1910-10-27 Carman, Manitoba, Canada
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.
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James Stewart: A Wonderful Life | Self (archive footage) | 1987-03-13 |
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Going Hollywood: The '30s | (archive footage) | 1984-01-01 |
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Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | 1983-02-25 |
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Sammy, the Way-Out Seal | Harold Sylvester | 1962-10-28 |
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The Children of Alda Nuova | Frankie Fane | 1962-06-05 |
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Who Killed Julie Greer? | Fairchild | 1961-09-26 |
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King of the Roaring 20's – The Story of Arnold Rothstein | Timothy W. 'Big Tim' O'Brien | 1961-06-11 |
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The Bramble Bush | Bert Mosley | 1960-02-24 |
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Rally 'Round the Flag, Boys! | Captain Hoxie | 1958-12-23 |
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Cat on a Hot Tin Roof | Gooper | 1958-08-29 |
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The Tarnished Angels | Jiggs | 1957-11-21 |
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The Tattered Dress | Sheriff Nick Hoak | 1957-03-14 |
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Three Men on a Horse | Patsy | 1957-04-18 |
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The Bottom of the Bottle | Hal Breckinridge | 1956-02-01 |
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Magnificent Roughnecks | Bix Decker | 1956-07-22 |
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Arroyo | Lamar Kendall | 1955-10-26 |
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Ain't Misbehavin' | Harold North | 1955-06-30 |
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Phffft | Charlie Nelson | 1954-11-10 |
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Red Garters | Jason Carberry | 1954-02-09 |
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A Star Is Born | Matt Libby | 1954-10-01 |
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A Star Is Born World Premiere | Self - Host | 1954-09-28 |
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Dangerous When Wet | Windy Webbe | 1953-06-18 |
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The Groom Wore Spurs | Ben Castle | 1951-03-13 |
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Mister Universe | Jeff Clayton | 1951-01-10 |
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Bright Leaf | Chris Malley | 1950-06-16 |
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The Good Humor Man | Biff Jones | 1950-03-24 |
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My Dream Is Yours | Doug Blake | 1949-04-15 |
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It's a Great Feeling | Jack Carson | 1949-08-20 |
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John Loves Mary | Fred Taylor | 1949-02-04 |
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Romance on the High Seas | Peter Virgil | 1948-06-25 |
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Two Guys from Texas | Danny Foster | 1948-08-27 |
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April Showers | Joe Tyme | 1948-03-27 |
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Always Together | Bill (uncredited) | 1947-12-10 |
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So You Want to Be in Pictures | Man Giving Directions (uncredited) | 1947-06-07 |
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Love and Learn | Jingles Collins | 1947-05-02 |
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The Time, The Place and The Girl | Jeff Howard | 1946-12-26 |
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Okay for Sound | 1946-09-07 | |
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One More Tomorrow | Patrick 'Pat' Regan | 1946-05-24 |
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Two Guys from Milwaukee | Buzz Williams | 1946-07-26 |
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Mildred Pierce | Wally Fay | 1945-10-20 |
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Roughly Speaking | Harold C. Pierson | 1945-01-31 |
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The Road to Victory | Jack Carson (uncredited) | 1944-05-18 |
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The Shining Future | Self | 1944-04-11 |
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Hollywood Canteen | Self | 1944-12-15 |
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Arsenic and Old Lace | Officer Patrick O'Hara | 1944-09-01 |
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Breakdowns of 1944 | Self | 1944-12-31 |
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Make Your Own Bed | Jerry Curtis | 1944-06-10 |
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Shine on Harvest Moon | The Great Georgetti | 1944-03-10 |
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The Doughgirls | Arthur Halstead | 1944-11-25 |
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Princess O'Rourke | Dave Campbell | 1943-10-23 |
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The Hard Way | Albert Runkel | 1943-01-13 |
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Thank Your Lucky Stars | Self | 1943-09-25 |
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Food and Magic | 1943-11-18 | |
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Breakdowns of 1942 | Self | 1942-12-31 |
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Wings for the Eagle | Brad Maple | 1942-07-18 |
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Gentleman Jim | Walter Lawrie | 1942-11-14 |
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Larceny, Inc. | Jeff Randolph | 1942-04-24 |
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The Male Animal | Joe Ferguson | 1942-03-12 |
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The Bride Came C.O.D. | Allen Brice | 1941-07-12 |
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The Strawberry Blonde | Hugo Barnstead | 1941-02-21 |
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Navy Blues | 'Buttons' Johnson | 1941-09-13 |
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Love Crazy | Ward Willoughby | 1941-05-23 |
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Mr. & Mrs. Smith | Chuck | 1941-01-31 |
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Blues in the Night | Leo Powell | 1941-11-15 |
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Breakdowns of 1941 | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | 1941-11-14 |
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Shooting High | Gabby Cross | 1940-04-25 |
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Lucky Partners | Frederick Harper | 1940-08-02 |
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City of Chance | Narration - Prologue (voice) | 1940-01-13 |
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Girl in 313 | Police Lt. Pat O'Farrell | 1940-05-31 |
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Typhoon | Mate | 1940-05-16 |
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Love Thy Neighbor | Policeman | 1940-12-27 |
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Enemy Agent | Ralph | 1940-04-18 |
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Parole Fixer | George Mattison | 1940-02-02 |
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Sandy Gets Her Man | Policeman Tom Garrity | 1940-11-08 |
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Alias the Deacon | Sullivan | 1940-05-13 |
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I Take This Woman | Joe | 1940-02-02 |
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Queen of the Mob | Agent Ross Waring | 1940-06-28 |
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Fifth Avenue Girl | Minnesota (uncredited) | 1939-09-22 |
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The Kid From Texas | Stanley Brown | 1939-04-14 |
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The Honeymoon's Over | Tom Donroy | 1939-12-14 |
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Legion of Lost Flyers | Larry Barrigan | 1939-11-02 |
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Mr. Smith Goes to Washington | Sweeney Farrell (uncredited) | 1939-10-19 |
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Destry Rides Again | Jack Tyndall | 1939-11-30 |
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The Escape | Chet Warren | 1939-10-05 |
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Vivacious Lady | Waiter Captain | 1938-05-13 |
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This Marriage Business | "Candid" Perry | 1938-04-08 |
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The Saint in New York | Red Jenks | 1938-05-25 |
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Law of the Underworld | Henchman Johnny | 1938-05-06 |
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Having Wonderful Time | Emil Beatty | 1938-07-01 |
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Next Time I Marry | Radio Announcer (voice) (uncredited) | 1938-12-09 |
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Carefree | Connors | 1938-09-02 |
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Maid's Night Out | Rollercoaster Ride Attendant (uncredited) | 1938-03-03 |
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Mr. Doodle Kicks Off | Rochet | 1938-10-07 |
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Night Spot | Shallen | 1938-02-25 |
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Condemned Women | Plainclothes Policeman | 1938-03-18 |
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Crashing Hollywood | Dickson | 1938-01-07 |
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Bringing Up Baby | Circus Roustabout (uncredited) | 1938-02-18 |
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Go Chase Yourself | Warren Miles | 1938-04-22 |
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Everybody's Doing It | Detective Lieutenant | 1938-01-14 |
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Too Many Wives | Hodges | 1937-04-09 |
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She's Got Everything | Ransome (uncredited) | 1937-12-31 |
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Stand-In | Tom Potts | 1937-10-29 |
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Stage Door | Mr. Milbanks | 1937-10-08 |
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A Rented Riot | 1937-11-07 | |
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Quick Money | Coach Woodford | 1937-12-10 |
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High Flyers | Dave Hanlon | 1937-11-07 |
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You Only Live Once | Attendant in First Gas Station | 1937-01-23 |
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Harris in the Spring | Taxicab Driver | 1937-12-03 |
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On Again—Off Again | Cop | 1937-07-09 |
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Music for Madame | Assistant Director | 1937-10-08 |
