Charles C. Wilson
4.2Acting

Charles C. Wilson

Jul 28, 1894 - New York City, New York, USA

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).

Credits

Cast

Media
Movie1934It Happened One NightJoe Gordon
Movie1939The Return of Doctor XDet. Kincaid
Movie1942Lady GangsterDetective
Movie1934Name the WomanJoel Walker
Movie1933Gold Diggers of 1933Deputy (uncredited)
Movie1947The Secret Life of Walter MittyPolice Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
Movie1936Satan Met a LadyDetective Pollock
Movie1941The Face Behind the MaskChief O'Brien
Movie1941The Officer and the LadyPolice Captain Hart
Movie1935The Glass KeyDistrict Attorney Edward J. Farr
Movie1937Broadway Melody of 1938Horse Auctioneer (uncredited)
Movie1936Earthworm TractorsH.J. Russell
Movie1935The Perfect ClueDistrict Attorney
Movie1933Elmer, the GreatMr. Wade (as Charles Wilson)
Movie1942This Gun for HirePolice Captain
Movie1936Show Boat
Movie1934The Dragon Murder CaseDet. Hennessey
Movie1942Escape from CrimeC.L. Reardon - Managing Editor (as Charles Wilson)
Movie1937Murder Goes to CollegePolice Inspector Simpson
Movie1946Gas House KidsInspector Shannon
Movie1945Week-End at the WaldorfHi Johns
Movie1933The Mayor of HellWilson (uncredited)
Movie1935Smart GirlMorgan (uncredited)
Movie1935Four Hours to Kill!Taft
Movie1939The Cowboy QuarterbackCoach Hap Farrell
Movie1938Tenth Avenue KidCommissioner
Movie1948Crime on Their HandsJ.L. Cameron
Movie1944Crime by NightDistrict Attorney Hyatt
Movie1935The Case of the Lucky LegsPolice Officer Ricker
Movie1933Hard to HandleJailer (uncredited)
Movie1933College CoachCharles Hauser
Movie1935Show Them No Mercy!Clifford
Movie1936I'd Give My LifeWarden
Movie1956Commotion on the OceanJ.L. Cameron - Managing Editor (archive footage)
Movie1929Broadway ScandalsJack
Movie1933Mary Stevens, M.D.Walter Rising
Movie1935Air HawksNewspaper editor
Movie1936Grand JuryCity Editor
Movie1940He Married His WifeWarden
Movie1932The Trans-Atlantic MysteryDetective Doyle (uncredited)
Movie1930Getting a TicketMotorcycle Cop
Movie1941Federal FugitivesBruce Lane
Movie1938When Were You BornInspector Jim C. Gregg
Movie1933Havana WidowsMr. Timberg
Movie1938Hold That Co-edCoach Burke
Movie1935Car 99Trooper Captain Ryan
Movie1938The Spider's WebChase
Movie1939Here I Am a StrangerManaging Editor
Movie1937Partners in CrimeInspector Simpson
Movie1935The Gilded LilyManaging Editor
Movie1934The Circus ClownSheldon
Movie1938Sally, Irene and MaryCovered Wagon Cafe Manager
Movie1935Hitch Hike LadyMike - a Racketeer
Movie1943Silver SpursMr. Hawkins
Movie1935We're Only HumanEditor of The Daily Star
Movie1940Gangs of Chicago
Movie1931Stolen HeavenDetective
Movie1934The St. Louis KidMr. Harris
Movie1937They Wanted to MarryClark
Movie1934Port of Lost DreamsWarden
Movie1938The Night HawkLonigan
Movie1934The Hell CatGraham
Movie1936Big Brown EyesProsecuting Attorney (Uncredited)
Movie1941Broadway LimitedDetective (as Charles Wilson)
Movie1948Blazing Across the PecosMayor Ace Brockway
Movie1947Meet Mr. MischiefHarry's Boss
Movie1933Disgraced!Thompson, Assistant District Attorney
Movie1939Rose of Washington SquareMike Cavanaugh
Movie1935After the DanceChief of Police
Movie1934Fog Over FriscoDetective Sergeant O'Hagen
Movie193636 Hours to KillF.B.I. Chief
Movie1935Music Is MagicDecker - Theatre Manager (uncredited)
Movie1935Baby Face HarringtonCity Editor (uncredited)
Movie1936The Gentleman from LouisianaDiamond Jim Brady
Movie1946Crime of the CenturyPolice Lieutenant
Movie1937The Case of the Stuttering BishopHamilton Burger
Movie1947Key WitnessWarden (uncredited)
Movie1939Smashing the Money RingCapt. Kilrane
Movie1934Affairs of a GentlemanInspector Quillan
Movie1936Strike Me PinkHardie
Movie1935The NitwitsPolice Captain Jennings
Movie1938Little Miss ThoroughbredBecker
Movie1942The Man Who Returned to LifeInspector Mensil
Movie1934Miss Fane's Baby Is StolenChief of Police
Movie1939The House of FearPolice Chief
Movie1942Dr. BroadwayDistrict Attorney McNamara
Movie1931Hot News MargieNewspaper Editor (uncredited)
Movie1939The Roaring TwentiesPoliceman (uncredited)
Movie1935Murder in the FleetCommander Brown (Uncredited)
Movie1948Big Town ScandalEditor of the Chronicle (uncredited)
Movie1937Midnight CourtPolice Chief
Movie1936The Country DoctorGeorge the Boat Captain (uncredited)
Movie1937The Great O'MalleyPoliceman Chiding School Bus Driver (uncredited)
Movie1946It's a Wonderful LifeCharlie (uncredited)
Movie1933No Marriage TiesRed Moran, City Desk Editor
Movie1945Scarlet StreetWatchman (uncredited)
Movie1936The Magnificent BruteMurphy
Movie1941Dressed to KillNewspaper Editor
Movie1936Mr. Deeds Goes to TownCounty Hospital Guard (uncredited)
Movie1937Life Begins in CollegeTom Burke
Movie1936Murder with PicturesAssistant Editor (uncredited)
Movie1936Legion of TerrorColonel McCollum (as Charles Wilson)
Movie1939Fighting ThoroughbredsSpencer Bogart
Movie1940Charter PilotOwen
Movie1945Two O'Clock CourageBrant - City Editor (uncredited)
Movie1946Larceny in Her HeartChief Gentry (as Charles Wilson)
Movie1940Sandy Is a LadySergeant
Movie1936Down the StretchTex Reardon
Movie1936The Mine with the Iron DoorPitkins
Movie1935Mary Burns, FugitiveG-Man at dancehall
Movie1937One Mile from HeavenFletcher
Movie1942Gentleman JimGurney (uncredited)
Movie1938Prison FarmReardon
Movie1938GatewayInspector
Movie1940Tin Pan AlleyDesk Sergeant (uncredited)
Movie1935Waterfront LadyJim McFee aka Mac
Movie1940City for ConquestBill - Man Behind MacPherson at Fight (uncredited)
Movie1939Hotel for WomenAlbert
Movie1940They Drive by NightMike Williams (uncredited)
Movie1940Knute Rockne All AmericanGambler (uncredited)
Movie1940Lady with Red HairGeorge Martin (uncredited)
Movie1940Millionaires in PrisonR.J. Reynolds, Sunday Editor (uncredited)
Movie1940Girl in 313Vincent Brady, Commissioner of Police
Movie1946Blonde for a DayChief of Police Will Gentry (as Charles Wilson)
Movie1934Here Is My HeartCaptain Dodge (uncredited)
Movie1946Passkey to DangerPolice Sergeant
Movie1942Blondie Goes to CollegePolice Sergeant
Movie1933Private Detective 62Club Bartender (Uncredited)
Movie1934Men of the NightBenson
Movie1942The Secret CodeDesk Sgt. Cullen
Movie1937Roaring TimberSam Garvin
Movie1936Mind Your Own BusinessDetective
Movie1934Murder in the CloudsLackey
Movie1937Woman in DistressEditor Herbert Claxton
Movie1933The Kennel Murder CaseDetective Hennessy (uncredited)
Movie1945A Gun in His HandChief of Police (uncredited)
Movie1937The Adventurous BlondeMortimer Gray
Movie1943BatmanCaptain Arnold
Movie1940Public Deb No. 1Sergeant
Movie1938State PoliceCaptain Halstead
Movie1934The Human SideFurniture Buyer (uncredited)
Movie1936Panic on the AirChief Inspector Fitzgerald
Movie1942Rings on Her Fingers
Movie1946Road to UtopiaOfficial Policeman (uncredited)
Movie1935The Great Hotel MurderAnthony Wilson
Movie1941Meet John DoeCharlie Dawson
Movie1937You Only Live OncePolice Inspector (uncredited)
Movie1939Invisible StripesArresting Officer (uncredited)
Movie1933FemalePrivate Detective Falihee (Uncredited)
Movie1934Cross Country CruiseDetective (Uncredited)
Movie1934The 9th GuestBurke (Uncredited)
Movie1934Embarrassing MomentsAttorney
Movie1935The Public MenaceFirst Detective
Movie1930InsuranceDoctor (uncredited)
Movie1944The Missing JurorMac Ellis (Uncredited)
Movie1937Night KeyPolice Capt. Wallace (uncredited)
Movie1941Out of the Fog
Movie1929AcquittedNelson
Movie1944Hey, RookieSam Jonas
Movie1931My SinGuest in Pool Party
Movie1937Daughter of ShanghaiSchwartz (uncredited)
Movie1938Angels with Dirty Faces
Movie1934I Believed in YouMagistrate
Movie1932The Campus MysteryDetective Reardon
Movie1935The Case of the Curious BrideFerry Captain (uncredited)

Crew

Media
Movie1929Lucky BoyDirectorDirecting