Matinee Classics - Jack Carson Biography & Filmography

Jack Carson ACTOR

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JACK CARSON BIOGRAPHY & FILMOGRAPHY:

Jack Carson was born on October 27th, 1910 in Carman, Manitoba Canada with the birth name John Elmer Carson, born to Elmer and Elsa Carson. He was raised in Wisconsin and after graduating from Hartford High School he enrolled at Carleton College and first began to show an interest in acting.

He first began doing vaudeville with his friend Dave Willock, however as the 30's came, vaudeville was becoming less popular and therefore, the two decided to move to Hollywood in search of a career in film and radio.

Jack began with being offered extra roles with RKO and then some of Carson's early roles were on such films as, "Stand-In" (1937) and "Bringing Up Baby" (1938). He was not happy with the roles RKO was given him so he went to Warner Brothers in 1941 and began starring in such films as, "The Strawberry Blonde" (1941), "The Bride Came C.O.D. (1941), "The Hard Way" (1943), "Make Your Own Bed" (1944), "The Doughgirls" (1944) and "Mildred Pierce" (1945).

He also worked on the radio making quite a name for himself that by 1943 he was given his own radio show. He was also given the chance to appear on television as the host of, "All Star Revue" (1950), "The Colgate Comedy Hour" (1952-1955) and "The U.S Royal Showcase" (1952).

Along with hosting television shows, he appeared on a number of television series such as, "The Twilight Zone" (1959), "Playhouse 90" (1957-1958) and "Bonanza" (1959). In addition to his radio and television roles he did not neglect his film career and continued appearing on the big screen in such features as, "A Star is Born" (1954), "The Tarnished Angels" (1957) and "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" (1958).

Carson also had a decent singing career recording for Design Records in 1957 with, "Jack Carson Sings Favorite College Songs" and later also recorded for Capitol Records. Jack Carson was awarded two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contribution to Radio and Television.

Jack Carson married four times throughout his lifetime. His first wife was Elizabeth Alice Lindy who he was briefly married to for only one year from 1938 to 1939. He then married Kay St. Germain Wells in 1940 and after having two children this marriage came to an end in 1950. His third wife was Lola Albright whom he wed in 1952 but again by 1958 another marriage had come to an end. His fourth and final wife was Sandra Jolley in 1961 and they were together until he passed away on January 2nd, 1963 in Encino, California after suffering from stomach cancer. His remains were entombed in Glendale's Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery.