Roscoe Karns
Roscoe Karns was an American actor who appeared in nearly 150 films between 1915 and 1964. He specialized in cynical, wise-cracking characters, and his rapid-fire delivery enlivened many comedies and crime thrillers in the 1930s and 1940s.
Acting career
Karns began acting with a San Diego stock company when he was still in high school. "I’ve never earned a dime outside of show business. I can't even claim having a newspaper route as a kid," he claimed.
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, quickly followed by one of his best performances as the boozy press agent Owen O'Malley in Howard Hawks' Twentieth Century. 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.
By the late 1940s Karns was finding it difficult to obtain movie roles, and was considering retiring, but he contacted a friend who worked for the DuMont Television Network, and he was asked to consider coming to New York City to act on television. 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 Captain 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.
Personal life
Roscoe Karns was born September 7, 1891, in San Bernardino, California. He married Mary M. Frasco in 1920, and was the father of two children – Mary Karns Hart, and Roscoe Todd Karns, Jr. He was admitted to St. Vincent's Hospital, in Los Angeles, on December 18, 1969 and died at the hospital on February 6, 1970.
Filmography
Mr. Carlson of Arizona From Champion to Tramp – The Girl's FatherA Western Governor's Humanity Beans for Two – Jimmy's FriendKnow Thy Wife – Steve – Bob's ChumBrides for Two Sally's Blighted Career Oh, Susie, Be Careful Poor Relations – HenryThe Family Honor – Dal TuckerLife of the Party – Sam PerkinsThe Man Tamer – Bradley P. Caldwell JrToo Much Married – Bob HolidayHer Own Money – Jerry WoodwardThe Trouper – Neal SeldenAfraid to Fight – BertieConquering the Woman – Shorty ThompsonOther Men's Daughters – HubertDown to the Ship to See – JackThe Ten Commandments – The Boy in the Rain Bluff – Jack HallowellThe Midnight Express – Switch HoganThe Foolish Virgin – Chuck BradyThe Overland Limited – Patrick Henry MaddenDollar Down – Gene MeadowsYou'd Be Surprised – Party Guest Ritzy – Smith's ValetWings – Lieutenant CameronTen Modern Commandments – Benny BurnawayThe Jazz Singer – Agent Beau Sabreur – BuddyThe Trail of '98 – Man on Ship Something Always Happens – GeorgeThe Desert Bride – Pvt. TerryThe Vanishing Pioneer – Ray HearnWarming Up – HippoJazz Mad – Sol LevyWin That Girl – Johnny Norton IIBeggars of Life – Lame HoppyMoran of the Marines – SwattyObject: Alimony – Al BryantThe Shopworn Angel – Dance DirectorThe Flying Fleet – Shipwrecked Radio Operator Copy – City Editor John MackThis Thing Called Love – Harry BertrandNew York Nights – Johnny DolanTroopers Three – BugsSafety in Numbers – Bertram ShapiroThe Little Accident – GilbertMan Trouble – ScottThe Costello Case – BlairThe Gorilla – SimmonsDirigible – Sock McGuireMany a Slip – Stan PriceLaughing Sinners – Fred GeerPleasure – ArnieLeft Over Ladies – 'Scoop'Ladies of the Big House – Frank – Twenty Questions player High Pressure – Telephone salesman Stowaway – Insp. ReddingPlay Girl – Gambler The Roadhouse Murder – Jeff DaleWeek-End Marriage – Jim DavisTwo Against the World – Segall, reporterThe Crooked Circle – Harry CarterOne Way Passage – S.S.Maloa Bartender Night After Night – LeoThey Call It Sin – Brandt – Rehearsal Director If I Had a Million – Private O'BrienUnder-Cover Man – DannieLawyer Man – Merritt – Reporter Grand Slam – Contest Radio AnnouncerToday We Live – McGinnisA Lady's Profession – TonyGambling Ship – BlooeyOne Sunday Afternoon – Snappy DownerThe Women in His Life – LesterAlice in Wonderland – TweedledeeSearch for Beauty – Newspaper Reporter It Happened One Night – Oscar ShapeleyCome On Marines! – Spud McGurkeTwentieth Century – O'MalleyShoot the Works – Sailor BurkeElmer and Elsie – Rocky CottI Sell Anything – MonkWings in the Dark – Nick WilliamsRed Hot Tires – Bud KeeneFour Hours to Kill! – JohnsonAlibi Ike – CareyFront Page Woman – Toots O'GradyTwo-Fisted – Chick MoranWoman Trap – MopsyBorder Flight – Calico SmithThree Cheers for Love – Doc "Short Circuit" WilsonThree Married Men – Peter CaryCain and Mabel – ReillyClarence – Clarence SmithMurder Goes to College – Sim PerkinsNight of Mystery – Sgt. HeathOn Such a Night – Joe FlynnPartners in Crime – Sim PerkinsScandal Street – Austin BrownDangerous to Know – DuncanTip-Off Girls – Tom Benson aka Tommy LoganYou and Me – CuffyThanks for the Memory – George KentKing of Chinatown – 'Rip' HarriganDancing Co-Ed – Joe DrewsEverything's on Ice – Felix MillerThat's Right—You're Wrong – Mal StampHis Girl Friday – Reporter McCueDouble Alibi – Jeremiah JenkinsSaturday's Children – Willie SandsThey Drive by Night – "Irish" McGurnLadies Must Live – Pete H. 'Pighead' LarrabeeMeet the Missus – Joe HigginsPetticoat Politics – Joe HigginsFootsteps in the Dark – MonahanBlack Eyes and Blues – Alfred HarmonThe Gay Vagabond – Arthur Dixon, Jerry DixonHalf Shot at Sunrise – Henry WarrenRoad to Happiness – Charley GradyA Tragedy at Midnight – Det. Lt. CassidyWoman Of The Year – Phil WhittakerYokel Boy – Al DeversYou Can't Escape Forever – 'Mac' McTurkMy Son, the Hero – Big-Time MorganStage Door Canteen – HimselfRiding High – Shorty His Butler's Sister – FieldsOld Acquaintance – Charlie ArcherThe Navy Way – Frankie GimbleHi, Good Lookin'! – ArchieMinstrel Man – RoscoeOne Way to Love – Hobie SimmonsI Ring Doorbells – StubbyAvalanche – Red KellyDown Missouri Way – Press AgentVigilantes of Boomtown – Billy DelaneyThat's My Man – Toby GleetonThe Inside Story – Eustace PeabodyDevil's Cargo – Lt. HardySpeed to Spare – KangarooTexas, Brooklyn & Heaven – CarmodyOnionhead – 'Windy' WoodsMan's Favorite Sport? – Major Phipps