Roscoe Karns
Biography
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. Karns appeared in numerous silent films, including Wings and Beggars of Life. His career took off with the advent of sound. He was born on September 7, 1891, and died on February 6, 1970. Karns is known for his roles in films such as It Happened One Night, a comedy that won an Oscar. He is a male actor with 144 known credits, born in San Bernardino, California, USA.
Career overview
Roscoe Karns was an American actor who appeared in nearly 150 films between 1915 and 1964. He specialized in cynical, wise-cracking characters, often delivering rapid-fire dialogue in comedies and crime thrillers. Karns' career took off with the advent of sound in film, and he went on to appear in numerous movies.
Karns appeared in numerous silent films, including Wings and Beggars of Life. He is arguably best known for his role in the 1934 comedy It Happened One Night, which won an Oscar. This film showcased Karns' ability to deliver memorable performances in a wide range of genres.
Throughout his career, Karns accumulated a significant number of film credits, with 144 known credits. He worked extensively in the film industry, appearing in a wide variety of movies between 1915 and 1964. Despite the lack of specific details about his personal life and relationships, Karns' body of work as an actor remains a notable contribution to the history of American cinema.
Ask the Vault
Ask anything about Roscoe Karns.
Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
144 titles- Man's Favorite Sport? (1964) as Major Phipps
- The Lucy Show (1962) as Mr. Foley
- Hennesey (1959) as Capt. Walter Shafer
- Onionhead (1958) as 'Windy' Woods
- Richard Diamond, Private Detective (1957) as Ed Church
- December Bride (1954)
- December Bride (1954) as Charley Allen
- Rocky King, Detective (1950) as Police Inspector Rocky King
- Inside Detective (1950) as Police Inspector Rocky King
- Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven (1948) as Officer Carmody
- The Inside Story (1948) as Eustace Peabody
- Devil's Cargo (1948) as Lt. Hardy
- Speed to Spare (1948) as Kangaroo
- That's My Man (1947) as Toby Gleeton
- Vigilantes of Boomtown (1947) as Bill Delaney
- One Way to Love (1946) as Hobie Simmons
- Avalanche (1946) as Red Kelly
- I Ring Doorbells (1946) as Stubby
- Minstrel Man (1944) as Lasses White
- The Navy Way (1944) as Frankie Gimble
- Hi, Good Lookin'! (1944) as Archie
- My Son, The Hero (1943) as Big-Time Morgan
- Stage Door Canteen (1943) as Roscoe Karns
- Old Acquaintance (1943) as Charlie Archer
- His Butler's Sister (1943) as Fields
- Riding High (1943) as Shorty
- Yokel Boy (1942) as Al Devers
- Woman of the Year (1942) as Phil Whittaker
- You Can't Escape Forever (1942) as 'Mac' McTurk
- A Tragedy at Midnight (1942) as Cassidy
- Petticoat Politics (1941) as Joe Higgins
- Half Shot at Sunrise (1941) as Henry Warren
- Footsteps in the Dark (1941) as Monahan
- The Gay Vagabond (1941) as Arthur Dixon / Jerry Dixon
- Road to Happiness (1941) as Charley Grady
- Black Eyes and Blues (1941) as Alfred Harmon
- His Girl Friday (1940) as McCue
- They Drive by Night (1940) as Irish McGurn
- Ladies Must Live (1940) as Pete Larrabee
- Saturday's Children (1940) as Willie Sands
- Double Alibi (1940) as Jeremiah Jenkins
- Meet the Missus (1940) as Joe Higgins
- That's Right – You're Wrong (1939) as Mal Stamp
- King of Chinatown (1939) as Rip Harrigan
- Everything's on Ice (1939) as Felix Miller
- Dancing Co-Ed (1939) as Joe Drews
- Tip-Off Girls (1938) as Tom Benson aka Tommy Logan
- Thanks for the Memory (1938) as George Kent
- Dangerous to Know (1938) as Duncan
- You and Me (1938) as Cuffy
- Scandal Street (1938) as Austin Brown
- Clarence (1937) as Clarence Smith
- Night of Mystery (1937) as Sergeant Heath
- On Such a Night (1937) as Joe Flynn
- Murder Goes to College (1937) as Sim Perkins
- Partners in Crime (1937) as Sim Perkins
- Woman Trap (1936) as Mopsy
- Cain and Mabel (1936) as Reilly
- Three Married Men (1936) as Peter Cary
- Border Flight (1936) as Calico Smith
- Front Page Woman (1935) as Toots O'Grady
- The Woman in Red (1935) as Man in court room (uncredited)
- Wings in the Dark (1935) as Nick Williams
- Four Hours to Kill! (1935) as Johnson
- Red Hot Tires (1935) as Bud Keene
- Alibi Ike (1935) as Carey
- Two-Fisted (1935) as Chick Moran
- It Happened One Night (1934) as Oscar Shapeley
- Twentieth Century (1934) as Owen O'Malley
- Shoot the Works (1934) as Sailor Burke
- Elmer and Elsie (1934) as Rocky Cott
- Come On, Marines! (1934) as Spud McGurke
- I Sell Anything (1934) as Monk
- Alice in Wonderland (1933) as Tweedledee
- A Lady's Profession (1933) as Tony
- The Women in His Life (1933) as Aloysius Lester
- Today We Live (1933) as McGinnis
- Gambling Ship (1933) as Blooey
- One Sunday Afternoon (1933) as Snappy Downer
- Grand Slam (1933) as Contest Radio Announcer
- Stowaway (1932) as Insp. Redding
- If I Had a Million (1932) as Private O'Brien
- Night After Night (1932) as Leo
- High Pressure (1932) as Telephone Salesman (uncredited)
- The Roadhouse Murder (1932) as Dale
- Lawyer Man (1932) as Merritt - Reporter (uncredited)
- Week-End Marriage (1932) as Jim Davis
- The Crooked Circle (1932) as Harry Carter
- One Way Passage (1932) as S.S. Maloa Bartender (uncredited)
- Two Against the World (1932) as Segall, reporter
- Play Girl (1932) as Gambler (uncredited)
- Under-Cover Man (1932) as Dannie
- They Call It Sin (1932) as Brad - Rehearsal Director (uncredited)
- Dirigible (1931) as Sock McGuire
- Laughing Sinners (1931) as Fred Geer
- Ladies of the Big House (1931) as Frank - Twenty Questions player (uncredited)
- Left Over Ladies (1931) as 'Scoop'
- Pleasure (1931) as Arnie
- Many a Slip (1931) as Stan Price
- Little Accident (1930) as Gilbert
- Troopers Three (1930) as Bugs
- The Costello Case (1930) as Blair
- Safety in Numbers (1930) as Bertram Shapiro
- The Gorilla (1930) as Simmons
- Man Trouble (1930) as Scott
- Copy (1929) as City Editor John Mack
- The Flying Fleet (1929) as Shipwrecked Radio Operator (uncredited)
- New York Nights (1929) as Johnny Dolan
- This Thing Called Love (1929) as Harry Bertrand
- Object: Alimony (1928) as Al Bryant
- Warming Up (1928) as Hippo
- Beggars of Life (1928) as Lame Hoppy
- The Shopworn Angel (1928) as Dance Director
- Something Always Happens (1928) as George
- The Trail of '98 (1928) as Man on Ship (uncredited)
- The Vanishing Pioneer (1928) as Ray Hearn
- Beau Sabreur (1928) as Buddy
- Moran of the Marines (1928) as Swatty
- The Desert Bride (1928) as Pvt. Terry
- Win That Girl (1928) as Johnny Norton II
- Jazz Mad (1928) as Sol Levy
- Wings (1927) as Lieutenant Cameron
- The Jazz Singer (1927) as Agent (uncredited)
- Ten Modern Commandments (1927) as Benny Burnaway
- Ritzy (1927) as Smith's Valet
- You'd Be Surprised (1926) as Party Guest (uncredited)
- Dollar Down (1925) as Gene Meadows
- The Overland Limited (1925) as Patrick Henry Madden
- Bluff (1924) as Jack Hallowell
- The Midnight Express (1924) as Switch Hogan
- The Foolish Virgin (1924) as Chuck Brady
- The Ten Commandments (1923) as The Boy in the Rain (uncredited)
- Other Men's Daughters (1923) as Hubert
- Her Own Money (1922) as Jerry Woodward
- Conquering the Woman (1922) as Shorty Thompson
- The Trouper (1922)
- The Man Tamer (1921) as Bradley P. Caldwell Jr
- The Life of the Party (1920) as Sam Perkins
- The Family Honor (1920) as Dal Tucker
- Poor Relations (1919) as Henry
- Mr. Carlson of Arizona (1915)
- A Species of Mexican Man (1915)
- A Western Governor's Humanity (1915) as The Sheriff
- From Champion to Tramp (1915) as The Girl's Father
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Roscoe Karns best known for?
Roscoe Karns is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Man's Favorite Sport? (1964), One Night at McCool's (2001), The Forgotten (2004), Onionhead (1958).
When and where was Roscoe Karns born?
Roscoe Karns was born on September 6, 1891 in San Bernardino, California, USA. They passed away on February 6, 1970.
How many credits does Roscoe Karns have?
Roscoe Karns has accumulated over 144 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1920 to 1964.
What is Roscoe Karns's background in cinema and television?
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. Karns appeared in numerous silent films, including Wings and Beggars of Life. His career took off with ...
Roscoe Karns by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- The Vanishing Pioneer (1928) as Ray Hearn — aged about 36
- It Happened One Night (1934) as Oscar Shapeley — aged about 42
- Hennesey (1959) as Capt. Walter Shafer — aged about 67
- His Girl Friday (1940) as McCue — aged about 48
- Wings (1927) as Lieutenant Cameron — aged about 35
- Man's Favorite Sport? (1964) as Major Phipps — aged about 72
What viewers say
No comments yet. Be the first to share your take on Roscoe Karns.