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Charles Middleton

Charles Middleton

Acting

Born: October 2, 1874Elizabethtown, Kentucky, USA

Charles Brown Middleton (October 3, 1874 – April 22, 1949) was an American stage and film actor. During a film career that began at age 46 and lasted almost 30 years, he appeared in nearly 200 films as well as numerous plays. Sometimes credited as Charles B. Middleton, he is perhaps best remembered for his role as the villainous emperor Ming the Merciless in the three Flash Gordon serials made between 1936 and 1940.

Known For
Filmography
The Boy from Mercury

The Boy from Mercury

Ming the Merciless (Archive Footage)

1996
Going Hollywood: The '30s

Going Hollywood: The '30s

(archive footage)

1984
Dance of the Cookoos

Dance of the Cookoos

Commandant

1982
A Look at the World of 'Soylent Green'

A Look at the World of 'Soylent Green'

Self (archive footage)

1973
Peril from the Planet Mongo

Peril from the Planet Mongo

Ming the Merciless

1966
Flash Gordon: The Deadly Ray From Mars

Flash Gordon: The Deadly Ray From Mars

Ming the Merciless

1966
Spaceship to the Unknown

Spaceship to the Unknown

Ming the Merciless (archive footage)

1966
Purple Death from Outer Space

Purple Death from Outer Space

Ming the Merciless

1966
The Last Bandit

The Last Bandit

Blindfolded Circuit Rider

1949
The Decision of Christopher Blake

The Decision of Christopher Blake

President in Dream (uncredited)

1948
Jiggs and Maggie in Court

Jiggs and Maggie in Court

Mr. Burton, an Attorney

1948
Station West

Station West

Sheriff

1948
Feudin', Fussin' and A-Fightin'

Feudin', Fussin' and A-Fightin'

Townsman (uncredited)

1948
Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House

Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House

Wrecker (uncredited)

1948
Here Comes Trouble

Here Comes Trouble

Reporter (uncredited)

1948
My Girl Tisa

My Girl Tisa

1948
The Pretender

The Pretender

William the butler

1947
Gunfighters

Gunfighters

Sheriff #1 (uncredited)

1947
Welcome Stranger

Welcome Stranger

Farmer Pinkett (uncredited)

1947
The Sea of Grass

The Sea of Grass

Charley - Saloon Owner (uncredited)

1947
The Killers

The Killers

Farmer (uncredited)

1946
Spook Busters

Spook Busters

Mr. Stiles

1946
Strangler of the Swamp

Strangler of the Swamp

Ferryman Douglas

1946
How DOooo You Do

How DOooo You Do

Sheriff Hayworth

1945
Northwest Trail

Northwest Trail

Pierre

1945
Our Vines Have Tender Grapes

Our Vines Have Tender Grapes

Mr. Jensen

1945
Hollywood and Vine

Hollywood and Vine

Attorney

1945
The Town Went Wild

The Town Went Wild

Sam, Midvale District Attorney

1944
The Desert Hawk

The Desert Hawk

Koda Bey

1944
Black Arrow

Black Arrow

Tom Whitney

1944
Wagon Wheels West

Wagon Wheels West

Phineas Hook

1943
Crazy House

Crazy House

Sheriff

1943
Oklahoma Outlaws

Oklahoma Outlaws

Judge Ringle

1943
Batman

Batman

Ken Colton

1943
Boobs in the Night

Boobs in the Night

1943
The Black Raven

The Black Raven

Sheriff

1943
Spook Louder

Spook Louder

Graves' Valet

1943
Perils of Nyoka

Perils of Nyoka

Cassib

1942
Men of San Quentin

Men of San Quentin

Saunderson

1942
The Mystery of Marie Roget

The Mystery of Marie Roget

Curator

1942
Wild Bill Hickok Rides

Wild Bill Hickok Rides

Claim Jumping Leader

1942
Sergeant York

Sergeant York

Mountaineer (uncredited)

1941
Jungle Man

Jungle Man

Rev. James 'Jim' Graham

1941
Stick to Your Guns

Stick to Your Guns

Long Ben, gambler-saloon owner

1941
Belle Starr

Belle Starr

Carpetbagger

1941
Wild Geese Calling

Wild Geese Calling

Doctor Jed Sloan

1941
The Shepherd of the Hills

The Shepherd of the Hills

Blacksmith (uncredited)

1941
Western Union

Western Union

Stagecoach Rider

1941
Santa Fe Trail

Santa Fe Trail

Gentry

1940
Eyes of the Navy

Eyes of the Navy

Farmer (uncredited)

1940
Brigham Young

Brigham Young

Mob Member

1940
Rangers of Fortune

Rangers of Fortune

Water Thug

1940
Gold Rush Maisie

Gold Rush Maisie

Camp Owner with a Pig (Uncredited)

1940
Women in Hiding

Women in Hiding

Alice's Father (uncredited)

1940
Island of Doomed Men

Island of Doomed Men

Captain Cort

1940
Charlie Chan's Murder Cruise

Charlie Chan's Murder Cruise

Jeremiah Walters

1940
Shooting High

Shooting High

Hod Carson

1940
Virginia City

Virginia City

Jefferson Davis

1940
The Grapes of Wrath

The Grapes of Wrath

Leader

1940
Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe

Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe

Emperor Ming

1940
Abe Lincoln in Illinois

Abe Lincoln in Illinois

Tom Lincoln

1940

Thou Shalt Not Kill

Lars Olsen

1939
Gone with the Wind

Gone with the Wind

Man with Stove Pipe Hat in Charge of Convict Workers (uncredited)

1939
Cowboys from Texas

Cowboys from Texas

Kansas Jones

1939
Allegheny Uprising

Allegheny Uprising

Dr. Stoke

1939
The Flying Deuces

The Flying Deuces

Commandant

1939
$1,000 a Touchdown

$1,000 a Touchdown

Stage Manager (uncredited)

1939
Blackmail

Blackmail

Southern Deputy (uncredited)

1939
One Against the World

One Against the World

Mr. Crumley (uncredited)

1939
Way Down South

Way Down South

Cass

1939
Wyoming Outlaw

Wyoming Outlaw

Luke Parker

1939
Daredevils of the Red Circle

Daredevils of the Red Circle

39013

1939
Captain Fury

Captain Fury

Mergon

1939
The Oklahoma Kid

The Oklahoma Kid

Alec Martin

1939
Jesse James

Jesse James

Doctor

1939
Kentucky

Kentucky

Southerner

1938
The Strange Case of Dr. Meade

The Strange Case of Dr. Meade

Lacey

1938
Mars Attacks the World

Mars Attacks the World

Ming the Merciless

1938
Dick Tracy Returns

Dick Tracy Returns

Pa Stark

1938
Flaming Frontiers

Flaming Frontiers

Ace Daggett

1938
Joaquin Murrieta

Joaquin Murrieta

Politician (uncredited)

1938
Jezebel

Jezebel

Officer (uncredited)

1938
Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars

Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars

Emperor Ming

1938
Rocket Ship

Rocket Ship

Emperor Ming

1938
The Man Without a Country

The Man Without a Country

President Abraham Lincoln (uncredited)

1937
Stand-In

Stand-In

Actor Dressed as Abraham Lincoln

1937
The Last Train from Madrid

The Last Train from Madrid

Warden (uncredited)

1937
Slave Ship

Slave Ship

Slave Dealer

1937
Yodelin' Kid from Pine Ridge

Yodelin' Kid from Pine Ridge

Gene Autry Sr.

1937
The Good Earth

The Good Earth

Banker (uncredited)

1937
Hollywood Cowboy

Hollywood Cowboy

'Doc' Kramer

1937
Two Gun Law

Two Gun Law

Wolf Larson

1937
We're on the Jury

We're on the Jury

Mr. Martin

1937
Empty Saddles

Empty Saddles

Cim White

1936
Career Woman

Career Woman

Matt Clay

1936
Wedding Present

Wedding Present

Turnbull

1936
Ramona

Ramona

American Settler (uncredited)

1936
The Texas Rangers

The Texas Rangers

Lawyer (uncredited)

1936
Jailbreak

Jailbreak

Dan Stone

1936
A Son Comes Home

A Son Comes Home

Prosecutor

1936
Show Boat

Show Boat

Sheriff Ike Vallon

1936
Flash Gordon

Flash Gordon

Ming the Merciless

1936
Road Gang

Road Gang

Grayson

1936
The Trail of the Lonesome Pine

The Trail of the Lonesome Pine

Blacksmith

1936
Song of the Saddle

Song of the Saddle

Phineas P. Hook

1936
Sunset of Power

Sunset of Power

Neil Brannum

1936
Rose of the Rancho

Rose of the Rancho

Horse Doctor (uncredited)

1936
Frisco Kid

Frisco Kid

Speaker (uncredited)

1935
Special Agent

Special Agent

State Police Commander (uncredited)

1935
Steamboat Round the Bend

Steamboat Round the Bend

Fleety Belle's Father

1935
Hop-a-long Cassidy

Hop-a-long Cassidy

Buck Peters

1935
Reckless

Reckless

District Attorney (uncredited)

1935
The Miracle Rider

The Miracle Rider

Zaroff

1935
In Spite of Danger

In Spite of Danger

Mr. Merritt

1935
The Fixer Uppers

The Fixer Uppers

Pierre Gustave

1935
Square Shooter

Square Shooter

Miller

1935
Red Morning

Red Morning

Stanchon

1934
Behold My Wife!

Behold My Wife!

Juan Storm Cloud

1934
Broadway Bill

Broadway Bill

Veterinarian (uncredited)

1934
Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch

Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch

Mr. Bagby

1934
When Strangers Meet

When Strangers Meet

John Tarman

1934
Whom the Gods Destroy

Whom the Gods Destroy

Constable Malcolm (uncredited)

1934
Murder at the Vanities

Murder at the Vanities

Homer Boothby

1934
The Last Round-up

The Last Round-up

Sheriff

1934
David Harum

David Harum

Deacon

1934
Massacre

Massacre

Sheriff Scatters

1934
Mr. Skitch

Mr. Skitch

Joe

1933
Lone Cowboy

Lone Cowboy

U.S. Marshal

1933
The World Changes

The World Changes

Sheriff Wild Bill Hickok (uncredited)

1933
Duck Soup

Duck Soup

Prosecutor

1933
White Woman

White Woman

Fenton

1933
Big Executive

Big Executive

Sheriff

1933
The Bowery

The Bowery

Detective (uncredited)

1933
Doctor Bull

Doctor Bull

Mr. Upjohn

1933
This Day and Age

This Day and Age

District Attorney

1933
Disgraced!

Disgraced!

District Attorney

1933
Tomorrow at Seven

Tomorrow at Seven

Jerry Simons

1933
At Twelve Midnight

At Twelve Midnight

Roger Thurston

1933
Sunset Pass

Sunset Pass

Williams

1933
The Three Musketeers

The Three Musketeers

El Shaitan (voice)

1933
Destination Unknown

Destination Unknown

Turk

1933
Pick-up

Pick-up

Mr. Brewster

1933
The Road Is Open Again

The Road Is Open Again

Abraham Lincoln

1933
The Sign of the Cross

The Sign of the Cross

Tyros

1932
Silver Dollar

Silver Dollar

Jenkins

1932
Too Busy to Work

Too Busy to Work

Chief of Police

1932
Rockabye

Rockabye

District Attorney (uncredited)

1932
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang

I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang

Train Conductor (uncredited)

1932

Breach of Promise

Joe Pugmire

1932
The Phantom President

The Phantom President

Abe Lincoln (uncredited)

1932
Hell's Highway

Hell's Highway

Matthew the Hermit

1932
Pack Up Your Troubles

Pack Up Your Troubles

Welfare Association Officer

1932
Mystery Ranch

Mystery Ranch

Henry Steele

1932
The Strange Love of Molly Louvain

The Strange Love of Molly Louvain

Police Capt. Slade

1932
The Hatchet Man

The Hatchet Man

Lip Hop Fat

1932
High Pressure

High Pressure

Mr. Banks

1932
Manhattan Parade

Manhattan Parade

Sheriff Casey

1931
X Marks the Spot

X Marks the Spot

Kirby

1931
Safe in Hell

Safe in Hell

Lawyer Jones

1931
A House Divided

A House Divided

Minister

1931
Beau Hunks

Beau Hunks

Commandant

1931
Sob Sister

Sob Sister

City Editor Baker

1931
A Dangerous Affair

A Dangerous Affair

Tupper

1931
Palmy Days

Palmy Days

Yolando

1931
The Ruling Voice

The Ruling Voice

Board Member (uncredited)

1931
An American Tragedy

An American Tragedy

Attorney Reuben Jephson

1931
Caught Plastered

Caught Plastered

Sheriff Flint

1931
The Miracle Woman

The Miracle Woman

Simpson

1931
Ships of Hate

Ships of Hate

Captain Lash

1931
The Devil's Cabaret

The Devil's Cabaret

Mr. Satan (uncredited)

1930
East Is West

East Is West

Dr. Fredericks

1930
Way Out West

Way Out West

Buck Rankin

1930
Beau Bandit

Beau Bandit

Lucius J. Perkins

1930
Welcome Danger

Welcome Danger

John Thorne / The Dragon

1929
The Far Call

The Far Call

Kris Larsen

1929

The Bellamy Trial

District Attorney

1929
The Farmer's Daughter

The Farmer's Daughter

Hiram Flint

1928