Lon Chaney

Birthday: 1 April 1883, Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA

Birth Name: Leonidas Frank Chaney

Height: 170 cm

Although his parents were deaf-mutes, Leonidas Chaney became an actor and also owner of a theatre company (together with his brother John). He made his debut at the movies in 1912, and his filmography ...Show More

There's nothing funny about a clown in the moonlight. There's nothing funny about a clown in the moonlight.

When a makeup is as painful as that which I wore as Blizzard in The Penalty (1920), when I had my le Show more When a makeup is as painful as that which I wore as Blizzard in The Penalty (1920), when I had my legs strapped up and couldn't bear it that way more than 20 minutes at a time - when I have to be a cripple, as in The Miracle Man (1919) or have to keep a certain attitude of body, as I did in Shadows (1922), it sometimes takes a good deal of imagination to forget your physical sufferings. Yet, at that, the subconscious mind has a marvelous way of making you keep the right attitudes and make the right gestures when you are actually acting. Hide

You know, one of the most effective of all disguises is the hair and the way in which it is combed. Show more You know, one of the most effective of all disguises is the hair and the way in which it is combed. I always make my own hair serve when I can and to make silvery hair I use neck-white, if you know what that is. Some people use aluminum, but that shows too much on the screen. Hide

My whole career has been devoted to keeping people from knowing me. My whole career has been devoted to keeping people from knowing me.

The parts I play point out a moral. They show individuals who might have been different, if they had Show more The parts I play point out a moral. They show individuals who might have been different, if they had been given a different chance. Hide

[advice to Boris Karloff] Find something no one else can or will do. The secret of success in movies Show more [advice to Boris Karloff] Find something no one else can or will do. The secret of success in movies lies in being different from anyone else. Hide

Of course make-up goes much deeper that mere wrinkles, whiskers or grease paint. No, I don't mean th Show more Of course make-up goes much deeper that mere wrinkles, whiskers or grease paint. No, I don't mean thought this time, although that is the principal part. I mean you must study all the previous history of the character and realize its effect on his physical being. For instance, in playing a music master who constantly led an orchestra with his bow or baton I made him appear all through the picture as having one shoulder just a little higher than the other. Men in different walks of life have little differences in the manner in which they carry themselves. Some of these are psychological effects and others come from the nature of their occupations. Hide

I wanted to remind people that the lowest types of humanity may have within them the capacity for su Show more I wanted to remind people that the lowest types of humanity may have within them the capacity for supreme self-sacrifice. The dwarfed, misshapen beggar of the streets may have the noblest ideals. Most of my roles since The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923), such as The Phantom of the Opera (1925), He Who Gets Slapped (1924), The Unholy Three (1925), etc., have carried the theme of self-sacrifice or renunciation. These are the stories which I wish to do. Hide

As for my hair, 'I'm glad it's all there,' as the poet says; yet in character parts life is just one Show more As for my hair, 'I'm glad it's all there,' as the poet says; yet in character parts life is just one wig after another. I have had all mine made especially and I keep them labeled and carefully stored, having them examined once a month to fight the moths. I have a collection of more than one hundred of these wigs and you'd be surprised to know the investment they represent. Hide

I hope I shall never be accused of striving merely for horrible effects. I hope I shall never be accused of striving merely for horrible effects.

One of the hardest make-ups I ever carried over was that of King Canute. He was hairy of face and br Show more One of the hardest make-ups I ever carried over was that of King Canute. He was hairy of face and breast and besides I had to use putty to build out my nose and cheeks. One day I tried wax instead and when the sun got hot my nose began to run, literally. Hide

Between pictures, there is no Lon Chaney. Between pictures, there is no Lon Chaney.

One of the most difficult characters I ever played from the make-up standpoint was that of a blind b Show more One of the most difficult characters I ever played from the make-up standpoint was that of a blind boy. All through that picture in order to look blind I had to roll my eyes clear up in what seemed to me to be the very top of my head. Did you ever try to do that? Try it, and then at the same time try to act naturally. You'll get my idea then. Hide

Lon Chaney's FILMOGRAPHY

All as Actor (8) as Director (1)

He Who Gets Slapped

House of Many Sorrows

Malatesta's Carnival of Blood

The Penalty

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

The Unknown

Chicken with Plums [Sub: Eng]

The Phantom of the Opera (1925)

Lon Chaney'S roles

The Phantom of the Opera