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

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

1947

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

1946

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

1945

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

1944

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

1943

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

1942

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

1939

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

1938

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

1937

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

1936

Road Gang as Grayson
Flash Gordon as Ming the Merciless
Empty Saddles as Cim White
Show Boat as Sheriff Ike Vallon
Wedding Present as Turnbull
Rose of the Rancho as Horse Doctor (uncredited)
The Trail of the Lonesome Pine as Blacksmith
The Texas Rangers as Lawyer (uncredited)
Career Woman as Matt Clay
Ramona as American Settler (uncredited)
Jailbreak as Dan Stone
Song of the Saddle as Phineas P. Hook
A Son Comes Home as Prosecutor
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
In Spite of Danger as Mr. Merritt
The Fixer Uppers as Pierre Gustave
The Miracle Rider as Zaroff
Square Shooter as Miller

1934

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

1933

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

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 Strange Love of Molly Louvain as Police Capt. Slade
The Phantom President as Abe Lincoln (uncredited)
The Hatchet Man as Lip Hop Fat
Rockabye as District Attorney (uncredited)
Breach of Promise as Joe Pugmire
Hell's Highway as Matthew the Hermit
High Pressure as Mr. Banks
Too Busy to Work as Chief of Police
Mystery Ranch as Henry Steele
Silver Dollar as Jenkins

1931

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

1930

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

1929

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

1928

The Farmer's Daughter as Hiram Flint