Creighton Tull Chaney (February10, 1906 – July12, 1973), known by his

stage name A stage name or professional name is a pseudonym used by performers, authors, and entertainers—such as actors, comedians, singers, and musicians. The equivalent concept among writers is called a ''nom de plume'' (pen name). Some performers ...

Lon Chaney Jr., was an American actor known for playing

Larry Talbot Lawrence Stewart Talbot, also known as the Wolf Man, is the title character of the 1941 Universal film '' The Wolf Man'' and its sequels, created by Curt Siodmak. He was portrayed by Lon Chaney Jr. In the 2010 remake of the film, he is portr ...

in the film '' The Wolf Man'' (1941) and its various crossovers, Count Alucard (Dracula spelled backward) in '' Son of Dracula'',

Frankenstein's monster Frankenstein's monster, commonly referred to as Frankenstein, is a fictional character that first appeared in Mary Shelley's 1818 novel '' Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus'' as its main antagonist. Shelley's title compares the monster's ...

in '' The Ghost of Frankenstein'' (1942), the Mummy in three pictures, and various other roles in many Universal horror films, including six films in their 1940s ''Inner Sanctum'' series, making him a horror icon. He also portrayed Lennie Small in ''

Of Mice and Men ''Of Mice and Men'' is a 1937 novella written by American author John Steinbeck. It describes the experiences of George Milton and Lennie Small, two displaced migrant worker, migrant ranch workers, as they move from place to place in California ...

'' (1939) and played supporting parts in dozens of mainstream movies, including ''

High Noon ''High Noon'' is a 1952 American Western (genre), Western film produced by Stanley Kramer from a screenplay by Carl Foreman, directed by Fred Zinnemann, and starring Gary Cooper. The plot, which occurs in Real time (media), real time, centers ...

'' (1952), '' The Defiant Ones'' (1958), and numerous Westerns, musicals, comedies and dramas. Originally referred to in films as Creighton Chaney, he was later credited as "Lon Chaney, Jr." in 1935, and after '' Man Made Monster'' (1941), beginning as early as ''The Wolf Man'' later that same year, he was almost always billed under the name of his more famous father, the deceased cinema giant Lon Chaney, at the studio's insistence. Chaney had English, French, and Irish ancestry, and his career in movies and television spanned four decades, from 1931 to 1971.

Early life

Creighton Tull Chaney was born on February 10, 1906, in Oklahoma City, the son of then-stage performer Lon Chaney and Frances Cleveland Creighton, a singing stage performer who traveled in road shows across the country with Chaney. In a 1965 interview, Chaney Jr. revealed that he was a stillborn baby. "I was all black and not breathing when I was born," he shared. "My father ran out of the house with me and broke a hole in the ice in a nearby lake, and dunked me in time after time until he revived me". His parents' troubled marriage ended in divorce in 1913 following his mother's scandalous public

suicide attempt A suicide attempt is an act in which an individual tries to kill themselves but survives. Mental health professionals discourage describing suicide attempts as "failed" or "unsuccessful", as doing so may imply that a suicide resulting in death is ...

in Los Angeles. Many articles and biographies over the years report that Creighton was led to believe his mother had died while he was a boy, and he only learned that she was still alive after his father's death. Creighton always maintained he had a tough childhood. Young Creighton lived in various homes and

boarding school A boarding school is a school where pupils live within premises while being given formal instruction. The word "boarding" is used in the sense of "room and board", i.e. lodging and meals. They have existed for many centuries, and now extend acr ...

s until 1916, when his father (now employed in the film industry) married Hazel Hastings and could provide a stable home. From an early age, he worked hard to avoid his famous father's shadow. In young adulthood, his father discouraged him from show business, and he attended business college and became successful in a Los Angeles appliance corporation. Creighton, who had begun working for a plumbing company, married Dorothy Hinckley, the daughter of his employer Ralph Hinckley. They had two sons: Lon Ralph Chaney and Ronald Creighton Chaney. Creighton's life changed when his father was diagnosed with throat cancer and died on August 26, 1930, at the age of 47.

Career

As Creighton Chaney

It was only after his father's death that Chaney began to act in films, billed under his own name. He began with an uncredited

bit part In acting, a bit part is a role in which there is direct interaction with the principal actors and no more than five lines of dialogue, often referred to as a five-or-less or under-five in the United States, or under sixes in British televisio ...

in the serial '' The Galloping Ghost'' (1931) and signed a contract with RKO where he was given small roles in a number of films, including ''

Girl Crazy ''Girl Crazy'' is a 1930 musical by George Gershwin with lyrics by Ira Gershwin and book by Guy Bolton and John McGowan. Co-leads Ginger Rogers and Ethel Merman made their stage debuts in the first production and Rogers became an overnight sta ...

'' (1932), '' Bird of Paradise'' (1932), and '' The Most Dangerous Game'' (1932) (from which Chaney's few scenes were edited out before the film was released).Smith, Don G. (1996). "Lon Chaney Jr.". McFarland & Co. Inc. Pg. 201. ISBN 0-7864-0120-6. RKO gave him the starring role in a serial, '' The Last Frontier'' (1932). He got bigger film roles in '' Lucky Devils'' (1933), '' Son of the Border'' (1933), '' Scarlet River'' (1933), and '' The Life of Vergie Winters'' (1934). Over at Mascot Pictures he supported

John Wayne Marion Robert Morrison (May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979), known professionally as John Wayne, was an American actor. Nicknamed "Duke", he became a Pop icon, popular icon through his starring roles in films which were produced during Hollywood' ...

in a serial, ''

The Three Musketeers ''The Three Musketeers'' () is a French historical adventure novel written and published in 1844 by French author Alexandre Dumas. It is the first of the author's three d'Artagnan Romances. As with some of his other works, he wrote it in col ...

'' (1933), which was later re-edited into a film entitled ''Desert Command'' (1946). "I did every possible bit in pictures" said Chaney later. "Had to do stuntwork to live. I bulldogged steers, fell off and got knocked off cliffs, rode horses off precipices into rivers, drove prairie schooners up and down hills." He had the lead in the independent film '' Sixteen Fathoms Deep'' (1934), and a memorable part in which his character sings in '' Girl o' My Dreams'' (1934) at

Monogram A monogram is a motif (visual arts), motif made by overlapping or combining two or more letters or other graphemes to form one symbol. Monograms are often made by combining the initials of an individual or a company, used as recognizable symbo ...

. The last film he made as Creighton Chaney was '' The Marriage Bargain'' (1935) for Screencraft Productions. After this point he was billed as Lon Chaney, Jr. until 1942, when he was usually billed, at the insistence of

Universal Studios Universal Studios may refer to: * Universal Studios, Inc., an American media and entertainment conglomerate ** Universal Pictures, an American film studio ** Universal Studios Lot, a film and television studio complex * Various theme parks operat ...

, with his iconic father's name, although the "Jr." was usually added by others to distinguish the two.

As Lon Chaney Jr.

He had the lead in '' A Scream in the Night'' (1934) made for Commodore Pictures, a crime thriller. He played small roles at Paramount: '' Hold 'Em Yale'' (1935), '' Accent on Youth'' (1935) and '' Rose Bowl'' (1936). A small outfit, Ray Kirkwood Productions, gave him a lead, '' The Shadow of Silk Lennox'' (1935). At

Republic A republic, based on the Latin phrase ''res publica'' ('public affair' or 'people's affair'), is a State (polity), state in which Power (social and political), political power rests with the public (people), typically through their Representat ...

, he featured alongside

Gene Autry Orvon Grover "Gene" Autry (September 29, 1907 – October 2, 1998), nicknamed the Singing Cowboy, was an American actor, musician, singer, composer, rodeo performer, and baseball team owner, who largely gained fame by singing in a Crooner ...

in '' The Singing Cowboy'' (1936) and '' The Old Corral'' (1937). He was a henchman in a serial for Republic, '' Undersea Kingdom'' (1936). Universal got him to play a henchman in their serial, '' Ace Drummond'' (1937), and he was uncredited in Columbia's '' Killer at Large'' (1936). He lent his name to a cafe which was embroiled in a liquor scandal. Chaney Jr. was the main villain in '' Cheyenne Rides Again'' (1937) and also played a villainous part in a serial, ''

Secret Agent X-9 ''Secret Agent X-9'' is a comic strip created by writer Dashiell Hammett ('' The Maltese Falcon'') and artist Alex Raymond ('' Flash Gordon''). Syndicated by King Features, it ran from January 22, 1934, until February 10, 1996. Premise and ...

'' (1937).

20th Century Fox

Chaney Jr. signed a contract at 20th Century Fox and appeared in '' Love Is News'' (1937) with

Tyrone Power Tyrone Edmund Power III (May 5, 1914 – November 15, 1958) was an American actor. From the 1930s to the 1950s, Power appeared in dozens of films, often in swashbuckler roles or romantic leads. His better-known films include ''Jesse James (193 ...

, '' Midnight Taxi'' (1937) with

Brian Donlevy Waldo Brian Donlevy (February 9, 1901 – April 6, 1972) was an American actor, who was noted for playing dangerous and tough characters. Usually appearing in supporting roles, among his best-known films are '' Beau Geste'' (1939), '' The Great ...

, '' That I May Live'' (1937), '' This Is My Affair'' (1937) with Robert Taylor and Barbara Stanwyck, '' Angel's Holiday'' (1937), '' Born Reckless'' (1937) with Brian Donlevy, ''

Wild and Woolly Wild and Woolly may refer to: * Wild and Woolly (1917 film), an American silent Western comedy film * Wild and Woolly (1932 film), a short animated film * Wild and Woolly (1937 film), an American Western film * Wild and Wooly, a 1978 comedy/west ...

'' (1937) with

Walter Brennan Walter Andrew Brennan (July 25, 1894 – September 21, 1974) was an American actor and singer. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for ''Come and Get It (1936 film), Come and Get It'' (1936), ''Kentucky (film), Kentucky'' (19 ...

, '' The Lady Escapes'' (1937) with

Gloria Stuart Gloria Frances Stuart (born Gloria Stewart; July 4, 1910 – September 26, 2010) was an American actress, visual artist, and activist. She was known for her roles in pre-code films, and garnered renewed fame late in life for her portrayal of Ro ...

, '' Thin Ice'' (1937) with Tyrone Power, ''

One Mile from Heaven ''One Mile from Heaven'' is a 1937 American drama film directed by Allan Dwan and written by Lou Breslow and John Patrick. The film stars Claire Trevor, Sally Blane, Douglas Fowley, Fredi Washington, Joan Carroll and Ralf Harolde. The film w ...

'' (1937) with Claire Trevor, '' Charlie Chan on Broadway'' (1938), ''

Life Begins in College ''Life Begins in College'' is a 1937 American comedy film directed by William A. Seiter. It marked the Ritz Brothers' first starring role in a feature film. Plot The action takes place at Lombardy College, founded "to give the Indian nations of ...

'' (1937) with the Ritz Brothers, '' Wife, Doctor and Nurse'' (1937) with

Loretta Young Loretta Young (born Gretchen Michaela Young; January 6, 1913 – August 12, 2000) was an American actress. Starting as a child, she had a long and varied career in film from 1917 to 1989. She received numerous honors including an Academy Awards ...

, '' Second Honeymoon'' (1937) with Tyrone Power and Loretta Young, ''

Checkers Checkers (American English), also known as draughts (; English in the Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth English), is a group of Abstract strategy game, strategy board games for two players which involve forward movements of uniform game ...

'' (1937), '' Love and Hisses'' (1938) with

Walter Winchell Walter Winchell (April 7, 1897 – February 20, 1972) was a syndicated American newspaper gossip columnist and radio news commentator. Originally a vaudeville performer, Winchell began his newspaper career as a Broadway reporter, critic and c ...

, '' City Girl'' (1938), '' Happy Landing'' (1938) with

Ethel Merman Ethel Merman (born Ethel Agnes Zimmermann; January 16, 1908 – February 15, 1984) was an American singer and actress. Known for her distinctive, powerful voice, and her leading roles in musical theatre, musical theater,Obituary ''Variety Obitua ...

, '' Sally, Irene and Mary'' (1938) with

Fred Allen John Florence Sullivan (May 31, 1894 – March 17, 1956), known professionally as Fred Allen, was an American comedian. His absurdist topically-pointed radio program '' The Fred Allen Show'' (1932–1949) made him one of the most popular and forw ...

and

Jimmy Durante James Francis Durante ( , ; February 10, 1893 – January 29, 1980) was an American comedian, actor, singer, and pianist. His distinctive gravelly speech, Lower East Side New York accent, accent, comic language-butchery, jazz-influenced son ...

, '' Mr. Moto's Gamble'' (1938) with

Peter Lorre Peter Lorre (; born László Löwenstein, ; June 26, 1904 – March 23, 1964) was a Hungarian and American actor, active first in Europe and later in the United States. Known for his timidly devious characters, his appearance, and accented vo ...

, '' Walking Down Broadway'' (1938) with Claire Trevor, ''

Alexander's Ragtime Band "Alexander's Ragtime Band" is a Tin Pan Alley song by American composer Irving Berlin released in 1911; it is often inaccurately cited as his first global hit. Despite its title, the song is a march as opposed to a rag and contains little sync ...

'' (1938) with Tyrone Power, '' Josette'' (1938) with

Don Ameche Don Ameche (; born Dominic Felix Amici; May 31, 1908 – December 6, 1993) was an American actor, comedian and vaudevillian. After playing in college shows, repertory theatre, and vaudeville, he became a major radio star in the early 19 ...

and Robert Young, '' Speed to Burn'' (1938) with

Lynn Bari Lynn Bari (born Marjorie Schuyler Fisher, December 18, 1919 – November 20, 1989) was an American film actress who specialized in playing sultry, statuesque man-killers in roughly 150 films for 20th Century Fox, from the early 1930s through t ...

, '' Passport Husband'' (1938), '' Straight, Place and Show'' (1938) with the Ritz Brothers,

John Ford John Martin Feeney (February 1, 1894 – August 31, 1973), better known as John Ford, was an American film director and producer. He is regarded as one of the most important and influential filmmakers during the Golden Age of Hollywood, and w ...

's ''

Submarine Patrol ''Submarine Patrol'' is a 1938 film directed by John Ford. The screenplay was by Rian James, Darrell Ware, and Jack Yellen. The film starred Richard Greene, Nancy Kelly and Preston Foster. The supporting cast features George Bancroft, Eli ...

'' (1938) with Nancy Kelly, and '' Road Demon'' (1939). He was almost killed by a train while filming a bank robbery scene in ''

Jesse James Jesse Woodson James (September 5, 1847April 3, 1882) was an American outlaw, Bank robbery, bank and Train robbery, train robber, guerrilla and leader of the James–Younger Gang. Raised in the "Little Dixie (Missouri), Little Dixie" area of M ...

'' (1939). ''Jesse James'' also coincidentally featured

Henry Hull Henry Watterson Hull (October 3, 1890 – March 8, 1977) was an American character actor who played the lead in Universal Pictures's ''Werewolf of London'' (1935). For most of his career, he was a lead actor on stage and a character actor on scr ...

, the star of ''

Werewolf of London ''Werewolf of London'' is a 1935 horror film directed by Stuart Walker (director), Stuart Walker and starring Henry Hull as the titular werewolf. The supporting cast includes Warner Oland, Valerie Hobson, Lester Matthews, and Spring Byington. ...

'' (1935), in a supporting role. Chaney Jr. later made '' Charlie Chan in City in Darkness'' (1939) with

and '' Frontier Marshal'' (1939) with

Randolph Scott George Randolph Scott (January 23, 1898 – March 2, 1987) was an American film actor, whose Hollywood career spanned from 1928 to 1962. As a leading man for all but the first three years of his cinematic career, Scott appeared in dramas, come ...

and Nancy Kelly.

''Of Mice and Men'' (1939)

Chaney Jr's only stage appearance had been as Lennie Small in a production of ''

'' with Wallace Ford. He was cast in that role in the 1939 film adaptation, which was produced by

Hal Roach Studios Hal Roach Studios was an American motion picture and, through its TV production subsidiary, Hal Roach Television Corporation, television production studio. Known as ''The Laugh Factory to the World'', it was founded by producer Hal Roach and busin ...

. The film was Chaney Jr's first major role in a film and was a critical success for him. Chaney had a screen test for the role of Quasimodo for the remake of '' The Hunchback of Notre Dame'' (1939), a role which his father played back in 1923, but the role went to

Charles Laughton Charles Laughton (; 1 July 1899 – 15 December 1962) was a British and American actor. He was trained in London at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and first appeared professionally on the stage in 1926. In 1927, he was cast in a play wi ...

''One Million B.C.''

Hal Roach Harold Eugene "Hal" Roach Sr. Skretvedt, Randy (2016), ''Laurel and Hardy: The Magic Behind the Movies'', Bonaventure Press. p.608. (January 14, 1892 – November 2, 1992) was an American film and television producer, director and screenwriter, ...

used him in his third-billed character role in '' One Million B.C.'' (1940) as Victor Mature's caveman father, after which Chaney began to be viewed as a character actor in the mold of his father. He had in fact designed a swarthy, ape-like Neanderthal make-up on himself for the film, but production decisions and union rules prevented his following through on emulating his father in that fashion.

Cecil B. DeMille Cecil Blount DeMille (; August 12, 1881January 21, 1959) was an American filmmaker and actor. Between 1914 and 1958, he made 70 features, both silent and sound films. He is acknowledged as a founding father of American cinema and the most co ...

used him in a supporting role in '' North West Mounted Police'' (1940) and MGM used him in ''

Billy the Kid Henry McCarty (September 17 or November 23, 1859July 14, 1881), alias William H. Bonney, better known as Billy the Kid, was an American outlaw and gunfighter of the Old West who was linked to nine murders: four for which he was solely res ...

'' (1941) with Robert Taylor as Billy and

Pat Garrett Patrick Floyd Jarvis Garrett (June 5, 1850February 29, 1908) was an American Old West lawman, bartender and U.S. Customs, customs agent known for killing Billy the Kid. He was the Sheriffs in the United States, sheriff of Lincoln County, New Me ...

. That studio considered putting Chaney Jr in a remake of his father's hit '' He Who Gets Slapped'' but decided not to make it.

Universal Pictures

Universal Pictures offered Chaney Jr the lead in '' Man-Made Monster'' (1941), a science-fiction horror thriller originally written with

Boris Karloff William Henry Pratt (23 November 1887 – 2 February 1969), known professionally as Boris Karloff () and occasionally billed as Karloff the Uncanny, was a British actor. His portrayal of Frankenstein's monster in the horror film ''Frankenstei ...

in mind. Chaney's first horror film, it was successful enough for them to offer him a long-term contract. Universal kept him in supporting roles for a while: a comedy '' Too Many Blondes'' (1941), a musical '' San Antonio Rose'' (1941) with

Shemp Howard Shemp Howard (born Samuel Horwitz; March 11, 1895 – November 22, 1955) was an American comedian and actor. He is best known as the third Stooge in The Three Stooges, a role he played when the act began in the early 1920s (1923–1932), while i ...

, a serial '' Riders of Death Valley'' (1941) featuring Noah Beery Jr., the Western '' Badlands of Dakota'' (1941) and the "Northern" '' North to the Klondike'' (1942) with

Broderick Crawford William Broderick Crawford (December 9, 1911 – April 26, 1986) was an American actor. He is best known for his portrayal of Willie Stark in the film ''All the King's Men'' (1949), which earned him an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award. Of ...

Horror film star: ''The Wolf Man'', ''The Mummy'', ''Inner Sanctum''

Chaney Jr. was then given the title role in '' The Wolf Man'' (1941) for Universal, a role which, much like Karloff's

Frankenstein ''Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus'' is an 1818 Gothic novel written by English author Mary Shelley. ''Frankenstein'' tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a young scientist who creates a Sapience, sapient Frankenstein's monster, crea ...

monster, would largely typecast Chaney as a horror film actor for the rest of his life. Universal dropped the "Jr." and billed him as "Lon Chaney" going forward within that studio, apparently to foster confusion with his father among audiences. Chaney Jr. was now an official horror star, and Universal gave him the role of

in '' The Ghost of Frankenstein'' (1942), the first

B-movie A B movie, or B film, is a type of cheap, low-budget commercial motion picture. Originally, during the Classical Hollywood cinema, Golden Age of Hollywood, this term specifically referred to films meant to be shown as the lesser-known second ...

of the series, when Boris Karloff decided not to play the part again;

Bela Lugosi Blaskó Béla Ferenc Dezső (; October 20, 1882 – August 16, 1956), better known by the stage name Bela Lugosi ( ; ), was a Hungarian–American actor. He was best remembered for portraying Count Dracula in the horror film classic Dracula (19 ...

returned in his role as Ygor and the

leading lady A leading actor, leading actress, or leading man or lady or simply lead (), plays a main role in a film, television show or play. The word ''lead'' may also refer to the largest role in the piece, and ''leading actor'' may refer to a person w ...

was

Evelyn Ankers Evelyn Felisa Ankers (August 17, 1918 – August 29, 1985) was a British-American actress who often played variations on the role of the cultured young leading lady in many American horror films during the 1940s, most notably '' The Wolf Man'' ( ...

. He was in a crime film, '' Eyes of the Underworld'' (1942), and the wartime shorts '' Keeping Fit'' (1942) and ''What We Are Fighting For'' (1943). Chaney Jr. played Kharis the Mummy in '' The Mummy's Tomb'' (1942), another hit. He was in a Western '' Frontier Badmen'' (1943), then reprised his role as the Wolf Man in '' Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man'' (1943) with

as Frankenstein's monster. The film was originally filmed with the Monster being blind and speaking in Lugosi's distinctive "Ygor" voice, but the studio cut out all references to either so that audiences were left wondering why the Monster staggered around with his arms extended in front of him, not to mention why he had lost the ability to speak since ''Ghost of Frankenstein'', grievously damaging Lugosi's reputation. Chaney Jr. was given the role of

Dracula ''Dracula'' is an 1897 Gothic fiction, Gothic horror fiction, horror novel by Irish author Bram Stoker. The narrative is Epistolary novel, related through letters, diary entries, and newspaper articles. It has no single protagonist and opens ...

in '' Son of Dracula'' (1943); the film was actually about Dracula himself, who had no son in the film. This made him the only actor to portray all four of Universal's major horror characters: the Wolf Man,

, the Mummy, and

Count Dracula Count Dracula () is the title character of Bram Stoker's 1897 gothic horror novel ''Dracula''. He is considered the prototypical and archetypal vampire in subsequent works of fiction. Aspects of the character are believed by some to have been i ...

. After a cameo in '' Crazy House'' (1943) he was given the lead in '' Calling Dr. Death'' (1943), based on the

Inner Sanctum mysteries ''Inner Sanctum Mystery'', also known as ''Inner Sanctum'', is a popular old-time radio program that aired from January 7, 1941, to October 5, 1952. It was created by producer Himan Brown and was based on the imprint given to the mystery novels ...

. It kicked off another series starring Chaney, the next of which was ''

Weird Woman ''Weird Woman'' is a 1944 noir- mystery horror film, and the second installment in '' The Inner Sanctum Mysteries'' anthological film series, which was based on the popular radio series of the same name. Directed by Reginald Le Borg and star ...

'' (1944). He made a second mummy movie, '' The Mummy's Ghost'' (1944), and had a supporting part in ''

Cobra Woman ''Cobra Woman'' is a 1944 American South Seas adventure film from Universal Pictures, directed by Robert Siodmak that stars Maria Montez, Jon Hall, and Sabu. Shot in Technicolor, this film is typical of Montez's career at Universal, and, al ...

'' (1944), starring Maria Montez, and '' Ghost Catchers'' (1944), with the comedy team Olsen and Johnson. '' Dead Man's Eyes'' (1944) was the third Inner Sanctum, after which he was back as the Wolf Man in '' House of Frankenstein'' (1944). '' The Mummy's Curse'' (1944) was Chaney's third and final appearance as Kharis. He played an antagonist in the Abbott and Costello comedy '' Here Come the Co-Eds'' (1945), then made more Inner Sanctums: '' The Frozen Ghost'' (1945) with Evelyn Ankers and '' Strange Confession'' (1945) with Brenda Joyce. He returned as the Wolf Man in '' House of Dracula'' (1945), one of the last of the Universal horror cycle. '' Pillow of Death'' (1945) was the last Inner Sanctum. '' The Daltons Ride Again'' (1945) was a Western featuring Noah Beery Jr. in a supporting role.

Leaving Universal

Despite being typecast as the Wolf Man, the 6-foot 2-inch, 220-pound actor managed to carve out a secondary niche as a supporting actor and villain. He was in a Bob Hope comedy, '' My Favorite Brunette'' (1947), supported

in ''

Albuquerque Albuquerque ( ; ), also known as ABQ, Burque, the Duke City, and in the past 'the Q', is the List of municipalities in New Mexico, most populous city in the U.S. state of New Mexico, and the county seat of Bernalillo County, New Mexico, Bernal ...

'' (1948) and had a supporting role in '' The Counterfeiters'' (1948); he played a villain in '' 16 Fathoms Deep'' (1948) for

Monogram Pictures Monogram Pictures Corporation was an American film studio that produced mostly low-budget films between 1931 and 1953, when the firm completed a transition to the name Allied Artists Pictures Corporation. Monogram was among the smaller studios i ...

, a remake of his 1934 film. He reprised his Wolf Man role to great effect in ''

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein ''Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein'' is a 1948 American horror comedy film directed by Charles Barton (director), Charles Barton. The film features Count Dracula (Bela Lugosi), who has partnered with Dr. Sandra Mornay (Lenore Aubert) in or ...

'' (1948) but it did not cause a notable boost to his career. In April 1948 Chaney was hospitalized after taking an overdose of sleeping pills. He recovered and played Harry Brock in a Los Angeles theatre production of '' Born Yesterday'' in 1949. Chaney kept busy in support roles: '' Captain China'' (1950), '' Once a Thief'' (1950), '' Inside Straight'' (1951), '' Bride of the Gorilla'' (1951), '' Only the Valiant'' (1951), '' Behave Yourself!'' (1951), '' Flame of Araby'' (1952), '' The Bushwackers'' (1952), ''

Thief of Damascus '' Thief of Damascus '' is a 1952 American Technicolor adventure film directed by Will Jason and starring Paul Henreid, John Sutton (actor), John Sutton and Jeff Donnell. The film features a generous use of stock footage from such films as ''Joa ...

'' (1952), '' Battles of Chief Pontiac'' (1952) (in the title role), ''

'' (1952), '' Springfield Rifle'' (1952), '' The Black Castle'' (1952) (a return to horror), '' Raiders of the Seven Seas'' (1953), '' A Lion Is in the Streets'' (1953) with

James Cagney James Francis Cagney Jr. (; July 17, 1899March 30, 1986) was an American actor and dancer. On stage and in film, he was known for his consistently energetic performances, distinctive vocal style, and deadpan comic timing. He won acclaim and maj ...

, '' The Boy from Oklahoma'' (1954), '' Casanova's Big Night'' (1954), '' Passion'' (1954), '' The Black Pirates'' (1954), '' Jivaro'' (1955), ''

Big House, U.S.A. ''Big House, U.S.A.'' is a 1955 American crime film noir directed by Howard W. Koch and written by John C. Higgins. The film stars Broderick Crawford, Ralph Meeker, Reed Hadley, William Talman, Lon Chaney Jr., and Charles Bronson. The fi ...

'' (1955), '' I Died a Thousand Times'' (1955), '' The Indian Fighter'' (1955), and '' The Black Sleep'' (1956) He had a leading role in '' Indestructible Man'' (1956) then was back to supporting parts: '' Manfish'' (1956); a

Martin and Lewis Martin and Lewis were an American comedy duo, comprising singer Dean Martin and comedian Jerry Lewis. They met in 1944 and debuted at Atlantic City's 500 Club on July 25, 1946; the team lasted ten years to the day. Before they teamed up, Martin ...

comedy, '' Pardners'' (1956); '' Daniel Boone, Trail Blazer'' (1957); '' The Cyclops'' (1957) and '' The Alligator People'' (1959). Chaney established himself as a favorite of producer

Stanley Kramer Stanley Earl Kramer (September 29, 1913February 19, 2001) was an American film director and producer, responsible for making many of Hollywood's most famous " message films" (he called his movies ''heavy dramas'') and a liberal movie icon.

; in addition to playing a key supporting role in ''

'' (1952) (starring

Gary Cooper Gary Cooper (born Frank James Cooper; May 7, 1901May 13, 1961) was an American actor known for his strong, silent screen persona and understated acting style. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor twice and had a further three nominations, ...

), he also appeared in '' Not as a Stranger'' (1955)—a hospital melodrama featuring

Robert Mitchum Robert Charles Durman Mitchum (August 6, 1917 – July 1, 1997) was an American actor. He is known for his antihero roles and film noir appearances. He received nominations for an Academy Award and a BAFTA Award. He received a star on the Holl ...

and

Frank Sinatra Francis Albert Sinatra (; December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer and actor. Honorific nicknames in popular music, Nicknamed the "Chairman of the Board" and "Ol' Blue Eyes", he is regarded as one of the Time 100: The Most I ...

—and '' The Defiant Ones'' (1958, starring

Tony Curtis Tony Curtis (born Bernard Schwartz; June 3, 1925September 29, 2010) was an American actor with a career that spanned six decades, achieving the height of his popularity in the 1950s and early 1960s. He acted in more than 100 films, in roles co ...

and Sidney Poitier). Kramer told the press at the time that whenever a script came in with a role too difficult for most actors in Hollywood, he called Chaney. He became quite popular with

baby boomer Baby boomers, often shortened to boomers, are the demographic cohort preceded by the Silent Generation and followed by Generation X. The generation is often defined as people born from 1946 to 1964 during the mid-20th century baby boom that ...

s after Universal released its back catalog of horror films to television in 1957 ('' Shock Theater'') and ''

Famous Monsters of Filmland ''Famous Monsters of Filmland'' is an American film genre, genre-specific List of film periodicals, film magazine, started in 1958 by publisher James Warren (publisher), James Warren and editor Forrest J Ackerman. ''Famous Monsters of Filmland ...

'' magazine regularly focused on his films. In 1957, Chaney went to

Ontario, Canada Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...

, to costar in the first ever American-Canadian television production, as Chingachgook in '' Hawkeye and the Last of the Mohicans'', suggested by

James Fenimore Cooper James Fenimore Cooper (September 15, 1789 – September 14, 1851) was an American writer of the first half of the 19th century, whose historical romances depicting colonial and indigenous characters from the 17th to the 19th centuries brought h ...

's stories. The series ended after 39 episodes. Universal released their film biography of his father, '' Man of a Thousand Faces'' (1957), featuring a semi-fictionalized version of Creighton's life story from his birth up until his father's death. Roger Smith was cast as Creighton as a young adult. He appeared in an episode of the western series ''

Tombstone Territory ''Tombstone Territory'' is an American Western television series starring Pat Conway and Richard Eastham. The first two seasons aired on ABC from 1957 to 1959. The first season was sponsored by Bristol-Myers (consumer products) and the seco ...

'' titled "The Black Marshal from Deadwood" (1958), and appeared in numerous western series such as '' Rawhide''. He also hosted the 13-episode television

anthology In book publishing, an anthology is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler; it may be a collection of plays, poems, short stories, songs, or related fiction/non-fiction excerpts by different authors. There are also thematic and g ...

series '' 13 Demon Street'' in 1959, which was created by Curt Siodmak.

1960s

In the 1960s, Chaney specialised in horror films, such as ''

House of Terror The House of Terror (, ) is a museum located at Andrássy Avenue 60 in Budapest, Hungary. It contains exhibits related to the Government of National Unity (Hungary), fascist and People's Republic of Hungary, communist regimes in 20th-century H ...

'' (1960), '' The Devil's Messenger'' (1961) and '' The Haunted Palace'' (1963), replacing

in the last of those for

Roger Corman Roger William Corman (April 5, 1926 – May 9, 2024) was an American film director, producer, and actor. Known under various monikers such as "The Pope of Pop Cinema", "The Spiritual Godfather of the New Hollywood", and "The King of Cult", he w ...

. In January 1962, Chaney appeared in Season 4 episode titled "The Tarnished Badge" of the television show Lawman. Chaney plays Jess Bridges a US Marshal gone bad. His Deputy was at one time Dan Troop (John Russell). Bridges redeems himself at the episode's end by saving Deputy Johnny McKay He was in a Western, '' Law of the Lawless'' (1963) with Dale Robertson, '' Face of the Screaming Werewolf'' (1964), ''

Witchcraft Witchcraft is the use of Magic (supernatural), magic by a person called a witch. Traditionally, "witchcraft" means the use of magic to inflict supernatural harm or misfortune on others, and this remains the most common and widespread meanin ...

'' (1964), and '' Stage to Thunder Rock'' (1964). He starred in

Jack Hill Jack Hill (born January 28, 1933) is an American filmmaker, known for his work in the exploitation genre. He was an early associate of Francis Ford Coppola and Roger Corman, and worked on many films distributed by American International Pictur ...

's '' Spider Baby'', which was made in 1964 but not released until 1968 and would not attain notoriety until after Chaney's death. Then it was back to Westerns – '' Young Fury'' (1965), '' Black Spurs'' (1965), '' Town Tamer'' (1966), '' Johnny Reno'' (1967), ''

Apache Uprising ''Apache Uprising'' is a 1965 American Technicolor Western (genre), Western Techniscope film directed by R. G. Springsteen and written by Max Lamb and Harry Sanford. The film stars Rory Calhoun, Corinne Calvet, John Russell (actor), John Russe ...

'' (1967), '' Welcome to Hard Times'' (1967) and '' Buckskin'' (1968). There was also horror, such as '' Dr. Terror's Gallery of Horrors'' (1967) and '' Hillbillys in a Haunted House'' (1967). His bread-and-butter work during this decade was television – where he made guest appearances on everything from ''

Wagon Train ''Wagon Train'' is an American Western television series that aired for eight seasons, first on the NBC television network (1957–1962) and then on ABC (1962–1965). ''Wagon Train'' debuted on September 18, 1957, and reached the top of the ...

'' to ''

The Monkees The Monkees were an American pop rock band formed in Los Angeles in the mid-1960s. The band consisted of Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones (musician), Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith, and Peter Tork. Spurred by the success of ''The Monkees (TV series), Th ...

'' – and in a string of supporting roles in low-budget Westerns produced by A. C. Lyles for

Paramount Paramount (from the word ''paramount'' meaning "above all others") may refer to: Entertainment and music companies * Paramount Global, also known simply as Paramount, an American mass media company formerly known as ViacomCBS. **Paramount Picture ...

. In 1962, Chaney gained a chance to briefly play Quasimodo in a simulacrum of his father's make-up, as well as return to his roles of the Mummy and the Wolf Man on the television series '' Route 66'' with friends

and

(Karloff wore a quickie version of the

Frankenstein monster Frankenstein's monster, commonly referred to as Frankenstein, is a fictional character that first appeared in Mary Shelley's 1818 novel '' Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus'' as its main antagonist. Shelley's title compares the monster's ...

make-up toward the end of the episode).

Final films

In later years, he suffered from

throat cancer Head and neck cancer is a general term encompassing multiple cancers that can develop in the head and neck region. These include cancers of the mouth, tongue, gums and lips ( oral cancer), voice box ( laryngeal), throat ( nasopharyngeal, orophar ...

and chronic

heart disease Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is any disease involving the heart or blood vessels. CVDs constitute a class of diseases that includes: coronary artery diseases (e.g. angina pectoris, angina, myocardial infarction, heart attack), heart failure, ...

among other ailments after decades of heavy drinking and smoking. In his final horror film, '' Dracula vs. Frankenstein'', directed by

Al Adamson Albert Victor Adamson Jr. (July 25, 1929 – June 21, 1995) was an American Filmmaking, filmmaker and actor known as a prolific director of B movie horror and exploitation films throughout the 1960s and 1970s. The son of silent film veterans Vict ...

, he played Groton, Dr. Frankenstein's mute henchman. He filmed his part in the spring of 1969, and shortly thereafter performed his final film role, also for Adamson, in '' The Female Bunch''. Both films were released in 1971. Though filmed before ''The Female Bunch'', ''Dracula vs. Frankenstein'' was released some weeks later. Chaney had lines in '' The Female Bunch'' but his hoarse, raspy voice was virtually unrecognizable. Due to illness he retired from acting to concentrate on a book about the Chaney family legacy, ''A Century of Chaneys'', which remains to date unpublished in any form. , his grandson, Ron Chaney Jr., was working on completing this project.

Personal life

Chaney was married twice. He had two sons by his first wife, Dorothy, Lon Ralph Chaney (July 3, 1928 – May 5, 1992) and Ronald Creighton Chaney (March 18, 1930 – December 15, 1987). Dorothy divorced him in 1936 for drinking too much and being "sullen". He married Patsy Beck in 1937. Chaney was well liked by some co-workers – "sweet" is the adjective that most commonly emerges from those who acted with, and liked him – yet he was capable of intense dislikes. For instance, he and frequent co-star

did not get along at all. He was also known to befriend younger actors and stand up for older ones who he felt were belittled by the studios. One example was William Farnum, a major silent star who played a small role in '' The Mummy's Curse''. According to co-star Peter Coe, Chaney demanded that Farnum be given his own chair on the set and be treated with respect, or else he would walk off the picture. Chaney had run-ins with actor

Frank Reicher Frank Reicher (born Franz Reichert; December 2, 1875 – January 19, 1965) was a German-born American actor, director and producer. He is best known for playing Captain Englehorn in the 1933 film ''King Kong''. Early life Reicher was born in M ...

(whom he nearly strangled on camera in '' The Mummy's Ghost'') and director

Robert Siodmak Robert Siodmak (; 8 August 1900 – 10 March 1973) was a German Jewish film director. His career spanned some 40 years, working extensively in the United States and France, as well as in his native country. Though he worked in many genres, he was ...

(over whose head Chaney broke a vase). Actor

Robert Stack Robert Stack (born Charles Langford Modini Stack; January 13, 1919 – May 14, 2003) was an American actor and television host. Known for his deep voice and commanding presence, he appeared in over forty feature films. He starred in the America ...

claimed in his 1980 autobiography that Chaney and drinking buddy

were known as "the monsters" around the

Universal Pictures Universal City Studios LLC, doing business as Universal Pictures (also known as Universal Studios or simply Universal), is an American filmmaking, film production and film distribution, distribution company headquartered at the 10 Universal Ci ...

lot because of their drunken behavior that frequently resulted in bloodshed.

Honors

In 1999, a Golden Palm Star on the

Palm Springs, California Palm Springs (Cahuilla language, Cahuilla: ''Séc-he'') is a desert resort city in Riverside County, California, United States, within the Colorado Desert's Coachella Valley. The city covers approximately , making it the largest city in Rivers ...

, Walk of Stars was dedicated to him.

Death

Chaney suffered from a series of illnesses in the year prior to his death. In April 1973, he was released from the hospital after undergoing surgery for

cataract A cataract is a cloudy area in the lens (anatomy), lens of the eye that leads to a visual impairment, decrease in vision of the eye. Cataracts often develop slowly and can affect one or both eyes. Symptoms may include faded colours, blurry or ...

s and treatment for

beriberi Thiamine deficiency is a medical condition of low levels of thiamine (vitamin B1). A severe and chronic form is known as beriberi. The name beriberi was possibly borrowed in the 18th century from the Sinhalese phrase (bæri bæri, “I canno ...

. He also suffered from liver problems and

gout Gout ( ) is a form of inflammatory arthritis characterized by recurrent attacks of pain in a red, tender, hot, and Joint effusion, swollen joint, caused by the deposition of needle-like crystals of uric acid known as monosodium urate crysta ...

. Chaney died on July 12, 1973, in

San Clemente, California San Clemente (; Spanish for " St. Clement" ) is a coastal city in southern Orange County, California, United States. It was named in 1925 after the Spanish colonial island (which was named after a Pope from the first century). Located in the ...

, at the age of 67. His cause of death was not immediately released to the public. Chaney's death certificate listed his cause of death as cardiac failure due to arteriosclerotic heart disease and

cardiomyopathy Cardiomyopathy is a group of primary diseases of the heart muscle. Early on there may be few or no symptoms. As the disease worsens, shortness of breath, feeling tired, and swelling of the legs may occur, due to the onset of heart failure. A ...

. He was honored by appearing as the Wolf Man on one of a 1997 series of United States postage stamps depicting movie monsters (his father appeared as the Phantom of the Opera, while Bela Lugosi appeared as Dracula, and Boris Karloff had two stamps as

and the original

Mummy A mummy is a dead human or an animal whose soft tissues and Organ (biology), organs have been preserved by either intentional or accidental exposure to Chemical substance, chemicals, extreme cold, very low humidity, or lack of air, so that the ...

). His grandson Ron Chaney Jr. has appeared frequently as a guest at horror movie conventions.

Filmography

This is a list of known Lon Chaney Jr. theatrical films. Television appearances are listed separately.

Television appearances

* '' Versatile Varieties'' (1949–1950) * ''

The Life of Riley ''The Life of Riley'' is an American radio situation comedy series of the 1940s that was adapted into a 1949 feature film, as well as two different television series, and a comic book. Radio series The radio program initially aired on the B ...

'' unaired pilot (late 1940s) * '' Colgate Comedy Hour'' NBC (1951) * ''Cosmopolitan Theater'' Dumont (Nov. 6, 1951) One-hour episode ''The Last Concerto'' * ''

Tales of Tomorrow ''Tales of Tomorrow'' is an American anthology science fiction series that was performed and broadcast live on ABC from 1951 to 1953. The series covered such stories as ''Frankenstein'' starring Lon Chaney Jr., ''20,000 Leagues Under the Sea' ...

'' ABC (Jan. 18, 1952) Episode ''Frankenstein'' * ''

You Asked For It ''You Asked for It'' is a human interest television show created and hosted by Art Baker (actor), Art Baker. Initially titled ''The Art Baker Show'', the program originally aired on American television between 1950 and 1959. Later versions of ...

'' ABC (1952) * ''Schlitz Playhouse of Stars'' CBS (Sept. 25, 1952) Episode ''The Trial'' * ''

The Red Skelton Show ''The Red Skelton Show'' is an American television comedy/variety show that aired from 1951 to 1971. In the decade prior to hosting the show, Richard "Red" Skelton had a successful career as a radio and motion pictures star. Although his tele ...

'' CBS (1953)Smith, Don G. (1996). "Lon Chaney Jr.". McFarland & Co. Inc. Pg. 217. ISBN 0-7864-0120-6. * ''The Whistler'' (1954) Episode ''Backfire'' * ''Jack London's Tales of Adventure'' (1954) Unaired pilot * ''Cavalcade Theater'' ABC (May 18, 1954) Episode ''Moonlight School'' * ''Cavalcade Theater'' ABC (May 3, 1955) Episode ''Stay On, Stranger'' * ''Flight From Adventure'' (1955) Unaired pilot * ''Masquerade Party'' Quiz Show, ABC (1955) * ''Climax'' CBS (Jan. 26, 1956) One-hour episode ''The Secret of River Lane'' * '' Telephone Time'' CBS (April 8, 1956) Episode ''The Golden Junkman'' * '' Studio 57'' DuMont (Aug. 12, 1956) Episode ''The Ballad of Jubal Pickett'' * '' Hawkeye and the Last of the Mohicans'' (1957) Chaney was a regular on this television series, portraying the role of Chingachgook in all 26 episodes * ''Along the Mohawk Trail'', ''Redmen and the Renegades'', ''Long Rifle and the Tomahawk'', and ''Pathfinder and the Mohican'' (1957) - These four Made-for-TV feature films were composed of various re-edited episodes of Chaney's 1957 ''Hawkeye'' TV series * ''Climax'' CBS (Sept. 19, 1957) One-hour episode ''Necessary Evil'' * ''Target'' (1958) Anthology show * ''

'' CBS (1958) * ''Truth or Consequences'' Quiz Show, NBC (1958) * ''The Rough Riders'' ABC (Jan. 15, 1959) Episode ''An Eye for an Eye'' * '' Rawhide'' CBS (Feb. 6, 1959) One-hour episode ''Incident on the Edge of Madness'' * '' 13 Demon Street'' (1959) Chaney was the eerie host of this unaired horror anthology series filmed in Sweden; three random episodes were later re-edited into a 1962 feature film called '' The Devil's Messenger'' * '' Border Patrol'' (1959) Episode ''The Homecoming'' * ''

Have Gun, Will Travel Have or having may refer to: * the concept of ownership * any concept of ''possession'' * the English verb "to " is used: ** to express possession linguistically, in a broad sense ** as an auxiliary verb ** in constructions such as ''have somet ...

'' CBS (Feb. 14, 1959) Episode ''Scorched Feather'' * ''General Electric Theater'' CBS (Feb. 22, 1959) Episode ''Family Man'' * '' The Texan'' CBS (Mar. 9, 1959) Episode ''No Love Wanted'' * ''

'' ABC (June 12, 1959) Episode ''The Black Marshal from Deadwood'' * '' Wanted: Dead or Alive'' CBS (Oct. 10, 1959) Episode ''The Hostage'' * '' Adventures in Paradise'' ABC (Oct. 12, 1959) One-hour episode ''The Black Pearl'' * '' Lock-Up'' (1960) 30-minute episode * '' Johnny Ringo'' CBS (Mar. 3, 1960) Episode ''The Raffertys'' * ''

Bat Masterson Bartholemew William Barclay "Bat" Masterson (November 26, 1853 – October 25, 1921) was a U.S. Army scout, lawman, professional gambler, and journalist known for his exploits in the late 19th and early 20th-century American Old West. He was bo ...

'' NBC (Oct. 13, 1960) Episode ''Bat Trap'' * ''

'' NBC (Oct. 26, 1960) Episode ''The Jose Morales Story'' * ''The Phantom'' Unsold TV pilot (1961) * '' Stagecoach West'' ABC (Feb. 7, 1961) One-hour episode ''Not in Our Stars'' * ''Klondike'' NBC (Feb. 13, 1961) Episode ''The Hostages'' * '' Zane Grey Theatre'' CBS (Mar. 23, 1961) Episode ''A Warm Day in Heaven'' * ''The Deputy'' NBC (Apr. 15, 1961) Episode ''Brother in Arms'' * ''Wagon Train'' NBC (May 24, 1961) One-hour episode ''The Chalice'' * '' Surfside Six'' ABC (Oct. 23, 1961) One-hour episode ''Witness for the Defense'' * '' Route 66'' CBS (Nov. 10, 1961) One-hour episode ''The Mud Nest'' * ''

The Rifleman ''The Rifleman'' is an American Western television series starring Chuck Connors as rancher Lucas McCain and Johnny Crawford as his son Mark McCain. It was set in the 1880s in the fictional town of North Fork, New Mexico Territory. The show ...

'' ABC (Jan. 18, 1962) Episode ''Gunfire'' * ''Lawman'' ABC (Jan. 28, 1962) Episode ''The Tarnished Badge'' * ''Here's Hollywood'' (Summer of 1962) Interview show * '' Route 66'' CBS (Oct. 26, 1962) One-hour episode ''Lizard's Leg and Owlet's Wing'' (co-starred Peter Lorre and Boris Karloff) * ''The Gunslinger'' CBS (1961) One-hour episode * '' Rawhide'' CBS (Jan. 18, 1963) One-hour episode ''Incident at Spider Rock'' * ''

'' CBS (Feb. 16, 1963) Episode ''Cage at McNab'' * ''Empire'' NBC (Mar. 26, 1963) One-hour episode ''Hidden Asset'' * '' Route 66'' CBS (Oct. 11, 1963) One-hour episode ''Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are'' * '' Route 66'' CBS (Apr. 24, 1964) One-hour episode, title unknown * '' Pistols 'n' Petticoats'' CBS (1966-1967 season) Chaney played Chief Eagle Shadow on four episodes; several episodes were later compiled into a 1968 feature film called ''The Far Out West'' * ''

'' NBC (Oct. 24, 1966) Chaney played Lenny in episode ''Monkees in a Ghost Town'' (1966) * '' The Pat Boone Show'' (1967) Variety show * Chaney appeared in a TV commercial for Proctor and Gamble's Bold Detergent (1967) * ''Star Close-Up'' (1968) British interview show * ''A Stranger in Town'' (1969) TV movie, re-released in 1971 as ''The Children's West'' * ''

The Tonight Show ''The Tonight Show'' is an American late-night talk show that has been broadcast on NBC since 1954. The program has been hosted by six comedians: Steve Allen (1954–1957), Jack Paar (1957–1962), Johnny Carson (1962–1992), Jay Leno (1992–2 ...

'' NBC (Oct. 8, 1969) Chaney appeared as a guest * Chaney appeared in a TV Pontiac truck commercial co-starring Henry Brandon (1969)

Select radio credits

* ''Inner Sanctum'' – "Ring of Doom" (1943) * ''The Abbott and Costello Show'' (June 2, 1948)

References

Bibliography

* Smith, Don G., ''Lon Chaney Jr, Horror Film Star, 1906–1973'', (1996). .

External links

Official website from Chaney Entertainment
*

''Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture'' {{DEFAULTSORT:Chaney, Lon Jr. 1906 births 1973 deaths American male film actors Male actors from Oklahoma City Deaths from cirrhosis 20th-century American male actors 20th Century Studios contract players Universal Pictures contract players Deaths from cardiomyopathy Deaths from arteriosclerosis