Chaney, Lon (1883-1930), was an American stage and motion-picture actor who gained fame in silent films for his portrayals of grotesque, deformed, or tormented characters. Chaney was called “the man of a thousand faces” because of his ability to transform himself into an amazing variety of characters. He was also notable as a pioneer in early screen makeup special effects. Chaney is best remembered for his portrayals of the deformed bell ringer Quasimodo in The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923) and the mysterious and hideously disfigured composer Erik in The Phantom of the Opera (1925). Both films became silent horror classics.
Leonidas Frank Chaney was born on April 1, 1883, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Chaney’s parents could not hear or speak. To communicate with them, Chaney became skilled at pantomime. He began acting on stage in 1902 and in minor roles in films in 1912. His breakthrough came with The Miracle Man (1919), in which he portrayed a swindler known as “The Frog.” He starred in 10 movies directed by Tod Browning, an American director known for horror films. Chaney’s films with Browning included The Unholy Three (1925), The Unknown and London After Midnight (both 1927), and West of Zanzibar (1928).
Chaney acted in more than 150 motion pictures. His other notable films include The Penalty (1920), He Who Gets Slapped (1924), Tell It to the Marines (1926), and Laugh, Clown, Laugh (1928). Chaney made one sound picture, a 1930 remake of The Unholy Three. He died on Aug. 26, 1930. His son, Lon Chaney, Jr., was also a motion-picture actor.
See also Chaney, Lon, Jr. ; Phantom of the Opera, The ; Universal Pictures .
