Acting · Carman, Manitoba, Canada · Born October 27, 1910
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.
MovieI Don't Even Like Apple Pie...
1989
as Self (Archive Footage)
MovieJames Stewart: A Wonderful Life
1987
as Self (archive footage)
MovieGoing Hollywood: The '30s
1984
as (archive footage)
MovieHollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
1983
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Bob Hope's World of Comedy
1976
as Self - Tribute Montage (archive footage)
MovieSammy, the Way-Out Seal
1962
as Harold Sylvester
MovieThe Children of Alda Nuova
1962
as Frankie Fane
TVThe Mike Douglas Show
1961
as Self
TVBus Stop
1961
MovieWho Killed Julie Greer?
1961
as Fairchild
MovieKing of the Roaring 20's – The Story of Arnold Rothstein
1961
as Timothy W. 'Big Tim' O'Brien
TVThriller
1960
as Burt Lewis
MovieThe Bramble Bush
1960
as Bert Mosley
TVStartime
1959
as Albert Maddon
TVThe Twilight Zone
1959
as Harvey Hunnicut
TVBonanza
1959
as Henry T.P. Comstock
MovieRally 'Round the Flag, Boys!
1958
as Captain Hoxie
MovieCat on a Hot Tin Roof
1958
as Gooper
MovieThe Tarnished Angels
1957
as Jiggs
TVAlcoa Theatre
1957
as Augie Adams
The Polly Bergen Show
1957
as Self
MovieThree Men on a Horse
1957
as Patsy
MovieThe Tattered Dress
1957
as Sheriff Nick Hoak
TVThe Dinah Shore Chevy Show
1956
as Self
TVDick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
1956
as Sundown Smith
MovieMagnificent Roughnecks
1956
as Bix Decker
TVThe Steve Allen Show
1956
as Self
MovieThe Bottom of the Bottle
1956
as Hal Breckinridge
MovieArroyo
1955
as Lamar Kendall
TVScreen Director's Playhouse
1955
as Lamar Kendall
TVAlfred Hitchcock Presents
1955
as Frankie Fane
MovieAin't Misbehavin'
1955
as Harold North
TVThe Bob Cummings Show
1955
as Jack Carson
MoviePhffft
1954
as Charlie Nelson
TVThe Wonderful World of Disney
1954
as Harold Sylvester
TVClimax!
1954
as Art Shaddick
The George Gobel Show
1954
as Self
MovieA Star Is Born
1954
as Matt Libby
MovieA Star Is Born World Premiere
1954
as Self - Host
MovieRed Garters
1954
as Jason Carberry
MovieDangerous When Wet
1953
as Windy Webbe
TVGeneral Electric Theater
1953
as Joe Bushwick
TVThe Ford Television Theatre
1952
as Dan Doyle
TVThis Is Your Life
1952
as Self
TVSchlitz Playhouse of Stars
1951
as Danny Scott
MovieThe Groom Wore Spurs
1951
as Ben Castle
MovieMister Universe
1951
as Jeff Clayton
Four Star Revue
1950
as Host
Lux Video Theatre
1950
as Garrison
TVThe Colgate Comedy Hour
1950
as Self - Host
MovieBright Leaf
1950
as Chris Malley
MovieThe Good Humor Man
1950
as Biff Jones
TVYour Show of Shows
1950
TVWhat's My Line?
1950
as Self
MovieIt's a Great Feeling
1949
as Jack Carson
MovieMy Dream Is Yours
1949
as Doug Blake
MovieJohn Loves Mary
1949
as Fred Taylor
TVStudio One
1948
as Harry Breen
MovieTwo Guys from Texas
1948
as Danny Foster
MovieRomance on the High Seas
1948
as Peter Virgil
MovieApril Showers
1948
as Joe Tyme
MovieAlways Together
1947
as Bill (uncredited)
So You Want to Be in Pictures
1947
as Man Giving Directions (uncredited)
MovieLove and Learn
1947
as Jingles Collins
MovieThe Time, The Place and The Girl
1946
as Jeff Howard
MovieOkay for Sound
1946
MovieTwo Guys from Milwaukee
1946
as Buzz Williams
MovieOne More Tomorrow
1946
as Patrick 'Pat' Regan
MovieMildred Pierce
1945
as Wally Fay
MovieRoughly Speaking
1945
as Harold C. Pierson
MovieBreakdowns of 1944
1944
as Self
MovieHollywood Canteen
1944
as Self
MovieThe Doughgirls
1944
as Arthur Halstead
MovieArsenic and Old Lace
1944
as Officer Patrick O'Hara
MovieMake Your Own Bed
1944
as Jerry Curtis
The Road to Victory
1944
as Jack Carson (uncredited)
MovieThe Shining Future
1944
as Self
MovieShine on Harvest Moon
1944
as The Great Georgetti
MovieFood and Magic
1943
MoviePrincess O'Rourke
1943
as Dave Campbell
MovieThank Your Lucky Stars
1943
as Self
MovieThe Hard Way
1943
as Albert Runkel
MovieBreakdowns of 1942
1942
as Self
MovieGentleman Jim
1942
as Walter Lawrie
MovieWings for the Eagle
1942
as Brad Maple
MovieLarceny, Inc.
1942
as Jeff Randolph
MovieThe Male Animal
1942
as Joe Ferguson
MovieBlues in the Night
1941
as Leo Powell
MovieBreakdowns of 1941
1941
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
MovieNavy Blues
1941
as 'Buttons' Johnson
MovieThe Bride Came C.O.D.
1941
as Allen Brice
MovieLove Crazy
1941
as Ward Willoughby
MovieThe Strawberry Blonde
1941
as Hugo Barnstead
MovieMr. & Mrs. Smith
1941
as Chuck
MovieLove Thy Neighbor
1940
as Policeman
MovieSandy Gets Her Man
1940
as Policeman Tom Garrity
MovieLucky Partners
1940
as Frederick Harper
MovieQueen of the Mob
1940
as Agent Ross Waring
MovieGirl in 313
1940
as Police Lt. Pat O'Farrell
MovieTyphoon
1940
as Mate
MovieAlias the Deacon
1940
as Sullivan
MovieShooting High
1940
as Gabby Cross
MovieEnemy Agent
1940
as Ralph
MovieParole Fixer
1940
as George Mattison
MovieI Take This Woman
1940
as Joe
MovieCity of Chance
1940
as Narration - Prologue (voice)
MovieThe Honeymoon's Over
1939
as Tom Donroy
MovieDestry Rides Again
1939
as Jack Tyndall
MovieLegion of Lost Flyers
1939
as Larry Barrigan
MovieMr. Smith Goes to Washington
1939
as Sweeney Farrell (uncredited)
MovieThe Escape
1939
as Chet Warren
MovieFifth Avenue Girl
1939
as Minnesota (uncredited)
MovieThe Kid From Texas
1939
as Stanley Brown
MovieNext Time I Marry
1938
as Radio Announcer (voice) (uncredited)
MovieMr. Doodle Kicks Off
1938
as Rochet
MovieCarefree
1938
as Connors
MovieHaving Wonderful Time
1938
as Emil Beatty
MovieThe Saint in New York
1938
as Red Jenks
MovieVivacious Lady
1938
as Waiter Captain
MovieLaw of the Underworld
1938
as Henchman Johnny
MovieGo Chase Yourself
1938
as Warren Miles
MovieThis Marriage Business
1938
as "Candid" Perry
MovieCondemned Women
1938
as Plainclothes Policeman
MovieMaid's Night Out
1938
as Rollercoaster Ride Attendant (uncredited)
MovieNight Spot
1938
as Shallen
MovieBringing Up Baby
1938
as Circus Roustabout (uncredited)
MovieEverybody's Doing It
1938
as Detective Lieutenant
MovieCrashing Hollywood
1938
as Dickson
MovieShe's Got Everything
1937
as Ransome (uncredited)
MovieQuick Money
1937
as Coach Woodford
MovieHarris in the Spring
1937
as Taxicab Driver
MovieA Rented Riot
1937
MovieHigh Flyers
1937
as Dave Hanlon
MovieStand-In
1937
as Tom Potts
MovieStage Door
1937
as Mr. Milbanks
MovieMusic for Madame
1937
as Assistant Director
MovieOn Again—Off Again
1937
as Cop
MovieToo Many Wives
1937
as Hodges
MovieYou Only Live Once
1937
as Attendant in First Gas Station
