Lon Chaney filmography

Lon Chaney in 1923

Lon Chaney (April 1, 1883 – August 26, 1930) was an American actor during the age of silent films. He is regarded as one of cinema's most versatile and powerful actors, renowned for his characterizations of tortured, sometimes grotesque and afflicted characters, and his groundbreaking artistry with makeup.[1] Chaney is known for his starring roles in such silent horror films as The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923) and The Phantom of the Opera (1925). His ability to transform himself using makeup techniques that he developed earned him the nickname "The Man of a Thousand Faces."

Cast in films

Title Role Release date Production and/or distribution companies Notes
Poor Jake's Demise Willy (The Dude) Mollycoddle August 16, 1913[2] IMP - Universal[2] Incomplete film
The Sea Urchin Barnacle Bill[2] August 22, 1913[2] Powers - Universal[2] Lost film
The Blood Red Tape of Charity Jewish pawnbroker[2] September 26, 1913[2] Powers - Universal[2]
Shon the Piper Scottish clansman[2] September 30, 1913[2] 101-Bison - Universal[2]
The Trap October 3, 1913[2][note 1] Powers - Universal[2]
The Restless Spirit dual role as a Russian count and a wild man October 27, 1913[2] Victor - Universal[2]
An Elephant on His Hands Eddie[2] November 21, 1913[2] Nestor - Universal[2]
Almost an Actress The Cameraman[2] November 15, 1913[2] Joker - Universal[2]
Back to Life The Rival[2] November 24, 1913[2] Victor - Universal[2]
Red Margaret, Moonshiner Lon[2] December 9, 1913[2] Gold Seal - Universal[2]
Bloodhounds of the North Mountie[2] December 23, 1913[2] Gold Seal - Universal[2]
The Lie Young MacGregor[2] January 6, 1914[2] Gold Seal - Universal[2]
The Honor of the Mounted Jacques Laquox[2] February 17, 1914[2] Gold Seal - Universal[2]
Remember Mary Magdalen The Half-wit[2] February 23, 1914[2] Victor - Universal[2]
Discord and Harmony The Sculptor[2] March 17, 1914[2] Gold Seal - Universal[2]
The Menace to Carlotta Giovanni Bartholi[2] March 22, 1914[2] Rex - Universal[2]
The Embezzler J. Roger Dixon[2] March 31, 1914[2] Gold Seal - Universal[2]
The Lamb, the Woman, the Wolf The Wolf[2] April 4, 1914[2] 101-Bison - Universal[2]
The End of the Feud Wood Dawson[2] April 12, 1914[2] Rex - Universal[2]
The Tragedy of Whispering Creek The Greaser[2] May 2, 1914[2] 101-Bison - Universal[2]
The Unlawful Trade The Half-Breed[2] May 14, 1914[2] Rex - Universal[2]
The Forbidden Room John Morris[2] June 20, 1914[2] 101-Bison - Universal[2]
The Old Cobbler Wild Bill[2] June 27, 1914[2] 101-Bison - Universal[2]
The Hopes of Blind Alley Vendor[2] July 4, 1914[2] 101-Bison - Universal[2]
A Ranch Romance Raphael Praz[2] July 8, 1914[2] Nestor - Universal[2]
Her Grave Mistake Nunez[2] July 15, 1914[2] Nestor - Universal[2]
By the Sun's Rays Frank Lawler[2] July 22, 1914[2] Nestor - Universal[2]
The Oubliette Chevalier Bertrand De La Payne[2] August 15, 1914[2] 101-Bison - Universal[2]
A Miner's Romance John Burns[2] August 26, 1914[2] Nestor - Universal[2]
Her Bounty Fred Howard[2] September 13, 1914[2] Rex - Universal[2]
The Higher Law Sir Stephen[2] September 19, 1914[2] 101-Bison - Universal[2]
Richelieu Baradas[2] September 26, 1914[2] 101-Bison - Universal[2]
The Pipes o' Pan Arthur Farrell[2] October 4, 1914[2] Rex - Universal[2]
Virtue Is Its Own Reward Duncan Bronson[2] October 11, 1914[2] Rex - Universal[2]
Her Life's Story Don Valasquez October 15, 1914 Rex - Universal[2]
A Small Town Girl Procurer November 7, 1914 101-Bison - Universal[2]
Lights and Shadows Bentley November 29, 1914 Rex - Universal[2]
The Lion, the Lamb, the Man Fred December 6, 1914 Rex - Universal[2]
A Night of Thrills December 13, 1914 Rex - Universal[2]
Her Escape Pete December 13, 1914 Rex - Universal[2]
The Sin of Olga Brandt Stephen Leslie January 3, 1915 Rex - Universal[2]
The Star of the Sea Tomasco January 10, 1915 Rex - Universal[2]
The Measure of a Man Mountie Lt. Jim Stuart January 28, 1915 Rex - Universal[2]
The Threads of Fate The Count February 21, 1915 Rex - Universal[2]
When the Gods Played a Badger Game The Property Man February 28, 1915 Rex - Universal[2]
Such Is Life Tod Wilkes March 4, 1915 Rex - Universal[2]
Where the Forest Ends Paul Rouchelle March 7, 1915 Rex - Universal[2]
Outside the Gates Perez March 14, 1915 Rex - Universal[2]
All for Peggy The Stable Groom March 18, 1915 Rex - Universal[2]
The Desert Breed Fred March 28, 1915 Rex - Universal[2]
Maid of the Mist The Postmaster April 1, 1915 Rex - Universal[2]
The Girl of the Night April 8, 1915 Rex - Universal[2]
The Stool Pigeon - Directed - April 9, 1915 Victor - Universal[2]
The Grind
An Idyll of the Hills
The Stronger Mind
The Oyster Dredger
Steady Company
The Violin Maker
The Trust
Bound on the Wheel
Mountain Justice
Quits
The Chimney's Secret
The Pine's Revenge
The Fascination of the Fleur de Lis
Alas and Alack
A Mother's Atonement
Lon of Lone Mountain
The Millionaire Paupers
Under a Shadow
Stronger Than Death
Father and the Boys
Dolly's Scoop
The Grip of Jealousy
Tangled Hearts
The Gilded Spider
Bobbie of the Ballet
The Grasp of Greed
The Mark of Cain
If My Country Should Call
Felix on the Job
The Place Beyond the Winds
Accusing Evidence
The Price of Silence
The Piper's Price
Hell Morgan's Girl
The Mask of Love
The Girl in the Checkered Coat
The Flashlight
A Doll's House
Fires of Rebellion
The Rescue
Triumph
Pay Me! Joe Lawson September 1, 1917
The Empty Gun
Anything Once
The Scarlet Car
Broadway Love
The Grand Passion
The Kaiser, the Beast of Berlin
Fast Company
A Broadway Scandal
Riddle Gawne
That Devil, Bateese
The Talk of the Town
Danger, Go Slow
The Wicked Darling
Daredevil Jack
The False Faces Karl Eckstrom February 16, 1919 Thomas Ince - Paramount
A Man's Country Winsome Stars Corporation - Robertson Cole
Paid in Advance Bateese Le Blanc[2] November 30, 1919[2] Universal[2]
The Miracle Man The Frog August 29, 1919 George Loane Tucker - Paramount
When Bearcat Went Dry
Victory Maurice Tourneur - Paramount
Treasure Island Maurice Tourneur - Paramount
The Gift Supreme
Nomads of the North Raoul Challoner October 11, 1920 Associated First National
The Penalty Blizzard July 20, 1920 Rex Beach and Sam Goldwyn - Goldwyn Pictures
Outside the Law Black Mike Sylva/Ah Wing December 26, 1920 Tod Browning - Universal
Bits of Life Marshall Neilan - Associated First National
The Ace of Hearts Wallace Worsley - Goldwyn Pictures
For Those We Love Betty Compson - Goldwyn Pictures
The Trap Gaspard the Good May 9, 1922 Universal
Voices of the City Goldwyn Pictures
Flesh and Blood
The Light in the Dark Tony Pantelli September 3, 1922 Associated First National
Shadows B. P. Schulberg - Preferred Pictures
Oliver Twist Fagin October 30, 1922 Sol Lesser - Associated First National
Quincy Adams Sawyer Metro Pictures
A Blind Bargain Goldwyn Pictures
All the Brothers Were Valiant Metro Pictures
While Paris Sleeps
The Shock Wilse Dilling July 10, 1923 Universal
The Hunchback of Notre Dame Quasimodo September 2, 1923 Universal
The Next Corner Famous Players–Lasky, Paramount
He Who Gets Slapped Paul Beaumont November 9, 1924 MGM
The Monster Dr. Ziska March 16, 1925 MGM
The Unholy Three Prof. Echo/Mrs. O'Grady August 16, 1925 MGM
The Phantom of the Opera The Phantom of the Opera/Erik November 25, 1925 Universal
The Tower of Lies MGM
The Blackbird Dan 'The Blackbird'/The Bishop January 11, 1926 MGM
The Road to Mandalay MGM
Tell It to the Marines Sergeant O'Hara December 23, 1926 MGM
Mr. Wu MGM
The Unknown Alonzo the Armless June 4, 1927 MGM
Mockery MGM
London After Midnight Inspector Edward C. Burke December 3, 1927 MGM Lost film
The Big City MGM
Laugh, Clown, Laugh Tito April 14, 1928 MGM
While the City Sleeps MGM
West of Zanzibar Phroso November 24, 1928 MGM
Where East Is East MGM
Thunder MGM
The Unholy Three Prof. Echo/Mrs. O'Grady July 12, 1930 MGM

Directed films

Title Release date Production company Notes
The Stool Pigeon April 9, 1915 Universal Cast and directed
For Cash May 3, 1915 Universal Only directed
The Oyster Dredger June 14, 1915 Universal Cast and directed
The Violin Maker July 9, 1915 Universal Directed and acted
The Trust July 16, 1915 Universal Directed and acted
The Chimney's Secret August 25, 1915 Universal Directed, wrote and acted
The Phantom of the Opera November 25, 1925 Universal Uncredited

References

  1. ^ "Lon Chaney Dies After Brave Fight. On Road to Recovery, Screen Actor Is Stricken by Hemorrhage of the Throat. Was a Master of Makeup. Son of Deaf and Dumb Parents, He Began Career as Property Boy. Excelled in Vivid Personations. Acted as Pike's Peak Guide. Made Stage Debut at 17. Appeared in Slap-Stick Comedy. Wore Straitjacket as "Hunchback." New Disguise for Each Film". New York Times. August 27, 1930. Although he was believed to be on the road to recovery, Lon Chaney, screen actor, who had been making a valiant fight against anemia and bronchial congestion, died at 12:55.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch ci cj ck cl cm cn co cp cq cr cs ct cu cv cw cx cy cz da db dc dd de df dg dh di dj dk dl dm dn do dp dq dr Blake, Michael F. (2001). The Films of Lon Chaney. Madison Books. pp. 1–207. ISBN 1568332378.

Notes

  1. ^ The film was released on October 26, 1913 according to the Universal Code Book. This would seem to be in error.[2]