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

Joe Gordon

It Happened One Night

Det. Kincaid

The Return of Doctor X

Detective

Lady Gangster

Joel Walker

Name the Woman

Deputy (uncredited)

Gold Diggers of 1933

Police Desk Sergeant (uncredited)

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Detective Pollock

Satan Met a Lady

Chief O'Brien

The Face Behind the Mask

Police Captain Hart

The Officer and the Lady

District Attorney Edward J. Farr

The Glass Key

Horse Auctioneer (uncredited)

Broadway Melody of 1938

H.J. Russell

Earthworm Tractors

District Attorney

The Perfect Clue

Mr. Wade (as Charles Wilson)

Elmer, the Great

Police Captain

This Gun for Hire

Show Boat

Det. Hennessey

The Dragon Murder Case

C.L. Reardon - Managing Editor (as Charles Wilson)

Escape from Crime

Police Inspector Simpson

Murder Goes to College

Inspector Shannon

Gas House Kids

Hi Johns

Week-End at the Waldorf

Wilson (uncredited)

The Mayor of Hell

Morgan (uncredited)

Smart Girl

Taft

Four Hours to Kill!

Coach Hap Farrell

The Cowboy Quarterback

Commissioner

Tenth Avenue Kid

J.L. Cameron

Crime on Their Hands

District Attorney Hyatt

Crime by Night

Police Officer Ricker

The Case of the Lucky Legs

Jailer (uncredited)

Hard to Handle

Charles Hauser

College Coach

Clifford

Show Them No Mercy!

Warden

I'd Give My Life

J.L. Cameron - Managing Editor (archive footage)

Commotion on the Ocean

Jack

Broadway Scandals

Walter Rising

Mary Stevens, M.D.

Newspaper editor

Air Hawks

City Editor

Grand Jury

Warden

He Married His Wife

Detective Doyle (uncredited)

The Trans-Atlantic Mystery

Motorcycle Cop

Getting a Ticket

Bruce Lane

Federal Fugitives

Inspector Jim C. Gregg

When Were You Born

Mr. Timberg

Havana Widows

Coach Burke

Hold That Co-ed

Trooper Captain Ryan

Car 99

Chase

The Spider's Web

Managing Editor

Here I Am a Stranger

Inspector Simpson

Partners in Crime

Managing Editor

The Gilded Lily

Sheldon

The Circus Clown

Covered Wagon Cafe Manager

Sally, Irene and Mary

Mike - a Racketeer

Hitch Hike Lady

Mr. Hawkins

Silver Spurs

Editor of The Daily Star

We're Only Human

Gangs of Chicago

Detective

Stolen Heaven

Mr. Harris

The St. Louis Kid

Clark

They Wanted to Marry

Warden

Port of Lost Dreams

Lonigan

The Night Hawk

Graham

The Hell Cat

Prosecuting Attorney (Uncredited)

Big Brown Eyes

Detective (as Charles Wilson)

Broadway Limited

Mayor Ace Brockway

Blazing Across the Pecos

Harry's Boss

Meet Mr. Mischief

Thompson, Assistant District Attorney

Disgraced!

Mike Cavanaugh

Rose of Washington Square

Chief of Police

After the Dance

Detective Sergeant O'Hagen

Fog Over Frisco

F.B.I. Chief

36 Hours to Kill

Decker - Theatre Manager (uncredited)

Music Is Magic

City Editor (uncredited)

Baby Face Harrington

Diamond Jim Brady

The Gentleman from Louisiana

Police Lieutenant

Crime of the Century

Hamilton Burger

The Case of the Stuttering Bishop

Warden (uncredited)

Key Witness

Capt. Kilrane

Smashing the Money Ring

Inspector Quillan

Affairs of a Gentleman

Hardie

Strike Me Pink

Police Captain Jennings

The Nitwits

Becker

Little Miss Thoroughbred

Inspector Mensil

The Man Who Returned to Life

Chief of Police

Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen

Police Chief

The House of Fear

District Attorney McNamara

Dr. Broadway

Newspaper Editor (uncredited)

Hot News Margie

Policeman (uncredited)

The Roaring Twenties

Commander Brown (Uncredited)

Murder in the Fleet

Editor of the Chronicle (uncredited)

Big Town Scandal

Police Chief

Midnight Court

George the Boat Captain (uncredited)

The Country Doctor

Policeman Chiding School Bus Driver (uncredited)

The Great O'Malley

Charlie (uncredited)

It's a Wonderful Life

Red Moran, City Desk Editor

No Marriage Ties

Watchman (uncredited)

Scarlet Street

Murphy

The Magnificent Brute

Newspaper Editor

Dressed to Kill

County Hospital Guard (uncredited)

Mr. Deeds Goes to Town

Tom Burke

Life Begins in College

Assistant Editor (uncredited)

Murder with Pictures

Colonel McCollum (as Charles Wilson)

Legion of Terror

Spencer Bogart

Fighting Thoroughbreds

Owen

Charter Pilot

Brant - City Editor (uncredited)

Two O'Clock Courage

Chief Gentry (as Charles Wilson)

Larceny in Her Heart

Sergeant

Sandy Is a Lady

Tex Reardon

Down the Stretch

Pitkins

The Mine with the Iron Door

G-Man at dancehall

Mary Burns, Fugitive

Gurney (uncredited)

Gentleman Jim

Fletcher

One Mile from Heaven

Reardon

Prison Farm

Inspector

Gateway

Jim McFee aka Mac

Waterfront Lady

Bill - Man Behind MacPherson at Fight (uncredited)

City for Conquest

Desk Sergeant (uncredited)

Tin Pan Alley

Albert

Hotel for Women

Mike Williams (uncredited)

They Drive by Night

Gambler (uncredited)

Knute Rockne All American

George Martin (uncredited)

Lady with Red Hair

R.J. Reynolds, Sunday Editor (uncredited)

Millionaires in Prison

Vincent Brady, Commissioner of Police

Girl in 313

Chief of Police Will Gentry (as Charles Wilson)

Blonde for a Day

Captain Dodge (uncredited)

Here Is My Heart

Police Sergeant

Passkey to Danger

Police Sergeant

Blondie Goes to College

Club Bartender (Uncredited)

Private Detective 62

Benson

Men of the Night

Desk Sgt. Cullen

The Secret Code

Sam Garvin

Roaring Timber

Lackey

Murder in the Clouds

Detective

Mind Your Own Business

Editor Herbert Claxton

Woman in Distress

Detective Hennessy (uncredited)

The Kennel Murder Case

Chief of Police (uncredited)

A Gun in His Hand

Mortimer Gray

The Adventurous Blonde

Captain Arnold

Batman

Sergeant

Public Deb No. 1

Captain Halstead

State Police

Furniture Buyer (uncredited)

The Human Side

Chief Inspector Fitzgerald

Panic on the Air

Rings on Her Fingers

Official Policeman (uncredited)

Road to Utopia

Anthony Wilson

The Great Hotel Murder

Charlie Dawson

Meet John Doe

Police Inspector (uncredited)

You Only Live Once

Arresting Officer (uncredited)

Invisible Stripes

Private Detective Falihee (Uncredited)

Female

Detective (Uncredited)

Cross Country Cruise

Burke (Uncredited)

The 9th Guest

Attorney

Embarrassing Moments

First Detective

The Public Menace

Doctor (uncredited)

Insurance

Mac Ellis (Uncredited)

The Missing Juror

Police Capt. Wallace (uncredited)

Night Key

Out of the Fog

Nelson

Acquitted

Sam Jonas

Hey, Rookie

Guest in Pool Party

My Sin

Schwartz (uncredited)

Daughter of Shanghai

Angels with Dirty Faces

Magistrate

I Believed in You

Detective Reardon

The Campus Mystery

Ferry Captain (uncredited)

The Case of the Curious Bride

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

165

Gender

Male

Birthday

1894-07-28

Place of Birth

New York City, New York, USA

Also Known As

Charles Cahill Wilson