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).

Photos

Filmography

View It's a Wonderful Life
It's a Wonderful Life

It's a Wonderful Life

1946Film
8.3
View It Happened One Night
It Happened One Night

It Happened One Night

1934Film
7.8
View Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town

Mr. Deeds Goes to Town

1936Film
7.5
View The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

1947Film
6.8
View The Roaring Twenties
The Roaring Twenties

The Roaring Twenties

1939Film
7.5
View City for Conquest
City for Conquest

City for Conquest

1940Film
6.8
View Big Brown Eyes
Big Brown Eyes

Big Brown Eyes

1936Film
6.3
View Female
Female

Female

1933Film
6.1
View Meet John Doe
Meet John Doe

Meet John Doe

1941Film
7.3
View The Mayor of Hell
The Mayor of Hell

The Mayor of Hell

1933Film
7.1
View Scarlet Street
Scarlet Street

Scarlet Street

1945Film
7.6
View The Face Behind the Mask
The Face Behind the Mask

The Face Behind the Mask

1941Film
6.5