Richard Carlson

Biography

Richard Carlson was an American actor, director, and screenwriter who became best known for leading roles in science fiction and horror films. Born in Albert Lea, Minnesota, he studied drama at the University of Minnesota, then used a scholarship prize to open a repertory theater in Saint Paul before moving to California and New York. He made his Broadway debut in 1935 in Three Men on a Horse, and after a brief Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer contract he returned to the stage. David O. Selznick signed him for The Young in Heart (1938), his first feature. Carlson later appeared in King Solomon's Mines (1950), The Magnetic Monster (1953), The Maze (1953), It Came from Outer Space (1953), and Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954). He also starred in the television series I Led 3 Lives from 1953 to 1956 and directed films including Four Guns to the Border (1954). His final movie role was in Change of Habit (1969).

65years old at death

Born April 29, 1912Albert Lea
Died November 25, 1977Encino
Star sign: TaurusThe sign runs April 20 to May 20
Also credited as Richard Dutoit Carlson

Movie Career

Films: 23
Career span: 31 years1938 to 1969

Genres

Drama35%, 8 films
Horror30%, 7 films
Romance30%, 7 films
Sci-Fi26%, 6 films
Comedy22%, 5 films

First and latest

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First role
Carlson made his Broadway debut in 1935 in Three Men on a Horse, was spotted by an MGM talent scout and signed to a movie contract, but walked away after one uncredited short subject.
A role that slipped away
After that assignment, Carlson left his movie contract. MGM made its younger players take a long training course that fellow rookie Pinky Tomlin called "star school... 25 hours a day, eight days a week."
Behind the camera
While making King Solomon's Mines in Africa, Richard Carlson contributed a series of pieces to The Saturday Evening Post called "Diary of a Hollywood Safari." The 1950 adventure film, shot in the Kenya Colony and the Belgian Congo, also starred Deborah Kerr and Stewart Granger.
Big break
Carlson starred in The Magnetic Monster, a 1953 film that made him a popular figure in the newly re-emergent science fiction and horror genres. He went on to lead roles in The Maze, It Came from Outer Space and Creature from the Black Lagoon.
Behind the camera
Carlson's science fiction success led to him acting in and directing Riders to the Stars in 1954. He went on to direct Four Guns to the Border that same year.

Richard Carlson movies on Netflix

Change of Habit1969IMDb rating 6.0as Bishop Finley
The Valley of Gwangi1969IMDb rating 6.2as Champ
The Power1968IMDb rating 5.9as N. E. Van Zandt
The Doomsday Flight1966IMDb rating 6.5as Chief Pilot Bob Shea
Tormented1960IMDb rating 4.9as Tom Stewart
The Helen Morgan Story1957IMDb rating 6.3as Russell Wade
Creature from the Black Lagoon1954IMDb rating 6.9as Dr. David Reed
All I Desire1953IMDb rating 7.0as Henry Murdoch
It Came from Outer Space1953IMDb rating 6.5as John Putnam
Seminole1953IMDb rating 6.2as Major Degan
The Golden Blade1953IMDb rating 5.6as Narrator (voice)
The Magnetic Monster1953IMDb rating 5.7as Dr. Jeffrey Stewart
The Maze1953IMDb rating 5.8as Gerald MacTeam
King Solomon's Mines1950IMDb rating 6.7as John Goode
The Sound of Fury1950IMDb rating 7.2as Gil Stanton
The Amazing Mr. X1948IMDb rating 6.4as Martin Abbott
The Affairs of Martha1942IMDb rating 6.6as Jeff Sommerfield
Hold That Ghost1941IMDb rating 7.2as Doctor Jackson
The Little Foxes1941IMDb rating 7.9as David Hewitt
Beyond Tomorrow1940IMDb rating 6.5as James Houston
No, No, Nanette1940IMDb rating 5.3as Tom Gillespie
The Ghost Breakers1940IMDb rating 7.0as Geoff Montgomery
The Young in Heart1938IMDb rating 7.3as Duncan Macrae

Best known for

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

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Creature from the Black Lagoon1954 Adventure, Horror, Sci-Fias Dr. David Reed
IMDb rating 6.939K votes
It Came from Outer Space1953 Horror, Sci-Fias John Putnam
IMDb rating 6.513K votes
The Little Foxes1941as David Hewitt
IMDb rating 7.914K votes
King Solomon's Mines1950as John Goode
IMDb rating 6.78.0K votes
Tormented1960as Tom Stewart
IMDb rating 4.93.3K votes
The Valley of Gwangi1969as Champ
IMDb rating 6.25.8K votes
Hold That Ghost1941as Doctor Jackson
IMDb rating 7.24.7K votes
The Ghost Breakers1940as Geoff Montgomery
IMDb rating 7.04.6K votes

Most often with

Jack Arnold directed two of these films, William A. Graham two. Russell Hicks appears in three 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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Russell Hicks

Bess Flowers

Anthony Quinn

Edward Asner

Rock Hudson

Brooks BenedictJack ArnoldDirector, 2 films William A. GrahamDirector, 2 films

Films together

Russell Hicks3 films together, 1940 to 1941
Russell Hicks's page
- Hold That Ghost1941IMDb rating 7.2Carlson as Doctor JacksonHicks as Bannister
- The Little Foxes1941IMDb rating 7.9Carlson as David HewittHicks as William Marshall
- No, No, Nanette1940IMDb rating 5.3Carlson as Tom GillespieHicks as 'Hutch' Hutchinson
Bess Flowers2 films together, 1953 to 1957
Bess Flowers's page
- The Helen Morgan Story1957IMDb rating 6.3Carlson as Russell WadeFlowers as Woman at boat dock
- The Maze1953IMDb rating 5.8Carlson as Gerald MacTeam
Anthony Quinn2 films together, 1940 to 1953
Anthony Quinn's page
- Seminole1953IMDb rating 6.2Carlson as Major DeganQuinn as Osceola
- The Ghost Breakers1940IMDb rating 7.0Carlson as Geoff MontgomeryQuinn as Ramon Mederos / Francisco Mederos
Edward Asner2 films together, 1966 to 1969
Edward Asner's page
- Change of Habit1969IMDb rating 6.0Carlson as Bishop FinleyAsner as Lt. Moretti
- The Doomsday Flight1966IMDb rating 6.5Carlson as Chief Pilot Bob SheaAsner as Feldman
Rock Hudson2 films together, 1953
Rock Hudson's page
- Seminole1953IMDb rating 6.2Carlson as Major DeganHudson as Lance Caldwell
- The Golden Blade1953IMDb rating 5.6Carlson as NarratorvoiceHudson as Harun Al-Rashid
Brooks Benedict2 films together, 1940 to 1941
Brooks Benedict's page
- Hold That Ghost1941IMDb rating 7.2Carlson as Doctor JacksonBenedict as Maitre d'
- No, No, Nanette1940IMDb rating 5.3Carlson as Tom GillespieBenedict as Birthday Party Guest
Jack ArnoldDirector, 2 films, 1953 to 1954
All films by Jack Arnold
- Creature from the Black Lagoon1954IMDb rating 6.9Carlson as Dr. David Reed
- It Came from Outer Space1953IMDb rating 6.5Carlson as John Putnam
William A. GrahamDirector, 2 films, 1966 to 1969
All films by William A. Graham
- Change of Habit1969IMDb rating 6.0Carlson as Bishop Finley
- The Doomsday Flight1966IMDb rating 6.5Carlson as Chief Pilot Bob Shea
Also two films together14 more actors
- Gene EvansThe Helen Morgan Story (1957) and The Golden Blade (1953)
- Ralph BrooksIt Came from Outer Space (1953) and Hold That Ghost (1941)
- William B. DavidsonThe Affairs of Martha (1942) and Hold That Ghost (1941)
- Virginia BrissacThe Little Foxes (1941) and The Ghost Breakers (1940)
- Roy EngelThe Golden Blade (1953) and The Magnetic Monster (1953)
- Aubrey MatherThe Affairs of Martha (1942) and No, No, Nanette (1940)
- Paulette GoddardThe Ghost Breakers (1940) and The Young in Heart (1938)
- Roland YoungNo, No, Nanette (1940) and The Young in Heart (1938)
- Celia LovskyThe Power (1968) and The Doomsday Flight (1966)
- Russell JohnsonIt Came from Outer Space (1953) and Seminole (1953)
- Virginia VincentChange of Habit (1969) and The Helen Morgan Story (1957)
- Kathleen HughesIt Came from Outer Space (1953) and The Golden Blade (1953)
- Guy WilliamsAll I Desire (1953) and The Golden Blade (1953)
- Juli RedingTormented (1960) and The Helen Morgan Story (1957)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Awards

One award and honor.

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Richard Carlson's awards and nominations, grouped by award
Year	Award	Film	Result
Other honors
	Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame		Honored

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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