Jack Carson

Biography

Jack Carson was a Canadian-born American actor known for comedic friend roles in films of the 1940s and 1950s. Born in Carman, Manitoba, and raised in Milwaukee, he discovered acting at Carleton College, where a stage mishap led him to team with Dave Willock in vaudeville. He also worked in radio, hosting The New Jack Carson Show, and began getting bit parts at RKO, including Bringing Up Baby (1938). A role as an undercover agent in Enemy Agent brought a Warner Bros. contract, where he was teamed with Dennis Morgan in popular Two Guys pictures and appeared in comedies such as The Strawberry Blonde (1941) and Arsenic and Old Lace (1944). Critics generally agreed his best work was Mildred Pierce (1945), and he received accolades for A Star Is Born (1954). He later played Cooper Pollitt, called Gooper, in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958), hosted television variety programs, and earned two Hollywood Walk of Fame stars in 1960.

52years old at death

Born October 27, 1910Carman
Died January 2, 1963Encino
Star sign: ScorpioThe sign runs October 23 to November 21
Also credited as John Elmer Carson

Movie Career

Films: 36
Career span: 24 years1937 to 1961

Genres

Comedy61%, 22 films
Romance53%, 19 films
Drama42%, 15 films
Crime25%, 9 films
Music14%, 5 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

First role
Carson stood 6 ft 2 in and 220 lb, and his size led to his first stage role in a collegiate production as Hercules. He tripped during a performance and took half the set down with him.
Beyond film
Carson's radio show The New Jack Carson Show broke audience records regularly during its four years on the air, with Hollywood's biggest stars lining up for guest spots.

Jack Carson movies on Netflix

King of the Roaring 20's – The Story of Arnold Rothstein1961IMDb rating 5.6as Timothy W. 'Big Tim' O'Brien
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof1958IMDb rating 7.9as Gooper
Rally 'Round the Flag, Boys!1958IMDb rating 5.9as Captain Hoxie
The Tarnished Angels1957IMDb rating 7.1as Jiggs
The Tattered Dress1957IMDb rating 6.5as Sheriff Nick Hoak
The Bottom of the Bottle1956IMDb rating 6.5as Hal Breckinridge
A Star Is Born1954IMDb rating 7.5as Matt Libby
Phffft1954IMDb rating 6.6as Charlie Nelson
Dangerous When Wet1953IMDb rating 6.3as Windy Webbe
The Groom Wore Spurs1951IMDb rating 5.4as Ben Castle
Bright Leaf1950IMDb rating 6.7as Chris Malley
It's a Great Feeling1949IMDb rating 6.4as Jack Carson
My Dream Is Yours1949IMDb rating 6.6as Doug Blake
Romance on the High Seas1948IMDb rating 7.1as Peter Virgil
Mildred Pierce1945IMDb rating 7.9as Wally Fay
Arsenic and Old Lace1944IMDb rating 7.9as O'Hara
Hollywood Canteen1944IMDb rating 7.0as Himself
Princess O'Rourke1943IMDb rating 6.7as Dave Campbell
Thank Your Lucky Stars1943IMDb rating 6.7as Jack Carson
The Hard Way1943IMDb rating 7.1as Albert Runkel
Gentleman Jim1942IMDb rating 7.5as Walter Lawrie
Larceny, Inc.1942IMDb rating 7.3as Jeff Randolph
Blues in the Night1941IMDb rating 6.7as Leo Powell
Love Crazy1941IMDb rating 7.4as Ward Willoughby
Mr. & Mrs. Smith1941IMDb rating 6.3as Chuck
The Bride Came C.O.D.1941IMDb rating 6.9as Allen Brice
The Strawberry Blonde1941IMDb rating 7.2as Hugo Barnstead
Destry Rides Again1939IMDb rating 7.6as Jack Tyndall
Fifth Avenue Girl1939IMDb rating 6.8as Minnesota
Bringing Up Baby1938IMDb rating 7.8as Circus Roustabout
Carefree1938IMDb rating 6.9as Connors
Law of the Underworld1938IMDb rating 5.5as Johnny
The Saint in New York1938IMDb rating 6.3as Red Jenks
Vivacious Lady1938IMDb rating 7.1as Waiter Captain
Stage Door1937IMDb rating 7.7as Mr. Milbanks
You Only Live Once1937IMDb rating 7.2as Attendant in First Gas Station

Best known for

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

Top

Mildred Pierce1945 Crime, Drama, Film-Noiras Wally Fay
IMDb rating 7.932K votes
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof1958 Dramaas Gooper
IMDb rating 7.958K votes
A Star Is Born1954as Matt Libby
IMDb rating 7.521K votes
Arsenic and Old Lace1944as O'Hara
IMDb rating 7.978K votes
Mr. & Mrs. Smith1941as Chuck
IMDb rating 6.312K votes
Romance on the High Seas1948as Peter Virgil
IMDb rating 7.13.1K votes
Gentleman Jim1942as Walter Lawrie
IMDb rating 7.54.6K votes
The Tarnished Angels1957as Jiggs
IMDb rating 7.14.5K votes

Most often with

Michael Curtiz directed four of these films, Gregory La Cava two and Raoul Walsh two. Franklin Pangborn appears in six 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.

Top

Franklin Pangborn

Ginger Rogers

George Tobias

Paul Guilfoyle

Ward Bond

Bette DavisMichael CurtizDirector, 4 films Gregory La CavaDirector, 2 films

Raoul WalshDirector, 2 films

Films together

Franklin Pangborn6 films together, 1937 to 1949
Franklin Pangborn's page
- My Dream Is Yours1949IMDb rating 6.6Carson as Doug BlakePangborn as Sourpuss Manager
- Romance on the High Seas1948IMDb rating 7.1Carson as Peter VirgilPangborn as Rio Hotel Clerk
- Fifth Avenue Girl1939IMDb rating 6.8Carson as MinnesotaPangborn as Higgins
- Carefree1938IMDb rating 6.9Carson as ConnorsPangborn as Roland Hunter
- Vivacious Lady1938IMDb rating 7.1Carson as Waiter CaptainPangborn as Apartment Manager
- Stage Door1937IMDb rating 7.7Carson as Mr. MilbanksPangborn as Harcourt
Ginger Rogers5 films together, 1937 to 1951
Ginger Rogers's page
- The Groom Wore Spurs1951IMDb rating 5.4Carson as Ben CastleRogers as 'A.J.' Furnival
- Fifth Avenue Girl1939IMDb rating 6.8Carson as MinnesotaRogers as Mary Grey
- Carefree1938IMDb rating 6.9Carson as ConnorsRogers as Amanda Cooper
- Vivacious Lady1938IMDb rating 7.1Carson as Waiter CaptainRogers as Francey
- Stage Door1937IMDb rating 7.7Carson as Mr. MilbanksRogers as Jean Maitland
George Tobias4 films together, 1941 to 1957
George Tobias's page
- The Tattered Dress1957IMDb rating 6.5Carson as Sheriff Nick HoakTobias as Billy Giles
- Thank Your Lucky Stars1943IMDb rating 6.7Carson as Jack CarsonTobias as George Tobias
- The Bride Came C.O.D.1941IMDb rating 6.9Carson as Allen BriceTobias as Peewee Defoe
- The Strawberry Blonde1941IMDb rating 7.2Carson as Hugo BarnsteadTobias as Nicholas Pappalas
Paul Guilfoyle4 films together, 1938
Paul Guilfoyle's page
- Bringing Up Baby1938IMDb rating 7.8Carson as Circus Roustabout
- Carefree1938IMDb rating 6.9Carson as ConnorsGuilfoyle as Elevator Starter
- Law of the Underworld1938IMDb rating 5.5Carson as JohnnyGuilfoyle as Batsy
- The Saint in New York1938IMDb rating 6.3Carson as Red JenksGuilfoyle as Hymie Fanro
Ward Bond3 films together, 1937 to 1942
Ward Bond's page
- Gentleman Jim1942IMDb rating 7.5Carson as Walter LawrieBond as John L. Sullivan
- Bringing Up Baby1938IMDb rating 7.8Carson as Circus RoustaboutBond as Motorcycle Cop
- You Only Live Once1937IMDb rating 7.2Carson as Attendant in First Gas StationBond as Casey - Guard
Bette Davis3 films together, 1941 to 1944
Bette Davis's page
- Hollywood Canteen1944IMDb rating 7.0Carson as HimselfDavis as Himself
- Thank Your Lucky Stars1943IMDb rating 6.7Carson as Jack CarsonDavis as Bette Davis
- The Bride Came C.O.D.1941IMDb rating 6.9Carson as Allen BriceDavis as Joan Winfield
Michael CurtizDirector, 4 films, 1945 to 1950
All films by Michael Curtiz
- Bright Leaf1950IMDb rating 6.7Carson as Chris Malley
- My Dream Is Yours1949IMDb rating 6.6Carson as Doug Blake
- Romance on the High Seas1948IMDb rating 7.1Carson as Peter Virgil
- Mildred Pierce1945IMDb rating 7.9Carson as Wally Fay
Gregory La CavaDirector, 2 films, 1937 to 1939
All films by Gregory La Cava
- Fifth Avenue Girl1939IMDb rating 6.8Carson as Minnesota
- Stage Door1937IMDb rating 7.7Carson as Mr. Milbanks
Raoul WalshDirector, 2 films, 1941 to 1942
All films by Raoul Walsh
- Gentleman Jim1942IMDb rating 7.5Carson as Walter Lawrie
- The Strawberry Blonde1941IMDb rating 7.2Carson as Hugo Barnstead
Also three films together10 more actors
- Joan CrawfordIt's a Great Feeling (1949), Mildred Pierce (1945) and Hollywood Canteen (1944)
- Alan HaleThank Your Lucky Stars (1943), Gentleman Jim (1942) and The Strawberry Blonde (1941)
- Doris DayIt's a Great Feeling (1949), My Dream Is Yours (1949) and Romance on the High Seas (1948)
- Harry DavenportPrincess O'Rourke (1943), Larceny, Inc. (1942) and The Bride Came C.O.D. (1941)
- Olivia de HavillandPrincess O'Rourke (1943), Thank Your Lucky Stars (1943) and The Strawberry Blonde (1941)
- Stanley BlystoneLaw of the Underworld (1938), The Saint in New York (1938) and You Only Live Once (1937)
- Eve ArdenMy Dream Is Yours (1949), Mildred Pierce (1945) and Stage Door (1937)
- Dennis MorganIt's a Great Feeling (1949), Thank Your Lucky Stars (1943) and The Hard Way (1943)
- S.Z. SakallMy Dream Is Yours (1949), Romance on the High Seas (1948) and Thank Your Lucky Stars (1943)
- Kay SuttonCarefree (1938), The Saint in New York (1938) and Vivacious Lady (1938)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.