File:Lon_Chaney,_Sr._The_Miracle_Man.jpg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons
Lon Chaney
Sign in to saveAlso known as Leonidas Frank Chaney, Lon Chaney, Sr., The Man of a Thousand Faces, Leonidas Chaney
American actor (1883–1930)
OverviewAI-generated
Lon Chaney, also known as Alonzo Chaney, was an American actor, film director, stage actor, and screenwriter. Born in Colorado Springs, he began his work period in 1902 and continued until 1930. He spoke and wrote in English. His child was Lon Chaney Jr., and he was related to Ancel Keys.
Chaney died of laryngeal cancer in Los Angeles in 1930. His manner of death was natural causes. He is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and is recognized in the Hollywood Walk Of Fame collection.
Synthesized by Vinony from 27 facts across 3 sources: Wikidata, TMDb, Vinony collections. Generated from structured data (not the Wikipedia text) and checked against those facts — may still contain errors.
Film & TV
Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA
Leonidas Frank "Lon" Chaney (April 1, 1883 – August 26, 1930) was an American actor and makeup artist. He is regarded as one of the most versatile and powerful actors of cinema, renowned for his characterizations of tortured, often grotesque and afflicted, characters and for his groundbreaking artistry with makeup. Chaney was known for his starring roles in such silent horror films as The…
Known for
- They Came from the Attic — The Phantom of the Opera (Archival Footage)2022
- Monster Madness: The Golden Age of the Horror Film — The Phantom / Quasimodo (archive footage)2014
- A Messenger from the Shadows (Notes on Film 06 A/Monologue 01)2013
- Fragments: Surviving Pieces of Lost Films — Himself (archive footage)2011
- Nadie inquietó más — Various Roles (archive footage)2008
- Famous Monster: Forrest J Ackerman — Self (archive footage)2007
- Bela Lugosi: The Fallen Vampire — Himself (archive footage)2007
- London After Midnight — Professor Edward C. Burke (archive footage)2002
- The Many Faces of Dracula — Self (archive footage)2000
- Lon Chaney: A Thousand Faces — Self (archive footage)2000
via TMDB
Key facts
- Born
- Leonidas Frank Chaney , ( 1883-04-01 ) April 1, 1883, Colorado Springs, Colorado , U.S.
- Died
- August 26, 1930 (1930-08-26) (aged 47), Los Angeles, California
- Resting place
- Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale)
- Other name
- The Man of a Thousand Faces
- Occupations
- Actor director screenwriter makeup artist
- Years active
- 1902–1930
- Spouses
- Frances Cleveland ("Cleva") Creighton ( married</span>"}]]}'>m. 1905 ; divorced</span>"}]]}'>div. 1913 ) Hazel Bennett Hastings ( married</span>"}]]}'>m. 1915 )
- Children
- Lon Chaney Jr. (born Creighton Tull Chaney)
- Website
- lonchaney .com
via Wikipedia infobox
Wikidata facts
- Instance of
- human
- Gender
- male
- Citizenship
- United States
- Place of birth
- Colorado Springs
- Place of death
- Los Angeles
- Child
- Lon Chaney Jr.
- Occupation
- writer
- Languages spoken
- English language
- Native language
- English language
- Genre
- film noir
- Official website
- lonchaney.com
- Image
- Lon Chaney, Sr. The Miracle Man.jpg
- Height
- 170
Show 14 more facts
- place of burial
- Forest Lawn Memorial Park
- Commons category
- Lon Chaney
- cause of death
- laryngeal cancer
- date of birth
- 1883-04-01
- date of death
- 1930-04-26
- manner of death
- natural causes
- Commons gallery
- Lon Chaney, Sr.
- start of work period
- 1902-00-00
- name in native language
- Lon Chaney, Sr.
- relative
- Ancel Keys
- related category
- Category:Films directed by Lon Chaney
- end of work period
- 1930-00-00
- pseudonym
- Alonzo Chaney
- writing language
- English language
Sources (8)
via Wikidata · CC0
~18 min read
Encyclopedic overview
Chaney with his personal makeup kit in 1925 Chaney as Erik, the Phantom of the Opera Leonidas Frank "Lon" Chaney (April 1, 1883 – August 26, 1930) was an American actor and makeup artist. He is regarded as one of the most versatile and powerful actors of cinema, renowned for his characterizations of tortured, often grotesque and afflicted, characters and for his groundbreaking artistry with makeup. Chaney was 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".
As of 2026, all of Chaney's movies are in the public domain and free to watch.
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Lon Chaney” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.