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