Lon Chaney

Lon Chaney

  • Born: 1883-4-1
  • Birthplace: colorado springs
  • Height: 5' 10" (1.78 m)
  • Profession: actor
  • Nationality: America
  • Representative Works: The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Phantom of the Opera
  • Lon Chaney (Lon Chaney, April 1, 1883 - August 26, 1930) was an American silent film era actor.
    He is considered one of the most capable and authoritative actors in early movie history. His many grotesque or tortured roles, as well as his creative makeup artistry, are impressive. Chaney is best known for the silent horror films The Hunchback of Notre Dame and The Phantom of the Opera. Because he is good at using self-made props to change his image, people call him "The Man of a Thousand Faces".

    Personal Life

    In 1905, Lon Chaney met 16-year-old singer Cleva Creighton (full name Frances Cleveland Creighton) . In 1906, their first and only son, Creighton Chaney , aka Lon Chaney , Jr., was born. The Chaney family continued to travel, settling in California in 1910 . In April 1913, the Chaneys were having trouble with their marriage, and Kriva went to the Majestic Theater in downtown Los Angeles (where Lon Chaney was preparing to perform Kolb and Dill ) and tried to commit suicide by swallowing Mercury dichloride . The unsuccessful suicide ruined her singing career. The scandals and divorce that followed forced Lon Chaney to leave the theater and go into the movie business.
    Chaney married Hazel Hastings, a former colleague from the Kolb and Dill tour, a girl from the chorus . Not much is known about Hazel, except that her marriage to Chaney is strong. After their marriage, they took custody of Chaney's 10-year-old son, Clayton. Clayton has lived in several places and boarding schools since his parents divorced in 1913. Chaney and his second wife, Hazel, lived a modest life away from Hollywood social circles. Chaney has done little publicity for his Movies and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. (MGM Studios) , seemingly deliberately creating an air of mystery. There are reports that he deliberately avoided Hollywood socials.
    Extended Reading

    The Unknown quotes

    • Nanon Zanzi: You are right, Alonzo... brute strength does not mean everything to all women. Alonzo, all my life men have tried to put their beastly hands on me... to paw over me. I have grown so that I shrink with fear when any man even touches me.

    • Malabar the Mighty, Circus Strongman: There is a time for fear, Nanon... and a time for hate... and a time for love.