When Jack Carson arrived in Hollywood in 1937, he found work at RKO as
an extra. His first major acting role came alongside
Humphrey Bogart in the romantic comedy
Stand-In (1937). After a few years, he developed into a popular character actor who would be seen in a large number of comedies, musicals and a few westerns. Not happy with the direction his career was heading, he went to Warner Brothers in 1941, where the quality of his supporting roles improved. It also did not hurt to be in films that starred
James Cagney, such as
The Strawberry Blonde (1941) and
The Bride Came C.O.D. (1941).
After three years, he starred with
Jane Wyman in
Make Your Own Bed (1944)
and, again, in
The Doughgirls (1944). Carson would play the nice guy with the heart of gold who was still a nice guy even when he was angry. He would take the double take and the quizzical look to a higher level, but he could also act in dramas. He provided a good portrayal of "Albert" in
The Hard Way (1943) and was acclaimed for his performance in
Mildred Pierce (1945). However, it was comedies that provided most of his work. He teamed up with his old friend,
Dennis Morgan, for several films in the tradition of
Bob Hope and
Bing Crosby. It was in the 1940s that Carson would become popular as a wisecracking comedian on radio. This would lead him to television work in the 1950s, where he was one of 4 rotating hosts on
Four Star Revue (1950), until 1951, when he had left the show and the title was changed to "All Star Revue".
He hosted and performed on
The Colgate Comedy Hour (1950) from 1952-55. He would also help host
The U.S. Royal Showcase (1952). He would appear on a number of shows during the 1950s, one of his most remembered being an episode of
The Twilight Zone (1959), where he played a somewhat shady used-car salesman who came into possession of an old Model-A Ford that was "haunted" in that whoever owned it had to tell the truth, whether he wanted to or not. Although
his movie career slowed in the 1950s, he still appeared in a number of
prestige pictures, such as
A Star Is Born (1954) with
Judy Garland,
The Tarnished Angels (1957) with
Rock Hudson and
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958) with
Paul Newman.
Collapsed in August 1962 while in rehearsal for the play "Critic's Choice." An early diagnosis deemed it a stomach "disorder," but two months later, cancer was discovered while he was undergoing an unrelated operation.
The Magical World of Disney(1954)as Harold Sylvester
Alfred Hitchcock Presents(1955)as Frankie Fane
The United States Steel Hour(1953)as Enoch McCabe, Harry Steuben, Joey Miller, King, Maxie
Bus Stop(1961)as Constable Veal Gowdy
The Dick Powell Theatre(1961)as Fairchild
Dangerous When Wet(1953)
It's a Great Feeling(1949)
My Dream Is Yours(1949)
Two Guys from Texas(1948)
Let's Sing a Song from the Movies(1948)
The Mike Douglas Show(1961)as Self - Actor
Here's Hollywood(1960)as Self
Celebrity Golf(1960)as Self
Take a Good Look(1959)as Self - Panelist
Just Eat It: A Food Waste Story(2014)as Self
A Star Is Born: Special Features(2010)
Crawford at Warners(2008)as Self
Behind the Tunes: Looney Tunes Go Hollywood(2004)as Doug Blake
Mr. Hitchcock Meets the Smiths(2004)as Self, Chuck
