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

Spaceship to the Unknown as Ming the Merciless (archive footage)
Peril from the Planet Mongo as Ming the Merciless
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)
Feudin', Fussin' and A-Fightin' as Townsman (uncredited)
Station West as Sheriff
The Decision of Christopher Blake as President in Dream (uncredited)
Jiggs and Maggie in Court as Mr. Burton, an Attorney
Here Comes Trouble as Reporter (uncredited)
My Girl Tisa

1947

The Sea of Grass as Charley - Saloon Owner (uncredited)
Welcome Stranger as Farmer Pinkett (uncredited)
Gunfighters as Sheriff #1 (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 Town Went Wild as Sam, Midvale District Attorney
Black Arrow as Tom Whitney
The Desert Hawk as Koda Bey

1943

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

1942

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

1941

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

1940

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

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
Daredevils of the Red Circle as 39013
Allegheny Uprising as Dr. Stoke
$1,000 a Touchdown as Stage Manager (uncredited)
Way Down South as Cass
Thou Shalt Not Kill as Lars Olsen
Cowboys from Texas as Kansas Jones
Captain Fury as Mergon
Blackmail as Southern Deputy (uncredited)
Wyoming Outlaw as Luke Parker
One Against the World as Mr. Crumley (uncredited)

1938

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

1937

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

1936

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

1935

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

1934

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

1933

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

1932

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

1931

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

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 Far Call as Kris Larsen
The Bellamy Trial as District Attorney

1928

The Farmer's Daughter as Hiram Flint