---
name: "Jack Carson"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/jack-carson"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "27 October 1910"
died: "2 January 1963"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 4
average_fi1m_score: 84
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 2
updated: "2026-09-20T03:15:27.844549+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Jack Carson

Actor. Born 27 October 1910 in Carman, Manitoba, Canada. Died 2 January 1963.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 27 October 1910, Carman, Manitoba, Canada
- **Died:** 2 January 1963
- **Active:** 1937–1958
- **Also known as:** John Elmer Carson
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 4: 2 acting, 2 other
- **Average Fi1m score:** 84, as actor, over 2 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1930s 86 (3), 1940s 83 (1)
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Carson, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1393256, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0007217/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/2672

## Biography

Jack Carson, also credited as John Elmer Carson, was a Canadian-born American actor. Born in Carman, Manitoba, on 27 October 1910, he died in Encino, California, on 2 January 1963.

He began in vaudeville and radio before entering films in the late 1930s with RKO. Most of his work was for Warner Bros., where he appeared in supporting roles in comedies and dramas. He is known for playing Wally Fay in *Mildred Pierce* (1945), Officer Patrick O'Hara in *Arsenic and Old Lace* (1944), Matt Libby in *A Star Is Born* (1954) and Gooper Pollitt in *Cat on a Hot Tin Roof* (1958). He also appeared in television series including *The Twilight Zone* (1959) and *Bonanza* (1959).

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (4)

### Performed in (2) — the average rests on these

- *Mildred Pierce* (1945), Fi1m 83, as Wally Fay — [page](https://film.one/film/mildred-pierce-1945.md)
- *Stage Door* (1937), Fi1m 85, as Mr. Milbanks — [page](https://film.one/film/stage-door.md)

### Also credited (2) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited

- *Mr. Smith Goes to Washington* (1939), Fi1m 84, as Sweeney Farrell (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/mr-smith-goes-to-washington.md)
- *Bringing Up Baby* (1938), Fi1m 88, as Circus Roustabout (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/bringing-up-baby.md)

## Complete filmography (120)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Going Hollywood: The '30s* (1984), as (archive footage)
- *Sammy, the Way-Out Seal* (1962), as Harold Sylvester
- *The Children of Alda Nuova* (1962), as Frankie Fane
- *Bus Stop* (1961), series, Actor
- *Who Killed Julie Greer?* (1961), as Fairchild
- *King of the Roaring 20's – The Story of Arnold Rothstein* (1961), as Timothy W. 'Big Tim' O'Brien
- *Thriller* (1960), series, as Burt Lewis
- *The Bramble Bush* (1960), as Bert Mosley
- *Startime* (1959), series, as Albert Maddon
- *The Twilight Zone* (1959), series, as Harvey Hunnicut — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-twilight-zone.md)
- *Bonanza* (1959), series, as Henry T.P. Comstock
- *Rally 'Round the Flag, Boys!* (1958), as Captain Hoxie
- *Cat on a Hot Tin Roof* (1958), as Gooper Pollitt
- *The Tarnished Angels* (1957), as Jiggs
- *Alcoa Theatre* (1957), series, as Bert Kennedy, Augie Adams
- *Three Men on a Horse* (1957), as Patsy
- *The Tattered Dress* (1957), as Sheriff Nick Hoak
- *Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre* (1956), series, as Sundown Smith
- *Magnificent Roughnecks* (1956), as Bix Decker
- *The Bottom of the Bottle* (1956), as Hal Breckinridge
- *Arroyo* (1955), as Lamar Kendall
- *Screen Director's Playhouse* (1955), series, as Lamar Kendall
- *Alfred Hitchcock Presents* (1955), series, as Frankie Fane
- *Ain't Misbehavin'* (1955), as Harold North
- *The Bob Cummings Show* (1955), series, as Jack Carson
- *Phffft* (1954), as Charlie Nelson
- *The Wonderful World of Disney* (1954), series, as Harold Sylvester
- *Climax!* (1954), series, as Art Shaddick, Eugene Skinner
- *A Star Is Born* (1954), as Matt Libby
- *Red Garters* (1954), as Jason Carberry
- *Dangerous When Wet* (1953), as Windy Webbe
- *General Electric Theater* (1953), series, as Joe Bushwick
- *The Ford Television Theatre* (1952), series, as Dan Doyle
- *Schlitz Playhouse of Stars* (1951), series, as Danny Scott, Harry Mauldron, Sid Devlin
- *The Groom Wore Spurs* (1951), as Ben Castle
- *Mister Universe* (1951), as Jeff Clayton
- *Four Star Revue* (1950), series, as Host
- *Lux Video Theatre* (1950), series, as Garrison, John Mulligan
- *Bright Leaf* (1950), as Chris Malley
- *The Good Humor Man* (1950), as Biff Jones
- *Your Show of Shows* (1950), series, Actor
- *It's a Great Feeling* (1949), as Jack Carson
- *My Dream Is Yours* (1949), as Doug Blake
- *John Loves Mary* (1949), as Fred Taylor
- *Studio One* (1948), series, as Harry Breen
- *Two Guys from Texas* (1948), as Danny Foster
- *Romance on the High Seas* (1948), as Peter Virgil
- *April Showers* (1948), as Joe Tyme
- *Always Together* (1947), as Bill (uncredited)
- *So You Want to Be in Pictures* (1947), as Man Giving Directions (uncredited)
- *Love and Learn* (1947), as Jingles Collins
- *The Time, The Place and The Girl* (1946), as Jeff Howard
- *Okay for Sound* (1946), Actor
- *Two Guys from Milwaukee* (1946), as Buzz Williams
- *One More Tomorrow* (1946), as Patrick 'Pat' Regan
- *Mildred Pierce* (1945), as Wally Fay — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/mildred-pierce-1945.md)
- *Roughly Speaking* (1945), as Harold C. Pierson
- *The Doughgirls* (1944), as Arthur Halstead
- *Arsenic and Old Lace* (1944), as Officer Patrick O'Hara
- *Make Your Own Bed* (1944), as Jerry Curtis
- *The Road to Victory* (1944), as Jack Carson (uncredited)
- *Shine on Harvest Moon* (1944), as The Great Georgetti
- *Food and Magic* (1943), Actor
- *Princess O'Rourke* (1943), as Dave Campbell
- *The Hard Way* (1943), as Albert Runkel
- *Gentleman Jim* (1942), as Walter Lawrie
- *Wings for the Eagle* (1942), as Brad Maple
- *Larceny, Inc.* (1942), as Jeff Randolph
- *The Male Animal* (1942), as Joe Ferguson
- *Blues in the Night* (1941), as Leo Powell
- *Navy Blues* (1941), as 'Buttons' Johnson
- *The Bride Came C.O.D.* (1941), as Allen Brice
- *Love Crazy* (1941), as Ward Willoughby
- *The Strawberry Blonde* (1941), as Hugo Barnstead
- *Mr. & Mrs. Smith* (1941), as Chuck
- *Love Thy Neighbor* (1940), as Policeman
- *Sandy Gets Her Man* (1940), as Policeman Tom Garrity
- *Lucky Partners* (1940), as Frederick Harper
- *Queen of the Mob* (1940), as Agent Ross Waring
- *Girl in 313* (1940), as Police Lt. Pat O'Farrell
- *Typhoon* (1940), as Mate
- *Alias the Deacon* (1940), as Sullivan
- *Shooting High* (1940), as Gabby Cross
- *Enemy Agent* (1940), as Ralph
- *I Take This Woman* (1940), as Joe
- *Parole Fixer* (1940), as George Mattison
- *City of Chance* (1940), as Narration - Prologue (voice)
- *The Honeymoon's Over* (1939), as Tom Donroy
- *Destry Rides Again* (1939), as Jack Tyndall
- *Legion of Lost Flyers* (1939), as Larry Barrigan
- *Mr. Smith Goes to Washington* (1939), as Sweeney Farrell (uncredited) — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/mr-smith-goes-to-washington.md)
- *The Escape* (1939), as Chet Warren
- *Fifth Avenue Girl* (1939), as Minnesota (uncredited)
- *The Kid From Texas* (1939), as Stanley Brown
- *Next Time I Marry* (1938), as Radio Announcer (voice) (uncredited)
- *Mr. Doodle Kicks Off* (1938), as Rochet
- *Carefree* (1938), as Connors
- *Having Wonderful Time* (1938), as Emil Beatty
- *The Saint in New York* (1938), as Red Jenks
- *Vivacious Lady* (1938), as Waiter Captain
- *Law of the Underworld* (1938), as Henchman Johnny
- *Go Chase Yourself* (1938), as Warren Miles
- *This Marriage Business* (1938), as "Candid" Perry
- *Condemned Women* (1938), as Plainclothes Policeman
- *Maid's Night Out* (1938), as Rollercoaster Ride Attendant (uncredited)
- *Night Spot* (1938), as Shallen
- *Bringing Up Baby* (1938), as Circus Roustabout (uncredited) — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/bringing-up-baby.md)
- *Everybody's Doing It* (1938), as Detective Lieutenant
- *Crashing Hollywood* (1938), as Dickson
- *She's Got Everything* (1937), as Ransome (uncredited)
- *Quick Money* (1937), as Coach Woodford
- *Harris in the Spring* (1937), as Taxicab Driver
- *High Flyers* (1937), as Dave Hanlon
- *A Rented Riot* (1937), Actor
- *Stand-In* (1937), as Tom Potts
- *Stage Door* (1937), as Mr. Milbanks — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/stage-door.md)
- *Music for Madame* (1937), as Assistant Director
- *On Again—Off Again* (1937), as Cop
- *Too Many Wives* (1937), as Hodges
- *You Only Live Once* (1937), as Attendant in First Gas Station

## Gallery

- ![Jack Carson](https://film.one/media/person/416230/gallery-7d3467c0a735.jpg) Jack Carson — Los Angeles Times, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c8/Jack_Carson_becomes_a_US_citizen_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-Jack_Carson_becomes_a_US_citizen_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Actor Jack Carson signs his U.S. citizenship papers (1949)](https://film.one/media/person/416230/gallery-4fcad8052784.jpg) Actor Jack Carson signs his U.S. citizenship papers (1949) — Los Angeles Times, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cb/Jack_Carson_becomes_a_US_citizen.jpg/1280px-Jack_Carson_becomes_a_US_citizen.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Jack Carson and Rita Hayworth in the American romantic comedy film The Strawberry Blonde (1941)](https://film.one/media/person/416230/gallery-f40597bf9eb0.jpg) Jack Carson and Rita Hayworth in the American romantic comedy film The Strawberry Blonde (1941) — Unknown authorUnknown author, distributed by: Warner Bros., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f1/Jack_Carson_and_Rita_Hayworth_The_Strawberry_Blonde.jpg/1280px-Jack_Carson_and_Rita_Hayworth_The_Strawberry_Blonde.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Jack Carson](https://film.one/media/person/416230/gallery-8a73dfa795f7.jpg) Jack Carson — Image via TMDB
- ![Jack Carson](https://film.one/media/person/416230/gallery-40d349a98157.jpg) Jack Carson — Image via TMDB

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/jack-carson