Charles Cahill Wilson
- Acting
- July 28, 1894 · New York City, New York, USA
- January 7, 1948
Biography
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
Filmography
- Commotion on the Ocean · J.L. Cameron - Managing Editor (archive footage)
- Crime on Their Hands · J.L. Cameron
- Blazing Across the Pecos · Mayor Ace Brockway
- Big Town Scandal · Editor of the Chronicle (uncredited)
- Key Witness · Warden (uncredited)
- The Secret Life of Walter Mitty · Police Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
- Meet Mr. Mischief · Harry's Boss
- It's a Wonderful Life · Charlie (uncredited)
- Gas House Kids · Inspector Shannon
- Blonde for a Day · Chief of Police Will Gentry (as Charles Wilson)
- Larceny in Her Heart · Chief Gentry (as Charles Wilson)
- Passkey to Danger · Police Sergeant
- Crime of the Century · Police Lieutenant
- Road to Utopia · Official Policeman (uncredited)
- Scarlet Street · Watchman (uncredited)
- Week-End at the Waldorf · Hi Johns
- A Gun in His Hand · Chief of Police (uncredited)
- Two O'Clock Courage · Brant - City Editor (uncredited)
- The Missing Juror · Mac Ellis (uncredited)
- Crime by Night · District Attorney Hyatt
- Hey, Rookie · Sam Jonas
- Silver Spurs · Mr. Hawkins
- Batman · Captain Arnold
- Gentleman Jim · Gurney (uncredited)
- The Secret Code · Desk Sgt. Cullen
- Escape from Crime · C.L. Reardon - Managing Editor (as Charles Wilson)
- Dr. Broadway · District Attorney McNamara
- This Gun for Hire · Police Captain
- Lady Gangster · Detective
- Rings on Her Fingers
- The Man Who Returned to Life · Inspector Mensil
- Blondie Goes to College · Police Sergeant
- The Officer and the Lady · Police Captain Hart
- Dressed to Kill · Newspaper Editor
- Out of the Fog
- Broadway Limited · Detective (as Charles Wilson)
- Federal Fugitives · Bruce Lane
- Meet John Doe · Charlie Dawson
- The Face Behind the Mask · Chief O'Brien
- Charter Pilot · Owen
- Lady with Red Hair · George Martin (uncredited)
- Tin Pan Alley · Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
- Knute Rockne All American · Gambler (uncredited)
- City for Conquest · Bill - Man Behind MacPherson at Fight (uncredited)
- Public Deb No. 1 · Sergeant
- They Drive by Night · Mike Williams (uncredited)
- Millionaires in Prison · R.J. Reynolds, Sunday Editor (uncredited)
- Girl in 313 · Vincent Brady, Commissioner of Police
- Sandy Is a Lady · Sergeant
- Gangs of Chicago
- He Married His Wife · Warden
- Invisible Stripes · Arresting Officer (uncredited)
- The Return of Doctor X · Det. Kincaid
- The Roaring Twenties · Policeman (uncredited)
- Smashing the Money Ring · Capt. Kilrane
- Here I Am a Stranger · Managing Editor
- Hotel for Women · Albert
- The Cowboy Quarterback · Coach Hap Farrell
- The House of Fear · Police Chief
- Rose of Washington Square · Mike Cavanaugh
- Fighting Thoroughbreds · Spencer Bogart
- Angels with Dirty Faces
- The Spider's Web · Chase
- The Night Hawk · Lonigan
- Hold That Co-ed · Coach Burke
- Tenth Avenue Kid · Commissioner
- Gateway · Inspector
- When Were You Born · Inspector Jim C. Gregg
- Prison Farm · Reardon
- Little Miss Thoroughbred · Becker
- State Police · Captain Halstead
- Sally, Irene and Mary · Covered Wagon Cafe Manager
- Daughter of Shanghai · Schwartz (uncredited)
- The Adventurous Blonde · Mortimer Gray
- That’s My Story · Cummings
- Partners in Crime · Inspector Simpson
- Life Begins in College · Tom Burke
- Broadway Melody of 1938 · Horse Auctioneer (uncredited)
- One Mile from Heaven · Fletcher
- Roaring Timber · Sam Garvin