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Charles C. Wilson

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

Commotion on the Ocean
Commotion on the Ocean
1956 • J.L. Cameron - Managing Editor (archive footage)
Crime on Their Hands
Crime on Their Hands
1948 • J.L. Cameron
Blazing Across the Pecos
Blazing Across the Pecos
1948 • Mayor Ace Brockway
Big Town Scandal
Big Town Scandal
1948 • Editor of the Chronicle (uncredited)
Key Witness
Key Witness
1947 • Warden (uncredited)
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
1947 • Police Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
Meet Mr. Mischief
1947 • Harry's Boss
It's a Wonderful Life
It's a Wonderful Life
1946 • Charlie (uncredited)

Full filmography

Commotion on the Ocean
Commotion on the Ocean
1956 • J.L. Cameron - Managing Editor (archive footage)
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Crime on Their Hands
Crime on Their Hands
1948 • J.L. Cameron
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Blazing Across the Pecos
Blazing Across the Pecos
1948 • Mayor Ace Brockway
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Big Town Scandal
Big Town Scandal
1948 • Editor of the Chronicle (uncredited)
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Key Witness
Key Witness
1947 • Warden (uncredited)
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The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
1947 • Police Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
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Meet Mr. Mischief
1947 • Harry's Boss
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It's a Wonderful Life
It's a Wonderful Life
1946 • Charlie (uncredited)
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Gas House Kids
Gas House Kids
1946 • Inspector Shannon
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Blonde for a Day
Blonde for a Day
1946 • Chief of Police Will Gentry (as Charles Wilson)
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Larceny in Her Heart
Larceny in Her Heart
1946 • Chief Gentry (as Charles Wilson)
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Passkey to Danger
Passkey to Danger
1946 • Police Sergeant
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Crime of the Century
Crime of the Century
1946 • Police Lieutenant
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Road to Utopia
Road to Utopia
1946 • Official Policeman (uncredited)
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Scarlet Street
Scarlet Street
1945 • Watchman (uncredited)
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A Gun in His Hand
A Gun in His Hand
1945 • Chief of Police (uncredited)
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Two O'Clock Courage
Two O'Clock Courage
1945 • Brant - City Editor (uncredited)
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The Missing Juror
The Missing Juror
1944 • Mac Ellis (uncredited)
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Crime by Night
Crime by Night
1944 • District Attorney Hyatt
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Hey, Rookie
Hey, Rookie
1944 • Sam Jonas
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Silver Spurs
Silver Spurs
1943 • Mr. Hawkins
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Batman
Batman
1943 • Captain Arnold
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Gentleman Jim
Gentleman Jim
1942 • Gurney (uncredited)
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The Secret Code
The Secret Code
1942 • Desk Sgt. Cullen
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Escape from Crime
Escape from Crime
1942 • C.L. Reardon - Managing Editor (as Charles Wilson)
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Dr. Broadway
Dr. Broadway
1942 • District Attorney McNamara
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This Gun for Hire
This Gun for Hire
1942 • Police Captain
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Lady Gangster
Lady Gangster
1942 • Detective
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Blondie Goes to College
Blondie Goes to College
1942 • Police Sergeant
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The Officer and the Lady
The Officer and the Lady
1941 • Police Captain Hart
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Dressed to Kill
Dressed to Kill
1941 • Newspaper Editor
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Broadway Limited
Broadway Limited
1941 • Detective (as Charles Wilson)
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Federal Fugitives
Federal Fugitives
1941 • Bruce Lane
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Meet John Doe
Meet John Doe
1941 • Charlie Dawson
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Lady with Red Hair
Lady with Red Hair
1940 • George Martin (uncredited)
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Tin Pan Alley
Tin Pan Alley
1940 • Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
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Knute Rockne All American
Knute Rockne All American
1940 • Gambler (uncredited)
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City for Conquest
City for Conquest
1940 • Bill - Man Behind MacPherson at Fight (uncredited)
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They Drive by Night
They Drive by Night
1940 • Mike Williams (uncredited)
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Millionaires in Prison
Millionaires in Prison
1940 • R.J. Reynolds, Sunday Editor (uncredited)
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Girl in 313
Girl in 313
1940 • Vincent Brady, Commissioner of Police
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Sandy Is a Lady
Sandy Is a Lady
1940 • Sergeant
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Invisible Stripes
Invisible Stripes
1939 • Arresting Officer (uncredited)
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The Roaring Twenties
The Roaring Twenties
1939 • Policeman (uncredited)
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Smashing the Money Ring
Smashing the Money Ring
1939 • Capt. Kilrane
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Here I Am a Stranger
Here I Am a Stranger
1939 • Managing Editor
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The Cowboy Quarterback
The Cowboy Quarterback
1939 • Coach Hap Farrell
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The House of Fear
The House of Fear
1939 • Police Chief
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Fighting Thoroughbreds
1939 • Spencer Bogart
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The Night Hawk
The Night Hawk
1938 • Lonigan
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Hold That Co-ed
Hold That Co-ed
1938 • Coach Burke
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Tenth Avenue Kid
Tenth Avenue Kid
1938 • Commissioner
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Gateway
Gateway
1938 • Inspector
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When Were You Born
When Were You Born
1938 • Inspector Jim C. Gregg
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Prison Farm
Prison Farm
1938 • Reardon
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State Police
State Police
1938 • Captain Halstead
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Sally, Irene and Mary
Sally, Irene and Mary
1938 • Covered Wagon Cafe Manager
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Daughter of Shanghai
Daughter of Shanghai
1937 • Schwartz (uncredited)
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The Adventurous Blonde
The Adventurous Blonde
1937 • Mortimer Gray
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Partners in Crime
Partners in Crime
1937 • Inspector Simpson
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Broadway Melody of 1938
Broadway Melody of 1938
1937 • Horse Auctioneer (uncredited)
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Roaring Timber
Roaring Timber
1937 • Sam Garvin
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Night Key
Night Key
1937 • Police Capt. Wallace (uncredited)
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Midnight Court
Midnight Court
1937 • Police Chief
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Murder Goes to College
Murder Goes to College
1937 • Police Inspector Simpson
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The Great O'Malley
The Great O'Malley
1937 • Policeman Chiding School Bus Driver (uncredited)
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You Only Live Once
You Only Live Once
1937 • Police Inspector (uncredited)
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Woman in Distress
Woman in Distress
1937 • Editor Herbert Claxton
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Find the Witness
Find the Witness
1937 • Charley Blair (uncredited)
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Legion of Terror
Legion of Terror
1936 • Colonel McCollum (as Charles Wilson)
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Murder with Pictures
Murder with Pictures
1936 • Assistant Editor (uncredited)
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Down the Stretch
Down the Stretch
1936 • Tex Reardon
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The Gentleman from Louisiana
The Gentleman from Louisiana
1936 • Diamond Jim Brady
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Grand Jury
Grand Jury
1936 • City Editor
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36 Hours to Kill
36 Hours to Kill
1936 • F.B.I. Chief
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Earthworm Tractors
Earthworm Tractors
1936 • H.J. Russell
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Satan Met a Lady
Satan Met a Lady
1936 • Detective Pollock
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Panic on the Air
Panic on the Air
1936 • Chief Inspector Fitzgerald
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Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
1936 • County Hospital Guard (uncredited)
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Big Brown Eyes
Big Brown Eyes
1936 • Prosecuting Attorney (Uncredited)
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The Country Doctor
The Country Doctor
1936 • George the Boat Captain (uncredited)
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Hitch Hike Lady
Hitch Hike Lady
1935 • Mike - a Racketeer
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White Lies
White Lies
1935 • Defense Attorney (uncredited)
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We're Only Human
We're Only Human
1935 • Editor of The Daily Star
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Mary Burns, Fugitive
Mary Burns, Fugitive
1935 • G-Man at dancehall
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Music Is Magic
Music Is Magic
1935 • Decker - Theatre Manager (uncredited)
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The Case of the Lucky Legs
The Case of the Lucky Legs
1935 • Police Officer Ricker
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Waterfront Lady
Waterfront Lady
1935 • Jim McFee aka Mac
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The Public Menace
The Public Menace
1935 • First Detective
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Smart Girl
Smart Girl
1935 • Morgan (uncredited)
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After the Dance
After the Dance
1935 • Chief of Police
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The Glass Key
The Glass Key
1935 • District Attorney Edward J. Farr
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The Nitwits
The Nitwits
1935 • Police Captain Jennings
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Murder in the Fleet
Murder in the Fleet
1935 • Commander Brown (Uncredited)
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Air Hawks
Air Hawks
1935 • Newspaper editor
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The Case of the Curious Bride
The Case of the Curious Bride
1935 • Ferry Captain (uncredited)
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Baby Face Harrington
Baby Face Harrington
1935 • City Editor (uncredited)
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The Perfect Clue
The Perfect Clue
1935 • District Attorney
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Car 99
Car 99
1935 • Trooper Captain Ryan
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The Great Hotel Murder
The Great Hotel Murder
1935 • Anthony Wilson
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The Gilded Lily
The Gilded Lily
1935 • Managing Editor
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Here Is My Heart
Here Is My Heart
1934 • Captain Dodge (uncredited)
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The St. Louis Kid
The St. Louis Kid
1934 • Mr. Harris
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The Human Side
The Human Side
1934 • Furniture Buyer (uncredited)
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The Dragon Murder Case
The Dragon Murder Case
1934 • Det. Hennessey
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Name the Woman
Name the Woman
1934 • Joel Walker
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The Hell Cat
The Hell Cat
1934 • Graham
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Fog Over Frisco
Fog Over Frisco
1934 • Detective Sergeant O'Hagen
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Affairs of a Gentleman
Affairs of a Gentleman
1934 • Inspector Quillan
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I Believed in You
I Believed in You
1934 • Magistrate
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The 9th Guest
The 9th Guest
1934 • Burke (Uncredited)
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Cross Country Cruise
Cross Country Cruise
1934 • Detective (Uncredited)
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Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen
Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen
1934 • Chief of Police
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Havana Widows
Havana Widows
1933 • Mr. Timberg
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Female
Female
1933 • Private Detective Falihee (Uncredited)
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College Coach
College Coach
1933 • Charles Hauser
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The Kennel Murder Case
The Kennel Murder Case
1933 • Detective Hennessy (uncredited)
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No Marriage Ties
No Marriage Ties
1933 • Red Moran, City Desk Editor
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Mary Stevens, M.D.
Mary Stevens, M.D.
1933 • Walter Rising
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Disgraced!
Disgraced!
1933 • Thompson, Assistant District Attorney
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The Mayor of Hell
The Mayor of Hell
1933 • Wilson (uncredited)
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Private Detective 62
Private Detective 62
1933 • Club Bartender (Uncredited)
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Gold Diggers of 1933
Gold Diggers of 1933
1933 • Deputy (uncredited)
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Elmer, the Great
Elmer, the Great
1933 • Mr. Wade (as Charles Wilson)
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Hard to Handle
Hard to Handle
1933 • Jailer (uncredited)
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The Trans-Atlantic Mystery
1932 • Detective Doyle (uncredited)
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The Campus Mystery
1932 • Detective Reardon
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Hot News Margie
Hot News Margie
1931 • Newspaper Editor (uncredited)
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My Sin
My Sin
1931 • Guest in Pool Party
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Stolen Heaven
Stolen Heaven
1931 • Detective
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Insurance
Insurance
1930 • Doctor (uncredited)
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Getting a Ticket
Getting a Ticket
1930 • Motorcycle Cop
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Acquitted
Acquitted
1929 • Nelson
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Song of Love
Song of Love
1929 • Traveling Salesman
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