Charles Middleton

Born: 1874-10-02 in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, USA

Died: 1949-04-22

Known For: Acting

Biography

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.

Filmography

1996

The Boy from Mercury as Ming the Merciless (Archive Footage)

1966

Peril from the Planet Mongo as Ming the Merciless
Spaceship to the Unknown as Ming the Merciless (archive footage)
Purple Death from Outer Space as Ming the Merciless
Flash Gordon: The Deadly Ray From Mars as Ming the Merciless

1949

The Last Bandit as Blindfolded Circuit Rider

1948

Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House as Wrecker (uncredited)
Station West as Sheriff
Here Comes Trouble as Reporter (uncredited)
My Girl Tisa
The Decision of Christopher Blake as President in Dream (uncredited)
Feudin', Fussin' and A-Fightin' as Townsman (uncredited)
Jiggs and Maggie in Court as Mr. Burton, an Attorney

1947

Gunfighters as Sheriff #1 (uncredited)
The Sea of Grass as Charley - Saloon Owner (uncredited)
Welcome Stranger as Farmer Pinkett (uncredited)
The Pretender as William the butler

1946

The Killers as Farmer (uncredited)
Strangler of the Swamp as Ferryman Douglas
Spook Busters as Mr. Stiles

1945

Our Vines Have Tender Grapes as Mr. Jensen
How DOooo You Do as Sheriff Hayworth
Hollywood and Vine as Attorney
Northwest Trail as Pierre

1944

The Desert Hawk as Koda Bey
The Town Went Wild as Sam, Midvale District Attorney
Black Arrow as Tom Whitney

1943

Batman as Ken Colton
Crazy House as Sheriff
Boobs in the Night
Wagon Wheels West as Phineas Hook
The Black Raven as Sheriff
Oklahoma Outlaws as Judge Ringle
Spook Louder as Graves' Valet

1942

Wild Bill Hickok Rides as Claim Jumping Leader
The Mystery of Marie Roget as Curator
Perils of Nyoka as Cassib
Men of San Quentin as Saunderson

1941

Sergeant York as Mountaineer (uncredited)
Belle Starr as Carpetbagger
Western Union as Stagecoach Rider
The Shepherd of the Hills as Blacksmith (uncredited)
Jungle Man as Rev. James 'Jim' Graham
Wild Geese Calling as Doctor Jed Sloan
Stick to Your Guns as Long Ben, gambler-saloon owner

1940

The Grapes of Wrath as Leader
Santa Fe Trail as Gentry
Brigham Young as Mob Member
Virginia City as Jefferson Davis
Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe as Emperor Ming
Abe Lincoln in Illinois as Tom Lincoln
Island of Doomed Men as Captain Cort
Gold Rush Maisie as Camp Owner with a Pig (Uncredited)
Rangers of Fortune as Water Thug
Charlie Chan's Murder Cruise as Jeremiah Walters
Shooting High as Hod Carson
Women in Hiding as Alice's Father (uncredited)
Eyes of the Navy as Farmer (uncredited)

1939

Gone with the Wind as Man with Stove Pipe Hat in Charge of Convict Workers (uncredited)
Jesse James as Doctor
The Flying Deuces as Commandant
Allegheny Uprising as Dr. Stoke
The Oklahoma Kid as Alec Martin
Way Down South as Cass
Daredevils of the Red Circle as 39013
Blackmail as Southern Deputy (uncredited)
Wyoming Outlaw as Luke Parker
Captain Fury as Mergon
$1,000 a Touchdown as Stage Manager (uncredited)
Thou Shalt Not Kill as Lars Olsen
One Against the World as Mr. Crumley (uncredited)
Cowboys from Texas as Kansas Jones

1938

Jezebel as Officer (uncredited)
Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars as Emperor Ming
Kentucky as Southerner
Rocket Ship as Emperor Ming
The Strange Case of Dr. Meade as Lacey
Dick Tracy Returns as Pa Stark
Mars Attacks the World as Ming the Merciless
Flaming Frontiers as Ace Daggett
Joaquin Murrieta as Politician (uncredited)

1937

The Good Earth as Banker (uncredited)
The Last Train from Madrid as Warden (uncredited)
Slave Ship as Slave Dealer
Stand-In as Actor Dressed as Abraham Lincoln
We're on the Jury as Mr. Martin
The Man Without a Country as President Abraham Lincoln (uncredited)
Two Gun Law as Wolf Larson
Yodelin' Kid from Pine Ridge as Gene Autry Sr.
Hollywood Cowboy as 'Doc' Kramer

1936

Flash Gordon as Ming the Merciless
Show Boat as Sheriff Ike Vallon
Empty Saddles as Cim White
The Trail of the Lonesome Pine as Blacksmith
Road Gang as Grayson
The Texas Rangers as Lawyer (uncredited)
Wedding Present as Turnbull
Rose of the Rancho as Horse Doctor (uncredited)
Jailbreak as Dan Stone
Song of the Saddle as Phineas P. Hook
Ramona as American Settler (uncredited)
A Son Comes Home as Prosecutor
Career Woman as Matt Clay
Sunset of Power as Neil Brannum

1935

Special Agent as State Police Commander (uncredited)
Reckless as District Attorney (uncredited)
Hop-a-long Cassidy as Buck Peters
Frisco Kid as Speaker (uncredited)
Steamboat Round the Bend as Fleety Belle's Father
The Fixer Uppers as Pierre Gustave
The Miracle Rider as Zaroff
In Spite of Danger as Mr. Merritt
Square Shooter as Miller

1934

Broadway Bill as Veterinarian (uncredited)
Murder at the Vanities as Homer Boothby
Behold My Wife! as Juan Storm Cloud
Whom the Gods Destroy as Constable Malcolm (uncredited)
Massacre as Sheriff Scatters
The Last Round-up as Sheriff
Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch as Mr. Bagby
Red Morning as Stanchon
When Strangers Meet as John Tarman
David Harum as Deacon

1933

Duck Soup as Prosecutor
The World Changes as Sheriff Wild Bill Hickok (uncredited)
Mr. Skitch as Joe
Pick-up as Mr. Brewster
The Three Musketeers as El Shaitan (voice)
This Day and Age as District Attorney
The Bowery as Detective (uncredited)
White Woman as Fenton
Destination Unknown as Turk
Sunset Pass as Williams
Doctor Bull as Mr. Upjohn
At Twelve Midnight as Roger Thurston
Disgraced! as District Attorney
Lone Cowboy as U.S. Marshal
Big Executive as Sheriff
The Road Is Open Again as Abraham Lincoln
Tomorrow at Seven as Jerry Simons

1932

The Sign of the Cross as Tyros
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang as Train Conductor (uncredited)
Pack Up Your Troubles as Welfare Association Officer
The Phantom President as Abe Lincoln (uncredited)
Rockabye as District Attorney (uncredited)
The Hatchet Man as Lip Hop Fat
Too Busy to Work as Chief of Police
The Strange Love of Molly Louvain as Police Capt. Slade
High Pressure as Mr. Banks
Hell's Highway as Matthew the Hermit
Mystery Ranch as Henry Steele
Silver Dollar as Jenkins
Breach of Promise as Joe Pugmire

1931

Beau Hunks as Commandant
The Miracle Woman as Simpson
Safe in Hell as Lawyer Jones
Sob Sister as City Editor Baker
Palmy Days as Yolando
An American Tragedy as Attorney Reuben Jephson
Caught Plastered as Sheriff Flint
A House Divided as Minister
Manhattan Parade as Sheriff Casey
The Ruling Voice as Board Member (uncredited)
A Dangerous Affair as Tupper
X Marks the Spot as Kirby
Ships of Hate as Captain Lash

1930

The Devil's Cabaret as Mr. Satan (uncredited)
Way Out West as Buck Rankin
Beau Bandit as Lucius J. Perkins
East Is West as Dr. Fredericks

1929

Welcome Danger as John Thorne / The Dragon
The Far Call as Kris Larsen
The Bellamy Trial as District Attorney

1928

The Farmer's Daughter as Hiram Flint