
Charles C. Wilson
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).
Known For










Credits
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J.L. Cameron - Managing Editor (archive footage)★ 4
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Crime on Their Hands 1948J.L. Cameron★ 6.7
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Mayor Ace Brockway★ 4
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Big Town Scandal 1948Editor of the Chronicle (uncredited)★ 5
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Key Witness 1947Warden (uncredited)★ 4.6
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Police Desk Sergeant (uncredited)★ 6.7
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Meet Mr. Mischief 1947Harry's Boss★ NR
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Charlie (uncredited)★ 8.3
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Gas House Kids 1946Inspector Shannon★ 6
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Blonde for a Day 1946Chief of Police Will Gentry (as Charles Wilson)★ 5
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Larceny in Her Heart 1946Chief Gentry (as Charles Wilson)★ 6
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Passkey to Danger 1946Police Sergeant★ NR
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Crime of the Century 1946Police Lieutenant★ 5
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Road to Utopia 1946Official Policeman (uncredited)★ 6.6
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Scarlet Street 1945Watchman (uncredited)★ 7.6
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Hi Johns★ 6
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A Gun in His Hand 1945Chief of Police (uncredited)★ 5.7
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Two O'Clock Courage 1945Brant - City Editor (uncredited)★ 6.1
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The Missing Juror 1944Mac Ellis (Uncredited)★ 6
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Crime by Night 1944District Attorney Hyatt★ 5.8
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Hey, Rookie 1944Sam Jonas★ NR
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Silver Spurs 1943Mr. Hawkins★ 3.5
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Batman 1943Captain Arnold★ 6.4
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Gentleman Jim 1942Gurney (uncredited)★ 7.2
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The Secret Code 1942Desk Sgt. Cullen★ 5.1
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Escape from Crime 1942C.L. Reardon - Managing Editor (as Charles Wilson)★ 5.2
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Dr. Broadway 1942District Attorney McNamara★ 5
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This Gun for Hire 1942Police Captain★ 6.9
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Lady Gangster 1942Detective★ 5.8
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Rings on Her Fingers 1942★ 6.5
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Inspector Mensil★ 6
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Police Sergeant★ 6.4
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Police Captain Hart★ 6
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Dressed to Kill 1941Newspaper Editor★ 6.3
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Out of the Fog 1941★ 6.4
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Broadway Limited 1941Detective (as Charles Wilson)★ 5.1
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Federal Fugitives 1941Bruce Lane★ 5.4
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Meet John Doe 1941Charlie Dawson★ 7.3
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Chief O'Brien★ 6.5
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Charter Pilot 1940Owen★ 6
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Lady with Red Hair 1940George Martin (uncredited)★ 6.5
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Tin Pan Alley 1940Desk Sergeant (uncredited)★ 4.8
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Gambler (uncredited)★ 6.1
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City for Conquest 1940Bill - Man Behind MacPherson at Fight (uncredited)★ 6.8
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Public Deb No. 1 1940Sergeant★ 4.2
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They Drive by Night 1940Mike Williams (uncredited)★ 6.9
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R.J. Reynolds, Sunday Editor (uncredited)★ 6
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Girl in 313 1940Vincent Brady, Commissioner of Police★ 5.6
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Sandy Is a Lady 1940Sergeant★ NR
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Gangs of Chicago 1940★ 5.3
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He Married His Wife 1940Warden★ 5.1
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Invisible Stripes 1939Arresting Officer (uncredited)★ 6.3
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Det. Kincaid★ 5.9
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The Roaring Twenties 1939Policeman (uncredited)★ 7.5
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Capt. Kilrane★ 5
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Here I Am a Stranger 1939Managing Editor★ 7
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Hotel for Women 1939Albert★ 6
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Coach Hap Farrell★ 5.5
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The House of Fear 1939Police Chief★ 6.5
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Mike Cavanaugh★ 5.7
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Spencer Bogart★ NR
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★ 7.5
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The Spider's Web 1938Chase★ 6
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The Night Hawk 1938Lonigan★ NR
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Hold That Co-ed 1938Coach Burke★ 6.3
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Tenth Avenue Kid 1938Commissioner★ 5
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Gateway 1938Inspector★ 6.5
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When Were You Born 1938Inspector Jim C. Gregg★ 5.2
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Prison Farm 1938Reardon★ 5.7
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Becker★ 4
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State Police 1938Captain Halstead★ 6
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Covered Wagon Cafe Manager★ 6
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Daughter of Shanghai 1937Schwartz (uncredited)★ 5.4
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Mortimer Gray★ 5.4
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Partners in Crime 1937Inspector Simpson★ NR
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Tom Burke★ NR
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Horse Auctioneer (uncredited)★ 6.2
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One Mile from Heaven 1937Fletcher★ 6.7
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Roaring Timber 1937Sam Garvin★ 5
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Hamilton Burger★ 6.8
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Night Key 1937Police Capt. Wallace (uncredited)★ 6.1
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Midnight Court 1937Police Chief★ 4.8
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Police Inspector Simpson★ 3
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The Great O'Malley 1937Policeman Chiding School Bus Driver (uncredited)★ 6.7
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They Wanted to Marry 1937Clark★ 5
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You Only Live Once 1937Police Inspector (uncredited)★ 7.1
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Woman in Distress 1937Editor Herbert Claxton★ 6
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Detective★ NR
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Legion of Terror 1936Colonel McCollum (as Charles Wilson)★ 6
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Murphy★ 6.5
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Murder with Pictures 1936Assistant Editor (uncredited)★ 5.1
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Down the Stretch 1936Tex Reardon★ 5.5
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Diamond Jim Brady★ NR
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I'd Give My Life 1936Warden★ 6
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Grand Jury 1936City Editor★ 7
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Earthworm Tractors 1936H.J. Russell★ 5
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36 Hours to Kill 1936F.B.I. Chief★ 5.3
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Satan Met a Lady 1936Detective Pollock★ 5.9
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Show Boat 1936★ 6.7
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Pitkins★ NR
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Panic on the Air 1936Chief Inspector Fitzgerald★ 5.5
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County Hospital Guard (uncredited)★ 7.5
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Big Brown Eyes 1936Prosecuting Attorney (Uncredited)★ 6.3
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The Country Doctor 1936George the Boat Captain (uncredited)★ 6
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Strike Me Pink 1936Hardie★ 6.6
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Hitch Hike Lady 1935Mike - a Racketeer★ 6.8
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We're Only Human 1935Editor of The Daily Star★ 6.5
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Show Them No Mercy! 1935Clifford★ 7
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Mary Burns, Fugitive 1935G-Man at dancehall★ NR
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Music Is Magic 1935Decker - Theatre Manager (uncredited)★ 4
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Police Officer Ricker★ 6
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Waterfront Lady 1935Jim McFee aka Mac★ 5.5
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The Public Menace 1935First Detective★ 5
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Smart Girl 1935Morgan (uncredited)★ NR
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After the Dance 1935Chief of Police★ 6
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The Glass Key 1935District Attorney Edward J. Farr★ 6.4
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The Nitwits 1935Police Captain Jennings★ 6.1
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Murder in the Fleet 1935Commander Brown (Uncredited)★ 5
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Air Hawks 1935Newspaper editor★ 5.6
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Baby Face Harrington 1935City Editor (uncredited)★ 4.8
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Four Hours to Kill! 1935Taft★ 5
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The Perfect Clue 1935District Attorney★ 5.5
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Car 99 1935Trooper Captain Ryan★ 5
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Anthony Wilson★ 6
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The Gilded Lily 1935Managing Editor★ 6.4
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Here Is My Heart 1934Captain Dodge (uncredited)★ 6.8
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Murder in the Clouds 1934Lackey★ 4.7
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Men of the Night 1934Benson★ 2
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The St. Louis Kid 1934Mr. Harris★ 5.8
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Port of Lost Dreams 1934Warden★ 6
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The Human Side 1934Furniture Buyer (uncredited)★ NR
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Embarrassing Moments 1934Attorney★ NR
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Det. Hennessey★ 5.8
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Name the Woman 1934Joel Walker★ NR
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The Circus Clown 1934Sheldon★ 6
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The Hell Cat 1934Graham★ 6
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Fog Over Frisco 1934Detective Sergeant O'Hagen★ 6.2
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Inspector Quillan★ 2
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I Believed in You 1934Magistrate★ NR
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Joe Gordon★ 7.8
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The 9th Guest 1934Burke (Uncredited)★ 5.8
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Cross Country Cruise 1934Detective (Uncredited)★ 6
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Chief of Police★ 5
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Havana Widows 1933Mr. Timberg★ 5.8
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Female 1933Private Detective Falihee (Uncredited)★ 6.3
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College Coach 1933Charles Hauser★ 4.2
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Detective Hennessy (uncredited)★ 6.3
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No Marriage Ties 1933Red Moran, City Desk Editor★ 4.8
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Mary Stevens, M.D. 1933Walter Rising★ 6
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Disgraced! 1933Thompson, Assistant District Attorney★ NR
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The Mayor of Hell 1933Wilson (uncredited)★ 7.2
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Private Detective 62 1933Club Bartender (Uncredited)★ 6
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Gold Diggers of 1933 1933Deputy (uncredited)★ 7.2
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Elmer, the Great 1933Mr. Wade (as Charles Wilson)★ 4.9
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Hard to Handle 1933Jailer (uncredited)★ 6.9
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Detective Doyle (uncredited)★ 4.3
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Hot News Margie 1931Newspaper Editor (uncredited)★ 6
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My Sin 1931Guest in Pool Party★ 5.8
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Stolen Heaven 1931Detective★ 5
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Insurance 1930Doctor (uncredited)★ 8
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Getting a Ticket 1930Motorcycle Cop★ 5.2
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Acquitted 1929Nelson★ NR
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Broadway Scandals 1929Jack★ 6