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.
|
|
Drama on DVD
- Released Nov 27th, 2018
|
|
|
|
Musicals / The Arts on DVD
- Released Jan 5th, 2016
|
|
|
|
Comedy on DVD
- Released Jan 5th, 2016
|
|
|
|
Musicals / The Arts on DVD
- Released Jan 5th, 2016
|
|
|
|
Musicals / The Arts on Blu-ray BD-R
- Released May 19th, 2015
|
|
|
|
Drama on Blu-ray
- Released Mar 26th, 2019
$26.70 Super SavingsList Price: $29.95
item number:
6SFEF
|
|
|
|
Drama on DVD
- Released Jul 1st, 2014
|
|
|
|
Comedy on DVD
- Released Aug 4th, 2009
|
|
|
|
Musicals / The Arts on Blu-ray
- Released May 14th, 2019
|
|
|
|
Musicals / The Arts on DVD
- Released May 14th, 2019
|
|
|
|
Musicals / The Arts on DVD
- Released Aug 16th, 2016
$12.10 Super SavingsList Price: $14.99
item number:
7YV34
|
|
|
|
Comedy on Blu-ray
- Released Feb 26th, 2019
$26.70 Super SavingsList Price: $29.99
item number:
6SA74
|
|
|
|
Comedy on DVD
- Released Feb 26th, 2019
$22.20 Super SavingsList Price: $24.99
item number:
6SA73
|
|
|
|
Comedy on DVD
- Released May 3rd, 2016
|
|
|
|
Comedy on DVD
- Released Apr 20th, 2009
|
|
|
|
Musicals / The Arts on Blu-ray BD-R
- Released Jun 16th, 2020
|
|
|
|
Musicals / The Arts on DVD
- Released Jun 6th, 2017
|
|
|
|
Musicals / The Arts on DVD
- Released Aug 4th, 2020
|
|
24%off
|
|
Comedy on DVD
- Released Aug 8th, 2017
|
|
|
|
Comedy on DVD
- Released May 5th, 2009
|
|
|
|
Comedy on Blu-ray
- Released Dec 8th, 2020
|
|
|
|
Musicals / The Arts on Blu-ray BD-R
- Released Feb 23th, 2021
|
|
|
|
Musicals / The Arts on DVD
- Released Jun 6th, 2017
|
|
|
|
Drama on Blu-ray
- Released Jun 5th, 2018
$12.70 Super SavingsList Price: $14.99
item number:
6KY7A
|
|
|
|
Drama on DVD
- Released Dec 9th, 2008
$8.10 Super SavingsList Price: $9.99
item number:
YV5K
|
|
|
|
Drama on DVD
- Released Nov 16th, 2021
|
|
|
|
Comedy on DVD
- Released Oct 21st, 2014
|
|
|
|
Drama on Blu-ray
- Released Feb 21st, 2017
|
|
|
|
Drama on DVD
- Released Feb 21st, 2017
|
|
|
|
Comedy on DVD
- Released Aug 4th, 2009
|
|
|
|
Comedy on DVD
- Released Feb 15th, 2011
|
|
|
|
Comedy on DVD
- Released Aug 8th, 2017
|
|
|
|
Comedy on DVD
- Released Feb 20th, 2018
|
|
|
|
Comedy on DVD
- Released Aug 6th, 2019
|
|
|
|
Drama on DVD
- Released Mar 23th, 2009
|
|
|
|
Western on DVD
- Released Nov 28th, 2017
|
|
|
|
Comedy on DVD
- Released Mar 23th, 2009
|
|
|
|
Musicals / The Arts on DVD
- Released Jun 6th, 2017
|
|
|
|
Drama on DVD
- Released Jul 7th, 2009
|
|
|
|
Comedy on Blu-ray BD-R
- Released Feb 20th
|
|