Jack Carson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jack Carson
Carson in 1949
Born	John Elmer Carson (1910-10-27)October 27, 1910 Carman, Manitoba, Canada
Died	January 2, 1963(1963-01-02) (aged 52) Encino, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1937–1962
Spouse(s)	Elizabeth Lindy ​ ​ (m. 1938; div. 1939)​ Kay St. Germain Wells ​ ​ (m. 1941; div. 1950)​ Lola Albright ​ ​ (m. 1952; div. 1958)​ Sandra Jolley ​ ​ (m. 1961)​
Children	2

John Elmer Carson (born October 27, 1910 – died January 2, 1963), known as Jack Carson, was a popular actor from Canada who became an American citizen. He was famous for playing funny friends in movies during the 1940s and 1950s. Some of his well-known comedy films include The Strawberry Blonde (1941) and Arsenic and Old Lace (1944).

Carson also showed his talent in serious movies like Mildred Pierce (1945), A Star is Born (1954), and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958). He worked with big film studios like RKO, MGM, and especially Warner Bros..

Jack Carson's Early Life

John Elmer Carson was born on October 27, 1910, in Carman, Manitoba, Canada. His parents were Elmer and Elsa Carson. Jack had an older brother, Robert Carson, who also became an actor. Their father worked as an executive for an insurance company.

In 1914, when Jack was young, his family moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He always thought of Milwaukee as his hometown. He went to Hartford School and St. John's Military Academy. Later, at Carleton College, he found his love for acting. Jack Carson became a U.S. citizen in 1949.

Because he was tall and strong, standing 6 feet 2 inches (1.9 meters) and weighing 220 pounds (100 kg), his first role in a college play was Hercules. During one show, he tripped and accidentally knocked over part of the stage set! His college friend, Dave Willock, found it so funny that he convinced Jack to form a comedy team with him. They called themselves Willock and Carson. This was the start of Jack's acting career, and they became a very successful comedy team in vaudeville theaters across North America.

After the Willock and Carson act ended, Jack worked with a dancer named Betty Alice Lindy. They performed together in theaters on the Orpheum Circuit.

Jack Carson on the Radio

Radio shows were another important part of Jack Carson's career. He and Dave Willock first appeared on the Kraft Music Hall in 1938, hosted by Bing Crosby. From 1942 to 1943, Jack hosted The Camel Comedy Caravan. The next year, he starred in The New Jack Carson Show, which started on June 2, 1943.

This show was very popular and often broke audience records during the four years it was on the air. Many of Hollywood's biggest stars wanted to be guest performers on his show. Later, from 1947 to 1948, Jack starred in The Sealtest Village Store.

Jack Carson's Movie Career

Jack's success on the radio helped him start a successful career in movies. In the 1930s, as vaudeville became less popular, Jack and Dave Willock looked for work in Hollywood. Jack first got small roles at RKO Radio Pictures. One of his early films was Bringing Up Baby (1938), which starred Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn.

Guest stars for the 1961 premiere episode of The Dick Powell Show, "Who Killed Julie Greer?" Standing, from left: Ronald Reagan, Nick Adams, Lloyd Bridges, Mickey Rooney, Edgar Bergen, Jack Carson, Ralph Bellamy, Kay Thompson, Dean Jones. Seated, from left: Carolyn Jones and Dick Powell.

His early roles led to a contract with Warner Brothers. At Warner Brothers, he often worked with Dennis Morgan in a series of popular films known as the "Two Guys" movies. These films were thought to be a friendly competition to the popular "Road to…" movies starring Bing Crosby and Bob Hope.

Most of Jack's work at Warner Brothers was in light comedies with Dennis Morgan, and later with Doris Day. Doris Day later said that Jack Carson was one of her first mentors in Hollywood. Many critics agree that Jack's best acting was in Mildred Pierce (1945). In this movie, he played Wally Fay, a character who was always making plans, opposite Joan Crawford. Also in 1945, he played Harold Pierson in Roughly Speaking.

Another role that earned him praise was as publicist Matt Libby in A Star is Born (1954). One of his last movie roles was as Cooper "Gooper" Pollitt in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958).

Jack Carson on Television

From 1950 to 1951, Jack Carson was one of four rotating hosts for the comedy-variety show Four Star Revue. The other hosts included famous entertainers like Jimmy Durante and Ed Wynn, and rising star Danny Thomas. In its second season, the show was renamed All Star Revue.

Jack Carson also had his own variety show called The Jack Carson Show from 1954 to 1955. He was also the announcer for the TV version of Strike It Rich.

His TV appearances continued into the early 1960s. He appeared on shows like The Guy Mitchell Show and The Polly Bergen Show in 1957. In 1959, he was on Alcoa Theatre and Bonanza. He also appeared in Thriller (1960) and The Twilight Zone (1961). One of his last TV appearances was on Alfred Hitchcock Presents in June 1962.

Jack Carson had a TV show pilot called Kentucky Kid, which was being considered by NBC. However, the show was put on hold when he became ill. Jack was supposed to play a veterinarian who raised horses and had an adopted Chinese child. NBC later brought the series back as Kentucky Jones with Dennis Weaver in Jack's role.

Jack Carson's Legacy

On February 8, 1960, Jack Carson was honored with two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. These stars recognize his important contributions to both television and radio. His television star is at 1560 Vine Street, and his radio star is at 6361 Hollywood Boulevard.

In 1983, after he passed away, Jack Carson was added to the Wisconsin Performing Artists Hall of Fame. His fellow actor and Wisconsin native, Dennis Morgan, was also inducted at the same time.

Personal Life and Passing

Jack Carson was married four times. His first marriage was to Elizabeth Lindy from 1938 to 1939. He was then married to Kay St. Germain from 1941 to 1950. His third marriage was to Lola Albright from 1952 to 1958. From 1961 until his death in 1963, he was married to Sandra Jolley. Sandra was the former wife of actor Forrest Tucker and the daughter of actor I. Stanford Jolley. Jack also had a romantic relationship with Doris Day in 1950–1951.

On August 26, 1962, while rehearsing a play called Critic's Choice in Andover, New Jersey, Jack collapsed on stage. Doctors first thought it was a stomach problem. However, two months later, during a different operation, they discovered he had stomach cancer.

Jack Carson passed away in Encino, California, on January 2, 1963, at the age of 52. Sadly, Dick Powell, a friend of Jack's for many years, also died on the same day from cancer. Jack Carson was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery.

Jack's older brother, Robert Carson, who lived from 1909 to 1979, was also a character actor.

Selected Filmography

Carson with Judith Anderson in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958)

Radio Appearances

See also

In Spanish: Jack Carson para niños