Charles Middleton
Acting • Born 1874-10-02 – Died 1949-04-22
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
177 credits
The Grapes of Wrath
Movie • 1940
Leader
Duck Soup
Movie • 1933
Prosecutor
Santa Fe Trail
Movie • 1940
Gentry
Flash Gordon
Movie • 1936
Ming the Merciless
My Girl Tisa
Movie • 1948
The Pretender
Movie • 1947
William the butler
The Town Went Wild
Movie • 1944
Sam, Midvale District Attorney
The Flying Deuces
Movie • 1939
Commandant
Show Boat
Movie • 1936
Sheriff Ike Vallon
The Strange Case of Dr. Meade
Movie • 1938
Lacey
Strangler of the Swamp
Movie • 1946
Ferryman Douglas
The Trail of the Lonesome Pine
Movie • 1936
Blacksmith
Boobs in the Night
Movie • 1943
Station West
Movie • 1948
Sheriff
Abe Lincoln in Illinois
Movie • 1940
Tom Lincoln
The Miracle Woman
Movie • 1931
Simpson
Charlie Chan's Murder Cruise
Movie • 1940
Jeremiah Walters
The Good Earth
Movie • 1937
Banker (uncredited)
Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe
Movie • 1940
Emperor Ming
High Pressure
Movie • 1932
Mr. Banks
Beau Hunks
Movie • 1931
Commandant
The Fixer Uppers
Movie • 1935
Pierre Gustave
The Sign of the Cross
Movie • 1932
Tyros
Murder at the Vanities
Movie • 1934
Homer Boothby
Safe in Hell
Movie • 1931
Lawyer Jones
Welcome Danger
Movie • 1929
John Thorne / The Dragon
Belle Starr
Movie • 1941
Carpetbagger
Caught Plastered
Movie • 1931
Sheriff Flint
Lone Cowboy
Movie • 1933
U.S. Marshal
Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch
Movie • 1934
Mr. Bagby
Spook Busters
Movie • 1946
Mr. Stiles
Broadway Bill
Movie • 1934
Veterinarian (uncredited)
Hell's Highway
Movie • 1932
Matthew the Hermit
The Black Raven
Movie • 1943
Sheriff
The Devil's Cabaret
Movie • 1930
Mr. Satan (uncredited)
Breach of Promise
Movie • 1932
Joe Pugmire
Here Comes Trouble
Movie • 1948
Reporter (uncredited)
A House Divided
Movie • 1931
Minister
Frisco Kid
Movie • 1935
Speaker (uncredited)
This Day and Age
Movie • 1933
District Attorney
A Look at the World of 'Soylent Green'
Movie • 1973
Self (archive footage)
Palmy Days
Movie • 1931
Yolando
Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars
Movie • 1938
Emperor Ming
Purple Death from Outer Space
Movie • 1966
Ming the Merciless
The Far Call
Movie • 1929
Kris Larsen
Ramona
Movie • 1936
American Settler (uncredited)
X Marks the Spot
Movie • 1931
Kirby
East Is West
Movie • 1930
Dr. Fredericks
The Hatchet Man
Movie • 1932
Lip Hop Fat
The Strange Love of Molly Louvain
Movie • 1932
Police Capt. Slade
Destination Unknown
Movie • 1933
Turk
Stand-In
Movie • 1937
Actor Dressed as Abraham Lincoln
Song of the Saddle
Movie • 1936
Phineas P. Hook
Tomorrow at Seven
Movie • 1933
Jerry Simons
Pick-up
Movie • 1933
Mr. Brewster
The Road Is Open Again
Movie • 1933
Abraham Lincoln
The Miracle Rider
Movie • 1935
Zaroff
White Woman
Movie • 1933
Fenton
Cowboys from Texas
Movie • 1939
Kansas Jones
Massacre
Movie • 1934
Sheriff Scatters
Road Gang
Movie • 1936
Grayson
Daredevils of the Red Circle
Movie • 1939
39013
The Three Musketeers
Movie • 1933
El Shaitan (voice)
Hollywood Cowboy
Movie • 1937
'Doc' Kramer
We're on the Jury
Movie • 1937
Mr. Martin
Yodelin' Kid from Pine Ridge
Movie • 1937
Gene Autry Sr.
Mr. Skitch
Movie • 1933
Joe
Mystery Ranch
Movie • 1932
Henry Steele
Welcome Stranger
Movie • 1947
Farmer Pinkett (uncredited)
The Last Round-up
Movie • 1934
Sheriff
Reckless
Movie • 1935
District Attorney (uncredited)
David Harum
Movie • 1934
Deacon
Dick Tracy Returns
Movie • 1938
Pa Stark
Flaming Frontiers
Movie • 1938
Ace Daggett
The Killers
Movie • 1946
Farmer (uncredited)
Northwest Trail
Movie • 1945
Pierre
Shooting High
Movie • 1940
Hod Carson
Way Out West
Movie • 1930
Buck Rankin
Going Hollywood: The '30s
Movie • 1984
(archive footage)
Sunset Pass
Movie • 1933
Williams
Perils of Nyoka
Movie • 1942
Cassib
Disgraced!
Movie • 1933
District Attorney
Spook Louder
Movie • 1943
Graves' Valet
Slave Ship
Movie • 1937
Slave Dealer
Red Morning
Movie • 1934
Stanchon
Kentucky
Movie • 1938
Southerner
Jesse James
Movie • 1939
Doctor
Too Busy to Work
Movie • 1932
Chief of Police
Wild Geese Calling
Movie • 1941
Doctor Jed Sloan
Rockabye
Movie • 1932
District Attorney (uncredited)
Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House
Movie • 1948
Wrecker (uncredited)
Men of San Quentin
Movie • 1942
Saunderson
The Oklahoma Kid
Movie • 1939
Alec Martin
The Decision of Christopher Blake
Movie • 1948
President in Dream (uncredited)
Manhattan Parade
Movie • 1931
Sheriff Casey
Hop-a-long Cassidy
Movie • 1935
Buck Peters
The Mystery of Marie Roget
Movie • 1942
Curator
Pack Up Your Troubles
Movie • 1932
Welfare Association Officer
Virginia City
Movie • 1940
Jefferson Davis
A Dangerous Affair
Movie • 1931
Tupper
The Bellamy Trial
Movie • 1929
District Attorney
Allegheny Uprising
Movie • 1939
Dr. Stoke
Way Down South
Movie • 1939
Cass
Wyoming Outlaw
Movie • 1939
Luke Parker
Gone with the Wind
Movie • 1939
Man with Stove Pipe Hat in Charge of Convict Workers (uncredited)
The Texas Rangers
Movie • 1936
Lawyer (uncredited)
Empty Saddles
Movie • 1936
Cim White
Blackmail
Movie • 1939
Southern Deputy (uncredited)
Sunset of Power
Movie • 1936
Neil Brannum
Square Shooter
Movie • 1935
Miller
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang
Movie • 1932
Train Conductor (uncredited)
Wagon Wheels West
Movie • 1943
Phineas Hook
Two Gun Law
Movie • 1937
Wolf Larson
The Shepherd of the Hills
Movie • 1941
Blacksmith (uncredited)
Women in Hiding
Movie • 1940
Alice's Father (uncredited)
Rangers of Fortune
Movie • 1940
Water Thug
Our Vines Have Tender Grapes
Movie • 1945
Mr. Jensen
Eyes of the Navy
Movie • 1940
Farmer (uncredited)
Rocket Ship
Movie • 1938
Emperor Ming
A Son Comes Home
Movie • 1936
Prosecutor
The Phantom President
Movie • 1932
Abe Lincoln (uncredited)
Rose of the Rancho
Movie • 1936
Horse Doctor (uncredited)
Jailbreak
Movie • 1936
Dan Stone
Feudin', Fussin' and A-Fightin'
Movie • 1948
Townsman (uncredited)
Thou Shalt Not Kill
Movie • 1939
Lars Olsen
Ships of Hate
Movie • 1931
Captain Lash
Jungle Man
Movie • 1941
Rev. James 'Jim' Graham
The Sea of Grass
Movie • 1947
Charley - Saloon Owner (uncredited)
Brigham Young
Movie • 1940
Mob Member
Stick to Your Guns
Movie • 1941
Long Ben, gambler-saloon owner
Black Arrow
Movie • 1944
Tom Whitney
Gunfighters
Movie • 1947
Sheriff #1 (uncredited)
Sergeant York
Movie • 1941
Mountaineer (uncredited)
Jezebel
Movie • 1938
Officer (uncredited)
At Twelve Midnight
Movie • 1933
Roger Thurston
Island of Doomed Men
Movie • 1940
Captain Cort
An American Tragedy
Movie • 1931
Attorney Reuben Jephson
Special Agent
Movie • 1935
State Police Commander (uncredited)
The Bowery
Movie • 1933
Detective (uncredited)
Wedding Present
Movie • 1936
Turnbull
Mars Attacks the World
Movie • 1938
Ming the Merciless
Captain Fury
Movie • 1939
Mergon
Doctor Bull
Movie • 1933
Mr. Upjohn
Steamboat Round the Bend
Movie • 1935
Fleety Belle's Father
Western Union
Movie • 1941
Stagecoach Rider
Wild Bill Hickok Rides
Movie • 1942
Claim Jumping Leader
The Last Bandit
Movie • 1949
Blindfolded Circuit Rider
Career Woman
Movie • 1936
Matt Clay
Gold Rush Maisie
Movie • 1940
Camp Owner with a Pig (Uncredited)
The Ruling Voice
Movie • 1931
Board Member (uncredited)
Whom the Gods Destroy
Movie • 1934
Constable Malcolm (uncredited)
How DOooo You Do
Movie • 1945
Sheriff Hayworth
Silver Dollar
Movie • 1932
Jenkins
Beau Bandit
Movie • 1930
Lucius J. Perkins
Behold My Wife!
Movie • 1934
Juan Storm Cloud
$1,000 a Touchdown
Movie • 1939
Stage Manager (uncredited)
Oklahoma Outlaws
Movie • 1943
Judge Ringle
The Man Without a Country
Movie • 1937
President Abraham Lincoln (uncredited)
Batman
Movie • 1943
Ken Colton
Crazy House
Movie • 1943
Sheriff
The Desert Hawk
Movie • 1944
Koda Bey
Hollywood and Vine
Movie • 1945
Attorney
Spaceship to the Unknown
Movie • 1966
Ming the Merciless (archive footage)
In Spite of Danger
Movie • 1935
Mr. Merritt
Joaquin Murrieta
Movie • 1938
Politician (uncredited)
Big Executive
Movie • 1933
Sheriff
One Against the World
Movie • 1939
Mr. Crumley (uncredited)
Dance of the Cookoos
Movie • 1982
Commandant
Jiggs and Maggie in Court
Movie • 1948
Mr. Burton, an Attorney
Sob Sister
Movie • 1931
City Editor Baker
Flash Gordon: The Deadly Ray From Mars
Movie • 1966
Ming the Merciless
The Last Train from Madrid
Movie • 1937
Warden (uncredited)
The Boy from Mercury
Movie • 1996
Ming the Merciless (Archive Footage)
Peril from the Planet Mongo
Movie • 1966
Ming the Merciless
The World Changes
Movie • 1933
Sheriff Wild Bill Hickok (uncredited)
When Strangers Meet
Movie • 1934
John Tarman
The Farmer's Daughter
Movie • 1928
Hiram Flint