1894-07-28 New York City, New York, USA
Charles Cahill Wilson (July 29, 1894 – January 7, 1948) was an American screen and stage actor. He appeared in numerous films during the Golden Age of Hollywood from the late 1920s to late 1940s. Born in New York City in 1894, the white-haired, burly actor was often typecast as an earnest police officer, newspaper editor or principal. He appeared in over 250 films between 1928 and 1948, mostly playing small supporting roles with a few sentences. Charles Wilson began his acting career at the theatre, including roles in six Broadway plays between 1918 and 1931. In 1928, he directed the Hollywood comedy Lucky Boy (1928), where he also made his film debut. According to the Internet Movie Database, Lucky Boy was Wilson's only film as a director. His most notable role was probably Clark Gable's "wonderfully aggravated" newspaper boss in Frank Capra's comedy It Happened One Night, which won five Academy Awards in 1935. He was also cast in small roles in other Capra movies such as Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936) and It's a Wonderful Life (1946). Shortly before his death, Wilson appeared as the boss of the Three Stooges in the two-reel comedy Crime on Their Hands (1948).
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Commotion on the Ocean | J.L. Cameron - Managing Editor (archive footage) | 1956-11-08 |
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Big Town Scandal | Editor of the Chronicle (uncredited) | 1948-05-27 |
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Blazing Across the Pecos | Mayor Ace Brockway | 1948-07-01 |
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Crime on Their Hands | J.L. Cameron | 1948-12-09 |
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Key Witness | Warden (uncredited) | 1947-10-09 |
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The Secret Life of Walter Mitty | Police Desk Sergeant (uncredited) | 1947-09-01 |
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Meet Mr. Mischief | Harry's Boss | 1947-01-23 |
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It's a Wonderful Life | Charlie (uncredited) | 1946-12-20 |
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Crime of the Century | Police Lieutenant | 1946-02-28 |
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Gas House Kids | Inspector Shannon | 1946-10-08 |
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Blonde for a Day | Chief of Police Will Gentry (as Charles Wilson) | 1946-06-10 |
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Larceny in Her Heart | Chief Gentry (as Charles Wilson) | 1946-05-20 |
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Road to Utopia | Official Policeman (uncredited) | 1946-02-27 |
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Passkey to Danger | Police Sergeant | 1946-05-11 |
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Week-End at the Waldorf | Hi Johns | 1945-10-04 |
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A Gun in His Hand | Chief of Police (uncredited) | 1945-09-15 |
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Scarlet Street | Watchman (uncredited) | 1945-12-25 |
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Two O'Clock Courage | Brant - City Editor (uncredited) | 1945-04-13 |
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The Missing Juror | Mac Ellis (uncredited) | 1944-11-16 |
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Hey, Rookie | Sam Jonas | 1944-04-06 |
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Crime by Night | District Attorney Hyatt | 1944-09-09 |
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Silver Spurs | Mr. Hawkins | 1943-08-12 |
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Batman | Captain Arnold | 1943-07-16 |
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The Secret Code | Desk Sgt. Cullen | 1942-09-04 |
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The Man Who Returned to Life | Inspector Mensil | 1942-02-05 |
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Gentleman Jim | Gurney (uncredited) | 1942-11-14 |
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Blondie Goes to College | Police Sergeant | 1942-01-15 |
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Rings on Her Fingers | 1942-03-20 | |
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Dr. Broadway | District Attorney McNamara | 1942-05-09 |
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Lady Gangster | Detective | 1942-04-01 |
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This Gun for Hire | Police Captain | 1942-04-24 |
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Escape from Crime | C.L. Reardon - Managing Editor (as Charles Wilson) | 1942-07-25 |
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Federal Fugitives | Bruce Lane | 1941-03-29 |
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Meet John Doe | Charlie Dawson | 1941-03-14 |
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The Face Behind the Mask | Chief O'Brien | 1941-01-16 |
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The Officer and the Lady | Police Captain Hart | 1941-10-12 |
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Dressed to Kill | Newspaper Editor | 1941-08-08 |
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Broadway Limited | Detective (as Charles Wilson) | 1941-06-13 |
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Out of the Fog | 1941-06-14 | |
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Public Deb No. 1 | Sergeant | 1940-09-13 |
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Lady with Red Hair | George Martin (uncredited) | 1940-11-30 |
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Knute Rockne All American | Gambler (uncredited) | 1940-10-05 |
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Millionaires in Prison | R.J. Reynolds, Sunday Editor (uncredited) | 1940-07-12 |
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Girl in 313 | Vincent Brady, Commissioner of Police | 1940-05-31 |
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Gangs of Chicago | 1940-05-18 | |
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He Married His Wife | Warden | 1940-01-19 |
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They Drive by Night | Mike Williams (uncredited) | 1940-07-26 |
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City for Conquest | Bill - Man Behind MacPherson at Fight (uncredited) | 1940-09-21 |
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Sandy Is a Lady | Sergeant | 1940-05-21 |
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Tin Pan Alley | Desk Sergeant (uncredited) | 1940-11-29 |
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Charter Pilot | Owen | 1940-12-06 |
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Fighting Thoroughbreds | Spencer Bogart | 1939-01-06 |
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The Roaring Twenties | Policeman (uncredited) | 1939-10-28 |
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The House of Fear | Police Chief | 1939-06-30 |
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The Cowboy Quarterback | Coach Hap Farrell | 1939-07-29 |
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Smashing the Money Ring | Capt. Kilrane | 1939-10-21 |
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Hotel for Women | Albert | 1939-08-03 |
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Rose of Washington Square | Mike Cavanaugh | 1939-05-05 |
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The Return of Doctor X | Det. Kincaid | 1939-11-23 |
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Invisible Stripes | Arresting Officer (uncredited) | 1939-12-30 |
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Here I Am a Stranger | Managing Editor | 1939-09-29 |
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Sally, Irene and Mary | Covered Wagon Cafe Manager | 1938-03-04 |
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Gateway | Inspector | 1938-08-05 |
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State Police | Captain Halstead | 1938-03-18 |
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Prison Farm | Reardon | 1938-06-17 |
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When Were You Born | Inspector Jim C. Gregg | 1938-06-18 |
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Hold That Co-ed | Coach Burke | 1938-09-16 |
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Little Miss Thoroughbred | Becker | 1938-06-04 |
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Tenth Avenue Kid | Commissioner | 1938-08-22 |
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The Spider's Web | Chase | 1938-10-21 |
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Angels with Dirty Faces | 1938-11-26 | |
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The Night Hawk | Lonigan | 1938-10-01 |
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Find the Witness | Charley Blair (uncredited) | 1937-01-08 |
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You Only Live Once | Police Inspector (uncredited) | 1937-01-23 |
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Midnight Court | Police Chief | 1937-03-06 |
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The Great O'Malley | Policeman Chiding School Bus Driver (uncredited) | 1937-02-13 |
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That’s My Story | Cummings | 1937-10-24 |
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Life Begins in College | Tom Burke | 1937-10-01 |
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Night Key | Police Capt. Wallace (uncredited) | 1937-04-18 |
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Woman in Distress | Editor Herbert Claxton | 1937-01-17 |
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Murder Goes to College | Police Inspector Simpson | 1937-02-24 |
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One Mile from Heaven | Fletcher | 1937-08-18 |
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Broadway Melody of 1938 | Horse Auctioneer (uncredited) | 1937-08-20 |
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Roaring Timber | Sam Garvin | 1937-07-03 |
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The Case of the Stuttering Bishop | Hamilton Burger | 1937-06-08 |
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Partners in Crime | Inspector Simpson | 1937-10-08 |
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The Adventurous Blonde | Mortimer Gray | 1937-11-13 |
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Daughter of Shanghai | Schwartz (uncredited) | 1937-12-17 |
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They Wanted to Marry | Clark | 1937-02-05 |
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Legion of Terror | Colonel McCollum (as Charles Wilson) | 1936-11-01 |
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Satan Met a Lady | Detective Pollock | 1936-07-22 |
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Earthworm Tractors | H.J. Russell | 1936-07-24 |
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Panic on the Air | Chief Inspector Fitzgerald | 1936-04-10 |
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Mind Your Own Business | Detective | 1936-12-18 |
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Down the Stretch | Tex Reardon | 1936-09-18 |
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The Return of Jimmy Valentine | Kelley | 1936-02-22 |
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The Mine with the Iron Door | Pitkins | 1936-05-06 |
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Mr. Deeds Goes to Town | County Hospital Guard (uncredited) | 1936-04-09 |
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Murder with Pictures | Assistant Editor (uncredited) | 1936-09-24 |
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Grand Jury | City Editor | 1936-08-07 |
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36 Hours to Kill | F.B.I. Chief | 1936-07-24 |
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Big Brown Eyes | Prosecuting Attorney (Uncredited) | 1936-04-03 |
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The Magnificent Brute | Murphy | 1936-10-11 |
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Strike Me Pink | Hardie | 1936-01-24 |
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The Gentleman from Louisiana | Diamond Jim Brady | 1936-08-14 |
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Show Boat | 1936-05-17 | |
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The Country Doctor | George the Boat Captain (uncredited) | 1936-03-12 |
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I'd Give My Life | Warden | 1936-08-13 |
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Car 99 | Trooper Captain Ryan | 1935-03-02 |
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The Glass Key | District Attorney Edward J. Farr | 1935-06-15 |
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After the Dance | Chief of Police | 1935-06-25 |
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White Lies | Defense Attorney (uncredited) | 1935-12-27 |
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Four Hours to Kill! | Taft | 1935-04-11 |
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Murder in the Fleet | Commander Brown (Uncredited) | 1935-05-24 |
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We're Only Human | Editor of The Daily Star | 1935-12-27 |
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Show Them No Mercy! | Clifford | 1935-12-06 |
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The Gilded Lily | Managing Editor | 1935-01-25 |
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The Great Hotel Murder | Anthony Wilson | 1935-02-27 |
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Music Is Magic | Decker - Theatre Manager (uncredited) | 1935-11-01 |
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The Public Menace | First Detective | 1935-09-30 |
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The Case of the Curious Bride | Ferry Captain (uncredited) | 1935-04-13 |
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Waterfront Lady | Jim McFee aka Mac | 1935-10-04 |
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The Nitwits | Police Captain Jennings | 1935-06-07 |
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The Perfect Clue | District Attorney | 1935-03-13 |
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Mary Burns, Fugitive | G-Man at dancehall | 1935-11-15 |
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The Case of the Lucky Legs | Police Officer Ricker | 1935-10-05 |
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Baby Face Harrington | City Editor (uncredited) | 1935-04-12 |
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Air Hawks | Newspaper editor | 1935-05-07 |
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Smart Girl | Morgan (uncredited) | 1935-07-16 |
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Hitch Hike Lady | Mike - a Racketeer | 1935-12-28 |
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Men of the Hour | Harper | 1935-05-05 |
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I Believed in You | Magistrate | 1934-04-09 |
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The Circus Clown | Sheldon | 1934-06-30 |
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The Human Side | Furniture Buyer (uncredited) | 1934-09-01 |
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Name the Woman | Joel Walker | 1934-07-25 |
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The 9th Guest | Burke (Uncredited) | 1934-01-31 |
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Embarrassing Moments | Attorney | 1934-09-01 |
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Cross Country Cruise | Detective (Uncredited) | 1934-01-16 |
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The St. Louis Kid | Mr. Harris | 1934-11-10 |
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Affairs of a Gentleman | Inspector Quillan | 1934-05-01 |
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The Dragon Murder Case | Det. Hennessey | 1934-08-25 |
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Fog Over Frisco | Detective Sergeant O'Hagen | 1934-06-02 |
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Here Is My Heart | Captain Dodge (uncredited) | 1934-12-28 |
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Men of the Night | Benson | 1934-11-18 |
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The Hell Cat | Graham | 1934-06-16 |
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Port of Lost Dreams | Warden | 1934-10-14 |
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It Happened One Night | Joe Gordon | 1934-02-22 |
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Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen | Chief of Police | 1934-01-12 |
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Murder in the Clouds | Lackey | 1934-12-15 |
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Mary Stevens, M.D. | Walter Rising | 1933-07-22 |
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No Marriage Ties | Red Moran, City Desk Editor | 1933-08-11 |
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College Coach | Charles Hauser | 1933-11-04 |
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Hard to Handle | Jailer (uncredited) | 1933-01-28 |
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Shadows of Sing Sing | 1933-12-03 | |
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Elmer, the Great | Mr. Wade (as Charles Wilson) | 1933-04-29 |
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The Mayor of Hell | Wilson (uncredited) | 1933-06-24 |
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Female | Private Detective Falihee (Uncredited) | 1933-11-11 |
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Private Detective 62 | Club Bartender (Uncredited) | 1933-06-10 |
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Havana Widows | Mr. Timberg | 1933-11-18 |
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Gold Diggers of 1933 | Deputy (uncredited) | 1933-05-27 |
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The Kennel Murder Case | Detective Hennessy (uncredited) | 1933-10-28 |
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Disgraced! | Thompson, Assistant District Attorney | 1933-07-07 |
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The Campus Mystery | Detective Reardon | 1932-07-01 |
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The Trans-Atlantic Mystery | Detective Doyle (uncredited) | 1932-08-31 |
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My Sin | Guest in Pool Party | 1931-09-26 |
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Hot News Margie | Newspaper Editor (uncredited) | 1931-11-27 |
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Stolen Heaven | Detective | 1931-02-20 |
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Getting a Ticket | Motorcycle Cop | 1930-03-22 |
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Insurance | Doctor (uncredited) | 1930-08-23 |
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Acquitted | Nelson | 1929-11-15 |
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Song of Love | Traveling Salesman | 1929-11-13 |
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Broadway Scandals | Jack | 1929-11-10 |
