Tod Browning

Charles Albert Browning, Jr. (July 12, 1880 - October 5, 1962), better known as Tod Browning, was an American film actor and director whose career spanned the silent and talkie eras. Best known as the director of Dracula (1931) with Bela Lugosi and the cult classic Freaks (1932), he directed many movies in a wide range of genres.

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Tod Browning was born in Louisville, Kentucky, the second son of Charles and Lydia Browning. As a young boy, he put on amateur plays in his backyard. He was fascinated by the circus and carnival life, and at the age of 16 he ran away from his well-to-do family to become a performer.

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Changing his name to "Tod", he travelled extensively with sideshows, carnivals, and circuses. His jobs included working as a barker for the Wild Man of Borneo, performing a live burial act in which he was billed as "The Living Corpse", and performing as a clown with the Ringling Brothers Circus. He would draw on this experience as inspiration for some of his film work.

July 12: July 12 is the 193rd day (194th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 172 days remaining....

1880: 1880 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar)....

October 5: October 5 is the 278th day of the year (279th in Leap years). There are 87 days remaining....

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