CineScope
Charles C. Wilson picture

Charles C. Wilson

Acting
Known For

53 Years Old

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).

Born

New York City, New York, USA on 28th July 1894

Died

7th January 1948

All Credits

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