Acting · New York City, New York, USA · Born July 28, 1894
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).
MovieCommotion on the Ocean
1956
as J.L. Cameron - Managing Editor (archive footage)
MovieCrime on Their Hands
1948
as J.L. Cameron
MovieBlazing Across the Pecos
1948
as Mayor Ace Brockway
MovieBig Town Scandal
1948
as Editor of the Chronicle (uncredited)
MovieKey Witness
1947
as Warden (uncredited)
MovieThe Secret Life of Walter Mitty
1947
as Police Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
Meet Mr. Mischief
1947
as Harry's Boss
MovieIt's a Wonderful Life
1946
as Charlie (uncredited)
MovieGas House Kids
1946
as Inspector Shannon
MovieBlonde for a Day
1946
as Chief of Police Will Gentry (as Charles Wilson)
MovieLarceny in Her Heart
1946
as Chief Gentry (as Charles Wilson)
MoviePasskey to Danger
1946
as Police Sergeant
MovieCrime of the Century
1946
as Police Lieutenant
MovieRoad to Utopia
1946
as Official Policeman (uncredited)
MovieScarlet Street
1945
as Watchman (uncredited)
MovieWeek-End at the Waldorf
1945
as Hi Johns
MovieA Gun in His Hand
1945
as Chief of Police (uncredited)
MovieTwo O'Clock Courage
1945
as Brant - City Editor (uncredited)
MovieThe Missing Juror
1944
as Mac Ellis (uncredited)
MovieCrime by Night
1944
as District Attorney Hyatt
MovieHey, Rookie
1944
as Sam Jonas
MovieSilver Spurs
1943
as Mr. Hawkins
MovieBatman
1943
as Captain Arnold
MovieGentleman Jim
1942
as Gurney (uncredited)
MovieThe Secret Code
1942
as Desk Sgt. Cullen
MovieEscape from Crime
1942
as C.L. Reardon - Managing Editor (as Charles Wilson)
MovieDr. Broadway
1942
as District Attorney McNamara
MovieThis Gun for Hire
1942
as Police Captain
MovieLady Gangster
1942
as Detective
MovieRings on Her Fingers
1942
MovieThe Man Who Returned to Life
1942
as Inspector Mensil
MovieBlondie Goes to College
1942
as Police Sergeant
MovieThe Officer and the Lady
1941
as Police Captain Hart
MovieDressed to Kill
1941
as Newspaper Editor
MovieOut of the Fog
1941
MovieBroadway Limited
1941
as Detective (as Charles Wilson)
MovieFederal Fugitives
1941
as Bruce Lane
MovieMeet John Doe
1941
as Charlie Dawson
MovieThe Face Behind the Mask
1941
as Chief O'Brien
MovieCharter Pilot
1940
as Owen
MovieLady with Red Hair
1940
as George Martin (uncredited)
MovieTin Pan Alley
1940
as Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
MovieKnute Rockne All American
1940
as Gambler (uncredited)
MovieCity for Conquest
1940
as Bill - Man Behind MacPherson at Fight (uncredited)
MoviePublic Deb No. 1
1940
as Sergeant
MovieThey Drive by Night
1940
as Mike Williams (uncredited)
MovieMillionaires in Prison
1940
as R.J. Reynolds, Sunday Editor (uncredited)
MovieGirl in 313
1940
as Vincent Brady, Commissioner of Police
MovieSandy Is a Lady
1940
as Sergeant
MovieGangs of Chicago
1940
MovieHe Married His Wife
1940
as Warden
MovieInvisible Stripes
1939
as Arresting Officer (uncredited)
MovieThe Return of Doctor X
1939
as Det. Kincaid
MovieThe Roaring Twenties
1939
as Policeman (uncredited)
MovieSmashing the Money Ring
1939
as Capt. Kilrane
MovieHere I Am a Stranger
1939
as Managing Editor
MovieHotel for Women
1939
as Albert
MovieThe Cowboy Quarterback
1939
as Coach Hap Farrell
MovieThe House of Fear
1939
as Police Chief
MovieRose of Washington Square
1939
as Mike Cavanaugh
Fighting Thoroughbreds
1939
as Spencer Bogart
MovieAngels with Dirty Faces
1938
MovieThe Spider's Web
1938
as Chase
MovieThe Night Hawk
1938
as Lonigan
MovieHold That Co-ed
1938
as Coach Burke
MovieTenth Avenue Kid
1938
as Commissioner
MovieGateway
1938
as Inspector
MovieWhen Were You Born
1938
as Inspector Jim C. Gregg
MoviePrison Farm
1938
as Reardon
MovieLittle Miss Thoroughbred
1938
as Becker
MovieState Police
1938
as Captain Halstead
MovieSally, Irene and Mary
1938
as Covered Wagon Cafe Manager
MovieDaughter of Shanghai
1937
as Schwartz (uncredited)
MovieThe Adventurous Blonde
1937
as Mortimer Gray
MovieThat’s My Story
1937
as Cummings
MoviePartners in Crime
1937
as Inspector Simpson
MovieLife Begins in College
1937
as Tom Burke
MovieBroadway Melody of 1938
1937
as Horse Auctioneer (uncredited)
MovieOne Mile from Heaven
1937
as Fletcher
MovieRoaring Timber
1937
as Sam Garvin
MovieThe Case of the Stuttering Bishop
1937
as Hamilton Burger
MovieNight Key
1937
as Police Capt. Wallace (uncredited)
MovieMidnight Court
1937
as Police Chief
MovieMurder Goes to College
1937
as Police Inspector Simpson
MovieThe Great O'Malley
1937
as Policeman Chiding School Bus Driver (uncredited)
MovieThey Wanted to Marry
1937
as Clark
MovieYou Only Live Once
1937
as Police Inspector (uncredited)
MovieWoman in Distress
1937
as Editor Herbert Claxton
MovieFind the Witness
1937
as Charley Blair (uncredited)
MovieMind Your Own Business
1936
as Detective
MovieLegion of Terror
1936
as Colonel McCollum (as Charles Wilson)
MovieThe Magnificent Brute
1936
as Murphy
MovieMurder with Pictures
1936
as Assistant Editor (uncredited)
MovieDown the Stretch
1936
as Tex Reardon
MovieThe Gentleman from Louisiana
1936
as Diamond Jim Brady
I'd Give My Life
1936
as Warden
MovieGrand Jury
1936
as City Editor
MovieEarthworm Tractors
1936
as H.J. Russell
Movie36 Hours to Kill
1936
as F.B.I. Chief
MovieSatan Met a Lady
1936
as Detective Pollock
MovieShow Boat
1936
MovieThe Mine with the Iron Door
1936
as Pitkins
MoviePanic on the Air
1936
as Fitzgerald
MovieMr. Deeds Goes to Town
1936
as County Hospital Guard (uncredited)
MovieBig Brown Eyes
1936
as Prosecuting Attorney (Uncredited)
MovieThe Country Doctor
1936
as George the Boat Captain (uncredited)
MovieThe Return of Jimmy Valentine
1936
as Kelley
MovieStrike Me Pink
1936
as Hardie
MovieHitch Hike Lady
1935
as Mike - a Racketeer
MovieWe're Only Human
1935
as Editor of The Daily Star
MovieWhite Lies
1935
as Defense Attorney (uncredited)
MovieShow Them No Mercy!
1935
as Clifford
MovieMary Burns, Fugitive
1935
as G-Man at dancehall
MovieMusic Is Magic
1935
as Decker - Theatre Manager (uncredited)
MovieThe Case of the Lucky Legs
1935
as Police Officer Ricker
MovieWaterfront Lady
1935
as Jim McFee aka Mac
MovieThe Public Menace
1935
as First Detective
MovieSmart Girl
1935
as Morgan (uncredited)
MovieAfter the Dance
1935
as Chief of Police
MovieThe Glass Key
1935
as District Attorney Edward J. Farr
MovieThe Nitwits
1935
as Police Captain Jennings
MovieMurder in the Fleet
1935
as Commander Brown (Uncredited)
MovieAir Hawks
1935
as Newspaper editor
MovieMen of the Hour
1935
as Harper
MovieThe Case of the Curious Bride
1935
as Ferry Captain (uncredited)
MovieBaby Face Harrington
1935
as City Editor (uncredited)
MovieFour Hours to Kill!
1935
as Taft
MovieThe Perfect Clue
1935
as District Attorney
MovieCar 99
1935
as Trooper Captain Ryan
MovieThe Great Hotel Murder
1935
as Anthony Wilson
MovieThe Gilded Lily
1935
as Managing Editor
MovieHere Is My Heart
1934
as Captain Dodge (uncredited)
MovieMurder in the Clouds
1934
as Lackey
MovieMen of the Night
1934
as Benson
MovieThe St. Louis Kid
1934
as Mr. Harris
MoviePort of Lost Dreams
1934
as Warden
MovieThe Human Side
1934
as Furniture Buyer (uncredited)
MovieEmbarrassing Moments
1934
as Attorney
MovieThe Dragon Murder Case
1934
as Det. Hennessey
MovieName the Woman
1934
as Joel Walker
MovieThe Circus Clown
1934
as Sheldon
MovieThe Hell Cat
1934
as Graham
MovieFog Over Frisco
1934
as Detective Sergeant O'Hagen
MovieAffairs of a Gentleman
1934
as Inspector Quillan
MovieI Believed in You
1934
as Magistrate
MovieIt Happened One Night
1934
as Joe Gordon
MovieThe 9th Guest
1934
as Burke (Uncredited)
MovieCross Country Cruise
1934
as Detective (Uncredited)
MovieMiss Fane's Baby Is Stolen
1934
as Chief of Police
MovieShadows of Sing Sing
1933
MovieHavana Widows
1933
as Mr. Timberg
MovieFemale
1933
as Private Detective Falihee (Uncredited)
MovieCollege Coach
1933
as Charles Hauser
MovieThe Kennel Murder Case
1933
as Detective Hennessy (uncredited)
MovieNo Marriage Ties
1933
as Red Moran, City Desk Editor
MovieMary Stevens, M.D.
1933
as Walter Rising
MovieDisgraced!
1933
as Thompson, Assistant District Attorney
MovieThe Mayor of Hell
1933
as Wilson (uncredited)
MoviePrivate Detective 62
1933
as Club Bartender (Uncredited)
MovieGold Diggers of 1933
1933
as Deputy (uncredited)
MovieElmer, the Great
1933
as Mr. Wade (as Charles Wilson)
MovieHard to Handle
1933
as Jailer (uncredited)
MovieThe Trans-Atlantic Mystery
1932
as Detective Doyle (uncredited)
The Campus Mystery
1932
as Detective Reardon
MovieHot News Margie
1931
as Newspaper Editor (uncredited)
MovieMy Sin
1931
as Guest in Pool Party
MovieStolen Heaven
1931
as Detective
MovieInsurance
1930
as Doctor (uncredited)
MovieGetting a Ticket
1930
as Motorcycle Cop
MovieAcquitted
1929
as Nelson
MovieSong of Love
1929
as Traveling Salesman
MovieBroadway Scandals
1929
as Jack
