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Charles Middleton

Actor

Charles Middleton

Born October 2, 1874 in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, USADied April 22, 1949174 films

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.

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The best way into Charles Middleton's work
Gone with the Wind posterFirst watchGone with the Wind19397.9as Man with Stove Pipe Hat in Charge of Convict Workers (uncredited)The spoiled daughter of a Georgia plantation owner conducts a tumultuous romance with a cynical profiteer during the American Civil War and Reconstruction Era.View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach
The Grapes of Wrath poster7.8The Grapes of Wrath1940Duck Soup poster7.3Duck Soup1933The Killers poster7.4The Killers1946I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang poster7.8I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang1932Sergeant York poster7.2Sergeant York1941Jezebel poster7.0Jezebel1938Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House poster7.0Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House1948The Flying Deuces poster6.4The Flying Deuces1939

Filmography

174 films as actor
  1. 1982Dance of the CookoosCommandant
  2. 1966Peril from the Planet MongoMing the Merciless
  3. 1966Flash Gordon: The Deadly Ray From MarsMing the Merciless
  4. 1966Purple Death from Outer SpaceMing the Merciless
  5. 1949The Last BanditBlindfolded Circuit Rider
  6. 1948The Decision of Christopher BlakePresident in Dream (uncredited)
  7. 1948Jiggs and Maggie in CourtMr. Burton, an Attorney
  8. 1948Station WestSheriff
  9. 1948Feudin', Fussin' and A-Fightin'Townsman (uncredited)
  10. 1948Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream HouseWrecker (uncredited)
  11. 1948Here Comes TroubleReporter (uncredited)
  12. 1948My Girl Tisa
  13. 1947The PretenderWilliam the butler
  14. 1947GunfightersSheriff #1 (uncredited)
  15. 1947Welcome StrangerFarmer Pinkett (uncredited)
  16. 1947The Sea of GrassCharley - Saloon Owner (uncredited)
  17. 1946The KillersFarmer (uncredited)
  18. 1946Spook BustersMr. Stiles
  19. 1946Strangler of the SwampFerryman Douglas
  20. 1945How DOooo You DoSheriff Hayworth
  21. 1945Northwest TrailPierre
  22. 1945Our Vines Have Tender GrapesMr. Jensen
  23. 1945Hollywood and VineAttorney
  24. 1944The Town Went WildSam, Midvale District Attorney
  25. 1944The Desert HawkKoda Bey
  26. 1944Black ArrowTom Whitney
  27. 1943Wagon Wheels WestPhineas Hook
  28. 1943Crazy HouseSheriff
  29. 1943Oklahoma OutlawsJudge Ringle
  30. 1943BatmanKen Colton
  31. 1943Boobs in the Night
  32. 1943The Black RavenSheriff
  33. 1943Spook LouderGraves' Valet
  34. 1942Perils of NyokaCassib
  35. 1942Men of San QuentinSaunderson
  36. 1942The Mystery of Marie RogetCurator
  37. 1942Wild Bill Hickok RidesClaim Jumping Leader
  38. 1941Sergeant YorkMountaineer (uncredited)
  39. 1941Jungle ManRev. James 'Jim' Graham
  40. 1941Stick to Your GunsLong Ben, gambler-saloon owner
  41. 1941Belle StarrCarpetbagger
  42. 1941Wild Geese CallingDoctor Jed Sloan
  43. 1941The Shepherd of the HillsBlacksmith (uncredited)
  44. 1941Western UnionStagecoach Rider
  45. 1940Santa Fe TrailGentry
  46. 1940Rangers of FortuneWater Thug
  47. 1940Brigham YoungMob Member
  48. 1940Gold Rush MaisieCamp Owner with a Pig (Uncredited)
  49. 1940Women in HidingAlice's Father (uncredited)
  50. 1940Island of Doomed MenCaptain Cort
  51. 1940Charlie Chan's Murder CruiseJeremiah Walters
  52. 1940Shooting HighHod Carson
  53. 1940Virginia CityJefferson Davis
  54. 1940The Grapes of WrathLeader
  55. 1940Flash Gordon Conquers the UniverseEmperor Ming
  56. 1940Abe Lincoln in IllinoisTom Lincoln
  57. 1939Thou Shalt Not KillLars Olsen
  58. 1939Gone with the WindMan with Stove Pipe Hat in Charge of Convict Workers (uncredited)
  59. 1939Cowboys from TexasKansas Jones
  60. 1939Allegheny UprisingDr. Stoke
  61. 1939The Flying DeucesCommandant
  62. 1939$1,000 a TouchdownStage Manager (uncredited)
  63. 1939BlackmailSouthern Deputy (uncredited)
  64. 1939One Against the WorldMr. Crumley (uncredited)
  65. 1939Way Down SouthCass
  66. 1939Wyoming OutlawLuke Parker
  67. 1939Daredevils of the Red Circle39013
  68. 1939Captain FuryMergon
  69. 1939The Oklahoma KidAlec Martin
  70. 1939Jesse JamesDoctor
  71. 1938KentuckySoutherner
  72. 1938The Strange Case of Dr. MeadeLacey
  73. 1938Mars Attacks the WorldMing the Merciless
  74. 1938Dick Tracy ReturnsPa Stark
  75. 1938Flaming FrontiersAce Daggett
  76. 1938Joaquin MurrietaPolitician (uncredited)
  77. 1938JezebelOfficer (uncredited)
  78. 1938Flash Gordon's Trip to MarsEmperor Ming
  79. 1938Rocket ShipEmperor Ming
  80. 1937The Man Without a CountryPresident Abraham Lincoln (uncredited)
  81. 1937Stand-InActor Dressed as Abraham Lincoln
  82. 1937The Last Train from MadridWarden (uncredited)
  83. 1937Slave ShipSlave Dealer
  84. 1937Yodelin' Kid from Pine RidgeGene Autry Sr.
  85. 1937The Good EarthBanker (uncredited)
  86. 1937Hollywood Cowboy'Doc' Kramer
  87. 1937Two Gun LawWolf Larson
  88. 1937We're on the JuryMr. Martin
  89. 1936Empty SaddlesCim White
  90. 1936Career WomanMatt Clay
  91. 1936Wedding PresentTurnbull
  92. 1936RamonaAmerican Settler (uncredited)
  93. 1936The Texas RangersLawyer (uncredited)
  94. 1936JailbreakDan Stone
  95. 1936A Son Comes HomeProsecutor
  96. 1936Show BoatSheriff Ike Vallon
  97. 1936Flash GordonMing the Merciless
  98. 1936Road GangGrayson
  99. 1936The Trail of the Lonesome PineBlacksmith
  100. 1936Song of the SaddlePhineas P. Hook
  101. 1936Sunset of PowerNeil Brannum
  102. 1936Rose of the RanchoHorse Doctor (uncredited)
  103. 1935Frisco KidSpeaker (uncredited)
  104. 1935The Virginia JudgeCyrus Higgins
  105. 1935Special AgentState Police Commander (uncredited)
  106. 1935Steamboat Round the BendFleety Belle's Father
  107. 1935Hop-a-long CassidyBuck Peters
  108. 1935RecklessDistrict Attorney (uncredited)
  109. 1935The Miracle RiderZaroff
  110. 1935In Spite of DangerMr. Merritt
  111. 1935The Fixer UppersPierre Gustave
  112. 1935Square ShooterMiller
  113. 1934Red MorningStanchon
  114. 1934Behold My Wife!Juan Storm Cloud
  115. 1934Broadway BillVeterinarian (uncredited)
  116. 1934The St. Louis KidSheriff (uncredited)
  117. 1934Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage PatchMr. Bagby
  118. 1934When Strangers MeetJohn Tarman
  119. 1934Whom the Gods DestroyConstable Malcolm (uncredited)
  120. 1934Murder at the VanitiesHomer Boothby