Lon Chaney

Biography

Lon Chaney was an American actor and makeup artist who entered a stage career in 1902 and traveled with vaudeville and theater acts before finding work in silent film. Born in Colorado Springs, he spent years at Universal in bit and character parts, where his skill with makeup helped him win roles in a competitive casting climate. His breakthrough came as The Frog in The Miracle Man (1919), which brought critical praise and established him as a leading character actor. He became known for tortured and grotesque figures, including a gangster with both legs amputated in The Penalty (1920) and the armless carnival knife-thrower Alonzo in The Unknown (1927), opposite Joan Crawford. Among his memorable roles were Quasimodo in The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923) and Erik in The Phantom of the Opera (1925). He also appeared in Tod Browning's London After Midnight (1927), and his final role was a sound remake of The Unholy Three (1930).

47years old at death

Born April 1, 1883Colorado Springs
Died August 26, 1930Los Angeles
Star sign: AriesThe sign runs March 21 to April 19
Also credited as Lon Chaney, Sr., The Man of a Thousand Faces and Leonidas Chaney

Movie Career

Films: 16
Career span: 94 years1920 to 2014

Genres

Drama75%, 12 films
Romance56%, 9 films
Horror38%, 6 films
Crime31%, 5 films
Thriller31%, 5 films

First and latest

Photos

Did you know?!

A first
Chaney's last movie was The Unholy Three (1930), a sound version of his 1925 silent film. It was his only talkie, and he swore in a statement that he voiced five key parts, among them the ventriloquist and a parrot.
Big break
Chaney's breakthrough came as "The Frog" in George Loane Tucker's The Miracle Man (1919), which showed his acting and makeup talent and grossed over $2 million.
First role
Chaney started working in the theater in 1902, when he was 19, and he began touring with well-known vaudeville and theater acts.
Own stunts
Chaney's talents went beyond stage makeup and the horror genre. He was a comedian too, and a dancer and singer with great skill.

Lon Chaney movies on Netflix

Monster Madness: The Golden Age of the Horror Film2014IMDb rating 6.7as The Phantom / Quasimodo
The Horror Hall of Fame: A Monster Salute1974IMDb rating 7.0as Himself
Laugh, Clown, Laugh1928IMDb rating 7.5as Tito
West of Zanzibar1928IMDb rating 7.2as Phroso 'Dead-Legs'
Mr. Wu1927IMDb rating 6.3as Mr. Wu / Wu's Grandfather
The Unknown1927IMDb rating 7.7as Alonzo
Tell It to the Marines1926IMDb rating 7.1as Sergeant O'Hara
The Blackbird1926IMDb rating 6.7as Dan - The Blackbird / The Bishop
The Monster1925IMDb rating 6.2as Dr. Ziska
The Phantom of the Opera1925IMDb rating 7.5as Erik, The Phantom
The Unholy Three1925IMDb rating 7.1as Echo - The Ventriloquist
He Who Gets Slapped1924IMDb rating 7.7as Paul Beaumont
The Hunchback of Notre Dame1923IMDb rating 7.2as Quasimodo
Outside the Law1921IMDb rating 6.6as Ah Wing / 'Black Mike' Sylva
The Ace of Hearts1921IMDb rating 6.8as Farallone
The Penalty1920IMDb rating 7.3as Blizzard

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

Top

The Phantom of the Opera1925 Horroras Erik, The Phantom
IMDb rating 7.522K votes
The Unknown1927 Drama, Horror, Romanceas Alonzo
IMDb rating 7.710K votes
The Hunchback of Notre Dame1923as Quasimodo
IMDb rating 7.26.9K votes
He Who Gets Slapped1924as Paul Beaumont
IMDb rating 7.75.0K votes
The Penalty1920as Blizzard
IMDb rating 7.32.9K votes
The Unholy Three1925as Echo - The Ventriloquist
IMDb rating 7.12.5K votes
Laugh, Clown, Laugh1928as Tito
IMDb rating 7.52.3K votes
West of Zanzibar1928as Phroso 'Dead-Legs'
IMDb rating 7.22.1K votes

Most often with

Tod Browning directed five of these films, Wallace Worsley three. Three actors appear in three of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

Top

Bela Lugosi

Louise Emmons

Norman Kerry

Boris Karloff

Peter Lorre

John George

Tod BrowningDirector, 5 films Wallace WorsleyDirector, 3 films

Films together

Bela Lugosi3 films together, 1924 to 2014
Bela Lugosi's page
- Monster Madness: The Golden Age of the Horror Film2014IMDb rating 6.7Chaney as The Phantom / QuasimodoLugosi as Dracula / Dr. Werdegast / Count Mora
- The Horror Hall of Fame: A Monster Salute1974IMDb rating 7.0Chaney as HimselfLugosi as Himself
- He Who Gets Slapped1924IMDb rating 7.7Chaney as Paul BeaumontLugosi as Extra
Louise Emmons3 films together, 1926 to 1928
Louise Emmons's page
- West of Zanzibar1928IMDb rating 7.2Chaney as Phroso 'Dead-Legs'Emmons as Old Woman on Street
- The Unknown1927IMDb rating 7.7Chaney as AlonzoEmmons as Gypsy Woman
- The Blackbird1926IMDb rating 6.7Chaney as Dan - The Blackbird / The BishopEmmons as Old Lady at Mission
Norman Kerry3 films together, 1923 to 1927
Norman Kerry's page
- The Unknown1927IMDb rating 7.7Chaney as AlonzoKerry as Malabar
- The Phantom of the Opera1925IMDb rating 7.5Chaney as Erik, The PhantomKerry as Vicomte Raoul de Chagny
- The Hunchback of Notre Dame1923IMDb rating 7.2Chaney as QuasimodoKerry as Phoebus de Chateaupers
Boris Karloff2 films together, 1974 to 2014
Boris Karloff's page
- Monster Madness: The Golden Age of the Horror Film2014IMDb rating 6.7Chaney as The Phantom / QuasimodoKarloff as Various roles
- The Horror Hall of Fame: A Monster Salute1974IMDb rating 7.0Chaney as HimselfKarloff as Himself
Peter Lorre2 films together, 1974 to 2014
Peter Lorre's page
- Monster Madness: The Golden Age of the Horror Film2014IMDb rating 6.7Chaney as The Phantom / QuasimodoLorre as Doctor Gogol
- The Horror Hall of Fame: A Monster Salute1974IMDb rating 7.0Chaney as HimselfLorre as Himself
John George2 films together, 1921 to 1927
John George's page
- The Unknown1927IMDb rating 7.7Chaney as AlonzoGeorge as Cojo
- Outside the Law1921IMDb rating 6.6Chaney as Ah Wing / 'Black Mike' SylvaGeorge as Humpy
Tod BrowningDirector, 5 films, 1921 to 1928
All films by Tod Browning
- West of Zanzibar1928IMDb rating 7.2Chaney as Phroso 'Dead-Legs'
- The Unknown1927IMDb rating 7.7Chaney as Alonzo
- The Blackbird1926IMDb rating 6.7Chaney as Dan - The Blackbird / The Bishop
- The Unholy Three1925IMDb rating 7.1Chaney as Echo - The Ventriloquist
- Outside the Law1921IMDb rating 6.6Chaney as Ah Wing / 'Black Mike' Sylva
Wallace WorsleyDirector, 3 films, 1920 to 1923
All films by Wallace Worsley
- The Hunchback of Notre Dame1923IMDb rating 7.2Chaney as Quasimodo
- The Ace of Hearts1921IMDb rating 6.8Chaney as Farallone
- The Penalty1920IMDb rating 7.3Chaney as Blizzard
Also two films together15 more actors
- Raymond HattonThe Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923) and The Ace of Hearts (1921)
- Willie FungTell It to the Marines (1926) and The Blackbird (1926)
- Tully MarshallHe Who Gets Slapped (1924) and The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923)
- Brandon HurstHe Who Gets Slapped (1924) and The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923)
- Anna May WongMr. Wu (1927) and Outside the Law (1921)
- Tetsu KomaiMr. Wu (1927) and Tell It to the Marines (1926)
- E. Alyn WarrenThe Unholy Three (1925) and Outside the Law (1921)
- John St. PolisThe Unknown (1927) and The Phantom of the Opera (1925)
- Polly MoranThe Unknown (1927) and The Blackbird (1926)
- Renée AdoréeMr. Wu (1927) and The Blackbird (1926)
- Mickey McBanLaugh, Clown, Laugh (1928) and The Unholy Three (1925)
- Emmett KingLaugh, Clown, Laugh (1928) and West of Zanzibar (1928)
- Gertrude OlmsteadMr. Wu (1927) and The Monster (1925)
- Fred GambleWest of Zanzibar (1928) and The Blackbird (1926)
- Nick De RuizThe Unknown (1927) and The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.