Charles C. Wilson

Biography

Charles C. Wilson was an American stage and screen actor whose film work ran from the late 1920s into the late 1940s. He began in the theater, taking parts in Broadway productions between 1918 and 1931, then moved to films; in 1928 he directed and acted in the comedy Lucky Boy. His best-known part was probably the newspaper boss to Clark Gable in the Frank Capra comedy It Happened One Night (1934), a winner of five Academy Awards, and he had small roles in other Capra pictures, including It's a Wonderful Life (1946) and Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936). He freelanced at various studios, though much of his work was at Columbia Pictures, where he appeared in serials such as Batman (1943), The Secret Code (1943) and The Spider's Web (1938), and in comedy shorts with Hugh Herbert, Harry Von Zell and The Three Stooges. His final film, Blazing Across the Pecos (1948), cast him as the villain.

53years old at death

Born July 29, 1894New York City
Died January 7, 1948Los Angeles County
Star sign: LeoThe sign runs July 23 to August 22
Also credited as Charles Cahill Wilson and Charles Wilson

Movie Career

Films: 16
Career span: 11 years1931 to 1942

Genres

Comedy44%, 7 films
Drama44%, 7 films
Crime38%, 6 films
Mystery31%, 5 films
Romance31%, 5 films

First and latest

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Behind the camera
Wilson directed the Hollywood comedy Lucky Boy in 1928, and he also made his film debut there. The Internet Movie Database lists Lucky Boy as his only directing credit.
First role
Charles Wilson started out as an actor at the theater. His stage work included parts in six plays staged on Broadway from 1918 to 1931.
Big break
Wilson's best known part was Clark Gable's newspaper boss in Frank Capra's comedy It Happened One Night. That film took five Academy Awards in 1935.
A first
Wilson played the villain opposite cowboy hero Charles Starrett in Blazing Across the Pecos (1948), which turned out to be his last film.

Charles C. Wilson movies on Netflix

Lady Gangster1942IMDb rating 5.8as Detective(Charles Wilson)
This Gun for Hire1942IMDb rating 7.3as Police Captain
Dressed to Kill1941IMDb rating 6.5as Newspaper Editor
Meet John Doe1941IMDb rating 7.6as Charlie Dawson
The Face Behind the Mask1941IMDb rating 7.1as Chief O'Brien
The Return of Doctor X1939IMDb rating 5.7as Det. Kincaid
Night Key1937IMDb rating 6.3as Police Capt. Wallace
Earthworm Tractors1936IMDb rating 6.3as H.J. Russell
Satan Met a Lady1936IMDb rating 5.8as Detective Pollock
The Case of the Lucky Legs1935IMDb rating 6.5as Police Officer Ricker(Charles Wilson)
The Gilded Lily1935IMDb rating 6.7as Managing Editor
It Happened One Night1934IMDb rating 8.1as Gordon
Female1933IMDb rating 6.7as Private Detective Falihee
Gold Diggers of 19331933IMDb rating 7.7as Deputy
Mary Stevens, M.D.1933IMDb rating 6.6as Walter Rising(Charles Wilson)
My Sin1931IMDb rating 6.5as Guest in Pool Party

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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It Happened One Night1934 Comedy, Romanceas Gordon
IMDb rating 8.1121K votes
The Return of Doctor X1939 Horror, Mystery, Sci-Fias Det. Kincaid
IMDb rating 5.72.9K votes
This Gun for Hire1942as Police Captain
IMDb rating 7.312K votes
Satan Met a Lady1936as Detective Pollock
IMDb rating 5.82.7K votes
The Face Behind the Mask1941as Chief O'Brien
IMDb rating 7.12.5K votes
Meet John Doe1941as Charlie Dawson
IMDb rating 7.617K votes
Mary Stevens, M.D.1933as Walter Rising(Charles Wilson)
IMDb rating 6.6674 votes
Gold Diggers of 19331933as Deputy
IMDb rating 7.710K votes

Most often with

Frank Capra directed two of these films, William Dieterle two and Robert Florey two. Olin Howland appears in five of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Olin Howland

Irving Bacon

Joseph Crehan

Warren William

Ward Bond

Ernie Adams

Frank CapraDirector, 2 films William DieterleDirector, 2 films Robert FloreyDirector, 2 films

Films together

Olin Howland5 films together, 1935 to 1942
Olin Howland's page
- This Gun for Hire1942IMDb rating 7.3Wilson as Police CaptainHowland as Blair Fletcher
- The Return of Doctor X1939IMDb rating 5.7Wilson as Det. KincaidHowland as Undertaker
- Earthworm Tractors1936IMDb rating 6.3Wilson as H.J. RussellHowland as Mr. Blair
- Satan Met a Lady1936IMDb rating 5.8Wilson as Detective PollockHowland as Detective Dunhill
- The Case of the Lucky Legs1935IMDb rating 6.5Wilson as Police Officer Ricker(Charles Wilson)Howland as Dr. Croker
Irving Bacon3 films together, 1934 to 1941
Irving Bacon's page
- Meet John Doe1941IMDb rating 7.6Wilson as Charlie DawsonBacon as Beany
- Earthworm Tractors1936IMDb rating 6.3Wilson as H.J. RussellBacon as Taxicab Driver
- It Happened One Night1934IMDb rating 8.1Wilson as GordonBacon as Gas Station Attendant
Joseph Crehan3 films together, 1935 to 1939
Joseph Crehan's page
- The Return of Doctor X1939IMDb rating 5.7Wilson as Det. KincaidCrehan as Editor
- Earthworm Tractors1936IMDb rating 6.3Wilson as H.J. RussellCrehan as Mr. Henderson
- The Case of the Lucky Legs1935IMDb rating 6.5Wilson as Police Officer Ricker(Charles Wilson)Crehan as Detective Johnson
Warren William3 films together, 1933 to 1936
Warren William's page
- Satan Met a Lady1936IMDb rating 5.8Wilson as Detective PollockWilliam as Ted Shane
- The Case of the Lucky Legs1935IMDb rating 6.5Wilson as Police Officer Ricker(Charles Wilson)William as Perry Mason
- Gold Diggers of 19331933IMDb rating 7.7Wilson as DeputyWilliam as J. Lawrence Bradford
Ward Bond2 films together, 1934 to 1937
Ward Bond's page
- Night Key1937IMDb rating 6.3Wilson as Police Capt. WallaceBond as Fingers
- It Happened One Night1934IMDb rating 8.1Wilson as GordonBond as Bus Driver
Ernie Adams2 films together, 1934 to 1941
Ernie Adams's page
- The Face Behind the Mask1941IMDb rating 7.1Wilson as Chief O'BrienAdams as Hotel Guest
- It Happened One Night1934IMDb rating 8.1Wilson as GordonAdams as Bag Thief
Frank CapraDirector, 2 films, 1934 to 1941
All films by Frank Capra
- Meet John Doe1941IMDb rating 7.6Wilson as Charlie Dawson
- It Happened One Night1934IMDb rating 8.1Wilson as Gordon
William DieterleDirector, 2 films, 1933 to 1936
All films by William Dieterle
- Satan Met a Lady1936IMDb rating 5.8Wilson as Detective Pollock
- Female1933IMDb rating 6.7Wilson as Private Detective Falihee
Robert FloreyDirector, 2 films, 1941 to 1942
All films by Robert Florey
- Lady Gangster1942IMDb rating 5.8Wilson as Detective(Charles Wilson)
- The Face Behind the Mask1941IMDb rating 7.1Wilson as Chief O'Brien
Also two films together17 more actors
- Gene LockhartMeet John Doe (1941) and Earthworm Tractors (1936)
- Porter HallSatan Met a Lady (1936) and The Case of the Lucky Legs (1935)
- Charles ArntThis Gun for Hire (1942) and Dressed to Kill (1941)
- Lyle TalbotThe Case of the Lucky Legs (1935) and Mary Stevens, M.D. (1933)
- Guy KibbeeEarthworm Tractors (1936) and Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933)
- William B. DavidsonEarthworm Tractors (1936) and Satan Met a Lady (1936)
- Claudette ColbertThe Gilded Lily (1935) and It Happened One Night (1934)
- Virginia BrissacLady Gangster (1942) and Dressed to Kill (1941)
- Eric BloreGold Diggers of 1933 (1933) and My Sin (1931)
- Edward GarganThe Gilded Lily (1935) and Mary Stevens, M.D. (1933)
- Frank DarienSatan Met a Lady (1936) and Female (1933)
- Hobart CavanaughNight Key (1937) and Mary Stevens, M.D. (1933)
- Warren HymerMeet John Doe (1941) and The Gilded Lily (1935)
- Chuck HamiltonNight Key (1937) and Mary Stevens, M.D. (1933)
- Vera LewisLady Gangster (1942) and The Return of Doctor X (1939)
- May BeattyDressed to Kill (1941) and Satan Met a Lady (1936)
- Walter WalkerFemale (1933) and Mary Stevens, M.D. (1933)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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