Known For
Acting
Known Credits
172
Gender
Male
Birthday
July 28, 1894 (131 years old)
Place of Birth
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).
| 1956 | Commotion on the Oceanas J.L. Cameron - Managing Editor (archive footage) | |
| 1948 | Crime on Their Handsas J.L. Cameron | |
| 1948 | Blazing Across the Pecosas Mayor Ace Brockway | |
| 1948 | Big Town Scandalas Editor of the Chronicle (uncredited) | |
| 1947 | Key Witnessas Warden (uncredited) | |
| 1947 | The Secret Life of Walter Mittyas Police Desk Sergeant (uncredited) | |
| 1947 | Meet Mr. Mischiefas Harry's Boss | |
| 1946 | It's a Wonderful Lifeas Charlie (uncredited) | |
| 1946 | Gas House Kidsas Inspector Shannon | |
| 1946 | Blonde for a Dayas Chief of Police Will Gentry (as Charles Wilson) | |
| 1946 | Larceny in Her Heartas Chief Gentry (as Charles Wilson) | |
| 1946 | Passkey to Dangeras Police Sergeant | |
| 1946 | Crime of the Centuryas Police Lieutenant | |
| 1946 | Road to Utopiaas Official Policeman (uncredited) | |
| 1945 | Scarlet Streetas Watchman (uncredited) | |
| 1945 | Week-End at the Waldorfas Hi Johns | |
| 1945 | A Gun in His Handas Chief of Police (uncredited) | |
| 1945 | Two O'Clock Courageas Brant - City Editor (uncredited) | |
| 1944 | The Missing Juroras Mac Ellis (uncredited) | |
| 1944 | Crime by Nightas District Attorney Hyatt | |
| 1944 | Hey, Rookieas Sam Jonas | |
| 1943 | Silver Spursas Mr. Hawkins | |
| 1943 | Batmanas Captain Arnold | |
| 1942 | Gentleman Jimas Gurney (uncredited) | |
| 1942 | The Secret Codeas Desk Sgt. Cullen | |
| 1942 | Escape from Crimeas C.L. Reardon - Managing Editor (as Charles Wilson) | |
| 1942 | Dr. Broadwayas District Attorney McNamara | |
| 1942 | This Gun for Hireas Police Captain | |
| 1942 | Lady Gangsteras Detective | |
| 1942 | Rings on Her Fingersas | |
| 1942 | The Man Who Returned to Lifeas Inspector Mensil | |
| 1942 | Blondie Goes to Collegeas Police Sergeant | |
| 1941 | The Officer and the Ladyas Police Captain Hart | |
| 1941 | Dressed to Killas Newspaper Editor | |
| 1941 | Out of the Fogas | |
| 1941 | Broadway Limitedas Detective (as Charles Wilson) | |
| 1941 | Federal Fugitivesas Bruce Lane | |
| 1941 | Meet John Doeas Charlie Dawson | |
| 1941 | The Face Behind the Maskas Chief O'Brien | |
| 1940 | Charter Pilotas Owen | |
| 1940 | Lady with Red Hairas George Martin (uncredited) | |
| 1940 | Tin Pan Alleyas Desk Sergeant (uncredited) | |
| 1940 | Knute Rockne All Americanas Gambler (uncredited) | |
| 1940 | City for Conquestas Bill - Man Behind MacPherson at Fight (uncredited) | |
| 1940 | Public Deb No. 1as Sergeant | |
| 1940 | They Drive by Nightas Mike Williams (uncredited) | |
| 1940 | Millionaires in Prisonas R.J. Reynolds, Sunday Editor (uncredited) | |
| 1940 | Girl in 313as Vincent Brady, Commissioner of Police | |
| 1940 | Sandy Is a Ladyas Sergeant | |
| 1940 | Gangs of Chicagoas | |
| 1940 | He Married His Wifeas Warden | |
| 1939 | Invisible Stripesas Arresting Officer (uncredited) | |
| 1939 | The Return of Doctor Xas Det. Kincaid | |
| 1939 | The Roaring Twentiesas Policeman (uncredited) | |
| 1939 | Smashing the Money Ringas Capt. Kilrane | |
| 1939 | Here I Am a Strangeras Managing Editor | |
| 1939 | Hotel for Womenas Albert | |
| 1939 | The Cowboy Quarterbackas Coach Hap Farrell | |
| 1939 | The House of Fearas Police Chief | |
| 1939 | Rose of Washington Squareas Mike Cavanaugh | |
| 1939 | Fighting Thoroughbredsas Spencer Bogart | |
| 1938 | Angels with Dirty Facesas | |
| 1938 | The Spider's Webas Chase | |
| 1938 | The Night Hawkas Lonigan | |
| 1938 | Hold That Co-edas Coach Burke | |
| 1938 | Tenth Avenue Kidas Commissioner | |
| 1938 | Gatewayas Inspector | |
| 1938 | When Were You Bornas Inspector Jim C. Gregg | |
| 1938 | Prison Farmas Reardon | |
| 1938 | Little Miss Thoroughbredas Becker | |
| 1938 | State Policeas Captain Halstead | |
| 1938 | Sally, Irene and Maryas Covered Wagon Cafe Manager | |
| 1937 | Daughter of Shanghaias Schwartz (uncredited) | |
| 1937 | The Adventurous Blondeas Mortimer Gray | |
| 1937 | That’s My Storyas Cummings | |
| 1937 | Partners in Crimeas Inspector Simpson | |
| 1937 | Life Begins in Collegeas Tom Burke | |
| 1937 | Broadway Melody of 1938as Horse Auctioneer (uncredited) | |
| 1937 | One Mile from Heavenas Fletcher | |
| 1937 | Roaring Timberas Sam Garvin | |
| 1937 | The Case of the Stuttering Bishopas Hamilton Burger | |
| 1937 | Night Keyas Police Capt. Wallace (uncredited) | |
| 1937 | Midnight Courtas Police Chief | |
| 1937 | Murder Goes to Collegeas Police Inspector Simpson | |
| 1937 | The Great O'Malleyas Policeman Chiding School Bus Driver (uncredited) | |
| 1937 | They Wanted to Marryas Clark | |
| 1937 | You Only Live Onceas Police Inspector (uncredited) | |
| 1937 | Woman in Distressas Editor Herbert Claxton | |
| 1937 | Find the Witnessas Charley Blair (uncredited) | |
| 1936 | Mind Your Own Businessas Detective | |
| 1936 | Legion of Terroras Colonel McCollum (as Charles Wilson) | |
| 1936 | The Magnificent Bruteas Murphy | |
| 1936 | Murder with Picturesas Assistant Editor (uncredited) | |
| 1936 | Down the Stretchas Tex Reardon | |
| 1936 | The Gentleman from Louisianaas Diamond Jim Brady | |
| 1936 | I'd Give My Lifeas Warden | |
| 1936 | Grand Juryas City Editor | |
| 1936 | 36 Hours to Killas F.B.I. Chief | |
| 1936 | Earthworm Tractorsas H.J. Russell | |
| 1936 | Satan Met a Ladyas Detective Pollock | |
| 1936 | Show Boatas | |
| 1936 | The Mine with the Iron Dooras Pitkins | |
| 1936 | Panic on the Airas Fitzgerald | |
| 1936 | Mr. Deeds Goes to Townas County Hospital Guard (uncredited) | |
| 1936 | Big Brown Eyesas Prosecuting Attorney (Uncredited) | |
| 1936 | The Country Doctoras George the Boat Captain (uncredited) | |
| 1936 | The Return of Jimmy Valentineas Kelley | |
| 1936 | Strike Me Pinkas Hardie | |
| 1935 | Hitch Hike Ladyas Mike - a Racketeer | |
| 1935 | White Liesas Defense Attorney (uncredited) | |
| 1935 | We're Only Humanas Editor of The Daily Star | |
| 1935 | Show Them No Mercy!as Clifford | |
| 1935 | Mary Burns, Fugitiveas G-Man at dancehall | |
| 1935 | Music Is Magicas Decker - Theatre Manager (uncredited) | |
| 1935 | The Case of the Lucky Legsas Police Officer Ricker | |
| 1935 | Waterfront Ladyas Jim McFee aka Mac | |
| 1935 | The Public Menaceas First Detective | |
| 1935 | Smart Girlas Morgan (uncredited) | |
| 1935 | After the Danceas Chief of Police | |
| 1935 | The Glass Keyas District Attorney Edward J. Farr | |
| 1935 | The Nitwitsas Police Captain Jennings | |
| 1935 | Murder in the Fleetas Commander Brown (Uncredited) | |
| 1935 | Air Hawksas Newspaper editor | |
| 1935 | Men of the Houras Harper | |
| 1935 | The Case of the Curious Brideas Ferry Captain (uncredited) | |
| 1935 | Baby Face Harringtonas City Editor (uncredited) | |
| 1935 | Four Hours to Kill!as Taft | |
| 1935 | The Perfect Clueas District Attorney | |
| 1935 | Car 99as Trooper Captain Ryan | |
| 1935 | The Great Hotel Murderas Anthony Wilson | |
| 1935 | The Gilded Lilyas Managing Editor | |
| 1934 | Here Is My Heartas Captain Dodge (uncredited) | |
| 1934 | Murder in the Cloudsas Lackey | |
| 1934 | Men of the Nightas Benson | |
| 1934 | The St. Louis Kidas Mr. Harris | |
| 1934 | Port of Lost Dreamsas Warden | |
| 1934 | The Human Sideas Furniture Buyer (uncredited) | |
| 1934 | Embarrassing Momentsas Attorney | |
| 1934 | The Dragon Murder Caseas Det. Hennessey | |
| 1934 | Name the Womanas Joel Walker | |
| 1934 | The Circus Clownas Sheldon | |
| 1934 | The Hell Catas Graham | |
| 1934 | Fog Over Friscoas Detective Sergeant O'Hagen | |
| 1934 | Affairs of a Gentlemanas Inspector Quillan | |
| 1934 | I Believed in Youas Magistrate | |
| 1934 | It Happened One Nightas Joe Gordon | |
| 1934 | The 9th Guestas Burke (Uncredited) | |
| 1934 | Cross Country Cruiseas Detective (Uncredited) | |
| 1934 | Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolenas Chief of Police | |
| 1933 | Shadows of Sing Singas | |
| 1933 | Havana Widowsas Mr. Timberg | |
| 1933 | Femaleas Private Detective Falihee (Uncredited) | |
| 1933 | College Coachas Charles Hauser | |
| 1933 | The Kennel Murder Caseas Detective Hennessy (uncredited) | |
| 1933 | No Marriage Tiesas Red Moran, City Desk Editor | |
| 1933 | Mary Stevens, M.D.as Walter Rising | |
| 1933 | Disgraced!as Thompson, Assistant District Attorney | |
| 1933 | The Mayor of Hellas Wilson (uncredited) | |
| 1933 | Private Detective 62as Club Bartender (Uncredited) | |
| 1933 | Gold Diggers of 1933as Deputy (uncredited) | |
| 1933 | Elmer, the Greatas Mr. Wade (as Charles Wilson) | |
| 1933 | Hard to Handleas Jailer (uncredited) | |
| 1932 | The Trans-Atlantic Mysteryas Detective Doyle (uncredited) | |
| 1932 | The Campus Mysteryas Detective Reardon | |
| 1931 | Hot News Margieas Newspaper Editor (uncredited) | |
| 1931 | My Sinas Guest in Pool Party | |
| 1931 | Stolen Heavenas Detective | |
| 1930 | Insuranceas Doctor (uncredited) | |
| 1930 | Getting a Ticketas Motorcycle Cop | |
| 1929 | Acquittedas Nelson | |
| 1929 | Song of Loveas Traveling Salesman | |
| 1929 | Broadway Scandalsas Jack |
| 1929 | Lucky Boy...Director |