Jack Carson

Acting · 0.9 popularity

Age

115

Movies

112

Born: October 27, 1910 – January 2, 1963
From: Carman, Manitoba, Canada

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.

Works

112 films

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

19397.8

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

19587.6

Mildred Pierce

19457.6

Arsenic and Old Lace

19447.6

Bringing Up Baby

19387.5

Mr. & Mrs. Smith

19416.0

A Star Is Born

19547.1

Bright Leaf

19505.9

You Only Live Once

19377.1

Stage Door

19377.1

Destry Rides Again

19397.2

Romance on the High Seas

19486.7

Mister Universe

19516.3

James Stewart: A Wonderful Life

19876.5

Vivacious Lady

19387.0

Fifth Avenue Girl

19397.0

Breakdowns of 1941

19417.0

The Bride Came C.O.D.

19417.0

Carefree

19386.7

Breakdowns of 1942

19426.0

Bob Hope's World of Comedy

1976

The Tattered Dress

19575.5

Princess O'Rourke

19436.5

Sammy, the Way-Out Seal

19626.4

Larceny, Inc.

19427.1

A Star Is Born World Premiere

19548.0

Love Crazy

19416.8

Hollywood Canteen

19447.3

Phffft

19546.2

Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage

19837.0

Gentleman Jim

19427.2

Ain't Misbehavin'

19557.5

Going Hollywood: The '30s

19849.0

It's a Great Feeling

19496.0

The Strawberry Blonde

19417.0

She's Got Everything

19375.8

Breakdowns of 1944

19446.5

Rally 'Round the Flag, Boys!

19585.2

Law of the Underworld

19385.8

Maid's Night Out

19385.9

Dangerous When Wet

19536.0

The Honeymoon's Over

19398.0

The Male Animal

19424.5

The Tarnished Angels

19576.8

John Loves Mary

19495.0

Go Chase Yourself

19385.7

Queen of the Mob

19406.2

Thank Your Lucky Stars

19436.2

Shine on Harvest Moon

19446.8

The Hard Way

19436.4

My Dream Is Yours

19496.5

Two Guys from Milwaukee

19464.9

The Good Humor Man

19506.3

I Don't Even Like Apple Pie...

1989

Make Your Own Bed

19446.0

Navy Blues

19414.8

Typhoon

19406.7

The Bottom of the Bottle

19565.7

This Marriage Business

19385.2

Condemned Women

19387.3

High Flyers

19377.5

Girl in 313

19405.6

Stand-In

19376.5

King of the Roaring 20's – The Story of Arnold Rothstein

19616.4

Parole Fixer

19405.0

Too Many Wives

19377.3

Lucky Partners

19406.1

Everybody's Doing It

19386.0

Shooting High

19407.0

Blues in the Night

19416.2

Always Together

19477.3

Red Garters

19545.0

The Doughgirls

19447.6

Music for Madame

19376.3

The Bramble Bush

19605.3

Having Wonderful Time

19384.9

Wings for the Eagle

19426.1

So You Want to Be in Pictures

19476.6

The Shining Future

19444.0

I Take This Woman

19405.8

The Escape

19396.2

The Time, The Place and The Girl

19465.7

Mr. Doodle Kicks Off

19388.0

Next Time I Marry

19387.2

Enemy Agent

19406.7

Two Guys from Texas

19488.0

April Showers

19486.5

The Kid From Texas

19397.0

The Saint in New York

19386.6

Love Thy Neighbor

19407.3

Alias the Deacon

19408.0

City of Chance

19405.6

Night Spot

19384.6

Quick Money

19375.5

Roughly Speaking

19456.8

On Again—Off Again

19378.0

Love and Learn

19476.7

One More Tomorrow

19465.8

Legion of Lost Flyers

19395.0

Okay for Sound

19466.7

Three Men on a Horse

1957

The Children of Alda Nuova

19628.0

Crashing Hollywood

19386.0

The Road to Victory

19446.7

Who Killed Julie Greer?

1961

Magnificent Roughnecks

195610.0

Arroyo

19556.0

Sandy Gets Her Man

19406.5

The Groom Wore Spurs

19515.0

Harris in the Spring

19373.3

Food and Magic

19435.8

A Rented Riot

19379.0