About

Known credits:
159
Birthday:
1894-07-28
Place of birth:
New York City, New York, USA
Website:
N/A

Charles C. Wilson

Overview

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

Acting

1956 Commotion on the Ocean Actor J.L. Cameron - Managing Editor (archive footage) 58
Average
1948 Crime on Their Hands Actor J.L. Cameron 59
Average
1948 Blazing Across the Pecos Actor Mayor Ace Brockway 58
Average
1948 Big Town Scandal Actor Editor of the Chronicle (uncredited) 58
Average
1947 Key Witness Actor Warden (uncredited) 58
Average
1947 The Secret Life of Walter Mitty Actor Police Desk Sergeant (uncredited) 60
Fair
1947 Meet Mr. Mischief Actor Harry's Boss N/A
N/A
1946 It's a Wonderful Life Actor Charlie (uncredited) 80
Very good
1946 Gas House Kids Actor Inspector Shannon 59
Average
1946 Blonde for a Day Actor Chief of Police Will Gentry (as Charles Wilson) 58
Average
1946 Larceny in Her Heart Actor Chief Gentry (as Charles Wilson) 59
Average
1946 Passkey to Danger Actor Police Sergeant N/A
N/A
1946 Crime of the Century Actor Police Lieutenant 59
Average
1946 Road to Utopia Actor Official Policeman (uncredited) 59
Average
1945 Scarlet Street Actor Watchman (uncredited) 66
Fair
1945 Week-End at the Waldorf Actor Hi Johns 59
Average
1945 A Gun in His Hand Actor Chief of Police (uncredited) 58
Average
1945 Two O'Clock Courage Actor Brant - City Editor (uncredited) 59
Average
1944 The Missing Juror Actor Mac Ellis (Uncredited) 59
Average
1944 Crime by Night Actor District Attorney Hyatt 59
Average
1944 Hey, Rookie Actor Sam Jonas N/A
N/A
1943 Silver Spurs Actor Mr. Hawkins 58
Average
1943 Batman Actor Captain Arnold 60
Fair
1942 Gentleman Jim Actor Gurney (uncredited) 60
Fair
1942 The Secret Code Actor Desk Sgt. Cullen 58
Average
1942 Escape from Crime Actor C.L. Reardon - Managing Editor (as Charles Wilson) 58
Average
1942 This Gun for Hire Actor Police Captain 61
Fair
1942 Lady Gangster Actor Detective 59
Average
1942 Rings on Her Fingers Actor 59
Average
1942 The Man Who Returned to Life Actor 59
Average
1942 Blondie Goes to College Actor Police Sergeant 59
Average
1941 The Officer and the Lady Actor Police Captain Hart 59
Average
1941 Dressed to Kill Actor Newspaper Editor 59
Average
1941 Out of the Fog Actor 59
Average
1941 Broadway Limited Actor Detective (as Charles Wilson) 58
Average
1941 Federal Fugitives Actor Bruce Lane 59
Average
1941 Meet John Doe Actor Charlie Dawson 63
Fair
1941 The Face Behind the Mask Actor Chief O'Brien 59
Average
1940 Charter Pilot Actor Owen 59
Average
1940 Lady with Red Hair Actor George Martin (uncredited) 59
Average
1940 Tin Pan Alley Actor Desk Sergeant (uncredited) 58
Average
1940 Knute Rockne All American Actor Gambler (uncredited) 58
Average
1940 City for Conquest Actor Bill - Man Behind MacPherson at Fight (uncredited) 59
Average
1940 Public Deb No. 1 Actor Sergeant 58
Average
1940 They Drive by Night Actor Mike Williams (uncredited) 60
Fair
1940 Millionaires in Prison Actor R.J. Reynolds, Sunday Editor (uncredited) 59
Average
1940 Girl in 313 Actor Vincent Brady, Commissioner of Police 59
Average
1940 Sandy Is a Lady Actor Sergeant N/A
N/A
1940 Gangs of Chicago Actor 58
Average
1940 He Married His Wife Actor Warden 58
Average
1939 Invisible Stripes Actor Arresting Officer (uncredited) 59
Average
1939 The Return of Doctor X Actor Det. Kincaid 59
Average
1939 The Roaring Twenties Actor Policeman (uncredited) 64
Fair
1939 Smashing the Money Ring Actor Capt. Kilrane 58
Average
1939 Here I Am a Stranger Actor Managing Editor 59
Average
1939 Hotel for Women Actor Albert 59
Average
1939 The Cowboy Quarterback Actor Coach Hap Farrell 59
Average
1939 The House of Fear Actor Police Chief 59
Average
1939 Rose of Washington Square Actor Mike Cavanaugh 59
Average
1939 Fighting Thoroughbreds Actor Spencer Bogart N/A
N/A
1938 The Spider's Web Actor Chase 59
Average
1938 The Night Hawk Actor Lonigan N/A
N/A
1938 Hold That Co-ed Actor Coach Burke 59
Average
1938 Tenth Avenue Kid Actor Commissioner 59
Average
1938 Gateway Actor Inspector 59
Average
1938 When Were You Born Actor Inspector Jim C. Gregg 58
Average
1938 Prison Farm Actor Reardon 59
Average
1938 Little Miss Thoroughbred Actor Becker 58
Average
1938 State Police Actor Captain Halstead 59
Average
1938 Sally, Irene and Mary Actor Covered Wagon Cafe Manager 58
Average
1937 The Adventurous Blonde Actor Mortimer Gray 58
Average
1937 Partners in Crime Actor Inspector Simpson N/A
N/A
1937 Life Begins in College Actor Tom Burke N/A
N/A
1937 Broadway Melody of 1938 Actor Horse Auctioneer (uncredited) 59
Average
1937 One Mile from Heaven Actor Fletcher 59
Average
1937 Roaring Timber Actor Sam Garvin 58
Average
1937 The Case of the Stuttering Bishop Actor Hamilton Burger 59
Average
1937 Night Key Actor Police Capt. Wallace (uncredited) 59
Average
1937 Midnight Court Actor Police Chief 58
Average
1937 Murder Goes to College Actor Police Inspector Simpson 58
Average
1937 The Great O'Malley Actor Policeman Chiding School Bus Driver (uncredited) 59
Average
1937 They Wanted to Marry Actor Clark 58
Average
1937 You Only Live Once Actor Police Inspector (uncredited) 62
Fair
1937 Woman in Distress Actor Editor Herbert Claxton 58
Average
1936 Mind Your Own Business Actor Detective N/A
N/A
1936 Legion of Terror Actor Colonel McCollum (as Charles Wilson) 59
Average
1936 The Magnificent Brute Actor Murphy 59
Average
1936 Murder with Pictures Actor Assistant Editor (uncredited) 58
Average
1936 Down the Stretch Actor Tex Reardon 59
Average
1936 The Gentleman from Louisiana Actor Diamond Jim Brady N/A
N/A
1936 I'd Give My Life Actor Warden N/A
N/A
1936 Grand Jury Actor City Editor 59
Average
1936 Earthworm Tractors Actor H.J. Russell 58
Average
1936 36 Hours to Kill Actor F.B.I. Chief 59
Average
1936 Satan Met a Lady Actor Detective Pollock 58
Average
1936 Show Boat Actor 59
Average
1936 The Mine with the Iron Door Actor Pitkins N/A
N/A
1936 Panic on the Air Actor Chief Inspector Fitzgerald 59
Average
1936 Mr. Deeds Goes to Town Actor County Hospital Guard (uncredited) 65
Fair
1936 Big Brown Eyes Actor Prosecuting Attorney (Uncredited) 59
Average
1936 The Country Doctor Actor George the Boat Captain (uncredited) 59
Average
1936 Strike Me Pink Actor Hardie 59
Average
1935 Hitch Hike Lady Actor Mike - a Racketeer 59
Average
1935 We're Only Human Actor Editor of The Daily Star 59
Average
1935 Show Them No Mercy! Actor Clifford 59
Average
1935 Mary Burns, Fugitive Actor G-Man at dancehall N/A
N/A
1935 Music Is Magic Actor Decker - Theatre Manager (uncredited) 59
Average
1935 The Case of the Lucky Legs Actor Police Officer Ricker 59
Average
1935 Waterfront Lady Actor Jim McFee aka Mac 59
Average
1935 The Public Menace Actor First Detective 59
Average
1935 Smart Girl Actor Morgan (uncredited) N/A
N/A
1935 After the Dance Actor Chief of Police 59
Average
1935 The Glass Key Actor District Attorney Edward J. Farr 59
Average
1935 The Nitwits Actor Police Captain Jennings 59
Average
1935 Murder in the Fleet Actor Commander Brown (Uncredited) 59
Average
1935 Air Hawks Actor Newspaper editor 59
Average
1935 Baby Face Harrington Actor City Editor 58
Average
1935 Four Hours to Kill! Actor Taft 59
Average
1935 The Perfect Clue Actor District Attorney 59
Average
1935 Car 99 Actor Trooper Captain Ryan 59
Average
1935 The Great Hotel Murder Actor Anthony Wilson 59
Average
1935 The Gilded Lily Actor Managing Editor 59
Average
1934 Here Is My Heart Actor Captain Dodge (uncredited) 59
Average
1934 Murder in the Clouds Actor Lackey 58
Average
1934 Men of the Night Actor Benson 58
Average
1934 The St. Louis Kid Actor Mr. Harris 58
Average
1934 Port of Lost Dreams Actor Warden 59
Average
1934 The Human Side Actor Furniture Buyer (uncredited) N/A
N/A
1934 Embarrassing Moments Actor Attorney N/A
N/A
1934 The Dragon Murder Case Actor Det. Hennessey 59
Average
1934 Name the Woman Actor Joel Walker N/A
N/A
1934 The Circus Clown Actor Sheldon 59
Average
1934 The Hell Cat Actor Graham 59
Average
1934 Fog Over Frisco Actor Detective Sergeant O'Hagen 58
Average
1934 Affairs of a Gentleman Actor Inspector Quillan 58
Average
1934 It Happened One Night Actor Joe Gordon 72
Good
1934 The 9th Guest Actor Burke (Uncredited) 58
Average
1934 Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen Actor Chief of Police 59
Average
1933 Havana Widows Actor Mr. Timberg 58
Average
1933 Female Actor Private Detective Falihee (Uncredited) 59
Average
1933 College Coach Actor Charles Hauser 58
Average
1933 The Kennel Murder Case Actor Detective Hennessy (uncredited) 59
Average
1933 No Marriage Ties Actor Red Moran, City Desk Editor 58
Average
1933 Mary Stevens, M.D. Actor Walter Rising 59
Average
1933 Disgraced! Actor Thompson, Assistant District Attorney N/A
N/A
1933 The Mayor of Hell Actor Wilson (uncredited) 59
Average
1933 Private Detective 62 Actor Club Bartender (Uncredited) 59
Average
1933 Gold Diggers of 1933 Actor Deputy (uncredited) 61
Fair
1933 Elmer, the Great Actor Mr. Wade (as Charles Wilson) 58
Average
1933 Hard to Handle Actor Jailer (uncredited) 59
Average
1932 The Trans-Atlantic Mystery Actor Detective Doyle (uncredited) 58
Average
1931 Hot News Margie Actor Newspaper Editor (uncredited) 59
Average
1931 My Sin Actor Guest in Pool Party 58
Average
1931 Stolen Heaven Actor Detective 59
Average
1930 Insurance Actor Doctor (uncredited) 59
Average
1930 Getting a Ticket Actor Motorcycle Cop 59
Average
1929 Acquitted Actor Nelson N/A
N/A
1929 Broadway Scandals Actor Jack 59
Average

Directing

1929 Lucky Boy Directing Director 58
Average