Roscoe Karns
Encyclopedia
Roscoe Karns was an American actor. He appeared in nearly 150 films between 1915
and 1964
.
He played the title role in the popular DuMont Television Network
series Rocky King, Inside Detective
from 1950 to 1954. His son, character actor Todd Karns
, also appeared in the series.
He was born in San Bernardino, California
and died in Los Angeles, California
.
1915 in film
The year 1915 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* February 8 : D.W Griffith's The Birth of a Nation premieres at Clune's Auditorium Los Angeles and breaks box office and film length records, running at a total length of 3 hrs 10 minutes.* June 18 : The Motion Picture Directors...
and 1964
1964 in film
The year 1964 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* January 29 - The film Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb is released....
.
He played the title role in the popular DuMont Television Network
DuMont Television Network
The DuMont Television Network, also known as the DuMont Network, DuMont, Du Mont, or Dumont was one of the world's pioneer commercial television networks, rivalling NBC for the distinction of being first overall. It began operation in the United States in 1946. It was owned by DuMont...
series Rocky King, Inside Detective
Rocky King, Inside Detective
Rocky King, Inside Detective was an American television series broadcast on the now-defunct DuMont Television Network from 1950 to 1954. It was one of DuMont's most popular programs. It was a live crime series set in New York City....
from 1950 to 1954. His son, character actor Todd Karns
Todd Karns
Todd Karns was an American actor perhaps best remembered for playing Harry Bailey, the younger brother of George Bailey in the Christmas classic It's a Wonderful Life....
, also appeared in the series.
He was born in San Bernardino, California
San Bernardino, California
San Bernardino is a city located in the Riverside-San Bernardino metropolitan area , and serves as the county seat of San Bernardino County, California, United States...
and died in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
.
Selected filmography
- Poor RelationsPoor RelationsPoor Relations is a 1919 silent drama film directed by King Vidor.-Cast:* Florence Vidor - Dorothy Perkins* Lillian Leighton - Ma Perkins* William De Vaull - Pa Perkins * Roscoe Karns - Henry* ZaSu Pitts - Daisy Perkins...
(19191919 in filmThe year 1919 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*February 5 - Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks and D.W. Griffith launch United Artists...
) - The Family HonorThe Family HonorThe Family Honor is a 1920 silent drama film directed by King Vidor.-Cast:* Florence Vidor - Beverly Tucker* Roscoe Karns - Dal Tucker* Ben Alexander - Little Ben Tucker* Charles Meredith - Merle Curran* George Nichols - Mayor Curran...
(19201920 in filmThe year 1920 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* November 27 - The Mark of Zorro, starring Douglas Fairbanks opens.-Top grossing films :-Films released in 1920:U.S.A. unless stated*The $1,000,000 Reward...
) - Life of the PartyLife of the Party (1920 film)Life of the Party is a 1920 short comedy film starring Fatty Arbuckle.-Cast:* Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle - Algernon Leary * Winifred Greenwood - Mrs. Carraway* Roscoe Karns - Sam Perkins* Julia Faye - 'French' Kate...
(1920) - Conquering the WomanConquering the WomanConquering the Woman is a 1922 silent drama film directed by King Vidor. It is unknown whether any recording of the film survives; it may be a lost film...
(19221922 in film-Events:* June 11 - United States première of Robert J. Flaherty's Nanook of the North, the first commercially successful feature length documentary film....
) - The Ten CommandmentsThe Ten Commandments (1923 film)The Ten Commandments is a 1923 American epic silent film directed by Cecil B. DeMille, starring Theodore Roberts as Moses, Charles de Rochefort as Pharaoh Ramesses, Estelle Taylor as Miriam the sister of Moses, and James Neill as Aaron, the brother of Moses...
(19231923 in film-Events:*April 15 - Lee De Forest demonstrates the Phonofilm sound-on-film system at the Rivoli Theater in New York with a series of short musical films featuring vaudeville performers.-Top grossing films :-Films released in 1923:U.S.A...
) - The Midnight ExpressThe Midnight Express (film)The Midnight Express is a romantic film directed by George W. Hill.-Plot:Jack is a young man who has a wild lifestyle. This displeases his father. Jack wants to prove to him he can be a hardworking man as well and decides to find work at a railroad yard as a laborer. Silent Bill Brachley is a...
(19241924 in film-Events:* Entertainment entrepreneur Marcus Loew gained control of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures Corporation and Louis B. Mayer Pictures to create Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer...
) - Dollar DownDollar Down-Cast:* Ruth Roland - Ruth Craig* Henry B. Walthall - Alec Craig* Mayme Kelso - Mrs. Craig* Earl Schenck - Grant Elliot* Claire McDowell - Mrs. Meadows * Roscoe Karns - Gene Meadows* Jane Mercer - Betty Meadows...
(19251925 in film-Events:*November 5: The Big Parade holds its Grand Premier*December 30: premier of Ben-Hur the most expensive silent film ever made costing 4-6 million dollars -Top grossing films :...
) - The Jazz SingerThe Jazz Singer (1927 film)The Jazz Singer is a 1927 American musical film. The first feature-length motion picture with synchronized dialogue sequences, its release heralded the commercial ascendance of the "talkies" and the decline of the silent film era. Produced by Warner Bros. with its Vitaphone sound-on-disc system,...
(19271927 in film-Events:*January 10 - Fritz Lang's science-fiction fantasy Metropolis premieres in Germany.*April 7 - Abel Gance's Napoleon often considered his best known and greatest masterpiece, premiers at the Paris Opéra and would demonstrate techniques and equipment that would not be used for years to...
) - WingsWings (film)Wings is a silent film about World War I fighter pilots, produced by Lucien Hubbard, directed by William A. Wellman and released by Paramount Pictures. Wings was the first film, and the only silent film, to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. Wings stars Clara Bow, Charles "Buddy" Rogers, and...
(1927) - Beggars of LifeBeggars of LifeBeggars of Life is an early sound film with talking sequences starring Wallace Beery as a rail-riding hobo and Louise Brooks as a girl on the run. Based on a novel called Beggars of Life by Jim Tully, the film is often regarded as Brooks's best American movie...
(19281928 in film-Events:Although some movies released in 1928 had sound, most were still silent.* July 28 - Lights of New York is released by Warner Brothers. It is the first "100% Talkie" feature film, in that dialog is spoken throughout the film...
) - The Trail of '98The Trail of '98The Trail of '98 is a 1928 silent drama film featuring Harry Carey. The film was originally released by MGM in a short-lived widescreen process called Fanthom Screen.-Cast:* Dolores del Río as Berna* Ralph Forbes as Larry* Karl Dane as Lars Petersen...
(1928) - New York NightsNew York NightsNew York Nights is a 1929 crime film directed by Lewis Milestone. It is based on the 1928 play Tin Pan Alley by Hugh Stanislaus Stange. The film is known for being leading actress Norma Talmadge's first sound film.-Plot:...
(19291929 in film-Events:The days of the silent film are numbered. A mad scramble to provide synchronized sound is on.*January 20 - The movie In Old Arizona is released. The film is the first full-length talking film to be filmed outdoors....
) - This Thing Called LoveThis Thing Called LoveThis Thing Called Love is a US romantic comedy film starring Edmund Lowe, Constance Bennett, Ruth Taylor, Roscoe Karns, Zazu Pitts, and Jean Harlow. Harlow appears in a cameo role, as she was not yet famous....
(1929) - DirigibleDirigible (film)Dirigible is Frank Capra's 1931 adventure film about the competition between American naval fixed-wing and airship pilots to reach the South Pole by air....
(19311931 in film-Top grossing films:-Academy Awards:*Best Picture: Cimarron - MGM*Best Actor: Lionel Barrymore - A Free Soul*Best Actor: Wallace Beery - The Champ*Best Actor: Fredric March - Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde...
) - Two Against the WorldTwo Against the World (1932 film)Two Against the World is a 1932 drama film starring Constance Bennett as a woman who tries her best to keep her sister and brother out of trouble...
(19321932 in film-Events:*Cary Grant's film career begins*Katharine Hepburn's film career begins*Shirley Temple's film career begins*Disney released Flowers and Trees, the first cartoon in three-strip Technicolor film.*Santa, first sound film made in Mexico released....
) - The Crooked CircleThe Crooked Circle (1932 film)The Crooked Circle is a 1932 American film, a comedy-mystery directed by H. Bruce Humberstone.In 1933, it became notable as the first feature film shown on television...
(1932) - Night After Night (1932)
- If I Had a MillionIf I Had A MillionIf I Had a Million is a Paramount Studios anthology film. There were seven directors: Ernst Lubitsch, Norman Taurog, Stephen Roberts, Norman Z. McLeod, James Cruze, William A. Seiter, and H. Bruce Humberstone...
(1932) - Under Cover ManUnder Cover ManUnder Cover Man is a crime film starring George Raft and Nancy Carroll, and directed by James Flood. The movie was Raft's first or second leading role, along with Night After Night, released the same year.-Cast:* George Raft as Nick Darrow...
(1932) - Gambling ShipGambling Ship (film)Gambling Ship is a 1933 American drama film starring Cary Grant and directed by Louis J. Gasnier and Max Marcin.-Cast:*Cary Grant as Ace Corbin*Benita Hume as Eleanor La Velle*Jack La Rue as Pete Manning*Glenda Farrell as Jeanne Sands...
(19331933 in film-Events:* March 2 - King Kong premieres in New York City.* June 6 - The first drive-in theater opens, in Camden, New Jersey.* British Film Institute founded....
) - Alice in WonderlandAlice in Wonderland (1933 film)Alice in Wonderland is a 1933 film version of the famous Alice novels of Lewis Carroll. The film was produced by Paramount Pictures, featuring an all-star cast. It is all live-action, except for the Walrus and The Carpenter sequence, which was animated by Leon Schlesinger Productions.Stars featured...
(1933) - The Women in His LifeThe Women in His Life-Cast:* Otto Kruger as Kent 'Barry' Barringer* Una Merkel as Miss 'Simmy' Simmons* Ben Lyon as Roger McKane* Isabel Jewell as Catherine 'Cathy' Watson* Roscoe Karns as Lester* Irene Hervey as Doris Worthing* C. Henry Gordon as Tony Perez...
(1933) - It Happened One NightIt Happened One NightIt Happened One Night is a 1934 American romantic comedy film with elements of screwball comedy directed by Frank Capra, in which a pampered socialite tries to get out from under her father's thumb, and falls in love with a roguish reporter . The plot was based on the story Night Bus by Samuel...
(19341934 in film-Events:*January 26 - Samuel Goldwyn purchases the film rights to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz from the L. Frank Baum estate for $40,000.*February 19 - Bob Hope marries Dolores Reade...
) - Twentieth CenturyTwentieth Century (film)Twentieth Century is a 1934 American screwball comedy film. Much of the film is set on the 20th Century Limited train as it travels from Chicago to New York. The film was directed by Howard Hawks, stars John Barrymore and Carole Lombard, and features Walter Connolly, Roscoe Karns and Edgar Kennedy...
(19341934 in film-Events:*January 26 - Samuel Goldwyn purchases the film rights to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz from the L. Frank Baum estate for $40,000.*February 19 - Bob Hope marries Dolores Reade...
) - Four Hours to Kill!Four Hours to Kill!Four Hours to Kill! is a 1935 drama film directed by Mitchell Leisen and starring Richard Barthelmess.-Cast:* Richard Barthelmess - Tony Mako* Joe Morrison - Eddie* Gertrude Michael - Mrs. Sylvia Temple* Helen Mack - Helen* Dorothy Tree - Mae Danish...
(19351935 in film-Events:*Judy Garland signs a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer .*Seven year old Shirley Temple wins a special Academy Award.*The Bantu Educational Kinema Experiment started in order to educate the Bantu peoples.-Top grossing films:-Academy Awards:...
) - Front Page WomanFront Page WomanFront Page Woman is a 1935 American comedy film directed by Michael Curtiz. The screenplay by Roy Chanslor, Laird Doyle, and Lillie Hayward is based on the novel Women Are Bum Newspapermen by Richard Macauley.-Plot:...
(1935) - On Such a NightOn Such a Night (1937 film)On Such a Night is a 1937 crime film directed by Ewald André Dupont and starring Grant Richards, Karen Morley and Roscoe Karns. It was made by Paramount Pictures and later sold to MGM in 1958 for television release.-Cast:* David Knight...
(19371937 in filmThe year 1937 in film involved some significant events, including the Walt Disney production of the first full-length animated film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.- Events :*April 16 - Way Out West premieres in the US....
) - Thanks for the MemoryThanks for the Memory (1938 film)Thanks for the Memory is a 1938 film starring Bob Hope and Shirley Ross, and directed by George Archainbaud. The title is from the song that later became Hope's theme, which first appeared in The Big Broadcast of 1938 earlier the same year...
(19381938 in filmThe year 1938 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*January — MGM announces that Judy Garland would be cast in the role of "Dorothy" in the upcoming Wizard of Oz motion picture. Ray Bolger is cast as the "Tinman" and Buddy Ebsen is cast as the "Scarecrow". At Bolger's insistence,...
) - Dancing Co-EdDancing Co-EdDancing Co-ed is a 1939 romantic comedy film starring Lana Turner, Richard Carlson, and Artie Shaw as himself.-Plot:When a dancer's partner becomes pregnant, a nation-wide search is instituted to find a replacement from among college women...
(19391939 in filmThe year 1939 in motion pictures can be justified as being called the most outstanding one ever, when it comes to the high quality and high attendance at the large set of the best films that premiered in the year .- Events :Motion picture historians and film often rate...
) - Everything's on IceEverything's on IceEverything's on Ice is a 1939 American film directed by Erle C. Kenton.The film is also known as Frolics on Ice - Cast :*Irene Dare as Irene Barton*Edgar Kennedy as Joe Barton*Roscoe Karns as Felix Miller...
(1939) - That’s Right You’re WrongThat’s Right You’re WrongThat's Right You're Wrong is a musical film, directed by David Butler and released by RKO Radio Pictures. The film starred Kay Kyser and his band, with a cast that included Adolphe Menjou, Lucille Ball, Edward Everett Horton, Roscoe Karns, and Ginny Simms .-Cast:*Kay Kyser as Kay Kyser*Adolphe...
(1939) - They Drive by NightThey Drive by NightThey Drive by Night is a black-and-white film noir starring George Raft, Ann Sheridan, Ida Lupino, and Humphrey Bogart, and directed by Raoul Walsh. The picture involves a pair of embattled truck drivers and was released in the UK under the title The Road to Frisco. The film was based on A. I...
(19401940 in filmThe year 1940 in film involved some significant events, including the premieres of the Walt Disney classics Pinocchio and Fantasia.-Events:*February 7 - Walt Disney's animated film Pinocchio is released....
) - His Girl FridayHis Girl FridayHis Girl Friday is a 1940 American screwball comedy film directed by Howard Hawks, an adaptation by Charles Lederer, Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur of the play The Front Page by Hecht and MacArthur...
(1940) - Footsteps in the DarkFootsteps in the Dark (film)Footsteps in the Dark is a light-hearted 1941 mystery film starring Errol Flynn as an amateur detective investigating a murder. It was based on the play Blondie White.-Cast:*Errol Flynn as Francis Monroe Warren II*Brenda Marshall as Rita Warren...
(19411941 in filmThe year 1941 in film involved some significant events.-Events:Citizen Kane, consistently rated as one of the greatest films of all time, was released in 1941.-Top grossing films :-Academy Awards:...
) - Road to HappinessRoad to Happiness- Cast :*John Boles as Jeff Carter*Mona Barrie as Millie Rankin*Billy Lee as Danny Carter*Roscoe Karns as Charley Grady*Lillian Elliott as Mrs. Price*Paul Porcasi as Pietro Pacelli*Selmer Jackson as Sam Rankin*Brandon Hurst as Swayne...
(19421942 in filmThe year 1942 in film involved some significant events, in particular the release of a film consistently rated as one of the greatest of all time, Casablanca.-Events:...
) - Woman Of The YearWoman of the YearWoman of the Year is a romantic comedy film. The movie is about an emancipated woman, chosen "Woman of the Year", and her colleague-turned-husband and their efforts to negotiate a path to marital bliss....
(1942) - His Butler's SisterHis Butler's SisterHis Butler's Sister is a 1943 comedy film directed by Frank Borzage. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Sound Recording His Butler's Sister is a 1943 comedy film directed by Frank Borzage. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Sound Recording His Butler's Sister is a 1943...
(1943) - Old AcquaintanceOld AcquaintanceOld Acquaintance is a 1943 film drama made by Warner Bros. It was directed by Vincent Sherman and produced by Henry Blanke with Jack L. Warner as executive producer from a screenplay by John Van Druten, Lenore Coffee and Edmund Goulding based on Van Druten's play.The film starred Bette Davis and...
(19431943 in filmThe year 1943 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* January 3 - 1st missing persons telecast * February 20 - American film studio executives agree to allow the Office of War Information to censor films....
) - The Navy WayThe Navy WayThe Navy Way is a 1944 American film directed by William Berke concentrating on US Navy recruit training with many sequences filmed at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center.- Cast :*Robert Lowery as Johnny Zumano aka Johnny Jersey...
(19441944 in filmThe year 1944 in film involved some significant events, including the wholesome, award-winning Going My Way plus popular murder mysteries such as Double Indemnity, Gaslight and Laura.-Events:*July 20 - Since You Went Away is released....
) - Texas, Brooklyn and HeavenTexas, Brooklyn and HeavenTexas, Brooklyn and Heaven is a 1948 American romantic comedy film directed by William Castle and starring Guy Madison and Diana Lynn.- Plot :...
(19481948 in filmThe year 1948 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* Laurence Olivier's Hamlet becomes the first British film to win the American Academy Award for Best Picture.-Top grossing films : After theatrical re-issue- Awards :...
) - OnionheadOnionheadOnionhead is a 1958 movie, set on a U.S. Coast Guard cutter during World War II, starring Andy Griffith and featuring Felicia Farr, Walter Matthau, and Erin O'Brien....
(19581958 in filmThe year 1958 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* February 16- "In the Money" by William Beaudine is released on this date. It would be the last installment of The Bowery Boys series which began back in 1946....
) - Man's Favorite Sport?Man's Favorite Sport?Man's Favorite Sport? is a 1964 comedy film starring Rock Hudson and Paula Prentiss. Released by Universal Pictures, the movie was directed and produced by Howard Hawks....
(19641964 in filmThe year 1964 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* January 29 - The film Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb is released....
)