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).
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
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