Charles C. Wilson

Charles C. Wilson

Known For

It Happened One Night

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).

Movies Featuring Charles C. Wilson

Commotion on the Ocean

Commotion on the Ocean (1956)

as J.L. Cameron - Managing Editor (archive footage)
Big Town Scandal

Big Town Scandal (1948)

as Editor of the Chronicle (uncredited)
Key Witness

Key Witness (1947)

as Warden (uncredited)
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947)

as Police Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
It's a Wonderful Life

It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

as Charlie (uncredited)
Gas House Kids

Gas House Kids (1946)

as Inspector Shannon
Blonde for a Day

Blonde for a Day (1946)

as Chief of Police Will Gentry (as Charles Wilson)
Larceny in Her Heart

Larceny in Her Heart (1946)

as Chief Gentry (as Charles Wilson)
Passkey to Danger

Passkey to Danger (1946)

as Police Sergeant
Crime of the Century

Crime of the Century (1946)

as Police Lieutenant
Road to Utopia

Road to Utopia (1946)

as Official Policeman (uncredited)
Scarlet Street

Scarlet Street (1945)

as Watchman (uncredited)
A Gun in His Hand

A Gun in His Hand (1945)

as Chief of Police (uncredited)
Two O'Clock Courage

Two O'Clock Courage (1945)

as Brant - City Editor (uncredited)
The Missing Juror

The Missing Juror (1944)

as Mac Ellis (uncredited)
Crime by Night

Crime by Night (1944)

as District Attorney Hyatt
Batman

Batman (1943)

as Captain Arnold
Gentleman Jim

Gentleman Jim (1942)

as Gurney (uncredited)
The Secret Code

The Secret Code (1942)

as Desk Sgt. Cullen
Escape from Crime

Escape from Crime (1942)

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

Dr. Broadway (1942)

as District Attorney McNamara
Dressed to Kill

Dressed to Kill (1941)

as Newspaper Editor
Broadway Limited

Broadway Limited (1941)

as Detective (as Charles Wilson)
Meet John Doe

Meet John Doe (1941)

as Charlie Dawson
Lady with Red Hair

Lady with Red Hair (1940)

as George Martin (uncredited)
Tin Pan Alley

Tin Pan Alley (1940)

as Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
City for Conquest

City for Conquest (1940)

as Bill - Man Behind MacPherson at Fight (uncredited)
They Drive by Night

They Drive by Night (1940)

as Mike Williams (uncredited)
Millionaires in Prison

Millionaires in Prison (1940)

as R.J. Reynolds, Sunday Editor (uncredited)
Girl in 313

Girl in 313 (1940)

as Vincent Brady, Commissioner of Police
Invisible Stripes

Invisible Stripes (1939)

as Arresting Officer (uncredited)
The Roaring Twenties

The Roaring Twenties (1939)

as Policeman (uncredited)
Gateway

Gateway (1938)

as Inspector
When Were You Born

When Were You Born (1938)

as Inspector Jim C. Gregg
State Police

State Police (1938)

as Captain Halstead
Sally, Irene and Mary

Sally, Irene and Mary (1938)

as Covered Wagon Cafe Manager
Daughter of Shanghai

Daughter of Shanghai (1937)

as Schwartz (uncredited)
Partners in Crime

Partners in Crime (1937)

as Inspector Simpson
Broadway Melody of 1938

Broadway Melody of 1938 (1937)

as Horse Auctioneer (uncredited)
Night Key

Night Key (1937)

as Police Capt. Wallace (uncredited)
Murder Goes to College

Murder Goes to College (1937)

as Police Inspector Simpson
The Great O'Malley

The Great O'Malley (1937)

as Policeman Chiding School Bus Driver (uncredited)
You Only Live Once

You Only Live Once (1937)

as Police Inspector (uncredited)
Woman in Distress

Woman in Distress (1937)

as Editor Herbert Claxton
Find the Witness

Find the Witness (1937)

as Charley Blair (uncredited)
Legion of Terror

Legion of Terror (1936)

as Colonel McCollum (as Charles Wilson)
Murder with Pictures

Murder with Pictures (1936)

as Assistant Editor (uncredited)
Grand Jury

Grand Jury (1936)

as City Editor
Satan Met a Lady

Satan Met a Lady (1936)

as Detective Pollock
Panic on the Air

Panic on the Air (1936)

as Chief Inspector Fitzgerald
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town

Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936)

as County Hospital Guard (uncredited)
Big Brown Eyes

Big Brown Eyes (1936)

as Prosecuting Attorney (Uncredited)
The Country Doctor

The Country Doctor (1936)

as George the Boat Captain (uncredited)
Hitch Hike Lady

Hitch Hike Lady (1935)

as Mike - a Racketeer
We're Only Human

We're Only Human (1935)

as Editor of The Daily Star
White Lies

White Lies (1935)

as Defense Attorney (uncredited)
Mary Burns, Fugitive

Mary Burns, Fugitive (1935)

as G-Man at dancehall
Music Is Magic

Music Is Magic (1935)

as Decker - Theatre Manager (uncredited)
The Case of the Lucky Legs

The Case of the Lucky Legs (1935)

as Police Officer Ricker
Waterfront Lady

Waterfront Lady (1935)

as Jim McFee aka Mac
The Public Menace

The Public Menace (1935)

as First Detective
Smart Girl

Smart Girl (1935)

as Morgan (uncredited)
After the Dance

After the Dance (1935)

as Chief of Police
The Glass Key

The Glass Key (1935)

as District Attorney Edward J. Farr
The Nitwits

The Nitwits (1935)

as Police Captain Jennings
Murder in the Fleet

Murder in the Fleet (1935)

as Commander Brown (Uncredited)
Air Hawks

Air Hawks (1935)

as Newspaper editor
The Case of the Curious Bride

The Case of the Curious Bride (1935)

as Ferry Captain (uncredited)
Baby Face Harrington

Baby Face Harrington (1935)

as City Editor (uncredited)
The Perfect Clue

The Perfect Clue (1935)

as District Attorney
Car 99

Car 99 (1935)

as Trooper Captain Ryan
The Gilded Lily

The Gilded Lily (1935)

as Managing Editor
Here Is My Heart

Here Is My Heart (1934)

as Captain Dodge (uncredited)
The Human Side

The Human Side (1934)

as Furniture Buyer (uncredited)
Fog Over Frisco

Fog Over Frisco (1934)

as Detective Sergeant O'Hagen
The 9th Guest

The 9th Guest (1934)

as Burke (Uncredited)
Cross Country Cruise

Cross Country Cruise (1934)

as Detective (Uncredited)
Female

Female (1933)

as Private Detective Falihee (Uncredited)
College Coach

College Coach (1933)

as Charles Hauser
The Kennel Murder Case

The Kennel Murder Case (1933)

as Detective Hennessy (uncredited)
No Marriage Ties

No Marriage Ties (1933)

as Red Moran, City Desk Editor
Disgraced!

Disgraced! (1933)

as Thompson, Assistant District Attorney
The Mayor of Hell

The Mayor of Hell (1933)

as Wilson (uncredited)
Private Detective 62

Private Detective 62 (1933)

as Club Bartender (Uncredited)
Gold Diggers of 1933

Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933)

as Deputy (uncredited)
Elmer, the Great

Elmer, the Great (1933)

as Mr. Wade (as Charles Wilson)
Hard to Handle

Hard to Handle (1933)

as Jailer (uncredited)
No Image

The Trans-Atlantic Mystery (1932)

as Detective Doyle (uncredited)
No Image

The Campus Mystery (1932)

as Detective Reardon
Hot News Margie

Hot News Margie (1931)

as Newspaper Editor (uncredited)
My Sin

My Sin (1931)

as Guest in Pool Party
Insurance

Insurance (1930)

as Doctor (uncredited)
Song of Love

Song of Love (1929)

as Traveling Salesman