Charles Cahill Wilson

Personal Info

Known ForActing
Born1894-07-28
BirthplaceNew York City, New York, USA

Charles Cahill Wilson

Acting

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).

Filmography

Acting (172)

1956
Commotion on the Oceanas J.L. Cameron - Managing Editor (archive footage)
5.0
1948
Crime on Their Handsas J.L. Cameron
7.1
1948
Blazing Across the Pecosas Mayor Ace Brockway
5.8
1948
Big Town Scandalas Editor of the Chronicle (uncredited)
5.3
1947
Key Witnessas Warden (uncredited)
4.8
1947
The Secret Life of Walter Mittyas Police Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
6.8
1947
Meet Mr. Mischiefas Harry's Boss
9.0
1946
It's a Wonderful Lifeas Charlie (uncredited)
8.3
1946
Gas House Kidsas Inspector Shannon
7.0
1946
Blonde for a Dayas Chief of Police Will Gentry (as Charles Wilson)
5.8
1946
Larceny in Her Heartas Chief Gentry (as Charles Wilson)
6.0
1946
Passkey to Dangeras Police Sergeant
8.0
1946
Crime of the Centuryas Police Lieutenant
6.5
1946
Road to Utopiaas Official Policeman (uncredited)
6.7
1945
Scarlet Streetas Watchman (uncredited)
7.6
6.5
1945
A Gun in His Handas Chief of Police (uncredited)
6.1
1945
Two O'Clock Courageas Brant - City Editor (uncredited)
6.3
1944
The Missing Juroras Mac Ellis (uncredited)
6.3
1944
Crime by Nightas District Attorney Hyatt
6.4
1944
Hey, Rookieas Sam Jonas
8.0
1943
Silver Spursas Mr. Hawkins
4.8
1943
Batmanas Captain Arnold
6.2
1942
Gentleman Jimas Gurney (uncredited)
7.2
1942
The Secret Codeas Desk Sgt. Cullen
5.9
1942
Escape from Crimeas C.L. Reardon - Managing Editor (as Charles Wilson)
5.5
1942
Dr. Broadwayas District Attorney McNamara
6.0
1942
This Gun for Hireas Police Captain
7.0
1942
Lady Gangsteras Detective
5.7
1942
The Man Who Returned to Lifeas Inspector Mensil
7.3
1942
Blondie Goes to Collegeas Police Sergeant
6.6
1941
The Officer and the Ladyas Police Captain Hart
8.0
1941
Dressed to Killas Newspaper Editor
6.3
1941
Broadway Limitedas Detective (as Charles Wilson)
5.0
1941
Federal Fugitivesas Bruce Lane
6.3
1941
Meet John Doeas Charlie Dawson
7.3
1941
The Face Behind the Maskas Chief O'Brien
6.5
1940
7.7
1940
Lady with Red Hairas George Martin (uncredited)
6.9
1940
Tin Pan Alleyas Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
5.4
1940
Knute Rockne All Americanas Gambler (uncredited)
6.2
1940
City for Conquestas Bill - Man Behind MacPherson at Fight (uncredited)
6.9
1940
Public Deb No. 1as Sergeant
4.9
1940
They Drive by Nightas Mike Williams (uncredited)
6.9
1940
Millionaires in Prisonas R.J. Reynolds, Sunday Editor (uncredited)
6.1
1940
Girl in 313as Vincent Brady, Commissioner of Police
5.6
1940
Sandy Is a Ladyas Sergeant
9.0
1940
5.6
1939
Invisible Stripesas Arresting Officer (uncredited)
6.2
1939
The Return of Doctor Xas Det. Kincaid
6.0
1939
The Roaring Twentiesas Policeman (uncredited)
7.5
1939
Smashing the Money Ringas Capt. Kilrane
5.8
1939
Here I Am a Strangeras Managing Editor
7.3
1939
7.5
1939
The Cowboy Quarterbackas Coach Hap Farrell
6.7
1939
The House of Fearas Police Chief
7.7
1939
Rose of Washington Squareas Mike Cavanaugh
6.7
1939
Fighting Thoroughbredsas Spencer Bogart
7.0
1938
6.5
1938
The Night Hawkas Lonigan
10.0
1938
Hold That Co-edas Coach Burke
6.7
1938
Tenth Avenue Kidas Commissioner
7.5
1938
Gatewayas Inspector
7.4
1938
When Were You Bornas Inspector Jim C. Gregg
5.3
1938
Prison Farmas Reardon
6.8
4.8
1938
State Policeas Captain Halstead
8.0
1938
Sally, Irene and Maryas Covered Wagon Cafe Manager
6.8
1937
Daughter of Shanghaias Schwartz (uncredited)
5.4
1937
The Adventurous Blondeas Mortimer Gray
5.3
1937
8.0
1937
Partners in Crimeas Inspector Simpson
8.0
1937
8.0
1937
Broadway Melody of 1938as Horse Auctioneer (uncredited)
6.6
1937
6.6
1937
Roaring Timberas Sam Garvin
6.0
1937
7.2
1937
Night Keyas Police Capt. Wallace (uncredited)
6.2
1937
Midnight Courtas Police Chief
5.1
1937
Murder Goes to Collegeas Police Inspector Simpson
5.3
1937
The Great O'Malleyas Policeman Chiding School Bus Driver (uncredited)
6.9
5.8
1937
You Only Live Onceas Police Inspector (uncredited)
7.1
1937
Woman in Distressas Editor Herbert Claxton
8.0
1937
Find the Witnessas Charley Blair (uncredited)
7.0
1936
10.0
1936
Legion of Terroras Colonel McCollum (as Charles Wilson)
7.0
6.8
1936
Murder with Picturesas Assistant Editor (uncredited)
5.4
1936
Down the Stretchas Tex Reardon
6.0
1936
The Gentleman from Louisianaas Diamond Jim Brady
8.0
1936
7.5
1936
Grand Juryas City Editor
7.5
1936
Earthworm Tractorsas H.J. Russell
5.4
1936
36 Hours to Killas F.B.I. Chief
6.1
1936
Satan Met a Ladyas Detective Pollock
5.8
6.7
1936
Panic on the Airas Fitzgerald
5.8
1936
Mr. Deeds Goes to Townas County Hospital Guard (uncredited)
7.5
1936
Big Brown Eyesas Prosecuting Attorney (Uncredited)
6.3
1936
The Country Doctoras George the Boat Captain (uncredited)
6.5
1936
6.6
1935
Hitch Hike Ladyas Mike - a Racketeer
7.8
1935
We're Only Humanas Editor of The Daily Star
6.5
1935
White Liesas Defense Attorney (uncredited)
7.5
1935
7.5
1935
Mary Burns, Fugitiveas G-Man at dancehall
9.0
1935
Music Is Magicas Decker - Theatre Manager (uncredited)
5.3
1935
The Case of the Lucky Legsas Police Officer Ricker
6.0
1935
Waterfront Ladyas Jim McFee aka Mac
5.3
1935
The Public Menaceas First Detective
6.0
1935
Smart Girlas Morgan (uncredited)
7.0
1935
After the Danceas Chief of Police
6.5
1935
The Glass Keyas District Attorney Edward J. Farr
6.7
1935
The Nitwitsas Police Captain Jennings
6.7
1935
Murder in the Fleetas Commander Brown (Uncredited)
6.6
1935
Air Hawksas Newspaper editor
6.2
1935
8.0
1935
The Case of the Curious Brideas Ferry Captain (uncredited)
6.0
1935
Baby Face Harringtonas City Editor (uncredited)
5.4
5.7
1935
The Perfect Clueas District Attorney
6.0
1935
Car 99as Trooper Captain Ryan
7.5
1935
The Great Hotel Murderas Anthony Wilson
6.0
1935
The Gilded Lilyas Managing Editor
6.7
1934
Here Is My Heartas Captain Dodge (uncredited)
7.3
5.1
1934
4.5
1934
The St. Louis Kidas Mr. Harris
6.3
1934
7.3
1934
The Human Sideas Furniture Buyer (uncredited)
9.0
1934
9.0
1934
The Dragon Murder Caseas Det. Hennessey
5.9
1934
Name the Womanas Joel Walker
9.0
1934
6.7
1934
The Hell Catas Graham
8.0
1934
Fog Over Friscoas Detective Sergeant O'Hagen
6.4
1934
Affairs of a Gentlemanas Inspector Quillan
4.0
1934
I Believed in Youas Magistrate
7.0
1934
7.8
1934
The 9th Guestas Burke (Uncredited)
6.0
1934
Cross Country Cruiseas Detective (Uncredited)
6.7
1934
Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolenas Chief of Police
6.0
1933
Havana Widowsas Mr. Timberg
6.6
1933
Femaleas Private Detective Falihee (Uncredited)
6.3
1933
College Coachas Charles Hauser
4.6
1933
The Kennel Murder Caseas Detective Hennessy (uncredited)
6.1
1933
No Marriage Tiesas Red Moran, City Desk Editor
4.9
1933
Mary Stevens, M.D.as Walter Rising
6.2
1933
Disgraced!as Thompson, Assistant District Attorney
6.5
1933
The Mayor of Hellas Wilson (uncredited)
7.0
1933
Private Detective 62as Club Bartender (Uncredited)
6.2
1933
Gold Diggers of 1933as Deputy (uncredited)
7.2
1933
Elmer, the Greatas Mr. Wade (as Charles Wilson)
5.1
1933
Hard to Handleas Jailer (uncredited)
6.9
1932
The Trans-Atlantic Mysteryas Detective Doyle (uncredited)
5.4
1932
The Campus Mysteryas Detective Reardon
7.0
1931
Hot News Margieas Newspaper Editor (uncredited)
6.7
1931
My Sinas Guest in Pool Party
5.7
1931
Stolen Heavenas Detective
7.0
1930
Insuranceas Doctor (uncredited)
8.5
1930
Getting a Ticketas Motorcycle Cop
6.2
1929
Acquittedas Nelson
8.0
1929
Song of Loveas Traveling Salesman
4.7
6.5

Production & Directing (1)

1929
Lucky BoyDirector
5.3