Actor · Acting

Charles C. Wilson

Born 1894-07-28

Died 1948-01-07

📍 New York City, New York, USA

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 168

Commotion on the Ocean

as J.L. Cameron - Managing Editor (archive footage)

Crime on Their Hands

as J.L. Cameron

Blazing Across the Pecos

as Mayor Ace Brockway

Big Town Scandal

as Editor of the Chronicle (uncredited)

as Warden (uncredited)

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

as Police Desk Sergeant (uncredited)

It's a Wonderful Life

as Charlie (uncredited)

as Inspector Shannon

Blonde for a Day

as Chief of Police Will Gentry (as Charles Wilson)

Larceny in Her Heart

as Chief Gentry (as Charles Wilson)

Passkey to Danger

as Police Sergeant

Crime of the Century

as Police Lieutenant

as Official Policeman (uncredited)

as Watchman (uncredited)

Week-End at the Waldorf

A Gun in His Hand

as Chief of Police (uncredited)

Two O'Clock Courage

as Brant - City Editor (uncredited)

The Missing Juror

as Mac Ellis (uncredited)

as District Attorney Hyatt

as Captain Arnold

as Gurney (uncredited)

The Secret Code

as Desk Sgt. Cullen

Escape from Crime

as C.L. Reardon - Managing Editor (as Charles Wilson)

as District Attorney McNamara

This Gun for Hire

as Police Captain

Rings on Her Fingers

The Man Who Returned to Life

as Inspector Mensil

Blondie Goes to College

as Police Sergeant

The Officer and the Lady

as Police Captain Hart

Dressed to Kill

as Newspaper Editor

Broadway Limited

as Detective (as Charles Wilson)

Federal Fugitives

as Charlie Dawson

The Face Behind the Mask

as Chief O'Brien

Lady with Red Hair

as George Martin (uncredited)

as Desk Sergeant (uncredited)

Knute Rockne All American

as Gambler (uncredited)

City for Conquest

as Bill - Man Behind MacPherson at Fight (uncredited)

Public Deb No. 1

They Drive by Night

as Mike Williams (uncredited)

Millionaires in Prison

as R.J. Reynolds, Sunday Editor (uncredited)

as Vincent Brady, Commissioner of Police

Sandy Is a Lady

Gangs of Chicago

He Married His Wife

Invisible Stripes

as Arresting Officer (uncredited)

The Return of Doctor X

as Det. Kincaid

The Roaring Twenties

as Policeman (uncredited)

Smashing the Money Ring

as Capt. Kilrane

Here I Am a Stranger

as Managing Editor

Hotel for Women

The Cowboy Quarterback

as Coach Hap Farrell

The House of Fear

as Police Chief

Rose of Washington Square

as Mike Cavanaugh

Angels with Dirty Faces

The Spider's Web

Hold That Co-ed

Tenth Avenue Kid

as Commissioner

When Were You Born

as Inspector Jim C. Gregg

Little Miss Thoroughbred

as Captain Halstead

Sally, Irene and Mary

as Covered Wagon Cafe Manager

Daughter of Shanghai

as Schwartz (uncredited)

The Adventurous Blonde

as Mortimer Gray

That’s My Story

Partners in Crime

as Inspector Simpson

Life Begins in College

Broadway Melody of 1938

as Horse Auctioneer (uncredited)

One Mile from Heaven

The Case of the Stuttering Bishop

as Hamilton Burger

as Police Capt. Wallace (uncredited)

as Police Chief

Murder Goes to College

as Police Inspector Simpson

The Great O'Malley

as Policeman Chiding School Bus Driver (uncredited)

They Wanted to Marry

You Only Live Once

as Police Inspector (uncredited)

Woman in Distress

as Editor Herbert Claxton

Find the Witness

as Charley Blair (uncredited)

Mind Your Own Business

Legion of Terror

as Colonel McCollum (as Charles Wilson)

The Magnificent Brute

Murder with Pictures

as Assistant Editor (uncredited)

Down the Stretch

The Gentleman from Louisiana

as Diamond Jim Brady

Earthworm Tractors

as H.J. Russell

36 Hours to Kill

as F.B.I. Chief

Satan Met a Lady

as Detective Pollock

The Mine with the Iron Door

Panic on the Air

as Chief Inspector Fitzgerald

Mr. Deeds Goes to Town

as County Hospital Guard (uncredited)

as Prosecuting Attorney (Uncredited)

The Country Doctor

as George the Boat Captain (uncredited)

The Return of Jimmy Valentine

Hitch Hike Lady

as Mike - a Racketeer

We're Only Human

as Editor of The Daily Star

as Defense Attorney (uncredited)

Show Them No Mercy!

Mary Burns, Fugitive

as G-Man at dancehall

as Decker - Theatre Manager (uncredited)

The Case of the Lucky Legs

as Police Officer Ricker

Waterfront Lady

as Jim McFee aka Mac

The Public Menace

as First Detective

as Morgan (uncredited)

After the Dance

as Chief of Police

as District Attorney Edward J. Farr

as Police Captain Jennings

Murder in the Fleet

as Commander Brown (Uncredited)

as Newspaper editor

Men of the Hour

The Case of the Curious Bride

as Ferry Captain (uncredited)

Baby Face Harrington

as City Editor (uncredited)

Four Hours to Kill!

The Perfect Clue

as District Attorney

as Trooper Captain Ryan

The Great Hotel Murder

as Anthony Wilson

The Gilded Lily

as Managing Editor

Here Is My Heart

as Captain Dodge (uncredited)

Murder in the Clouds

Men of the Night

The St. Louis Kid

Port of Lost Dreams

as Furniture Buyer (uncredited)

Embarrassing Moments

The Dragon Murder Case

as Det. Hennessey

The Circus Clown

Fog Over Frisco

as Detective Sergeant O'Hagen

Affairs of a Gentleman

as Inspector Quillan

I Believed in You

It Happened One Night

as Burke (Uncredited)

Cross Country Cruise

as Detective (Uncredited)

Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen

as Chief of Police

Shadows of Sing Sing

as Private Detective Falihee (Uncredited)

as Charles Hauser

The Kennel Murder Case

as Detective Hennessy (uncredited)

No Marriage Ties

as Red Moran, City Desk Editor

Mary Stevens, M.D.

as Walter Rising

as Thompson, Assistant District Attorney

The Mayor of Hell

as Wilson (uncredited)

Private Detective 62

as Club Bartender (Uncredited)

Gold Diggers of 1933

as Deputy (uncredited)

Elmer, the Great

as Mr. Wade (as Charles Wilson)

as Jailer (uncredited)

The Trans-Atlantic Mystery

as Detective Doyle (uncredited)

Hot News Margie

as Newspaper Editor (uncredited)

as Guest in Pool Party

as Doctor (uncredited)

Getting a Ticket

as Motorcycle Cop

as Traveling Salesman

Broadway Scandals