
as Joe Ferguson
1942
3.9
Blues in the Night
as Leo Powell
1941
6.2
Breakdowns of 1941
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
1941
7.0
Navy Blues
as 'Buttons' Johnson
1941
4.0
The Bride Came C.O.D.
as Allen Brice
1941
6.9
Love Crazy
as Ward Willoughby
1941
6.7
The Strawberry Blonde
as Hugo Barnstead
1941
6.9
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
as Chuck
1941
6.0
Love Thy Neighbor
as Policeman
1940
6.5
Sandy Gets Her Man
as Policeman Tom Garrity
1940
4.0
Lucky Partners
as Frederick Harper
1940
6.0
Queen of the Mob
as Agent Ross Waring
1940
5.0
Girl in 313
as Police Lt. Pat O'Farrell
1940
5.4
Typhoon
as Mate
1940
5.0
Alias the Deacon
as Sullivan
1940
0.0
Shooting High
as Gabby Cross
1940
8.0
Enemy Agent
as Ralph
1940
5.5
Parole Fixer
as George Mattison
1940
6.0
I Take This Woman
as Joe
1940
5.6
City of Chance
as Narration - Prologue (voice)
1940
5.2
Destry Rides Again
as Jack Tyndall
1939
7.2
Legion of Lost Flyers
as Larry Barrigan
1939
3.7
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
as Sweeney Farrell (uncredited)
1939
7.8
The Escape
as Chet Warren
1939
5.5
Fifth Avenue Girl
as Minnesota (uncredited)
1939
6.9
The Kid From Texas
as Stanley Brown
1939
6.5
Next Time I Marry
as Radio Announcer (voice) (uncredited)
1938
7.0
Mr. Doodle Kicks Off
as Rochet
1938
9.0
Carefree
as Connors
1938
6.6
Having Wonderful Time
as Emil Beatty
1938
4.6
The Saint in New York
as Red Jenks
1938
6.4
Vivacious Lady
as Waiter Captain
1938
7.0
Law of the Underworld
as Henchman Johnny
1938
5.5
Go Chase Yourself
as Warren Miles
1938
5.0
This Marriage Business
as "Candid" Perry
1938
4.4
Condemned Women
as Plainclothes Policeman
1938
6.3
Maid's Night Out
as Rollercoaster Ride Attendant (uncredited)
1938
5.1
Night Spot
as Shallen
1938
3.8
Bringing Up Baby
as Circus Roustabout (uncredited)
1938
7.5
Everybody's Doing It
as Detective Lieutenant
1938
5.0
Crashing Hollywood
as Dickson
1938
5.8
She's Got Everything
as Ransome (uncredited)
1937
5.3
Quick Money
as Coach Woodford
1937
4.0
Harris in the Spring
as Taxicab Driver
1937
1.0
A Rented Riot
1937
0.0
High Flyers
as Dave Hanlon
1937
7.0
Stand-In
as Tom Potts
1937
6.3
Music for Madame
as Assistant Director
1937
5.0
Stage Door
as Mr. Milbanks
1937
7.0
On Again—Off Again
as Cop
1937
7.0
Too Many Wives
as Hodges
1937
6.7
You Only Live Once
as Attendant in First Gas Station
1937
7.1