

Cast & creator
Best known for It's a Wonderful Life, It Happened One Night, Gold Diggers of 1933
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).
Also known as: Charles Cahill Wilson, Charles Wilson, Чарльз Кэхилл Уилсон, Чарльз Кэхилл Вильсон, Чарльз К. Уилсон
173
film credits
0
television credits
172
1929–1956 · acting roles
6.6
average across scored titles
Signature credits
Across film & television
Showing 173 of 173 credits

Charlie (uncredited)
1946
Joe Gordon
1934
Deputy (uncredited)
1933
Police Captain
1942
County Hospital Guard (uncredited)
1936
Police Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
1947
Mike Williams (uncredited)
1940

Policeman (uncredited)
1939
Watchman (uncredited)
1945
Police Inspector (uncredited)
1937
Charlie Dawson
1941

Wilson (uncredited)
1933
Det. Kincaid
1939
Bill - Man Behind MacPherson at Fight (uncredited)
1940
Gambler (uncredited)
1940
Capt. Kilrane
1939
Horse Auctioneer (uncredited)
1937
Brant - City Editor (uncredited)
1945
Arresting Officer (uncredited)
1939
Detective Pollock
1936
Gurney (uncredited)
1942
George Martin (uncredited)
1940
Captain Arnold
1943

Ferry Captain (uncredited)
1935
Sergeant
1940
Policeman Chiding School Bus Driver (uncredited)
1937
Warden
1940
Chief of Police Will Gentry (as Charles Wilson)
1946
Commander Brown (Uncredited)
1935
Hi Johns
1945
Chief O'Brien
1941
Fitzgerald
1936
Editor of The Daily Star
1935
Covered Wagon Cafe Manager
1938
Managing Editor
1935
Harper
1935
Detective Hennessy (uncredited)
1933
Captain Dodge (uncredited)
1934
Walter Rising
1933
Mortimer Gray
1937
Chase
1938
Mike Cavanaugh
1939
Inspector Jim C. Gregg
1938
Det. Hennessey
1934
Official Policeman (uncredited)
1946

Hamilton Burger
1937
Police Officer Ricker
1935
Police Captain Hart
1941
Detective
1936
Mr. Harris
1934
Police Sergeant
1942
Sergeant
1940
Diamond Jim Brady
1936
Chief of Police
1934
Fletcher
1937
F.B.I. Chief
1936
Inspector Mensil
1942
Detective Sergeant O'Hagen
1934
Police Inspector Simpson
1937
Coach Burke
1938
Sam Jonas
1944

Newspaper Editor
1941
Inspector
1938
Taft
1935
Police Chief
1939
Anthony Wilson
1935
Private Detective Falihee (Uncredited)
1933
Benson
1934
Kelley
1936
Cummings
1937
R.J. Reynolds, Sunday Editor (uncredited)
1940
Police Capt. Wallace (uncredited)
1937
District Attorney Hyatt
1944
Inspector Quillan
1934
Police Lieutenant
1946
Mac Ellis (uncredited)
1944
Mr. Wade (as Charles Wilson)
1933
Burke (Uncredited)
1934
Jailer (uncredited)
1933
Clark
1937
Schwartz (uncredited)
1937
Tom Burke
1937
Magistrate
1934
Managing Editor
1939
Lackey
1934
G-Man at dancehall
1935
Lonigan
1938
Chief of Police (uncredited)
1945
Prosecuting Attorney (Uncredited)
1936
Attorney
1934
Vincent Brady, Commissioner of Police
1940
Chief Gentry (as Charles Wilson)
1946
Clifford
1935
Hardie
1936
Red Moran, City Desk Editor
1933
Traveling Salesman
1929
Mayor Ace Brockway
1948
Desk Sgt. Cullen
1942
Charley Blair (uncredited)
1937
Warden
1934
Pitkins
1936
George the Boat Captain (uncredited)
1936
C.L. Reardon - Managing Editor (as Charles Wilson)
1942
Morgan (uncredited)
1935
Jim McFee aka Mac
1935
District Attorney McNamara
1942
Coach Hap Farrell
1939
Club Bartender (Uncredited)
1933Warden
1936
Decker - Theatre Manager (uncredited)
1935
City Editor (uncredited)
1935
Warden (uncredited)
1947
H.J. Russell
1936
Detective
1942
Guest in Pool Party
1931
J.L. Cameron
1948
Detective Doyle (uncredited)
1932

Charles Hauser
1933
Detective (as Charles Wilson)
1941
J.L. Cameron - Managing Editor (archive footage)
1956
Bruce Lane
1941
Reardon
1938
District Attorney Edward J. Farr
1935
Sheldon
1934
Mr. Timberg
1933
Tex Reardon
1936
Graham
1934
Chief of Police
1935
Defense Attorney (uncredited)
1935
Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
1940
Editor of the Chronicle (uncredited)
1948
Newspaper editor
1935
Sam Garvin
1937
Editor Herbert Claxton
1937
Police Captain Jennings
1935
Mike - a Racketeer
1935
Colonel McCollum (as Charles Wilson)
1936
Captain Halstead
1938
Mr. Hawkins
1943
Thompson, Assistant District Attorney
1933
Albert
1939
Police Sergeant
1946
Inspector Simpson
1937
Commissioner
1938
Assistant Editor (uncredited)
1936
Joel Walker
1934
Becker
1938
Detective (Uncredited)
1934
City Editor
1936Detective Reardon
1932
Trooper Captain Ryan
1935
Jack
1929
Inspector Shannon
1946
Owen
1940
Murphy
1936
Police Chief
1937
Furniture Buyer (uncredited)
1934
First Detective
1935
District Attorney
1935
Nelson
1929
Director
1929
Spencer Bogart
1939
Newspaper Editor (uncredited)
1931
Detective
1931
Doctor (uncredited)
1930
Motorcycle Cop
1930Harry's Boss
1947