# Roscoe Karns

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American actor (1891–1970)

Roscoe Karns Karns (1932) Born (1891-09-07)September 7, 1891 San Bernardino, California, U.S. Died February 6, 1970(1970-02-06) (aged 78) Los Angeles, California, U.S. Occupation Actor Years active 1915–1964 Spouse Mary M. Fraso ​ (m. 1920⁠–⁠1970)​ Children 2; including Roscoe Todd

**Roscoe Karns** (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.

## 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 declared.[1]

Karns and [Mary Treen](/source/Mary_Treen) in *[The Navy Way](/source/The_Navy_Way)* (1944)

Though he appeared in numerous silent films, such as *[Wings](/source/Wings_(1927_film))* and *[Beggars of Life](/source/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](/source/Claudette_Colbert) in the [Oscar](/source/Academy_Award)-winning comedy *[It Happened One Night](/source/It_Happened_One_Night)*, (1934)[2] quickly followed by one of his best performances as the boozy press agent Owen O'Malley in [Howard Hawks](/source/Howard_Hawks)' *[Twentieth Century](/source/Twentieth_Century_(film))*. (Six years later, he co-starred as one of the reporters in another Hawks classic, *[His Girl Friday](/source/His_Girl_Friday)*.) In 1937, Paramount teamed him with [Lynne Overman](/source/Lynne_Overman) as a pair of laconic private eyes in two B comedy-mysteries, *[Murder Goes to College](/source/Murder_Goes_to_College)* and *[Partners in Crime](/source/Partners_in_Crime_(1937_film))*.

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](/source/DuMont_Television_Network), and he was asked to consider coming to New York City to act on television.[1] From 1950 to 1954, Karns played the title role in the popular [DuMont Television Network](/source/DuMont_Television_Network) series *[Rocky King, Inside Detective](/source/Rocky_King%2C_Inside_Detective)*. His son, character actor [Todd Karns](/source/Todd_Karns), also appeared in that series.[3]

From 1959 to 1962, Karns was cast as Captain (then Admiral) Walter Shafer in seventy-three of the ninety-five episodes of the [CBS](/source/CBS) military sitcom/drama series, *[Hennesey](/source/Hennesey)*, starring [Jackie Cooper](/source/Jackie_Cooper) in the title role of a [United States Navy](/source/United_States_Navy) physician, and [Abby Dalton](/source/Abby_Dalton) as nurse Martha Hale.[4]

His final film was another Hawks comedy, *[Man's Favorite Sport?](/source/Man's_Favorite_Sport%3F)*, in 1964.

## Personal life

Roscoe Karns was born September 7, 1891, in San Bernardino, California.[2][5] He married Mary M. Frasco in 1920, and was the father of two children – Mary Karns Hart, and Roscoe [Todd Karns](/source/Todd_Karns), Jr. He was admitted to St. Vincent's Hospital, in Los Angeles, on December 18, 1969[6] and died at the hospital on February 6, 1970.[2]

## Filmography

- *Mr. Carlson of Arizona* (1915, Short)

- *From Champion to Tramp* (1915, Short) – The Girl's Father

- *A Western Governor's Humanity* (1915, Short)

- *Beans for Two* (1918, Short) – Jimmy's Friend

- *Know Thy Wife* (1918, Short) – Steve – Bob's Chum

- *Brides for Two* (1919, short)

- *Sally's Blighted Career* (1919, Short)

- *Oh, Susie, Be Careful* (1919, Short)

- *[Poor Relations](/source/Poor_Relations)* (1919) – Henry

- *[The Family Honor](/source/The_Family_Honor)* (1920) – Dal Tucker

- *[Life of the Party](/source/Life_of_the_Party_(1920_film))* (1920) – Sam Perkins

- *The Man Tamer* (1921) – Bradley P. Caldwell Jr

- *Too Much Married* (1921) – Bob Holiday

- *[Her Own Money](/source/Her_Own_Money)* (1922) – Jerry Woodward

- *[The Trouper](/source/The_Trouper)* (1922) – Neal Selden

- *[Afraid to Fight](/source/Afraid_to_Fight)* (1922) – Bertie

- *[Conquering the Woman](/source/Conquering_the_Woman)* (1922) – Shorty Thompson

- *[Other Men's Daughters](/source/Other_Men's_Daughters_(1923_film))* (1923) – Hubert

- *Down to the Ship to See* (1923, Short) – Jack

- *[The Ten Commandments](/source/The_Ten_Commandments_(1923_film))* (1923) – The Boy in the Rain (uncredited)

- *Bluff* (1924) – Jack Hallowell

- *[The Midnight Express](/source/The_Midnight_Express_(film))* (1924) – Switch Hogan

- *[The Foolish Virgin](/source/The_Foolish_Virgin)* (1924) – Chuck Brady

- *[The Overland Limited](/source/The_Overland_Limited_(1925_film))* (1925) – Patrick Henry Madden

- *[Dollar Down](/source/Dollar_Down)* (1925) – Gene Meadows

- *[You'd Be Surprised](/source/You'd_Be_Surprised_(film))* (1926) – Party Guest (uncredited)

- *[Ritzy](/source/Ritzy)* (1927) – Smith's Valet

- *[Wings](/source/Wings_(1927_film))* (1927) – Lieutenant Cameron

- *[Ten Modern Commandments](/source/Ten_Modern_Commandments)* (1927) – Benny Burnaway

- *[The Jazz Singer](/source/The_Jazz_Singer)* (1927) – Agent (uncredited)

- *[Beau Sabreur](/source/Beau_Sabreur)* (1928) – Buddy

- *[The Trail of '98](/source/The_Trail_of_'98)* (1928) – Man on Ship (uncredited)

- *[Something Always Happens](/source/Something_Always_Happens_(1928_film))* (1928) – George

- *[The Desert Bride](/source/The_Desert_Bride_(1928_film))* (1928) – Pvt. Terry

- *[The Vanishing Pioneer](/source/The_Vanishing_Pioneer)* (1928) – Ray Hearn

- *[Warming Up](/source/Warming_Up_(1928_film))* (1928) – Hippo

- *[Jazz Mad](/source/Jazz_Mad)* (1928) – Sol Levy

- *[Win That Girl](/source/Win_That_Girl)* (1928) – Johnny Norton II

- *[Beggars of Life](/source/Beggars_of_Life)* (1928) – Lame Hoppy

- *[Moran of the Marines](/source/Moran_of_the_Marines)* (1928) – Swatty

- *[Object: Alimony](/source/Object%3A_Alimony)* (1928) – Al Bryant

- *[The Shopworn Angel](/source/The_Shopworn_Angel_(1928_film))* (1928) – Dance Director

- *[The Flying Fleet](/source/The_Flying_Fleet)* (1929) – Shipwrecked Radio Operator (uncredited)

- *Copy* (1929 short) – City Editor John Mack

- *[This Thing Called Love](/source/This_Thing_Called_Love_(1929_film))* (1929) – Harry Bertrand

- *[New York Nights](/source/New_York_Nights_(film))* (1929) – Johnny Dolan

- *[Troopers Three](/source/Troopers_Three)* (1930) – Bugs

- *[Safety in Numbers](/source/Safety_in_Numbers_(1930_film))* (1930) – Bertram Shapiro

- *[The Little Accident](/source/The_Little_Accident)* (1930) – Gilbert

- *[Man Trouble](/source/Man_Trouble_(1930_film))* (1930) – Scott

- *[The Costello Case](/source/The_Costello_Case)* (1930) – Blair

- *[The Gorilla](/source/The_Gorilla_(1930_film))* (1930) – Simmons

- *[Dirigible](/source/Dirigible_(film))* (1931) – Sock McGuire

- *[Many a Slip](/source/Many_a_Slip_(film))* (1931) – Stan Price

- *[Laughing Sinners](/source/Laughing_Sinners)* (1931) – Fred Geer

- *[Pleasure](/source/Pleasure_(1931_film))* (1931) – Arnie

- *[Left Over Ladies](/source/Left_Over_Ladies)* (1931) – 'Scoop'

- *[Ladies of the Big House](/source/Ladies_of_the_Big_House)* (1931) – Frank – Twenty Questions player (uncredited)

- *[High Pressure](/source/High_Pressure_(film))* (1932) – Telephone salesman (uncredited)

- *[Stowaway](/source/Stowaway_(1932_film))* (1932) – Insp. Redding

- *[Play Girl](/source/Play_Girl_(1932_film))* (1932) – Gambler (uncredited)

- *[The Roadhouse Murder](/source/The_Roadhouse_Murder)* (1932) – Jeff Dale

- *[Week-End Marriage](/source/Week-End_Marriage)* (1932) – Jim Davis

- *[Two Against the World](/source/Two_Against_the_World_(1932_film))* (1932) – Segall, reporter

- *[The Crooked Circle](/source/The_Crooked_Circle_(1932_film))* (1932) – Harry Carter

- *[One Way Passage](/source/One_Way_Passage)* (1932) – S.S.Maloa Bartender (uncredited)

- *[Night After Night](/source/Night_After_Night_(film))* (1932) – Leo

- *[They Call It Sin](/source/They_Call_It_Sin)* (1932) – Brandt – Rehearsal Director (uncredited)

- *[If I Had a Million](/source/If_I_Had_a_Million)* (1932) – Private O'Brien

- *[Under-Cover Man](/source/Under-Cover_Man)* (1932) – Dannie

- *[Lawyer Man](/source/Lawyer_Man)* (1932) – Merritt – Reporter (uncredited)

- *[Grand Slam](/source/Grand_Slam_(1933_film))* (1933) – Contest Radio Announcer

- *[Today We Live](/source/Today_We_Live)* (1933) – McGinnis

- *[A Lady's Profession](/source/A_Lady's_Profession)* (1933) – Tony

- *[Gambling Ship](/source/Gambling_Ship_(1933_film))* (1933) – Blooey

- *[One Sunday Afternoon](/source/One_Sunday_Afternoon_(1933_film))* (1933) – Snappy Downer

- *[The Women in His Life](/source/The_Women_in_His_Life)* (1933) – Lester

- *[Alice in Wonderland](/source/Alice_in_Wonderland_(1933_film))* (1933) – Tweedledee

- *[Search for Beauty](/source/Search_for_Beauty)* (1934) – Newspaper Reporter (scenes deleted)

- *[It Happened One Night](/source/It_Happened_One_Night)* (1934) – Oscar Shapeley

- *[Come On Marines!](/source/Come_On_Marines!)* (1934) – Spud McGurke

- *[Twentieth Century](/source/Twentieth_Century_(film))* (1934) – O'Malley

- *[Shoot the Works](/source/Shoot_the_Works_(film))* (1934) – Sailor Burke

- *[Elmer and Elsie](/source/Elmer_and_Elsie)* (1934) – Rocky Cott

- *[I Sell Anything](/source/I_Sell_Anything)* (1934) – Monk

- *[Wings in the Dark](/source/Wings_in_the_Dark)* (1935) – Nick Williams

- *[Red Hot Tires](/source/Red_Hot_Tires_(1935_film))* (1935) – Bud Keene

- *[Four Hours to Kill!](/source/Four_Hours_to_Kill!)* (1935) – Johnson

- *[Alibi Ike](/source/Alibi_Ike)* (1935) – Carey

- *[Front Page Woman](/source/Front_Page_Woman)* (1935) – Toots O'Grady

- *[Two-Fisted](/source/Two-Fisted)* (1935) – Chick Moran

- *[Woman Trap](/source/Woman_Trap_(1936_film))* (1936) – Mopsy

- *[Border Flight](/source/Border_Flight)* (1936) – Calico Smith

- *[Three Cheers for Love](/source/Three_Cheers_for_Love)* (1936) – Doc "Short Circuit" Wilson

- *[Three Married Men](/source/Three_Married_Men)* (1936) – Peter Cary

- *[Cain and Mabel](/source/Cain_and_Mabel)* (1936) – Reilly

- *[Clarence](/source/Clarence_(1937_film))* (1937) – Clarence Smith

- *[Murder Goes to College](/source/Murder_Goes_to_College)* (1937) – Sim Perkins

- *[Night of Mystery](/source/Night_of_Mystery_(1937_film))* (1937) – Sgt. Heath

- *[On Such a Night](/source/On_Such_a_Night_(1937_film))* (1937) – Joe Flynn

- *[Partners in Crime](/source/Partners_in_Crime_(1937_film))* (1937) – Sim Perkins

- *[Scandal Street](/source/Scandal_Street_(1938_film))* (1938) – Austin Brown

- *[Dangerous to Know](/source/Dangerous_to_Know)* (1938) – Duncan

- *[Tip-Off Girls](/source/Tip-Off_Girls)* (1938) – Tom Benson aka Tommy Logan

- *[You and Me](/source/You_and_Me_(1938_film))* (1938) – Cuffy

- *[Thanks for the Memory](/source/Thanks_for_the_Memory_(film))* (1938) – George Kent

- *[King of Chinatown](/source/King_of_Chinatown)* (1939) – 'Rip' Harrigan

- *[Dancing Co-Ed](/source/Dancing_Co-Ed)* (1939) – Joe Drews

- *[Everything's on Ice](/source/Everything's_on_Ice)* (1939) – Felix Miller

- *[That's Right—You're Wrong](/source/That's_Right%E2%80%94You're_Wrong)* (1939) – Mal Stamp

- *[His Girl Friday](/source/His_Girl_Friday)* (1940) – Reporter McCue

- *[Double Alibi](/source/Double_Alibi_(1940_film))* (1940) – Jeremiah Jenkins

- *[Saturday's Children](/source/Saturday's_Children_(1940_film))* (1940) – Willie Sands

- *[They Drive by Night](/source/They_Drive_by_Night)* (1940) – "Irish" McGurn

- *[Ladies Must Live](/source/Ladies_Must_Live_(1940_film))* (1940) – Pete H. 'Pighead' Larrabee

- *[Meet the Missus](/source/Meet_the_Missus_(1940_film))* (1940) – Joe Higgins

- *[Petticoat Politics](/source/Petticoat_Politics)* (1941) – Joe Higgins

- *[Footsteps in the Dark](/source/Footsteps_in_the_Dark_(film))* (1941) – Monahan

- *Black Eyes and Blues* (1941 short) – Alfred Harmon

- *[The Gay Vagabond](/source/The_Gay_Vagabond)* (1941) – Arthur Dixon, Jerry Dixon

- *Half Shot at Sunrise* (1941, Short) – Henry Warren

- *[Road to Happiness](/source/Road_to_Happiness)* (1942) – Charley Grady

- *[A Tragedy at Midnight](/source/A_Tragedy_at_Midnight)* (1942) – Det. Lt. Cassidy

- *[Woman Of The Year](/source/Woman_of_the_Year)* (1942) – Phil Whittaker

- *[Yokel Boy](/source/Yokel_Boy)* (1942) – Al Devers

- *[You Can't Escape Forever](/source/You_Can't_Escape_Forever)* (1942) – 'Mac' McTurk

- *My Son, the Hero* (1943) – Big-Time Morgan

- *[Stage Door Canteen](/source/Stage_Door_Canteen_(film))* (1943) – Himself

- *[Riding High](/source/Riding_High_(1943_film))* (1943) – Shorty (uncredited)

- *[His Butler's Sister](/source/His_Butler's_Sister)* (1943) – Fields

- *[Old Acquaintance](/source/Old_Acquaintance)* (1943) – Charlie Archer

- *[The Navy Way](/source/The_Navy_Way)* (1944) – Frankie Gimble

- *[Hi, Good Lookin'!](/source/Hi%2C_Good_Lookin'!)* (1944) – Archie

- *[Minstrel Man](/source/Minstrel_Man_(1944_film))* (1944) – Roscoe

- *[One Way to Love](/source/One_Way_to_Love)* (1946) – Hobie Simmons

- *[I Ring Doorbells](/source/I_Ring_Doorbells)* (1946) – Stubby

- *[Avalanche](/source/Avalanche_(1946_film))* (1946) – Red Kelly

- *[Down Missouri Way](/source/Down_Missouri_Way)* (1946) – Press Agent

- *[Vigilantes of Boomtown](/source/Vigilantes_of_Boomtown)* (1947) – Billy Delaney

- *[That's My Man](/source/That's_My_Man)* (1947) – Toby Gleeton

- *[The Inside Story](/source/The_Inside_Story_(film))* (1948) – Eustace Peabody

- *[Devil's Cargo](/source/Devil's_Cargo)* (1948) – Lt. Hardy

- *[Speed to Spare](/source/Speed_to_Spare_(1948_film))* (1948) – Kangaroo

- *[Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven](/source/Texas%2C_Brooklyn_%26_Heaven)* (1948) – Carmody

- *[Onionhead](/source/Onionhead)* (1958) – 'Windy' Woods

- *[Man's Favorite Sport?](/source/Man's_Favorite_Sport%3F)* (1964) – Major Phipps

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Actor_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Actor_1-1) ["The Actor Hollywood Forgot: Roscoe Karns Has Outlasted All Other TV Detectives"](https://archive.org/details/tvguide-chicago-1953-07-31/page/n67/mode/2up). *[TV Guide](/source/TV_Guide)*. July 31, 1953. pp. 20–22. Retrieved August 10, 2025.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Roscoe_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Roscoe_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Roscoe_2-2) ["Roscoe Karns, Actor, Dies at 77; TV Navy Doctor in 'Hennesey'"](https://www.nytimes.com/1970/02/08/archives/roscoe-karns-actor-dies-at-77-tv-navy-doctor-in-hennesey-comedian.html?searchResultPosition=1). *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*. [Associated Press](/source/Associated_Press). February 8, 1970. p. 8.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle (June 24, 2009). [*The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946 – Present*](https://books.google.com/books?id=w8KztFy6QYwC&printsec=frontcover&dq=The+Complete+Directory+to+Prime+Time+Network+and+Cable+TV+Shows+1946+%E2%80%93+Present&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiIttGMv4GPAxVptokEHTFaJHgQ6AF6BAgNEAM#v=onepage&q=%22todd%20karns%22&f=false) (ninth ed.). Ballantine Books. p. 1167. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-3074-8320-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-3074-8320-1).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBrooksMarsh2009[httpsbooksgooglecombooksidw8KztFy6QYwCprintsecfrontcoverdqTheCompleteDirectorytoPrimeTimeNetworkandCableTVShows1946E28093Presenthlennewbks1newbks_redir0saXved2ahUKEwiIttGMv4GPAxVptokEHTFaJHgQ6AF6BAgNEAMvonepageq22roscoe20karns22ffalse_602]_4-0)** [Brooks & Marsh 2009](#CITEREFBrooksMarsh2009), p. [602](https://books.google.com/books?id=w8KztFy6QYwC&printsec=frontcover&dq=The+Complete+Directory+to+Prime+Time+Network+and+Cable+TV+Shows+1946+%E2%80%93+Present&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiIttGMv4GPAxVptokEHTFaJHgQ6AF6BAgNEAM#v=onepage&q=%22roscoe%20karns%22&f=false).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["10 Things You Should Know About Roscoe Karns"](https://cladriteradio.com/10-things-you-should-know-about-roscoe-karns/#google_vignette). *Cladrite Radio*. September 7, 2022. Retrieved March 24, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Veteran Actor Roscoe Karns Dies At 76"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-actor-roscoe-karns-di/178626936/). *[The Sacramento Bee](/source/The_Sacramento_Bee)*. [United Press International](/source/United_Press_International). February 8, 1970. p. 6. Retrieved August 10, 2025.

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Roscoe Karns](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Roscoe_Karns).

- [Works by or about Roscoe Karns](https://archive.org/search.php?query=%28%28subject%3A%22Karns%2C%20Roscoe%22%20OR%20subject%3A%22Roscoe%20Karns%22%20OR%20creator%3A%22Karns%2C%20Roscoe%22%20OR%20creator%3A%22Roscoe%20Karns%22%20OR%20title%3A%22Roscoe%20Karns%22%20OR%20description%3A%22Karns%2C%20Roscoe%22%20OR%20description%3A%22Roscoe%20Karns%22%29%20OR%20%28%221893-1970%22%20AND%20Karns%29%29%20AND%20%28-mediatype:software%29) at the [Internet Archive](/source/Internet_Archive)

- [Roscoe Karns](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0439850/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier))

- [Roscoe Karns](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/47483) at the [Internet Broadway Database](/source/Internet_Broadway_Database)

- [Roscoe Karns](https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7923) at [Find a Grave](/source/Find_a_Grave)

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF GND FAST National United States France BnF data Czech Republic Spain Israel People Deutsche Biographie Other IdRef SNAC Yale LUX

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