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Jack Carson

Jack Carson

Actor · Died January 2, 1963, aged 52 · Carman, Manitoba, Canada

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia John Elmer "Jack" Carson (October 27, 1910 – January 2, 1963) was a Canadian-born, American film actor, with a film career spanning the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s. Though he was primarily used in supporting roles for comic relief, his work in films such as Mildred Pierce (1945) and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958) displayed his mastery of "straight" dramatic actor roles as well. He worked for RKO and MGM (cast opposite Myrna Loy and William Powell in Love Crazy), but most of his memorable work was for Warner Bros. His trademark character was the wisecracking know-it-all, typically and inevitably undone by his own smug cockiness. Carson initially landed bit roles at RKO Radio Pictures in films such as Bringing Up Baby (1938), starring Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn. An early standout role for Carson was as a mock-drunk undercover G-Man opposite Richard Cromwell in Universal Pictures's anti-Nazi action drama entitled Enemy Agent. This led to contract-player status with Warner Brothers shortly thereafter. While there, he was teamed with Dennis Morgan in a number of films, supposedly to compete with Paramount's popular Bing Crosby - Bob Hope Road to … pictures. Most of his work at Warner Brothers was limited to light comedy work with Morgan, and later Doris Day (who in her autobiography would credit Carson as one of her early Hollywood mentors). Critics generally agree that Carson's best work was in Mildred Pierce (1945), where he played the perpetually scheming Wally Fay opposite Joan Crawford in the title role. Also in 1945, he played the role of Harold Pierson, the second husband of Louise Randall, played by Rosalind Russell, in Roughly Speaking. Another role which won accolades for him was as publicist Matt Libby in A Star is Born (1954). One of his last film roles was as the older brother "Gooper" in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958). His TV appearances, extending into the early 1960s, included The Martha Raye Show, The Guy Mitchell Show, and The Polly Bergen Show in 1957; Alcoa Theatre and Bonanza (Season 1, Ep.9: "Mr. Henry Comstock") in 1959; Thriller ("The Big Blackout") in 1960; and The Twilight Zone (Season 2, Ep. 14: "The Whole Truth") in 1961. On February 8, 1960, Carson received two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contributions to the television and radio industry. The television star is located at 1560 Vine Street, the radio star is at 6361 Hollywood Boulevard. In 1983, after his death, Jack Carson was inducted into the Wisconsin Performing Artists Hall of Fame along with his film pal, Dennis Morgan, who was also from Wisconsin.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
October 27, 1910
Died
January 2, 1963 (aged 52)
From
Carman, Manitoba, Canada
Works as
Actor
Titles
51 on MovieCove · 120 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 39 days to Oct 28Down 40% in 30 days

What are Jack Carson's films like?

Across their 40 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy24 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 52nd percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 67th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Crime4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 62nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Biography3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 55th percentile
: browse their Biography movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 69th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
46%
Self
23%
Morality
15%
Power
8%
Society
6%
Survival
1%
Romantic love22 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition10 titles, browse their movies with this themeMarriage7 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds8 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception8 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth5 titles, browse their movies with this themeClass5 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity5 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 40 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 30 · Serious 5 · Dark 5

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 17 · Stylized 18 · Heightened 5

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 19 · Charged 18 · Intense 3

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 19 · Shifting 18 · Whiplash 3

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 9 · Some laughs 13 · Funny 18

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 13 · Even-paced 25 · Relentless 2

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 32 · Engaged 8 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 39 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

25 analyzed roles

Usually the Trickster: 6 of 25 analyzed roles.

Trickster
6 of 25
Shadow
4 of 25
Ally
3 of 25
Shapeshifter
3 of 25
Mentor
3 of 25
Hero
2 of 25
Threshold guardian
2 of 25
Herald
2 of 25
Show the 25 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
23
Warm
16
Tense
12
Romantic
15
Absurd
11
Other
27

How their films linger

Feel-good31 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun24 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 5 with a twist

  • Happy30
  • Bittersweet8
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Jack Carson's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 10 of their 51 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (5).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Jack Carson's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

120 credits, 51 with a MovieCove page; 19 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Going Hollywood: The '30s(1984)

    as (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Sammy, the Way-Out Seal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Harold Sylvester

  • The Children of Alda Nuova (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Frankie Fane

  • Bus Stop (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Who Killed Julie Greer? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Fairchild

  • King of the Roaring 20's: The Story of Arnold Rothstein(1961)

    as Timothy W. 'Big Tim' O'Brien

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Thriller (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 1 episode · as Burt Lewis

  • The Bramble Bush (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    as Bert Mosley

  • Startime (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Albert Maddon

  • The Twilight Zone(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Harvey Hunnicut

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Bonanza(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Henry T.P. Comstock

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Rally 'Round the Flag, Boys!(1958)

    as Captain Hoxie

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Cat on a Hot Tin Roof(1958)

    as Gooper Pollitt

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Tarnished Angels(1957)

    as Jiggs

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Alcoa Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Augie Adams · as Bert Kennedy

  • Three Men on a Horse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Patsy

  • The Tattered Dress (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Sheriff Nick Hoak

  • Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · as Sundown Smith

  • Magnificent Roughnecks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Bix Decker

  • The Bottom of the Bottle(1956)

    as Hal Breckinridge

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Arroyo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as Lamar Kendall

  • Screen Director's Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Lamar Kendall

  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Frankie Fane

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Ain't Misbehavin'(1955)

    as Harold North

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • The Bob Cummings Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Jack Carson

  • Phffft(1954)

    as Charlie Nelson

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • The Wonderful World of Disney (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 2 episodes · as Harold Sylvester

  • Climax! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 1 episode · as Art Shaddick · as Eugene Skinner

  • A Star Is Born(1954)

    as Matt Libby

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Red Garters(1954)

    as Jason Carberry

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Dangerous When Wet(1953)

    as Windy Webbe

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • General Electric Theater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 1 episode · as Joe Bushwick

  • The Ford Television Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Show 1 episode · as Dan Doyle

  • Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as Danny Scott · as Harry Mauldron · as Sid Devlin

  • The Groom Wore Spurs(1951)

    as Ben Castle

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Mister Universe(1951)

    as Jeff Clayton

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Four Star Revue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 1 episode · as Host

  • Lux Video Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 1 episode · as Garrison · as John Mulligan

  • Bright Leaf(1950)

    as Chris Malley

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • The Good Humor Man(1950)

    as Biff Jones

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Your Show of Shows (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • It's a Great Feeling(1949)

    as Jack Carson

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • My Dream Is Yours(1949)

    as Doug Blake

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • John Loves Mary(1949)

    as Fred Taylor

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Studio One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Show 1 episode · as Harry Breen

  • Two Guys from Texas(1948)

    as Danny Foster

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Romance on the High Seas(1948)

    as Peter Virgil

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • April Showers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Joe Tyme

  • Always Together (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Bill (uncredited)

  • So You Want to Be in Pictures (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Man Giving Directions (uncredited)

  • Love and Learn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Jingles Collins

  • The Time, the Place and the Girl(1946)

    as Jeff Howard

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Okay for Sound (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    Actor

  • Two Guys from Milwaukee(1946)

    as Buzz Williams

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • One More Tomorrow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Patrick 'Pat' Regan

  • Mildred Pierce(1945)

    as Wally Fay

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Roughly Speaking (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Harold C. Pierson

  • The Doughgirls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Arthur Halstead

  • Arsenic and Old Lace(1944)

    as Officer Patrick O'Hara

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Make Your Own Bed(1944)

    as Jerry Curtis

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • The Road to Victory (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Jack Carson (uncredited)

  • Shine on Harvest Moon(1944)

    as The Great Georgetti

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Food and Magic (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    Actor

  • Princess O'Rourke (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Dave Campbell

  • The Hard Way (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Albert Runkel

  • Gentleman Jim(1942)

    as Walter Lawrie

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Wings for the Eagle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Brad Maple

  • Larceny, Inc(1942)

    as Jeff Randolph

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • The Male Animal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Joe Ferguson

  • Blues in the Night(1941)

    as Leo Powell

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Navy Blues (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as 'Buttons' Johnson

  • The Bride Came C.O.D.(1941)

    as Allen Brice

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Love Crazy(1941)

    as Ward Willoughby

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • The Strawberry Blonde(1941)

    as Hugo Barnstead

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Mr. & Mrs. Smith(1941)

    as Chuck

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Love Thy Neighbor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Policeman

  • Sandy Gets Her Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Policeman Tom Garrity

  • Lucky Partners (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Frederick Harper

  • Queen of the Mob(1940)

    as Agent Ross Waring

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Girl in 313 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Police Lt. Pat O'Farrell

  • Typhoon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Mate

  • Alias the Deacon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Sullivan

  • Shooting High (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Gabby Cross

  • Enemy Agent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Ralph

  • I Take This Woman(1940)

    as Joe

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Parole Fixer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as George Mattison

  • City of Chance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Narration - Prologue (voice)

  • The Honeymoon's Over (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Tom Donroy

  • Destry Rides Again(1939)

    as Jack Tyndall

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Legion of Lost Flyers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Larry Barrigan

  • Mr. Smith Goes to Washington(1939)

    as Sweeney Farrell (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Escape (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Chet Warren

  • Fifth Avenue Girl(1939)

    as Minnesota (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • The Kid from Texas(1939)

    as Stanley Brown

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Next Time I Marry(1938)

    as Radio Announcer (voice) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Mr. Doodle Kicks Off (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Rochet

  • Carefree (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Connors

  • Having Wonderful Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Emil Beatty

  • The Saint in New York(1938)

    as Red Jenks

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Vivacious Lady(1938)

    as Waiter Captain

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Law of the Underworld (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Henchman Johnny

  • Go Chase Yourself (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Warren Miles

  • This Marriage Business (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as "Candid" Perry

  • Condemned Women (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Plainclothes Policeman

  • Maid's Night Out(1938)

    as Rollercoaster Ride Attendant (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Night Spot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Shallen

  • Bringing Up Baby(1938)

    as Circus Roustabout (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Everybody's Doing It(1938)

    as Detective Lieutenant

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Crashing Hollywood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Dickson

  • She's Got Everything(1937)

    as Ransome (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Quick Money (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Coach Woodford

  • Harris in the Spring (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Taxicab Driver

  • A Rented Riot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    Actor

  • High Flyers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Dave Hanlon

  • Stand-In (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Tom Potts

  • Music for Madame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Assistant Director

  • Stage Door(1937)

    as Mr. Milbanks

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • On Again—Off Again (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Cop

  • Too Many Wives (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Hodges

  • You Only Live Once(1937)

    as Attendant in First Gas Station

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 120 titles from 1937 to 1984.

Biggest box office

A Star Is Born (1954)

$4.4M worldwide

Highest rated

Mildred Pierce (1945)

Midcredits 98th

Most popular right now

Arsenic and Old Lace (1944)

Film career

Top draw in 9 MovieCove titles.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting120 of 120: 120 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score64th

By decade

1930s33 · acting1940s46 · acting1950s33 · acting1960s7 · acting1980s1 · acting

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 4% of 24 roles
374252

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Jack Carson's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 56th percentile, the median of all 48; across their 40 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 60th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

60thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 40

Approval · how many liked their films

54thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 40

Reach · how many have seen their films

52ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 40

Midcredits score across 51 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up20
  • 50th to 74th16
  • 25th to 49th11
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

24 of their 51 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved10
  • Crowd Pleaser24
  • Broadly Agreed7
  • Mixed10

Most divisive · actor

Going Hollywood: The '30s (1984)

72nd percentile spread · 12% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Mildred Pierce (1945)

Midcredits 98th · 88% liked

Reviewers score the acting 70/100 in their films, across 39 reviewed titles; fans 78, detractors 46. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Jack Carson's work okay for kids?

Across up to 5 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity and profanity run lighter than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore5 titles7–28 · median 23 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity5 titles8–23 · median 13 · minimallighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity5 titles0–14 · median 5 · minimallighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs4 titlesmedian 54 · moderateMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense5 titles11–35 · median 31 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Jack Carson work with?

People who share at least 2 of Jack Carson's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Alex Gottlieb shares the most, 7.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles