33:
1554:
282:
1527:
148:(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.
156:
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.
289:
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
172:, 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
221:
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
1608:
1618:
225:, 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
1613:
1598:
293:, 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.
1603:
242:
From 1959 to 1962, Karns was cast as
Captain (then Admiral) Walter Shafer in seventy-three of the ninety-five episodes of the
1588:
536:
420:
1150:
1593:
1172:
630:
782:
878:
464:
434:
894:
790:
608:
1078:
654:
368:
214:
1212:
1188:
1118:
1062:
544:
480:
231:
43:
1414:
1272:
1196:
1070:
448:
1549:
1086:
66:
1430:
1286:
966:
870:
269:
226:
222:
186:, (1934) quickly followed by one of his best performances as the boozy press agent Owen O'Malley in
1334:
926:
806:
192:
1390:
1294:
734:
686:
670:
504:
1374:
1302:
1142:
1110:
1054:
1006:
934:
862:
846:
638:
560:
208:
1358:
1248:
1022:
910:
886:
758:
552:
182:
1583:
1578:
1326:
1046:
766:
750:
742:
718:
592:
412:
32:
8:
1553:
1180:
974:
662:
528:
1204:
822:
702:
456:
257:
1540:
1366:
1256:
1240:
1126:
1094:
1030:
958:
902:
774:
678:
496:
173:
162:
196:. (Six years later, he co-starred as one of the reporters in another Hawks classic,
1531:
1398:
1382:
1350:
1310:
1226:
990:
918:
814:
726:
710:
694:
616:
360:
1545:
1342:
1158:
950:
942:
830:
798:
600:
584:
512:
404:
198:
168:
1455:
The Actor
Hollywood Forgot: Roscoe Karns Has Outlasted All Other TV Detectives,
1406:
1038:
646:
352:
1499:
The
Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946 – Present
1486:
The
Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946 – Present
1572:
1134:
1102:
1014:
854:
576:
388:
281:
253:
203:
177:
1563:
1559:
1318:
520:
187:
472:
396:
261:
85:
1536:
998:
838:
290:
236:
137:
38:
1422:
1264:
982:
568:
248:
1471:
Roscoe Karns, Actor, Dies at 77; TV Navy Doctor in ‘Hennesey’,
488:
206:
as a pair of laconic private eyes in two B comedy-mysteries,
243:
738:(1931) - Frank - Twenty Questions player (uncredited)
160:
Though he appeared in numerous silent films, such as
818:(1932) - Brandt - Rehearsal Director (uncredited)
1570:
620:(1929) - Shipwrecked Radio Operator (uncredited)
1501:, pages 258 & 259, Ballantine Books, 1979
906:(1934) - Newspaper Reporter (scenes deleted)
1552:
125: 1920–1970)
31:
802:(1932) - S.S.Maloa Bartender (uncredited)
438:(1923) - The Boy in the Rain (uncredited)
267:His final film was another Hawks comedy,
1467:
1465:
842:(1932) - Merritt - Reporter (uncredited)
746:(1932) - Telephone salesman (uncredited)
280:
1510:Veteran Actor Roscoe Karns Dies At 76,
1451:
1449:
1609:Actors from San Bernardino, California
1571:
202:.) In 1937, Paramount teamed him with
1619:Burials at Hollywood Forever Cemetery
1462:
1446:
626:(1929 short) - City Editor John Mack
1192:(1940) - Pete H. 'Pighead' Larrabee
1106:(1938) - Tom Benson aka Tommy Logan
1026:(1936) - Doc "Short Circuit" Wilson
13:
1488:, page 532, Ballantine Books, 1979
1230:(1941) - Arthur Dixon, Jerry Dixon
330:(1918, Short) - Steve - Bob's Chum
14:
1630:
1614:20th-century American male actors
1521:
532:(1928) - Man on Ship (uncredited)
484:(1926) - Party Guest (uncredited)
312:(1915, Short) - The Girl's Father
1599:American male silent film actors
1459:, July 31, 1953, pages 20 to 22.
850:(1933) - Contest Radio Announcer
276:
239:, also appeared in that series.
151:
1604:American male television actors
378:(1921) - Bradley P. Caldwell Jr
122:
1528:Works by or about Roscoe Karns
1504:
1491:
1478:
324:(1918, Short) - Jimmy's Friend
296:
246:military sitcom/drama series,
1:
1439:
762:(1932) - Gambler (uncredited)
468:(1925) - Patrick Henry Madden
316:A Western Governor's Humanity
285:Roscoe and Mary Karns in 1954
1497:Tim Brooks and Earle Marsh,
1484:Tim Brooks and Earle Marsh,
1415:Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven
1298:(1943) - Shorty (uncredited)
1236:(1941, Short) - Henry Warren
1222:(1941 short) - Alfred Harmon
232:Rocky King, Inside Detective
44:Rocky King, Inside Detective
7:
1589:Male actors from California
516:(1927) - Agent (uncredited)
500:(1927) - Lieutenant Cameron
235:. His son, character actor
10:
1635:
1550:Internet Broadway Database
1514:, February 8, 1970, page 6
1475:, February 8, 1970, page 8
67:San Bernardino, California
37:Karns with his wife Mary;
16:American actor (1891–1970)
1594:American male film actors
1252:(1942) - Det. Lt. Cassidy
1168:(1940) - Jeremiah Jenkins
1151:That's Right—You're Wrong
786:(1932) - Segall, reporter
580:(1928) - Johnny Norton II
227:DuMont Television Network
223:DuMont Television Network
132:
109:
101:
93:
74:
52:
30:
23:
1394:(1948) - Eustace Peabody
1282:(1943) - Big-Time Morgan
1273:You Can't Escape Forever
826:(1932) - Private O'Brien
658:(1930) - Bertram Shapiro
537:Something Always Happens
416:(1922) - Shorty Thompson
1322:(1944) - Frankie Gimble
1314:(1943) - Charlie Archer
1260:(1942) - Phil Whittaker
1184:(1940) - "Irish" McGurn
1162:(1940) - Reporter McCue
1130:(1939) - 'Rip' Harrigan
1050:(1937) - Clarence Smith
914:(1934) - Oscar Shapeley
735:Ladies of the Big House
634:(1929) - Harry Bertrand
612:(1928) - Dance Director
508:(1927) - Benny Burnaway
505:Ten Modern Commandments
444:(1924) - Jack Hallowell
428:Down to the Ship to See
392:(1922) - Jerry Woodward
340:Sally's Blighted Career
256:in the title role of a
1426:(1958) - 'Windy' Woods
1378:(1947) - Billy Delaney
1375:Vigilantes of Boomtown
1346:(1946) - Hobie Simmons
1244:(1942) - Charley Grady
1055:Murder Goes to College
994:(1935) - Toots O'Grady
962:(1935) - Nick Williams
882:(1933) - Snappy Downer
754:(1932) - Insp. Redding
631:This Thing Called Love
492:(1927) - Smith's Valet
310:From Champion to Tramp
304:Mr. Carlson of Arizona
286:
264:as nurse Martha Hale.
209:Murder Goes to College
1434:(1964) - Major Phipps
1431:Man's Favorite Sport?
1386:(1947) - Toby Gleeton
1276:(1942) - 'Mac' McTurk
1249:A Tragedy at Midnight
1213:Footsteps in the Dark
1176:(1940) - Willie Sands
1146:(1939) - Felix Miller
1119:Thanks for the Memory
1090:(1938) - Austin Brown
1023:Three Cheers for Love
1018:(1936) - Calico Smith
938:(1934) - Sailor Burke
922:(1934) - Spud McGurke
911:It Happened One Night
887:The Women in His Life
794:(1932) - Harry Carter
783:Two Against the World
698:(1931) - Sock McGuire
642:(1929) - Johnny Dolan
553:The Vanishing Pioneer
476:(1925) - Gene Meadows
452:(1924) - Switch Hogan
421:Other Men's Daughters
346:Oh, Susie, Be Careful
284:
270:Man's Favorite Sport?
183:It Happened One Night
1370:(1946) - Press Agent
1234:Half Shot at Sunrise
1220:Black Eyes and Blues
1208:(1941) - Joe Higgins
1200:(1940) - Joe Higgins
1122:(1938) - George Kent
1082:(1937) - Sim Perkins
1058:(1937) - Sim Perkins
1002:(1935) - Chick Moran
879:One Sunday Afternoon
767:The Roadhouse Murder
593:Moran of the Marines
465:The Overland Limited
460:(1924) - Chuck Brady
449:The Midnight Express
435:The Ten Commandments
430:(1923, Short) - Jack
413:Conquering the Woman
400:(1922) - Neal Selden
384:(1921) - Bob Holiday
372:(1920) - Sam Perkins
1303:His Butler's Sister
1181:They Drive by Night
1173:Saturday's Children
1143:Everything's on Ice
1066:(1937) - Sgt. Heath
1034:(1936) - Peter Cary
975:Four Hours to Kill!
946:(1934) - Rocky Cott
898:(1933) - Tweedledee
895:Alice in Wonderland
863:A Lady's Profession
706:(1931) - Stan Price
663:The Little Accident
588:(1928) - Lame Hoppy
548:(1928) - Pvt. Terry
364:(1920) - Dal Tucker
1512:The Sacramento Bee
1402:(1948) - Lt. Hardy
1362:(1946) - Red Kelly
1287:Stage Door Canteen
1268:(1942) - Al Devers
1205:Petticoat Politics
1154:(1939) - Mal Stamp
1138:(1939) - Joe Drews
1074:(1937) - Joe Flynn
970:(1935) - Bud Keene
823:If I Had a Million
791:The Crooked Circle
778:(1932) - Jim Davis
770:(1932) - Jeff Dale
714:(1931) - Fred Geer
609:The Shopworn Angel
604:(1928) - Al Bryant
556:(1928) - Ray Hearn
481:You'd Be Surprised
457:The Foolish Virgin
287:
258:United States Navy
88:, California, U.S.
1410:(1948) - Kangaroo
1367:Down Missouri Way
1327:Hi, Good Lookin'!
1257:Woman Of The Year
1241:Road to Happiness
1127:King of Chinatown
1095:Dangerous to Know
1079:Partners in Crime
1031:Three Married Men
959:Wings in the Dark
930:(1934) - O'Malley
927:Twentieth Century
903:Search for Beauty
858:(1933) - McGinnis
807:Night After Night
775:Week-End Marriage
679:The Costello Case
655:Safety in Numbers
572:(1928) - Sol Levy
369:Life of the Party
215:Partners in Crime
193:Twentieth Century
174:Claudette Colbert
143:
142:
102:Years active
63:September 7, 1891
1626:
1556:
1532:Internet Archive
1515:
1508:
1502:
1495:
1489:
1482:
1476:
1469:
1460:
1453:
1418:(1948) - Carmody
1391:The Inside Story
1351:I Ring Doorbells
1311:Old Acquaintance
1290:(1943) - Himself
1280:My Son, the Hero
1227:The Gay Vagabond
1216:(1941) - Monahan
1189:Ladies Must Live
1063:Night of Mystery
991:Front Page Woman
978:(1935) - Johnson
919:Come On Marines!
815:They Call It Sin
730:(1931) - 'Scoop'
727:Left Over Ladies
711:Laughing Sinners
690:(1930) - Simmons
666:(1930) - Gilbert
617:The Flying Fleet
545:The Desert Bride
529:The Trail of '98
382:Too Much Married
361:The Family Honor
180:-winning comedy
126:
124:
81:
78:February 6, 1970
62:
60:
35:
21:
20:
1634:
1633:
1629:
1628:
1627:
1625:
1624:
1623:
1569:
1568:
1524:
1519:
1518:
1509:
1505:
1496:
1492:
1483:
1479:
1470:
1463:
1454:
1447:
1442:
1437:
1354:(1946) - Stubby
1343:One Way to Love
1338:(1944) - Roscoe
1330:(1944) - Archie
1306:(1943) - Fields
1197:Meet the Missus
1159:His Girl Friday
1098:(1938) - Duncan
1071:On Such a Night
1042:(1936) - Reilly
951:I Sell Anything
943:Elmer and Elsie
935:Shoot the Works
890:(1933) - Lester
874:(1933) - Blooey
834:(1932) - Dannie
831:Under-Cover Man
799:One Way Passage
639:New York Nights
601:Object: Alimony
596:(1928) - Swatty
585:Beggars of Life
540:(1928) - George
513:The Jazz Singer
424:(1923) - Hubert
408:(1922) - Bertie
405:Afraid to Fight
299:
279:
260:physician, and
199:His Girl Friday
169:Beggars of Life
154:
128:
120:
116:
89:
83:
79:
70:
64:
58:
56:
48:
26:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1632:
1622:
1621:
1616:
1611:
1606:
1601:
1596:
1591:
1586:
1581:
1567:
1566:
1557:
1543:
1534:
1523:
1522:External links
1520:
1517:
1516:
1503:
1490:
1477:
1473:New York Times
1461:
1444:
1443:
1441:
1438:
1436:
1435:
1427:
1419:
1411:
1407:Speed to Spare
1403:
1395:
1387:
1379:
1371:
1363:
1355:
1347:
1339:
1331:
1323:
1315:
1307:
1299:
1291:
1283:
1277:
1269:
1261:
1253:
1245:
1237:
1231:
1223:
1217:
1209:
1201:
1193:
1185:
1177:
1169:
1163:
1155:
1147:
1139:
1131:
1123:
1115:
1114:(1938) - Cuffy
1107:
1099:
1091:
1087:Scandal Street
1083:
1075:
1067:
1059:
1051:
1043:
1039:Cain and Mabel
1035:
1027:
1019:
1011:
1010:(1936) - Mopsy
1003:
995:
987:
986:(1935) - Carey
979:
971:
963:
955:
947:
939:
931:
923:
915:
907:
899:
891:
883:
875:
867:
859:
851:
843:
835:
827:
819:
811:
803:
795:
787:
779:
771:
763:
755:
747:
739:
731:
723:
722:(1931) - Arnie
715:
707:
699:
691:
683:
682:(1930) - Blair
675:
674:(1930) - Scott
667:
659:
651:
647:Troopers Three
643:
635:
627:
621:
613:
605:
597:
589:
581:
573:
565:
564:(1928) - Hippo
557:
549:
541:
533:
525:
524:(1928) - Buddy
517:
509:
501:
493:
485:
477:
469:
461:
453:
445:
439:
431:
425:
417:
409:
401:
393:
385:
379:
373:
365:
357:
356:(1919) - Henry
353:Poor Relations
349:
343:
337:
334:Brides for Two
331:
325:
319:
313:
307:
300:
298:
295:
278:
275:
153:
150:
141:
140:
134:
130:
129:
118:
114:
113:
111:
107:
106:
103:
99:
98:
95:
91:
90:
84:
82:(aged 78)
76:
72:
71:
65:
54:
50:
49:
36:
28:
27:
24:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1631:
1620:
1617:
1615:
1612:
1610:
1607:
1605:
1602:
1600:
1597:
1595:
1592:
1590:
1587:
1585:
1582:
1580:
1577:
1576:
1574:
1565:
1561:
1558:
1555:
1551:
1547:
1544:
1542:
1538:
1535:
1533:
1529:
1526:
1525:
1513:
1507:
1500:
1494:
1487:
1481:
1474:
1468:
1466:
1458:
1452:
1450:
1445:
1433:
1432:
1428:
1425:
1424:
1420:
1417:
1416:
1412:
1409:
1408:
1404:
1401:
1400:
1399:Devil's Cargo
1396:
1393:
1392:
1388:
1385:
1384:
1383:That's My Man
1380:
1377:
1376:
1372:
1369:
1368:
1364:
1361:
1360:
1356:
1353:
1352:
1348:
1345:
1344:
1340:
1337:
1336:
1332:
1329:
1328:
1324:
1321:
1320:
1316:
1313:
1312:
1308:
1305:
1304:
1300:
1297:
1296:
1292:
1289:
1288:
1284:
1281:
1278:
1275:
1274:
1270:
1267:
1266:
1262:
1259:
1258:
1254:
1251:
1250:
1246:
1243:
1242:
1238:
1235:
1232:
1229:
1228:
1224:
1221:
1218:
1215:
1214:
1210:
1207:
1206:
1202:
1199:
1198:
1194:
1191:
1190:
1186:
1183:
1182:
1178:
1175:
1174:
1170:
1167:
1164:
1161:
1160:
1156:
1153:
1152:
1148:
1145:
1144:
1140:
1137:
1136:
1135:Dancing Co-Ed
1132:
1129:
1128:
1124:
1121:
1120:
1116:
1113:
1112:
1108:
1105:
1104:
1103:Tip-Off Girls
1100:
1097:
1096:
1092:
1089:
1088:
1084:
1081:
1080:
1076:
1073:
1072:
1068:
1065:
1064:
1060:
1057:
1056:
1052:
1049:
1048:
1044:
1041:
1040:
1036:
1033:
1032:
1028:
1025:
1024:
1020:
1017:
1016:
1015:Border Flight
1012:
1009:
1008:
1004:
1001:
1000:
996:
993:
992:
988:
985:
984:
980:
977:
976:
972:
969:
968:
967:Red Hot Tires
964:
961:
960:
956:
954:(1934) - Monk
953:
952:
948:
945:
944:
940:
937:
936:
932:
929:
928:
924:
921:
920:
916:
913:
912:
908:
905:
904:
900:
897:
896:
892:
889:
888:
884:
881:
880:
876:
873:
872:
871:Gambling Ship
868:
866:(1933) - Tony
865:
864:
860:
857:
856:
855:Today We Live
852:
849:
848:
844:
841:
840:
836:
833:
832:
828:
825:
824:
820:
817:
816:
812:
809:
808:
804:
801:
800:
796:
793:
792:
788:
785:
784:
780:
777:
776:
772:
769:
768:
764:
761:
760:
756:
753:
752:
748:
745:
744:
743:High Pressure
740:
737:
736:
732:
729:
728:
724:
721:
720:
716:
713:
712:
708:
705:
704:
700:
697:
696:
692:
689:
688:
684:
681:
680:
676:
673:
672:
668:
665:
664:
660:
657:
656:
652:
650:(1930) - Bugs
649:
648:
644:
641:
640:
636:
633:
632:
628:
625:
622:
619:
618:
614:
611:
610:
606:
603:
602:
598:
595:
594:
590:
587:
586:
582:
579:
578:
577:Win That Girl
574:
571:
570:
566:
563:
562:
558:
555:
554:
550:
547:
546:
542:
539:
538:
534:
531:
530:
526:
523:
522:
518:
515:
514:
510:
507:
506:
502:
499:
498:
494:
491:
490:
486:
483:
482:
478:
475:
474:
470:
467:
466:
462:
459:
458:
454:
451:
450:
446:
443:
440:
437:
436:
432:
429:
426:
423:
422:
418:
415:
414:
410:
407:
406:
402:
399:
398:
394:
391:
390:
389:Her Own Money
386:
383:
380:
377:
376:The Man Tamer
374:
371:
370:
366:
363:
362:
358:
355:
354:
350:
348:(1919, Short)
347:
344:
342:(1919, Short)
341:
338:
336:(1919, short)
335:
332:
329:
328:Know Thy Wife
326:
323:
322:Beans for Two
320:
318:(1915, Short)
317:
314:
311:
308:
306:(1915, Short)
305:
302:
301:
294:
292:
283:
277:Personal life
274:
272:
271:
265:
263:
259:
255:
254:Jackie Cooper
251:
250:
245:
240:
238:
234:
233:
228:
224:
219:
217:
216:
211:
210:
205:
204:Lynne Overman
201:
200:
195:
194:
189:
185:
184:
179:
175:
171:
170:
165:
164:
158:
152:Acting career
149:
147:
139:
136:2; including
135:
131:
115:Mary M. Fraso
112:
108:
104:
100:
96:
92:
87:
77:
73:
68:
55:
51:
46:
45:
40:
34:
29:
22:
19:
1564:Find a Grave
1560:Roscoe Karns
1546:Roscoe Karns
1537:Roscoe Karns
1511:
1506:
1498:
1493:
1485:
1480:
1472:
1456:
1429:
1421:
1413:
1405:
1397:
1389:
1381:
1373:
1365:
1357:
1349:
1341:
1335:Minstrel Man
1333:
1325:
1319:The Navy Way
1317:
1309:
1301:
1293:
1285:
1279:
1271:
1263:
1255:
1247:
1239:
1233:
1225:
1219:
1211:
1203:
1195:
1187:
1179:
1171:
1166:Double Alibi
1165:
1157:
1149:
1141:
1133:
1125:
1117:
1109:
1101:
1093:
1085:
1077:
1069:
1061:
1053:
1045:
1037:
1029:
1021:
1013:
1005:
997:
989:
981:
973:
965:
957:
949:
941:
933:
925:
917:
909:
901:
893:
885:
877:
869:
861:
853:
845:
837:
829:
821:
813:
810:(1932) - Leo
805:
797:
789:
781:
773:
765:
757:
749:
741:
733:
725:
717:
709:
701:
693:
685:
677:
669:
661:
653:
645:
637:
629:
623:
615:
607:
599:
591:
583:
575:
567:
559:
551:
543:
535:
527:
521:Beau Sabreur
519:
511:
503:
495:
487:
479:
471:
463:
455:
447:
441:
433:
427:
419:
411:
403:
395:
387:
381:
375:
367:
359:
351:
345:
339:
333:
327:
321:
315:
309:
303:
288:
268:
266:
247:
241:
230:
220:
213:
207:
197:
191:
188:Howard Hawks
181:
167:
161:
159:
155:
146:Roscoe Karns
145:
144:
80:(1970-02-06)
42:
25:Roscoe Karns
18:
1584:1970 deaths
1579:1891 births
1295:Riding High
703:Many a Slip
687:The Gorilla
671:Man Trouble
473:Dollar Down
397:The Trouper
297:Filmography
273:, in 1964.
262:Abby Dalton
252:, starring
138:Roscoe Todd
86:Los Angeles
1573:Categories
1440:References
1111:You and Me
1007:Woman Trap
999:Two-Fisted
847:Grand Slam
839:Lawyer Man
561:Warming Up
291:Todd Karns
237:Todd Karns
94:Occupation
59:1891-09-07
1423:Onionhead
1359:Avalanche
1265:Yokel Boy
983:Alibi Ike
759:Play Girl
695:Dirigible
105:1915–1964
1457:TV Guide
1047:Clarence
751:Stowaway
719:Pleasure
569:Jazz Mad
249:Hennesey
133:Children
1548:at the
1530:at the
229:series
176:in the
127:
119:
110:Spouse
69:, U.S.
47:(1954)
497:Wings
489:Ritzy
442:Bluff
178:Oscar
163:Wings
121:(
117:
97:Actor
41:from
39:still
1541:IMDb
624:Copy
212:and
166:and
75:Died
53:Born
1562:at
1539:at
244:CBS
1575::
1464:^
1448:^
218:.
190:'
123:m.
61:)
57:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
