Cast & creator
Jack Carson
Best known for The Mike Douglas Show, Bonanza, What's My Line?
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.
Also known as: John Elmer Carson
111
film credits
34
television credits
145
1937–1989 · acting roles
6.6
average across scored titles
Signature credits
Known for
Across film & television
Filmography (145)
Showing 145 of 145 credits
The Mike Douglas Show
Self
1961
Bonanza
Henry T.P. Comstock
1959
What's My Line?
Self
1950
Climax!
Art Shaddick
1954Climax!
Eugene Skinner
1954
The Twilight Zone
Harvey Hunnicut
1959
Studio One
Harry Breen
1948
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
Sundown Smith
1956
The Colgate Comedy Hour
Self - Host
1950
The Steve Allen Show
Self
1956
Thriller
Burt Lewis
1960
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
Self
1956
The Ford Television Theatre
Dan Doyle
1952
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Frankie Fane
1955
The Bob Cummings Show
Jack Carson
1955
This Is Your Life
Self
1952
Your Show of Shows
1950Lux Video Theatre
Garrison
1950Lux Video Theatre
John Mulligan
1950The George Gobel Show
Self
1954
Startime
Albert Maddon
1959
Alcoa Theatre
Augie Adams
1957Alcoa Theatre
Bert Kennedy
1957Alcoa Theatre
1957
Screen Director's Playhouse
Lamar Kendall
1955
The Wonderful World of Disney
Harold Sylvester
1954
Bus Stop
1961
General Electric Theater
Joe Bushwick
1953General Electric Theater
1953
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Gooper Pollitt
1958
A Star Is Born
Matt Libby
1954
Arsenic and Old Lace
Officer Patrick O'Hara
1944
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Sweeney Farrell (uncredited)
1939
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Danny Scott
1951Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Harry Mauldron
1951Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Sid Devlin
1951
Mildred Pierce
Wally Fay
1945
Bringing Up Baby
Circus Roustabout (uncredited)
1938
Vivacious Lady
Waiter Captain
1938
You Only Live Once
Attendant in First Gas Station
1937
Rally 'Round the Flag, Boys!
Captain Hoxie
1958
Stage Door
Mr. Milbanks
1937
Destry Rides Again
Jack Tyndall
1939
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Chuck
1941
Romance on the High Seas
Peter Virgil
1948The Polly Bergen Show
Self
1957
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
1983
It's a Great Feeling
Jack Carson
1949
The Tarnished Angels
Jiggs
1957
My Dream Is Yours
Doug Blake
1949
Love Crazy
Ward Willoughby
1941
The Saint in New York
Red Jenks
1938
King of the Roaring 20's – The Story of Arnold Rothstein
Timothy W. 'Big Tim' O'Brien
1961
Gentleman Jim
Walter Lawrie
1942
Bright Leaf
Chris Malley
1950
Phffft
Charlie Nelson
1954
Thank Your Lucky Stars
Self
1943
James Stewart: A Wonderful Life
Self (archive footage)
1987
Sammy, the Way-Out Seal
Harold Sylvester
1962
Hollywood Canteen
Self
1944
Two Guys from Milwaukee
Buzz Williams
1946
Mister Universe
Jeff Clayton
1951
Dangerous When Wet
Windy Webbe
1953
The Kid From Texas
Stanley Brown
1939
I Take This Woman
Joe
1940
Going Hollywood: The '30s
(archive footage)
1984
The Bride Came C.O.D.
Allen Brice
1941
Blues in the Night
Leo Powell
1941
Fifth Avenue Girl
Minnesota (uncredited)
1939
Next Time I Marry
Radio Announcer (voice) (uncredited)
1938
Two Guys from Texas
Danny Foster
1948
Breakdowns of 1942
Self
1942
Queen of the Mob
Agent Ross Waring
1940
Maid's Night Out
Rollercoaster Ride Attendant (uncredited)
1938So You Want to Be in Pictures
Man Giving Directions (uncredited)
1947
The Male Animal
Joe Ferguson
1942
The Good Humor Man
Biff Jones
1950
The Time, The Place and The Girl
Jeff Howard
1946
Make Your Own Bed
Jerry Curtis
1944
The Strawberry Blonde
Hugo Barnstead
1941
She's Got Everything
Ransome (uncredited)
1937
The Tattered Dress
Sheriff Nick Hoak
1957
Breakdowns of 1941
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
1941
The Bottom of the Bottle
Hal Breckinridge
1956
Shine on Harvest Moon
The Great Georgetti
1944
Night Spot
Shallen
1938
The Doughgirls
Arthur Halstead
1944
Princess O'Rourke
Dave Campbell
1943
Sandy Gets Her Man
Policeman Tom Garrity
1940
Everybody's Doing It
Detective Lieutenant
1938
The Groom Wore Spurs
Ben Castle
1951
Law of the Underworld
Henchman Johnny
1938
Carefree
Connors
1938
Breakdowns of 1944
Self
1944
Mr. Doodle Kicks Off
Rochet
1938Four Star Revue
Host
1950
The Bramble Bush
Bert Mosley
1960
Larceny, Inc.
Jeff Randolph
1942
Who Killed Julie Greer?
Fairchild
1961
Wings for the Eagle
Brad Maple
1942
John Loves Mary
Fred Taylor
1949
The Honeymoon's Over
Tom Donroy
1939The Road to Victory
Jack Carson (uncredited)
1944
Navy Blues
'Buttons' Johnson
1941
Legion of Lost Flyers
Larry Barrigan
1939
The Hard Way
Albert Runkel
1943
A Star Is Born World Premiere
Self - Host
1954
The Children of Alda Nuova
Frankie Fane
1962
On Again—Off Again
Cop
1937
Too Many Wives
Hodges
1937
Three Men on a Horse
Patsy
1957
Lucky Partners
Frederick Harper
1940
Ain't Misbehavin'
Harold North
1955
Arroyo
Lamar Kendall
1955
Go Chase Yourself
Warren Miles
1938
Having Wonderful Time
Emil Beatty
1938
Girl in 313
Police Lt. Pat O'Farrell
1940
I Don't Even Like Apple Pie...
Self (archive footage)
1989
Parole Fixer
George Mattison
1940
Music for Madame
Assistant Director
1937
Okay for Sound
1946
Stand-In
Tom Potts
1937
Roughly Speaking
Harold C. Pierson
1945
Magnificent Roughnecks
Bix Decker
1956
Alias the Deacon
Sullivan
1940
Condemned Women
Plainclothes Policeman
1938
The Shining Future
Self
1944
This Marriage Business
"Candid" Perry
1938
Quick Money
Coach Woodford
1937
City of Chance
Narration - Prologue (voice)
1940
Love and Learn
Jingles Collins
1947
Harris in the Spring
Taxicab Driver
1937
The Escape
Chet Warren
1939
One More Tomorrow
Patrick 'Pat' Regan
1946
April Showers
Joe Tyme
1948
Always Together
Bill (uncredited)
1947
Shooting High
Gabby Cross
1940
Red Garters
Jason Carberry
1954
Crashing Hollywood
Dickson
1938
Love Thy Neighbor
Policeman
1940
High Flyers
Dave Hanlon
1937
Enemy Agent
Ralph
1940
Food and Magic
1943
Typhoon
Mate
1940