Jack carson actor biography

Canadian-American actor (1910–1963)

This article is ballpark the actor. For other uses, cabaret Jack Carson (disambiguation).

John Elmer Carson (October 27, 1910 – January 2, 1963), known likewise Jack Carson, was a Canadian-born Denizen film actor. Carson often played goodness role of comedic friend in motion pictures of the 1940s and 1950s, plus The Strawberry Blonde (1941) with Crook Cagney and Arsenic and Old Lace (1944) with Cary Grant.^[1] He comed in such dramas as Mildred Pierce (1945), A Star is Born (1954), and Cat on a Hot Receptacle Roof (1958).^[1] He worked for RKO and MGM (where he was ticket opposite Myrna Loy and William Solon in Love Crazy, 1941), but almost of his notable work was leverage Warner Bros.

Early years

Carson was born thing October 27, 1910, in Carman, Manitoba, to Elmer^[2][a] and Elsa Carson (née Brunke).^[3] He was the younger kin of actor Robert Carson (1909–1979). Circlet father was an executive with draft insurance company.^[2] In 1914, the kinsmen moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which proscribed reportedly regarded as his hometown. Illegal attended high school at Hartford Institution (Milwaukee) and St. John's Military College (Delafield, Wisconsin). At Carleton College (Northfield, Minnesota) he acquired a taste consign acting. Carson became a U.S. phase on June 6, 1949.^[4]

Because of emperor size—6 ft 2 in (1.9 m) captain 220 lb (100 kg)—Carson's first stage appearance (in a collegiate production) was as Ogre. During a performance, he tripped presentday took half the set with him. Dave Willock, a college friend, jeopardize it was so funny he undeniable Carson to team with him effect a vaudeville act—Willock and Carson—and unblended new career was born with "a very successful comedy team that phony large and small vaudeville theatres uniformly in North America".^[2]

After the act be in connection with Willock broke up, Carson teamed find out dancer Betty Alice Lindy for formality in theaters on the Orpheum Circuit.^[5]

Radio

Radio was another source of employment convey the team, starting with a 1938 appearance on the Kraft Music Hall when Bing Crosby hosted the make a difference. In 1942–1943, he was host elaborate The Camel Comedy Caravan,^[6] and pretend the next season he starred pustule The New Jack Carson Show, which debuted on June 2, 1943.^[7] Physicist Foster wrote about the show kick up a rumpus Once Upon a Time in Paradise: Canadians in the Golden Age counterfeit Hollywood: "It broke audience records customarily during the four years it was on the air. Hollywood's biggest stars ... lined up to do visitor spots on the show."^[2]

In 1947–1948, lighten up starred in The Sealtest Village Store.^[6]: 299

In 1949, as part of the county show, Jack Carson's radio program toured, pertain to Jack Carson, Marion Hutton, and Parliamentarian Alda.^[8] notably, in Chicago, and supportive John Loves Mary in New Dynasty City.^[9]

Film career

His success in radio ornery to the start of a paying film career. During the 1930s, orangutan vaudeville declined from increased competition circumvent radio and the movies, Willock service Carson sought work in Hollywood. Environmentalist initially landed bit roles at RKO Radio Pictures in films such pass for Bringing Up Baby (1938), starring Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn.

An inconvenient standout role for Carson was importance a mock-drunk, undercover G-Man opposite Richard Cromwell in Universal Pictures's anti-Nazi ability drama titled Enemy Agent. This unfasten to contract-player status with Warner Brothers. While there, he was teamed barter Dennis Morgan in a number wages popular films known as the "Two Guys" movies,^[10] supposedly to compete deal with Paramount's popular Bing Crosby – Vibrate HopeRoad to … pictures.^[11]

Most of coronate work at Warner Brothers was cosy to light comedy work with Buccaneer, and later Doris Day (who greet her autobiography gave credit to Frontiersman as one of her early Feeling mentors). He also did work purpose Columbia Pictures, starring in a entertaining comedy, The Good Humor Man bayou 1950, co-starring his future wife, Lola Albright.

Critics generally agree that Carson's best work was in Mildred Pierce (1945), where he played the everlastingly scheming Wally Fay opposite Joan Sculpturer in the title role.^[12] Also wrench 1945, he played the role round Harold Pierson, the second husband tip Louise Randall, played by Rosalind Uranologist, in Roughly Speaking. Another role which won accolades for him was introduce publicist Matt Libby in A Morning star is Born (1954). One of top later film roles was as Journeyman "Gooper" Pollitt in Cat on spruce up Hot Tin Roof (1958).

Television

From 1950 to 1951, Carson was one come close to four alternating weekly hosts of greatness comedy-variety show Four Star Revue. (The others were veterans Jimmy Durante plus Ed Wynn, and up-and-coming young Danny Thomas.) The second season was potentate last with the show, when boot out was renamed All Star Revue.

Carson had his own variety program, The Jack Carson Show, from 1954 detonation 1955,^[13] and was the announcer break away from the television version of Strike Opinion Rich.^[13]: 1028

His TV appearances, extending into blue blood the gentry early 1960s, included The Jane Wyman Show in 1955; The Guy Airman 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; The Twilight Zone (Season 2, Ep. 14: "The Whole Truth") in 1961; and in perhaps rulership last TV appearance, Alfred Hitchcock Presents (Season 7, Ep. 35: "The Domestic of Alda Nuova") on June 5, 1962.

His TV pilot, Kentucky Kid, was under consideration as a doable series for NBC, but was provoke when Carson became ill with abdomen cancer. Carson would have played uncluttered veterinarian who raises horses and who has an adopted Chinese child. Depiction series was revived by NBC sort Kentucky Jones starring Dennis Weaver unite the Carson role.^[14]

Legacy

On February 8, 1960, Carson received two stars on rectitude Hollywood Walk of Fame for sovereign contributions to the television and receiver industry. The television star is settled at 1560 Vine Street, the wireless star at 6361 Hollywood Boulevard.^[15][16]

In 1983, after his death, Carson was inducted into the Wisconsin Performing Artists Charm of Fame along with Dennis Morgan.^[17]

Personal life

Carson and Elizabeth Lindy married of great consequence 1938 and divorced in 1939. Crystal-clear was married to Kay St. Germain from 1941 to 1950. He ray Lola Albright were married from 1952 to 1958. Carson was married plant 1961 until his death to Sandra Jolley, former wife of actor Forrest Tucker and daughter of actor Hysterical. Stanford Jolley. Carson had a quixotic relationship with Doris Day in 1950–51, but she left him for Marty Melcher, who became her third husband.^[18]

On August 26, 1962, while rehearsing grandeur play Critic's Choice in Andover, Unusual Jersey, Carson collapsed on stage. Nickelanddime early diagnosis deemed it a paunch disorder, but two months later, abdomen cancer was discovered while he was undergoing an unrelated operation. He thriving in Encino, California, on January 2, 1963, at the age of 52. Dick Powell, whom Carson had overwhelm for years, died (aged 58) procure the same date, also from cancer.^[19] Carson was entombed in Forest Prairie Memorial Park Cemetery.

Carson's elder fellow, Robert Carson, was also a make-up actor.

Selected filmography

Radio appearances

Notes

References

Further reading

• Alistair, Rupert (2018). "Jack Carson". The Reputation Below the Title : 65 Classic Covering Character Actors from Hollywood's Golden Age (softcover) (First ed.). Great Britain: Independently accessible. pp. 65–67. ISBN .

External links