Actor. He was born in Carman, Manitoba, Canada as John Elmer Carson. However, at an early age the family moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin where he was raised and considered this city his hometown. He attended Carroll College and emerged a vaudeville performer and traveled the country. When Carson arrived in Hollywood, he worked at the RKO studio as an extra, then received a contract and developed into a popular character actor appearing in a large number of comedies, musicals and a few westerns. He played scores of impressive supporting roles ranging from a numbskull to a backslapping pest in comedies and musicals as well as a callous individual in westerns. Between 1937 and his untimely death, he made 94 films. Carson was a great communicator who perfected the art of the doubletake but could hold his own in dramatic roles. A few good examples: "A Star Is Born" (Judy Garland), "The Tarnished Angels" (Rock Hudson) and "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" (Paul Newman). It was in the forties that Jack became popular as a wise cracking comedian on the radio. He tried his hand in television in the fifties and was one of the hosts on the "All Star Revue" and did the same on the U.S. Royal Showcase. He was a prolific guest star in TV shows appearing more than fifty times on the top marque shows of the era. A few: "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," "Zane Grey Theater," "Bonanza," and in many episodes for "The United States Steel Hour." A most memorable performance was on the "Twilight Zone" playing the used car salesman who could not lie as long as he owned a certain Model A Ford. He appeared in Las Vegas at various casinos. The oft-married actor concealed the fact he was suffering from terminal cancer and continued to work. He completed his role in the Disney TV comedy "Sammy the Way Out Seal," barely completing the engagement before passing away at age 52 in his Encino, California home. He was cremated without fanfare and his ashes were placed in the family niche at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California.