Roscoe Karns

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Born

September 6, 1891

Died

February 6, 1970 (age 78)

Place of Birth

San Bernardino, California, USA

Also Known As

Roscoe Karnes

Roscoe Karns

Biography

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Roscoe Karns (September 7, 1891 – February 6, 1970) was an American actor who appeared in nearly 150 films between 1915 and 1964. He specialized in cynical, wise-cracking (and often tipsy) characters, and his rapid-fire delivery enlivened many comedies and crime thrillers in the 1930s and 1940s. Though he appeared in numerous silent films, such as Wings and Beggars of Life, his career didn't really take off until sound arrived. Arguably his best-known film role was the annoying bus passenger Oscar Shapeley, who tries to pick up Claudette Colbert in the Oscar-winning comedy It Happened One Night (1934), quickly followed by one of his best performances as the boozy press agent Owen O'Malley in Howard Hawks' Twentieth Century. (Six years later, he co-starred as one of the reporters in another Hawks classic, His Girl Friday.) In 1937, Paramount teamed him with Lynne Overman as a pair of laconic private eyes in two B comedy-mysteries, Murder Goes to College and Partners in Crime. From 1950 to 1954, Karns played the title role in the popular DuMont Television Network series Rocky King, Inside Detective. His son, character actor Todd Karns, also appeared in that series. From 1959 to 1962, Karns was cast as Admiral Walter Shafer in seventy-three of the ninety-five episodes of the CBS military sitcom/drama series, Hennesey, starring Jackie Cooper in the title role of a United States Navy physician, and Abby Dalton as nurse Martha Hale. His final film was another Hawks comedy, Man's Favorite Sport?, in 1964. Karns was born in San Bernardino, California, and died in Los Angeles. Description above from the Wikipedia article Roscoe Karns, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia

Known For

Filmography

1964FilmMan's Favorite Sport?as Major Phipps1962TVThe Lucy Showas Mr. Foley1959TVHenneseyas Capt. Walter Shafer1958FilmOnionheadas 'Windy' Woods1957TVRichard Diamond, Private Detectiveas Ed Church1954TVDecember Bride1950TVRocky King, Detectiveas Police Inspector Rocky King1950TVInside Detectiveas Police Inspector Rocky King1948FilmTexas, Brooklyn & Heavenas Officer Carmody1948FilmSpeed to Spareas Kangaroo1948FilmDevil's Cargoas Lt. Hardy1948FilmThe Inside Storyas Eustace Peabody1947FilmThat's My Manas Toby Gleeton1947FilmVigilantes of Boomtownas Bill Delaney1946FilmAvalancheas Red Kelly1946FilmI Ring Doorbellsas Stubby1946FilmOne Way to Loveas Hobie Simmons1944FilmHi, Good Lookin'!as Archie1944FilmThe Navy Wayas Frankie Gimble1944FilmMinstrel Manas Lasses White1943FilmOld Acquaintanceas Charlie Archer1943FilmHis Butler's Sisteras Fields1943FilmRiding Highas Shorty1943FilmStage Door Canteenas Roscoe Karns1943FilmMy Son, The Heroas Big-Time Morgan1942FilmYou Can't Escape Foreveras 'Mac' McTurk1942FilmYokel Boyas Al Devers1942FilmWoman of the Yearas Phil Whittaker1942FilmA Tragedy at Midnightas Cassidy1941FilmRoad to Happinessas Charley Grady1941FilmHalf Shot at Sunriseas Henry Warren1941FilmThe Gay Vagabondas Arthur Dixon / Jerry Dixon1941FilmBlack Eyes and Bluesas Alfred Harmon1941FilmFootsteps in the Darkas Monahan1941FilmPetticoat Politicsas Joe Higgins1940FilmMeet the Missusas Joe Higgins1940FilmLadies Must Liveas Pete Larrabee1940FilmThey Drive by Nightas Irish McGurn1940FilmSaturday's Childrenas Willie Sands1940FilmDouble Alibias Jeremiah Jenkins1940FilmHis Girl Fridayas McCue1939FilmThat's Right – You're Wrongas Mal Stamp1939FilmEverything's on Iceas Felix Miller1939FilmDancing Co-Edas Joe Drews1939FilmKing of Chinatownas Rip Harrigan1938FilmThanks for the Memoryas George Kent1938FilmYou and Meas Cuffy1938FilmTip-Off Girlsas Tom Benson aka Tommy Logan1938FilmDangerous to Knowas Duncan1938FilmScandal Streetas Austin Brown1937FilmPartners in Crimeas Sim Perkins1937FilmOn Such a Nightas Joe Flynn1937FilmNight of Mysteryas Sergeant Heath1937FilmMurder Goes to Collegeas Sim Perkins1937FilmClarenceas Clarence Smith1936FilmCain and Mabelas Reilly1936FilmThree Married Menas Peter Cary1936FilmBorder Flightas Calico Smith1936FilmWoman Trapas Mopsy1935FilmTwo-Fistedas Chick Moran1935FilmFront Page Womanas Toots O'Grady1935FilmAlibi Ikeas Carey1935FilmFour Hours to Kill!as Johnson1935FilmThe Woman in Redas Man in court room (uncredited)1935FilmRed Hot Tiresas Bud Keene1935FilmWings in the Darkas Nick Williams1934FilmI Sell Anythingas Monk1934FilmShoot the Worksas Sailor Burke1934FilmTwentieth Centuryas Owen O'Malley1934FilmCome On, Marines!as Spud McGurke1934FilmIt Happened One Nightas Oscar Shapeley1933FilmAlice in Wonderlandas Tweedledee1933FilmThe Women in His Lifeas Aloysius Lester1933FilmOne Sunday Afternoonas Snappy Downer1933FilmGambling Shipas Blooey1933FilmA Lady's Professionas Tony1933FilmToday We Liveas McGinnis1933FilmGrand Slamas Contest Radio Announcer1932FilmLawyer Manas Merritt - Reporter (uncredited)1932FilmUnder-Cover Manas Dannie1932FilmIf I Had a Millionas Private O'Brien1932FilmThey Call It Sinas Brad - Rehearsal Director (uncredited)1932FilmNight After Nightas Leo1932FilmOne Way Passageas S.S. Maloa Bartender (uncredited)1932FilmThe Crooked Circleas Harry Carter1932FilmTwo Against the Worldas Segall, reporter1932FilmWeek-End Marriageas Jim Davis1932FilmThe Roadhouse Murderas Dale1932FilmPlay Girlas Gambler (uncredited)1932FilmStowawayas Insp. Redding1932FilmHigh Pressureas Telephone Salesman (uncredited)1931FilmLadies of the Big Houseas Frank - Twenty Questions player (uncredited)1931FilmLeft Over Ladiesas 'Scoop'1931FilmPleasureas Arnie1931FilmLaughing Sinnersas Fred Geer1931FilmMany a Slipas Stan Price1931FilmDirigibleas Sock McGuire1930FilmThe Gorillaas Simmons1930FilmThe Costello Caseas Blair1930FilmMan Troubleas Scott1930FilmLittle Accidentas Gilbert1930FilmSafety in Numbersas Bertram Shapiro1930FilmTroopers Threeas Bugs1929FilmNew York Nightsas Johnny Dolan1929FilmThis Thing Called Loveas Harry Bertrand1929FilmCopyas City Editor John Mack1929FilmThe Flying Fleetas Shipwrecked Radio Operator (uncredited)1928FilmThe Shopworn Angelas Dance Director1928FilmObject: Alimonyas Al Bryant1928FilmJazz Madas Sol Levy1928FilmMoran of the Marinesas Swatty1928FilmBeggars of Lifeas Lame Hoppy1928FilmWin That Girlas Johnny Norton II1928FilmWarming Upas Hippo1928FilmThe Vanishing Pioneeras Ray Hearn1928FilmSomething Always Happensas George1928FilmThe Desert Brideas Pvt. Terry1928FilmThe Trail of '98as Man on Ship (uncredited)1928FilmBeau Sabreuras Buddy1927FilmThe Jazz Singeras Agent (uncredited)1927FilmWingsas Lieutenant Cameron1927FilmTen Modern Commandmentsas Benny Burnaway1927FilmRitzyas Smith's Valet1926FilmYou'd Be Surprisedas Party Guest (uncredited)1925FilmDollar Downas Gene Meadows1925FilmThe Overland Limitedas Patrick Henry Madden1924FilmThe Foolish Virginas Chuck Brady1924FilmThe Midnight Expressas Switch Hogan1924FilmBluffas Jack Hallowell1923FilmThe Ten Commandmentsas The Boy in the Rain (uncredited)1923FilmOther Men's Daughtersas Hubert1922FilmConquering the Womanas Shorty Thompson1922FilmThe Trouper1922FilmHer Own Moneyas Jerry Woodward1921FilmThe Man Tameras Bradley P. Caldwell Jr1920FilmThe Life of the Partyas Sam Perkins1920FilmThe Family Honoras Dal Tucker1919FilmPoor Relationsas Henry1915FilmA Western Governor's Humanityas The Sheriff1915FilmA Species of Mexican Man1915FilmFrom Champion to Trampas The Girl's Father1915FilmMr. Carlson of Arizona

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