Lon Chaney, Sr.

Lon Chaney, Sr. (born April 1, 1883 in Colorado Springs, Colorado; died August 26, 1930 in Hollywood, California) was an American actor.

Related Topics:
April 1 - 1883 - Colorado Springs, Colorado - August 26 - 1930 - Hollywood, California - American - Actor

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Born to deaf parents Frank Chaney (who was of English and French descent) and Emma Kennedy (an Irish-American), Leonidas Frank Chaney, skilled in pantomime, made his silent movie debut in 1912 and is chiefly remembered as a forerunner in such horror films as The Hunchback of Notre Dame and The Phantom of the Opera. His ability to transform himself without sophisticated make-up techniques earned him the nickname of "Man of a Thousand Faces".

Related Topics:
Deaf - English - French - Irish-American - Pantomime - Silent movie - 1912 - Horror films - The Hunchback of Notre Dame - The Phantom of the Opera

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In the 1957 biography Man of a Thousand Faces, James Cagney portrayed Chaney.

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1957 - Man of a Thousand Faces - James Cagney

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His son, Lon Chaney, Jr., was also known for his acting in horror movies. This earned both of them a mention in Warren Zevon's popular song, Werewolves of London.

Related Topics:
Lon Chaney, Jr. - Warren Zevon - Werewolves of London

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He died of lung cancer, and he was interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery, in Glendale, California.

Related Topics:
Lung cancer - Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery - Glendale, California

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Lon Chaney has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and in 1994, he was honored with his image on a United States postage stamp designed by caricaturist Al Hirschfeld.

Related Topics:
Hollywood Walk of Fame - United States postage stamp - Al Hirschfeld

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