Acting
Jack Carson
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.
Filmography
I Don't Even Like Apple Pie...
Film · 1989
James Stewart: A Wonderful Life
Film · 1987
Going Hollywood: The '30s
Film · 1984
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
Film · 1983
The Children of Alda Nuova
Film · 1962
Sammy, the Way-Out Seal
Film · 1962
King of the Roaring 20's – The Story of Arnold Rothstein
Film · 1961
Who Killed Julie Greer?
Film · 1961
Bus Stop
Series · 1961
The Mike Douglas Show
Series · 1961
The Bramble Bush
Film · 1960
Thriller
Series · 1960
The Twilight Zone
Series · 1959
Bonanza
Series · 1959
Startime
Series · 1959
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Film · 1958
Rally 'Round the Flag, Boys!
Film · 1958
The Tarnished Angels
Film · 1957
The Tattered Dress
Film · 1957
Three Men on a Horse
Film · 1957
Alcoa Theatre
Series · 1957
Alcoa Theatre
Series · 1957
Alcoa Theatre
Series · 1957
The Polly Bergen Show
Series · 1957
The Bottom of the Bottle
Film · 1956
Magnificent Roughnecks
Film · 1956
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
Series · 1956
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
Series · 1956
The Steve Allen Show
Series · 1956
Ain't Misbehavin'
Film · 1955
Arroyo
Film · 1955
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Series · 1955
Screen Director's Playhouse
Series · 1955
The Bob Cummings Show
Series · 1955
A Star Is Born
Film · 1954
Phffft
Film · 1954
Red Garters
Film · 1954
A Star Is Born World Premiere
Film · 1954
Climax!
Series · 1954
The George Gobel Show
Series · 1954
The Wonderful World of Disney
Series · 1954
Climax!
Series · 1954
Dangerous When Wet
Film · 1953
General Electric Theater
Series · 1953
General Electric Theater
Series · 1953
This Is Your Life
Series · 1952
The Ford Television Theatre
Series · 1952
The Groom Wore Spurs
Film · 1951
Mister Universe
Film · 1951
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Series · 1951
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Series · 1951
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Series · 1951
Bright Leaf
Film · 1950
The Good Humor Man
Film · 1950
Lux Video Theatre
Series · 1950
Your Show of Shows
Series · 1950
The Colgate Comedy Hour
Series · 1950
Four Star Revue
Series · 1950
Lux Video Theatre
Series · 1950
What's My Line?
Series · 1950
My Dream Is Yours
Film · 1949
It's a Great Feeling
Film · 1949
John Loves Mary
Film · 1949
Romance on the High Seas
Film · 1948
April Showers
Film · 1948
Two Guys from Texas
Film · 1948
Studio One
Series · 1948
So You Want to Be in Pictures
Film · 1947
Love and Learn
Film · 1947
Always Together
Film · 1947
The Time, The Place and The Girl
Film · 1946
Two Guys from Milwaukee
Film · 1946
One More Tomorrow
Film · 1946
Okay for Sound
Film · 1946
Mildred Pierce
Film · 1945
Roughly Speaking
Film · 1945
Arsenic and Old Lace
Film · 1944
Hollywood Canteen
Film · 1944
Make Your Own Bed
Film · 1944
The Doughgirls
Film · 1944
The Road to Victory
Film · 1944
The Shining Future
Film · 1944
Shine on Harvest Moon
Film · 1944
Breakdowns of 1944
Film · 1944
Princess O'Rourke
Film · 1943
The Hard Way
Film · 1943
Thank Your Lucky Stars
Film · 1943
Food and Magic
Film · 1943
Gentleman Jim
Film · 1942
Larceny, Inc.
Film · 1942
The Male Animal
Film · 1942
Wings for the Eagle
Film · 1942
Breakdowns of 1942
Film · 1942
Love Crazy
Film · 1941
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Film · 1941
Blues in the Night
Film · 1941
The Bride Came C.O.D.
Film · 1941
The Strawberry Blonde
Film · 1941
Navy Blues
Film · 1941
Breakdowns of 1941
Film · 1941
Girl in 313
Film · 1940
Queen of the Mob
Film · 1940
Lucky Partners
Film · 1940
Typhoon
Film · 1940
Love Thy Neighbor
Film · 1940
Shooting High
Film · 1940
Alias the Deacon
Film · 1940
Parole Fixer
Film · 1940
I Take This Woman
Film · 1940
Enemy Agent
Film · 1940
City of Chance
Film · 1940
Sandy Gets Her Man
Film · 1940
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Film · 1939
Destry Rides Again
Film · 1939
The Escape
Film · 1939
Fifth Avenue Girl
Film · 1939
The Kid From Texas
Film · 1939
Legion of Lost Flyers
Film · 1939
The Honeymoon's Over
Film · 1939
Bringing Up Baby
Film · 1938
Carefree
Film · 1938
Having Wonderful Time
Film · 1938
The Saint in New York
Film · 1938
This Marriage Business
Film · 1938
Law of the Underworld
Film · 1938
Maid's Night Out
Film · 1938
Mr. Doodle Kicks Off
Film · 1938
Go Chase Yourself
Film · 1938
Crashing Hollywood
Film · 1938
Night Spot
Film · 1938
Condemned Women
Film · 1938
Everybody's Doing It
Film · 1938
Vivacious Lady
Film · 1938
Next Time I Marry
Film · 1938
A Rented Riot
Film · 1937
Stage Door
Film · 1937
Stand-In
Film · 1937
Too Many Wives
Film · 1937
She's Got Everything
Film · 1937
Quick Money
Film · 1937
High Flyers
Film · 1937
On Again—Off Again
Film · 1937
Harris in the Spring
Film · 1937
You Only Live Once
Film · 1937
Music for Madame
Film · 1937