Charles Middleton
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.
Gallery
Known For
Acting History
1996
The Boy from Mercury as Ming the Merciless (Archive Footage)
1984Going Hollywood: The '30s as (archive footage)
1982Dance of the Cookoos as Commandant
1973A Look at the World of 'Soylent Green' as Self (archive footage)
1966Peril from the Planet Mongo as Ming the Merciless
1966Spaceship to the Unknown as Ming the Merciless (archive footage)
1966Purple Death from Outer Space as Ming the Merciless
1949The Last Bandit as Blindfolded Circuit Rider
1948The Decision of Christopher Blake as President in Dream (uncredited)
1948Jiggs and Maggie in Court as Mr. Burton, an Attorney
1948Station West as Sheriff
1948Feudin', Fussin' and A-Fightin' as Townsman (uncredited)
1948Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House as Wrecker (uncredited)
1948Here Comes Trouble as Reporter (uncredited)
1948My Girl Tisa
1947The Pretender as William the butler
1947Gunfighters as Sheriff #1 (uncredited)
1947Welcome Stranger as Farmer Pinkett (uncredited)
1947The Sea of Grass as Charley - Saloon Owner (uncredited)
1946The Killers as Farmer (uncredited)
1946Spook Busters as Mr. Stiles
1946Strangler of the Swamp as Ferryman Douglas
1945How DOooo You Do as Sheriff Hayworth
1945Northwest Trail as Pierre
1945Our Vines Have Tender Grapes as Mr. Jensen
1945Hollywood and Vine as Attorney
1944The Town Went Wild as Sam, Midvale District Attorney
1944The Desert Hawk as Koda Bey
1944Black Arrow as Tom Whitney
1943Wagon Wheels West as Phineas Hook
1943Crazy House as Sheriff
1943Oklahoma Outlaws as Judge Ringle
1943Batman as Ken Colton
1943Boobs in the Night
1943The Black Raven as Sheriff
1943Spook Louder as Graves' Valet
1942Perils of Nyoka as Cassib
1942Men of San Quentin as Saunderson
1942The Mystery of Marie Roget as Curator
1942Wild Bill Hickok Rides as Claim Jumping Leader
1941Sergeant York as Mountaineer (uncredited)
1941Jungle Man as Rev. James 'Jim' Graham
1941Stick to Your Guns as Long Ben, gambler-saloon owner
1941Belle Starr as Carpetbagger
1941Wild Geese Calling as Doctor Jed Sloan
1941The Shepherd of the Hills as Blacksmith (uncredited)
1941Western Union as Stagecoach Rider
1940Santa Fe Trail as Gentry
1940Eyes of the Navy as Farmer (uncredited)
1940Rangers of Fortune as Water Thug
1940Brigham Young as Mob Member
1940Gold Rush Maisie as Camp Owner with a Pig (Uncredited)
1940Women in Hiding as Alice's Father (uncredited)
1940Island of Doomed Men as Captain Cort
1940Charlie Chan's Murder Cruise as Jeremiah Walters
1940Shooting High as Hod Carson
1940Virginia City as Jefferson Davis
1940The Grapes of Wrath as Leader
1940Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe as Emperor Ming
1940Abe Lincoln in Illinois as Tom Lincoln
1939Thou Shalt Not Kill as Lars Olsen
1939Gone with the Wind as Man with Stove Pipe Hat in Charge of Convict Workers (uncredited)
1939Cowboys from Texas as Kansas Jones
1939Allegheny Uprising as Dr. Stoke
1939The Flying Deuces as Commandant
1939$1,000 a Touchdown as Stage Manager (uncredited)
1939Blackmail as Southern Deputy (uncredited)
1939One Against the World as Mr. Crumley (uncredited)
1939Way Down South as Cass
1939Wyoming Outlaw as Luke Parker
1939Daredevils of the Red Circle as 39013
1939Captain Fury as Mergon
1939The Oklahoma Kid as Alec Martin
1939Jesse James as Doctor
1938Kentucky as Southerner
1938The Strange Case of Dr. Meade as Lacey
1938Mars Attacks the World as Ming the Merciless
1938Dick Tracy Returns as Pa Stark
1938Flaming Frontiers as Ace Daggett
1938Joaquin Murrieta as Politician (uncredited)
1938Jezebel as Officer (uncredited)
1938Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars as Emperor Ming
1938Flash Gordon: The Deadly Ray From Mars as Ming the Merciless
1938Rocket Ship as Emperor Ming
1937The Man Without a Country as President Abraham Lincoln (uncredited)
1937Stand-In as Actor Dressed as Abraham Lincoln
1937The Last Train from Madrid as Warden (uncredited)
1937Slave Ship as Slave Dealer
1937Yodelin' Kid from Pine Ridge as Gene Autry Sr.
1937The Good Earth as Banker (uncredited)
1937Hollywood Cowboy as 'Doc' Kramer
1937Two Gun Law as Wolf Larson
1937We're on the Jury as Mr. Martin
1936Empty Saddles as Cim White
1936Career Woman as Matt Clay
1936Wedding Present as Turnbull
1936Ramona as American Settler (uncredited)
1936The Texas Rangers as Lawyer (uncredited)
1936Jailbreak as Dan Stone
1936A Son Comes Home as Prosecutor
1936Show Boat as Sheriff Ike Vallon
1936Flash Gordon as Ming the Merciless
1936Road Gang as Grayson
1936The Trail of the Lonesome Pine as Blacksmith
1936Song of the Saddle as Phineas P. Hook
1936Sunset of Power as Neil Brannum
1936Rose of the Rancho as Horse Doctor (uncredited)
1935Frisco Kid as Speaker (uncredited)
1935Special Agent as State Police Commander (uncredited)
1935Steamboat Round the Bend as Fleety Belle's Father
1935Hop-a-long Cassidy as Buck Peters
1935Reckless as District Attorney (uncredited)
1935The Miracle Rider as Zaroff
1935In Spite of Danger as Mr. Merritt
1935The Fixer Uppers as Pierre Gustave
1935Square Shooter as Miller
1934Red Morning as Stanchon
1934Behold My Wife! as Juan Storm Cloud
1934Broadway Bill as Veterinarian (uncredited)
1934Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch as Mr. Bagby
1934Whom the Gods Destroy as Constable Malcolm (uncredited)
1934Murder at the Vanities as Homer Boothby
1934The Last Round-up as Sheriff
1934David Harum as Deacon
1934Massacre as Sheriff Scatters
1933Mr. Skitch as Joe
1933Lone Cowboy as U.S. Marshal
1933The World Changes as Sheriff Wild Bill Hickok (uncredited)
1933Duck Soup as Prosecutor
1933White Woman as Fenton
1933Big Executive as Sheriff
1933The Bowery as Detective (uncredited)
1933Doctor Bull as Mr. Upjohn
1933This Day and Age as District Attorney
1933Disgraced! as District Attorney
1933Tomorrow at Seven as Jerry Simons
1933At Twelve Midnight as Roger Thurston
1933Sunset Pass as Williams
1933The Three Musketeers as El Shaitan (voice)
1933Destination Unknown as Turk
1933Pick-up as Mr. Brewster
1933The Road Is Open Again as Abraham Lincoln
1932Silver Dollar as Jenkins
1932Too Busy to Work as Chief of Police
1932The Sign of the Cross as Tyros
1932Rockabye as District Attorney (uncredited)
1932I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang as Train Conductor (uncredited)
1932Breach of Promise as Joe Pugmire
1932The Phantom President as Abe Lincoln (uncredited)
1932Hell's Highway as Matthew the Hermit
1932Pack Up Your Troubles as Welfare Association Officer
1932Mystery Ranch as Henry Steele
1932The Strange Love of Molly Louvain as Police Capt. Slade
1932The Hatchet Man as Lip Hop Fat
1932High Pressure as Mr. Banks
1931Manhattan Parade as Sheriff Casey
1931X Marks the Spot as Kirby
1931Safe in Hell as Lawyer Jones
1931A House Divided as Minister
1931Beau Hunks as Commandant
1931Sob Sister as City Editor Baker
1931A Dangerous Affair as Tupper
1931Palmy Days as Yolando
1931The Ruling Voice as Board Member (uncredited)
1931An American Tragedy as Attorney Reuben Jephson
1931Caught Plastered as Sheriff Flint
1931The Miracle Woman as Simpson
1931Ships of Hate as Captain Lash
1930The Devil's Cabaret as Mr. Satan (uncredited)
1930East Is West as Dr. Fredericks
1930Way Out West as Buck Rankin
1930Beau Bandit as Lucius J. Perkins
1929Welcome Danger as John Thorne / The Dragon
1929The Far Call as Kris Larsen
1929The Bellamy Trial as District Attorney