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Charles Cahill Wilson

Charles Cahill Wilson

Known for
Acting
Born
July 28, 1894, New York City, New York, USA
Died
January 7, 1948
Movies
173

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).

Best-Known Movies

Filmography

1956Commotion on the OceanJ.L. Cameron - Managing Editor (archive footage)
1948Crime on Their HandsJ.L. Cameron
1948Blazing Across the PecosMayor Ace Brockway
1948Big Town ScandalEditor of the Chronicle (uncredited)
1947Key WitnessWarden (uncredited)
1947The Secret Life of Walter MittyPolice Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
1947Meet Mr. MischiefHarry's Boss
1946It's a Wonderful LifeCharlie (uncredited)
1946Gas House KidsInspector Shannon
1946Blonde for a DayChief of Police Will Gentry (as Charles Wilson)
1946Larceny in Her HeartChief Gentry (as Charles Wilson)
1946Passkey to DangerPolice Sergeant
1946Crime of the CenturyPolice Lieutenant
1946Road to UtopiaOfficial Policeman (uncredited)
1945Scarlet StreetWatchman (uncredited)
1945Week-End at the WaldorfHi Johns
1945A Gun in His HandChief of Police (uncredited)
1945Two O'Clock CourageBrant - City Editor (uncredited)
1944The Missing JurorMac Ellis (uncredited)
1944Crime by NightDistrict Attorney Hyatt
1944Hey, RookieSam Jonas
1943Silver SpursMr. Hawkins
1943BatmanCaptain Arnold
1942Gentleman JimGurney (uncredited)
1942The Secret CodeDesk Sgt. Cullen
1942Escape from CrimeC.L. Reardon - Managing Editor (as Charles Wilson)
1942Dr. BroadwayDistrict Attorney McNamara
1942This Gun for HirePolice Captain
1942Lady GangsterDetective
1942Rings on Her Fingers
1942The Man Who Returned to LifeInspector Mensil
1942Blondie Goes to CollegePolice Sergeant
1941The Officer and the LadyPolice Captain Hart
1941Dressed to KillNewspaper Editor
1941Out of the Fog
1941Broadway LimitedDetective (as Charles Wilson)
1941Federal FugitivesBruce Lane
1941Meet John DoeCharlie Dawson
1941The Face Behind the MaskChief O'Brien
1940Charter PilotOwen
1940Lady with Red HairGeorge Martin (uncredited)
1940Tin Pan AlleyDesk Sergeant (uncredited)
1940Knute Rockne All AmericanGambler (uncredited)
1940City for ConquestBill - Man Behind MacPherson at Fight (uncredited)
1940Public Deb No. 1Sergeant
1940They Drive by NightMike Williams (uncredited)
1940Millionaires in PrisonR.J. Reynolds, Sunday Editor (uncredited)
1940Girl in 313Vincent Brady, Commissioner of Police
1940Sandy Is a LadySergeant
1940Gangs of Chicago
1940He Married His WifeWarden
1939Invisible StripesArresting Officer (uncredited)
1939The Return of Doctor XDet. Kincaid
1939The Roaring TwentiesPoliceman (uncredited)
1939Smashing the Money RingCapt. Kilrane
1939Here I Am a StrangerManaging Editor
1939Hotel for WomenAlbert
1939The Cowboy QuarterbackCoach Hap Farrell
1939The House of FearPolice Chief
1939Rose of Washington SquareMike Cavanaugh
1939Fighting ThoroughbredsSpencer Bogart
1938Angels with Dirty Faces
1938The Spider's WebChase
1938The Night HawkLonigan
1938Hold That Co-edCoach Burke
1938Tenth Avenue KidCommissioner
1938GatewayInspector
1938When Were You BornInspector Jim C. Gregg
1938Prison FarmReardon
1938Little Miss ThoroughbredBecker
1938State PoliceCaptain Halstead
1938Sally, Irene and MaryCovered Wagon Cafe Manager
1937Daughter of ShanghaiSchwartz (uncredited)
1937The Adventurous BlondeMortimer Gray
1937That’s My StoryCummings
1937Partners in CrimeInspector Simpson
1937Life Begins in CollegeTom Burke
1937Broadway Melody of 1938Horse Auctioneer (uncredited)
1937One Mile from HeavenFletcher
1937Roaring TimberSam Garvin
1937The Case of the Stuttering BishopHamilton Burger
1937Night KeyPolice Capt. Wallace (uncredited)
1937Midnight CourtPolice Chief
1937Murder Goes to CollegePolice Inspector Simpson
1937The Great O'MalleyPoliceman Chiding School Bus Driver (uncredited)
1937They Wanted to MarryClark
1937You Only Live OncePolice Inspector (uncredited)
1937Woman in DistressEditor Herbert Claxton
1937Find the WitnessCharley Blair (uncredited)
1936Mind Your Own BusinessDetective
1936Legion of TerrorColonel McCollum (as Charles Wilson)
1936The Magnificent BruteMurphy
1936Murder with PicturesAssistant Editor (uncredited)
1936Down the StretchTex Reardon
1936The Gentleman from LouisianaDiamond Jim Brady
1936I'd Give My LifeWarden
1936Grand JuryCity Editor
1936Earthworm TractorsH.J. Russell
193636 Hours to KillF.B.I. Chief
1936Satan Met a LadyDetective Pollock
1936Show Boat
1936The Mine with the Iron DoorPitkins
1936Panic on the AirFitzgerald
1936Mr. Deeds Goes to TownCounty Hospital Guard (uncredited)
1936Big Brown EyesProsecuting Attorney (Uncredited)
1936The Country DoctorGeorge the Boat Captain (uncredited)
1936The Return of Jimmy ValentineKelley
1936Strike Me PinkHardie
1935Hitch Hike LadyMike - a Racketeer
1935We're Only HumanEditor of The Daily Star
1935White LiesDefense Attorney (uncredited)
1935Show Them No Mercy!Clifford
1935Mary Burns, FugitiveG-Man at dancehall
1935Music Is MagicDecker - Theatre Manager (uncredited)
1935The Case of the Lucky LegsPolice Officer Ricker
1935Waterfront LadyJim McFee aka Mac
1935The Public MenaceFirst Detective
1935Smart GirlMorgan (uncredited)
1935After the DanceChief of Police
1935The Glass KeyDistrict Attorney Edward J. Farr
1935The NitwitsPolice Captain Jennings
1935Murder in the FleetCommander Brown (Uncredited)
1935Air HawksNewspaper editor
1935Men of the HourHarper
1935The Case of the Curious BrideFerry Captain (uncredited)
1935Baby Face HarringtonCity Editor (uncredited)
1935Four Hours to Kill!Taft
1935The Perfect ClueDistrict Attorney
1935Car 99Trooper Captain Ryan
1935The Great Hotel MurderAnthony Wilson
1935The Gilded LilyManaging Editor
1934Here Is My HeartCaptain Dodge (uncredited)
1934Murder in the CloudsLackey
1934Men of the NightBenson
1934The St. Louis KidMr. Harris
1934Port of Lost DreamsWarden
1934The Human SideFurniture Buyer (uncredited)
1934Embarrassing MomentsAttorney
1934The Dragon Murder CaseDet. Hennessey
1934Name the WomanJoel Walker
1934The Circus ClownSheldon
1934The Hell CatGraham
1934Fog Over FriscoDetective Sergeant O'Hagen
1934Affairs of a GentlemanInspector Quillan
1934I Believed in YouMagistrate
1934It Happened One NightJoe Gordon
1934The 9th GuestBurke (Uncredited)
1934Cross Country CruiseDetective (Uncredited)
1934Miss Fane's Baby Is StolenChief of Police
1933Shadows of Sing Sing
1933Havana WidowsMr. Timberg
1933FemalePrivate Detective Falihee (Uncredited)
1933College CoachCharles Hauser
1933The Kennel Murder CaseDetective Hennessy (uncredited)
1933No Marriage TiesRed Moran, City Desk Editor
1933Mary Stevens, M.D.Walter Rising
1933Disgraced!Thompson, Assistant District Attorney
1933The Mayor of HellWilson (uncredited)
1933Private Detective 62Club Bartender (Uncredited)
1933Gold Diggers of 1933Deputy (uncredited)
1933Elmer, the GreatMr. Wade (as Charles Wilson)
1933Hard to HandleJailer (uncredited)
1932The Trans-Atlantic MysteryDetective Doyle (uncredited)
1932The Campus MysteryDetective Reardon
1931Hot News MargieNewspaper Editor (uncredited)
1931My SinGuest in Pool Party
1931Stolen HeavenDetective
1930InsuranceDoctor (uncredited)
1930Getting a TicketMotorcycle Cop
1929AcquittedNelson
1929Song of LoveTraveling Salesman
1929Broadway ScandalsJack

Directing, Writing & Producing

1929Lucky BoyDirector

Data from TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.

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