image of Charles C. Wilson
Birthday: Jul 28, 1894
Place of Birth: New York City, New York, USA

Charles C. Wilson

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).

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