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

It's a Wonderful Life

Batman

It Happened One Night

Scarlet Street

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

The Roaring Twenties

Meet John Doe

Mr. Deeds Goes to Town

All Movies (172)

• Commotion on the Ocean1956 · as J.L. Cameron - Managing Editor (archive footage)
• Crime on Their Hands1948 · as J.L. Cameron
• Blazing Across the Pecos1948 · as Mayor Ace Brockway
• Big Town Scandal1948 · as Editor of the Chronicle (uncredited)
• Key Witness1947 · as Warden (uncredited)
• The Secret Life of Walter Mitty1947 · as Police Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
• Meet Mr. Mischief1947 · as Harry's Boss
• It's a Wonderful Life1946 · as Charlie (uncredited)
• Gas House Kids1946 · as Inspector Shannon
• Blonde for a Day1946 · as Chief of Police Will Gentry (as Charles Wilson)
• Larceny in Her Heart1946 · as Chief Gentry (as Charles Wilson)
• Passkey to Danger1946 · as Police Sergeant
• Crime of the Century1946 · as Police Lieutenant
• Road to Utopia1946 · as Official Policeman (uncredited)
• Scarlet Street1945 · as Watchman (uncredited)
• Week-End at the Waldorf1945 · as Hi Johns
• A Gun in His Hand1945 · as Chief of Police (uncredited)
• Two O'Clock Courage1945 · as Brant - City Editor (uncredited)
• The Missing Juror1944 · as Mac Ellis (uncredited)
• Crime by Night1944 · as District Attorney Hyatt
• Hey, Rookie1944 · as Sam Jonas
• Silver Spurs1943 · as Mr. Hawkins
• Batman1943 · as Captain Arnold
• Gentleman Jim1942 · as Gurney (uncredited)
• The Secret Code1942 · as Desk Sgt. Cullen
• Escape from Crime1942 · as C.L. Reardon - Managing Editor (as Charles Wilson)
• Dr. Broadway1942 · as District Attorney McNamara
• This Gun for Hire1942 · as Police Captain
• Lady Gangster1942 · as Detective
• Rings on Her Fingers1942
• The Man Who Returned to Life1942 · as Inspector Mensil
• Blondie Goes to College1942 · as Police Sergeant
• The Officer and the Lady1941 · as Police Captain Hart
• Dressed to Kill1941 · as Newspaper Editor
• Out of the Fog1941
• Broadway Limited1941 · as Detective (as Charles Wilson)
• Federal Fugitives1941 · as Bruce Lane
• Meet John Doe1941 · as Charlie Dawson
• The Face Behind the Mask1941 · as Chief O'Brien
• Charter Pilot1940 · as Owen
• Lady with Red Hair1940 · as George Martin (uncredited)
• Tin Pan Alley1940 · as Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
• Knute Rockne All American1940 · as Gambler (uncredited)
• City for Conquest1940 · as Bill - Man Behind MacPherson at Fight (uncredited)
• Public Deb No. 11940 · as Sergeant
• They Drive by Night1940 · as Mike Williams (uncredited)
• Millionaires in Prison1940 · as R.J. Reynolds, Sunday Editor (uncredited)
• Girl in 3131940 · as Vincent Brady, Commissioner of Police
• Sandy Is a Lady1940 · as Sergeant
• Gangs of Chicago1940
• He Married His Wife1940 · as Warden
• Invisible Stripes1939 · as Arresting Officer (uncredited)
• The Return of Doctor X1939 · as Det. Kincaid
• The Roaring Twenties1939 · as Policeman (uncredited)
• Smashing the Money Ring1939 · as Capt. Kilrane
• Here I Am a Stranger1939 · as Managing Editor
• Hotel for Women1939 · as Albert
• The Cowboy Quarterback1939 · as Coach Hap Farrell
• The House of Fear1939 · as Police Chief
• Rose of Washington Square1939 · as Mike Cavanaugh
• Fighting Thoroughbreds1939 · as Spencer Bogart
• Angels with Dirty Faces1938
• The Spider's Web1938 · as Chase
• The Night Hawk1938 · as Lonigan
• Hold That Co-ed1938 · as Coach Burke
• Tenth Avenue Kid1938 · as Commissioner
• Gateway1938 · as Inspector
• When Were You Born1938 · as Inspector Jim C. Gregg
• Prison Farm1938 · as Reardon
• Little Miss Thoroughbred1938 · as Becker
• State Police1938 · as Captain Halstead
• Sally, Irene and Mary1938 · as Covered Wagon Cafe Manager
• Daughter of Shanghai1937 · as Schwartz (uncredited)
• The Adventurous Blonde1937 · as Mortimer Gray
• That’s My Story1937 · as Cummings
• Partners in Crime1937 · as Inspector Simpson
• Life Begins in College1937 · as Tom Burke
• Broadway Melody of 19381937 · as Horse Auctioneer (uncredited)
• One Mile from Heaven1937 · as Fletcher
• Roaring Timber1937 · as Sam Garvin
• The Case of the Stuttering Bishop1937 · as Hamilton Burger
• Night Key1937 · as Police Capt. Wallace (uncredited)
• Midnight Court1937 · as Police Chief
• Murder Goes to College1937 · as Police Inspector Simpson
• The Great O'Malley1937 · as Policeman Chiding School Bus Driver (uncredited)
• They Wanted to Marry1937 · as Clark
• You Only Live Once1937 · as Police Inspector (uncredited)
• Woman in Distress1937 · as Editor Herbert Claxton
• Find the Witness1937 · as Charley Blair (uncredited)
• Mind Your Own Business1936 · as Detective
• Legion of Terror1936 · as Colonel McCollum (as Charles Wilson)
• The Magnificent Brute1936 · as Murphy
• Murder with Pictures1936 · as Assistant Editor (uncredited)
• Down the Stretch1936 · as Tex Reardon
• The Gentleman from Louisiana1936 · as Diamond Jim Brady
• I'd Give My Life1936 · as Warden
• Grand Jury1936 · as City Editor
• Earthworm Tractors1936 · as H.J. Russell
• 36 Hours to Kill1936 · as F.B.I. Chief
• Satan Met a Lady1936 · as Detective Pollock
• Show Boat1936
• The Mine with the Iron Door1936 · as Pitkins
• Panic on the Air1936 · as Chief Inspector Fitzgerald
• Mr. Deeds Goes to Town1936 · as County Hospital Guard (uncredited)
• Big Brown Eyes1936 · as Prosecuting Attorney (Uncredited)
• The Country Doctor1936 · as George the Boat Captain (uncredited)
• The Return of Jimmy Valentine1936 · as Kelley
• Strike Me Pink1936 · as Hardie
• Hitch Hike Lady1935 · as Mike - a Racketeer
• We're Only Human1935 · as Editor of The Daily Star
• White Lies1935 · as Defense Attorney (uncredited)
• Show Them No Mercy!1935 · as Clifford
• Mary Burns, Fugitive1935 · as G-Man at dancehall
• Music Is Magic1935 · as Decker - Theatre Manager (uncredited)
• The Case of the Lucky Legs1935 · as Police Officer Ricker
• Waterfront Lady1935 · as Jim McFee aka Mac
• The Public Menace1935 · as First Detective
• Smart Girl1935 · as Morgan (uncredited)
• After the Dance1935 · as Chief of Police
• The Glass Key1935 · as District Attorney Edward J. Farr
• The Nitwits1935 · as Police Captain Jennings
• Murder in the Fleet1935 · as Commander Brown (Uncredited)
• Air Hawks1935 · as Newspaper editor
• Men of the Hour1935 · as Harper
• The Case of the Curious Bride1935 · as Ferry Captain (uncredited)
• Baby Face Harrington1935 · as City Editor (uncredited)
• Four Hours to Kill!1935 · as Taft
• The Perfect Clue1935 · as District Attorney
• Car 991935 · as Trooper Captain Ryan
• The Great Hotel Murder1935 · as Anthony Wilson
• The Gilded Lily1935 · as Managing Editor
• Here Is My Heart1934 · as Captain Dodge (uncredited)
• Murder in the Clouds1934 · as Lackey
• Men of the Night1934 · as Benson
• The St. Louis Kid1934 · as Mr. Harris
• Port of Lost Dreams1934 · as Warden
• The Human Side1934 · as Furniture Buyer (uncredited)
• Embarrassing Moments1934 · as Attorney
• The Dragon Murder Case1934 · as Det. Hennessey
• Name the Woman1934 · as Joel Walker
• The Circus Clown1934 · as Sheldon
• The Hell Cat1934 · as Graham
• Fog Over Frisco1934 · as Detective Sergeant O'Hagen
• Affairs of a Gentleman1934 · as Inspector Quillan
• I Believed in You1934 · as Magistrate
• It Happened One Night1934 · as Joe Gordon
• The 9th Guest1934 · as Burke (Uncredited)
• Cross Country Cruise1934 · as Detective (Uncredited)
• Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen1934 · as Chief of Police
• Shadows of Sing Sing1933
• Havana Widows1933 · as Mr. Timberg
• Female1933 · as Private Detective Falihee (Uncredited)
• College Coach1933 · as Charles Hauser
• The Kennel Murder Case1933 · as Detective Hennessy (uncredited)
• No Marriage Ties1933 · as Red Moran, City Desk Editor
• Mary Stevens, M.D.1933 · as Walter Rising
• Disgraced!1933 · as Thompson, Assistant District Attorney
• The Mayor of Hell1933 · as Wilson (uncredited)
• Private Detective 621933 · as Club Bartender (Uncredited)
• Gold Diggers of 19331933 · as Deputy (uncredited)
• Elmer, the Great1933 · as Mr. Wade (as Charles Wilson)
• Hard to Handle1933 · as Jailer (uncredited)
• The Trans-Atlantic Mystery1932 · as Detective Doyle (uncredited)
• The Campus Mystery1932 · as Detective Reardon
• Hot News Margie1931 · as Newspaper Editor (uncredited)
• My Sin1931 · as Guest in Pool Party
• Stolen Heaven1931 · as Detective
• Insurance1930 · as Doctor (uncredited)
• Getting a Ticket1930 · as Motorcycle Cop
• Acquitted1929 · as Nelson
• Song of Love1929 · as Traveling Salesman
• Broadway Scandals1929 · as Jack