American actor best remembered for roles in early cinema, most notably
The Phantom of the Opera, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Unknown, Laugh Clown Laugh, The Unholy Three, He Who Gets Slapped, The Blackbird, The Penalty, The Monster and Mr Wu. In a 1924 photoplay it described Lon as
"five feet nine inches tall, weighs 155 pounds".
M2 said on 15/Sep/15
Chaney was not a tall man. If you look very closely at scenes in which he is full figure in "The Phantom of the Opera," you'll see his shoes have at least two-inch heels on them. I think his shortness (5'7" seems right) is why he said his son would never be an actor because he was too tall at 6'2", and why Chaney Junior actually tended to minimize his height in later years...I think the old comment from Dad still hurt!
Arch Stanton said on 28/Aug/15
Much enjoyed He Who Gets Slapped from 1924. I thought 5 ft 7 tops.
Sam said on 20/Nov/14
There was an undercurrent of that ostracism in almost all of Chaney's performances.
Arch Stanton said on 19/Nov/14
I'll never look at a horse the same way again thanks to him in The Unknown! Phantom of the Opera is one of my favourite films from that period too, it created a great atmosphere and feeling of being deep deep underground and feeling his ostracisation from society. Wonderful actor.
Editor Rob
this is the link to the
Jr page, the proper one.
Sam said on 18/Nov/14
Rob, could you add the following?: The Unknown, He Who Gets Slapped, The Blackbird and The Penalty.
Sam said on 18/Nov/14
Yes, finally! Agreed on this listing. Great actor, it's not just the uncomfortable make-up, this was one of the most intense, dark actors of the silent era. Would have been interesting to see him with his son, who was 24 when his day died, Jr. being 7 inches higher.
Arch Stanton said on 18/Nov/14
Rob can you squeeze in The Unknown, a masterpiece. Yeah 5'7" range seems about right. The 2 inch silent rule applies again!!