Lon Chaney created a myriad of characters but probably not a thousand because he didn't live long enough. His career was cut short by his early death due to cancer, but while he lived, he created some of the most unforgettable characters in cinema history. Since Chaney worked in the early silent movies when budgets were small and paychecks even smaller, he learned that using his own make-up kit was his ticket to getting numerous extra jobs because he could be anyone the director was looking for at any given moment.
Because Lon Chaney was born to parents who were both deaf and mute, he learned at a very young age how to communicate without words. His childhood was perfect training for a silent movie actor. As Chaney created more and more extra characters, he began to get a lot of attention from directors. Eventually, he started getting larger roles in the movies.
At Universal Studios Chaney made over one hundred movies. Unfortunately, there are few if any remnants of these movies. Using his trusty make-up kit, he created character after character until he became one of the most important character actors in Hollywood. Not blessed with movie idol looks, he knew that his role would always be that of a character actor. Add the make-up genius and you have the greatest character of his time.
Today Lon Chaney is known mostly for his horror roles because they are his most stunning roles. He is best remembered as he hideous Phantom of the Opera or the Hunchback of Notre Dame. Not only was his make-up frightening but the way he contorted his body made both characters object of fear and pity.
Later in his life, he began to create characters with little or no make-up. He became the sergeant with the heart of gold in "Tell it to the Marines." He was a tough guy and looked every bit the part of a tough marine. He planned pretty much the same role in "Sands of Iwo Jima" and "To the Shores of Tripoli."
Whether he was playing the cripple in "The Miracle Man" or a Chinese man in "Mr. Wu," he was always letter perfect. People believed him no matter who he was portraying. They were not seeing Lon Chaney play acting; they were watching real characters in real stories.
Before he died, he did make one talkie. He re-made "The Unholy Three." He had to sign an affidavit swearing that all the voices used for all the parts he played were actually his. His incredible acting and his ability to do voices coupled with his perfection of the art of make-up would have ensured a long career in the talkies if he had not died just a few weeks after the premier. His changeover to the talkies was effortless and many directors were interested in him for a variety of roles. If he had lived, he would have been Dracula and movie history would have been changed forever. He may not have actually created a thousand faces, but his place in cinema history is forever cemented by the roles he created in the early days of the movies.
Frances Coleman
Hollywood Makeup Magic
Makeup Artists - Lord of the Rings
