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).
Movies
It Happened One Night
Joe Gordon
The Return of Doctor X
Det. Kincaid
Lady Gangster
Detective
Name the Woman
Joel Walker
Gold Diggers of 1933
Deputy (uncredited)
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
Police Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
Satan Met a Lady
Detective Pollock
The Face Behind the Mask
Chief O'Brien
The Officer and the Lady
Police Captain Hart
The Glass Key
District Attorney Edward J. Farr
Broadway Melody of 1938
Horse Auctioneer (uncredited)
Earthworm Tractors
H.J. Russell
The Perfect Clue
District Attorney
Elmer, the Great
Mr. Wade (as Charles Wilson)
This Gun for Hire
Police Captain
Show Boat
The Dragon Murder Case
Det. Hennessey
Escape from Crime
C.L. Reardon - Managing Editor (as Charles Wilson)
Murder Goes to College
Police Inspector Simpson
Gas House Kids
Inspector Shannon
Week-End at the Waldorf
Hi Johns
The Mayor of Hell
Wilson (uncredited)
Smart Girl
Morgan (uncredited)
Four Hours to Kill!
Taft
The Cowboy Quarterback
Coach Hap Farrell
Tenth Avenue Kid
Commissioner
Crime on Their Hands
J.L. Cameron
Crime by Night
District Attorney Hyatt
The Case of the Lucky Legs
Police Officer Ricker
Hard to Handle
Jailer (uncredited)
College Coach
Charles Hauser
Show Them No Mercy!
Clifford
I'd Give My Life
Warden
Commotion on the Ocean
J.L. Cameron - Managing Editor (archive footage)
Broadway Scandals
Jack
Mary Stevens, M.D.
Walter Rising
Air Hawks
Newspaper editor
Grand Jury
City Editor
He Married His Wife
Warden
The Trans-Atlantic Mystery
Detective Doyle (uncredited)
Getting a Ticket
Motorcycle Cop
Federal Fugitives
Bruce Lane
When Were You Born
Inspector Jim C. Gregg
Havana Widows
Mr. Timberg
Hold That Co-ed
Coach Burke
Car 99
Trooper Captain Ryan
The Spider's Web
Chase
Here I Am a Stranger
Managing Editor
Partners in Crime
Inspector Simpson
The Gilded Lily
Managing Editor
The Circus Clown
Sheldon
Sally, Irene and Mary
Covered Wagon Cafe Manager
Hitch Hike Lady
Mike - a Racketeer
Silver Spurs
Mr. Hawkins
We're Only Human
Editor of The Daily Star
Gangs of Chicago
Stolen Heaven
Detective
The St. Louis Kid
Mr. Harris
They Wanted to Marry
Clark
Port of Lost Dreams
Warden
The Night Hawk
Lonigan
The Hell Cat
Graham
Big Brown Eyes
Prosecuting Attorney (Uncredited)
Broadway Limited
Detective (as Charles Wilson)
Blazing Across the Pecos
Mayor Ace Brockway
Meet Mr. Mischief
Harry's Boss
Disgraced!
Thompson, Assistant District Attorney
Rose of Washington Square
Mike Cavanaugh
After the Dance
Chief of Police
Fog Over Frisco
Detective Sergeant O'Hagen
36 Hours to Kill
F.B.I. Chief
Music Is Magic
Decker - Theatre Manager (uncredited)
Baby Face Harrington
City Editor (uncredited)
The Gentleman from Louisiana
Diamond Jim Brady
Crime of the Century
Police Lieutenant
The Case of the Stuttering Bishop
Hamilton Burger
Key Witness
Warden (uncredited)
Smashing the Money Ring
Capt. Kilrane
Affairs of a Gentleman
Inspector Quillan
Strike Me Pink
Hardie
The Nitwits
Police Captain Jennings
Little Miss Thoroughbred
Becker
The Man Who Returned to Life
Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen
Chief of Police
The House of Fear
Police Chief
Dr. Broadway
District Attorney McNamara
Hot News Margie
Newspaper Editor (uncredited)
The Roaring Twenties
Policeman (uncredited)
Murder in the Fleet
Commander Brown (Uncredited)
Big Town Scandal
Editor of the Chronicle (uncredited)
Midnight Court
Police Chief
The Country Doctor
George the Boat Captain (uncredited)
The Great O'Malley
Policeman Chiding School Bus Driver (uncredited)
It's a Wonderful Life
Charlie (uncredited)
No Marriage Ties
Red Moran, City Desk Editor
Scarlet Street
Watchman (uncredited)
The Magnificent Brute
Murphy
Dressed to Kill
Newspaper Editor
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
County Hospital Guard (uncredited)
Life Begins in College
Tom Burke
Murder with Pictures
Assistant Editor (uncredited)
Legion of Terror
Colonel McCollum (as Charles Wilson)
Fighting Thoroughbreds
Spencer Bogart
Charter Pilot
Owen
Two O'Clock Courage
Brant - City Editor (uncredited)
Larceny in Her Heart
Chief Gentry (as Charles Wilson)
Sandy Is a Lady
Sergeant
Down the Stretch
Tex Reardon
The Mine with the Iron Door
Pitkins
Mary Burns, Fugitive
G-Man at dancehall
One Mile from Heaven
Fletcher
Gentleman Jim
Gurney (uncredited)
Prison Farm
Reardon
Gateway
Inspector
Tin Pan Alley
Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
Waterfront Lady
Jim McFee aka Mac
City for Conquest
Bill - Man Behind MacPherson at Fight (uncredited)
Hotel for Women
Albert
They Drive by Night
Mike Williams (uncredited)
Knute Rockne All American
Gambler (uncredited)
Lady with Red Hair
George Martin (uncredited)
Millionaires in Prison
R.J. Reynolds, Sunday Editor (uncredited)
Girl in 313
Vincent Brady, Commissioner of Police
Blonde for a Day
Chief of Police Will Gentry (as Charles Wilson)
Here Is My Heart
Captain Dodge (uncredited)
Passkey to Danger
Police Sergeant
Blondie Goes to College
Police Sergeant
Private Detective 62
Club Bartender (Uncredited)
Men of the Night
Benson
The Secret Code
Desk Sgt. Cullen
Roaring Timber
Sam Garvin
Mind Your Own Business
Detective
Murder in the Clouds
Lackey
Woman in Distress
Editor Herbert Claxton
The Kennel Murder Case
Detective Hennessy (uncredited)
A Gun in His Hand
Chief of Police (uncredited)
The Adventurous Blonde
Mortimer Gray
Batman
Captain Arnold
Public Deb No. 1
Sergeant
State Police
Captain Halstead
The Human Side
Furniture Buyer (uncredited)
Panic on the Air
Chief Inspector Fitzgerald
Rings on Her Fingers
Road to Utopia
Official Policeman (uncredited)
The Great Hotel Murder
Anthony Wilson
Meet John Doe
Charlie Dawson
You Only Live Once
Police Inspector (uncredited)
Invisible Stripes
Arresting Officer (uncredited)
Female
Private Detective Falihee (Uncredited)
Cross Country Cruise
Detective (Uncredited)
The 9th Guest
Burke (Uncredited)
Embarrassing Moments
Attorney
The Public Menace
First Detective
Insurance
Doctor (uncredited)
The Missing Juror
Mac Ellis (Uncredited)
Night Key
Police Capt. Wallace (uncredited)
Out of the Fog
Acquitted
Nelson
Hey, Rookie
Sam Jonas
My Sin
Guest in Pool Party
Daughter of Shanghai
Schwartz (uncredited)