
Person
Charles Cahill Wilson
Acting · 1894–1948 · New York City, New York, USA
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

It's a Wonderful Life
Charlie (uncredited)

It Happened One Night
Joe Gordon

The 9th Guest
Burke (Uncredited)

Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
County Hospital Guard (uncredited)

Knute Rockne All American
Gambler (uncredited)

Angels with Dirty Faces
1938

Batman
Captain Arnold

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
Police Desk Sergeant (uncredited)

Gold Diggers of 1933
Deputy (uncredited)

The Roaring Twenties
Policeman (uncredited)
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
- 1929Lucky BoyDirector
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