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Personal Info

Gender

Male

Birthday

1894-07-28 (130 years old)

Place of Birth

New York City, New York, USA

Charles C. Wilson

Biography:

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).

Known For

Acting

1956

Commotion on the Ocean as J.L. Cameron - Managing Editor (archive footage)

1948

Crime on Their Hands as J.L. Cameron
Blazing Across the Pecos as Mayor Ace Brockway
Big Town Scandal as Editor of the Chronicle (uncredited)

1947

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty as Police Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
Meet Mr. Mischief as Harry's Boss
Key Witness as Warden (uncredited)

1946

Gas House Kids as Inspector Shannon
Crime of the Century as Police Lieutenant
It's a Wonderful Life as Charlie (uncredited)
Larceny in Her Heart as Chief Gentry (as Charles Wilson)
Blonde for a Day as Chief of Police Will Gentry (as Charles Wilson)
Passkey to Danger as Police Sergeant
Road to Utopia as Official Policeman (uncredited)

1945

Scarlet Street as Watchman (uncredited)
Two O'Clock Courage as Brant - City Editor (uncredited)
A Gun in His Hand as Chief of Police (uncredited)

1944

Crime by Night as District Attorney Hyatt
The Missing Juror as Mac Ellis (Uncredited)
Hey, Rookie as Sam Jonas

1943

Silver Spurs as Mr. Hawkins
Batman as Captain Arnold

1942

Lady Gangster as Detective
This Gun for Hire as Police Captain
Escape from Crime as C.L. Reardon - Managing Editor (as Charles Wilson)
The Man Who Returned to Life as Inspector Mensil
Dr. Broadway as District Attorney McNamara
Gentleman Jim as Gurney (uncredited)
Blondie Goes to College as Police Sergeant
The Secret Code as Desk Sgt. Cullen

1941

The Face Behind the Mask as Chief O'Brien
The Officer and the Lady as Police Captain Hart
Federal Fugitives as Bruce Lane
Broadway Limited as Detective (as Charles Wilson)
Dressed to Kill as Newspaper Editor
Meet John Doe as Charlie Dawson

1940

Sandy Is a Lady as Sergeant
City for Conquest as Bill - Man Behind MacPherson at Fight (uncredited)
Tin Pan Alley as Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
They Drive by Night as Mike Williams (uncredited)
Knute Rockne All American as Gambler (uncredited)
Lady with Red Hair as George Martin (uncredited)
Millionaires in Prison as R.J. Reynolds, Sunday Editor (uncredited)
Girl in 313 as Vincent Brady, Commissioner of Police
Public Deb No. 1 as Sergeant

1939

The Return of Doctor X as Det. Kincaid
The Cowboy Quarterback as Coach Hap Farrell
Here I Am a Stranger as Managing Editor
Rose of Washington Square as Mike Cavanaugh
Smashing the Money Ring as Capt. Kilrane
The House of Fear as Police Chief
The Roaring Twenties as Policeman (uncredited)
Fighting Thoroughbreds as Spencer Bogart
Hotel for Women as Albert
Invisible Stripes as Arresting Officer (uncredited)

1938

Tenth Avenue Kid as Commissioner
When Were You Born as Inspector Jim C. Gregg
Hold That Co-ed as Coach Burke
Sally, Irene and Mary as Covered Wagon Cafe Manager
The Night Hawk as Lonigan
Prison Farm as Reardon
Gateway as Inspector
State Police as Captain Halstead

1937

Broadway Melody of 1938 as Horse Auctioneer (uncredited)
Murder Goes to College as Police Inspector Simpson
Partners in Crime as Inspector Simpson
Midnight Court as Police Chief
The Great O'Malley as Policeman Chiding School Bus Driver (uncredited)
Roaring Timber as Sam Garvin
Woman in Distress as Editor Herbert Claxton
The Adventurous Blonde as Mortimer Gray
You Only Live Once as Police Inspector (uncredited)
Night Key as Police Capt. Wallace (uncredited)
Daughter of Shanghai as Schwartz (uncredited)

1936

Satan Met a Lady as Detective Pollock
Earthworm Tractors as H.J. Russell
Grand Jury as City Editor
Big Brown Eyes as Prosecuting Attorney (Uncredited)
36 Hours to Kill as F.B.I. Chief
The Gentleman from Louisiana as Diamond Jim Brady
Strike Me Pink as Hardie
The Country Doctor as George the Boat Captain (uncredited)
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town as County Hospital Guard (uncredited)
Murder with Pictures as Assistant Editor (uncredited)
Legion of Terror as Colonel McCollum (as Charles Wilson)
Down the Stretch as Tex Reardon
Panic on the Air as Chief Inspector Fitzgerald

1935

The Glass Key as District Attorney Edward J. Farr
The Perfect Clue as District Attorney
Smart Girl as Morgan (uncredited)
The Case of the Lucky Legs as Police Officer Ricker
Air Hawks as Newspaper editor
Car 99 as Trooper Captain Ryan
The Gilded Lily as Managing Editor
Hitch Hike Lady as Mike - a Racketeer
We're Only Human as Editor of The Daily Star
After the Dance as Chief of Police
Music Is Magic as Decker - Theatre Manager (uncredited)
Baby Face Harrington as City Editor (uncredited)
The Nitwits as Police Captain Jennings
Murder in the Fleet as Commander Brown (Uncredited)
Mary Burns, Fugitive as G-Man at dancehall
Waterfront Lady as Jim McFee aka Mac
The Great Hotel Murder as Anthony Wilson
The Public Menace as First Detective

1934

It Happened One Night as Joe Gordon
Name the Woman as Joel Walker
The Dragon Murder Case as Det. Hennessey
The Circus Clown as Sheldon
The St. Louis Kid as Mr. Harris
The Hell Cat as Graham
Fog Over Frisco as Detective Sergeant O'Hagen
Affairs of a Gentleman as Inspector Quillan
Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen as Chief of Police
Here Is My Heart as Captain Dodge (uncredited)
The Human Side as Furniture Buyer (uncredited)
Cross Country Cruise as Detective (Uncredited)
The 9th Guest as Burke (Uncredited)

1933

Gold Diggers of 1933 as Deputy (uncredited)
Elmer, the Great as Mr. Wade (as Charles Wilson)
The Mayor of Hell as Wilson (uncredited)
Hard to Handle as Jailer (uncredited)
College Coach as Charles Hauser
Mary Stevens, M.D. as Walter Rising
Havana Widows as Mr. Timberg
Disgraced! as Thompson, Assistant District Attorney
No Marriage Ties as Red Moran, City Desk Editor
Private Detective 62 as Club Bartender (Uncredited)
The Kennel Murder Case as Detective Hennessy (uncredited)
Female as Private Detective Falihee (Uncredited)

1932

The Trans-Atlantic Mystery as Detective Doyle (uncredited)

1931

Stolen Heaven as Detective
Hot News Margie as Newspaper Editor (uncredited)
My Sin as Guest in Pool Party

1930

Getting a Ticket as Motorcycle Cop
Insurance as Doctor (uncredited)

1929

Acquitted as Nelson

Directing

1929

Lucky Boy as Director