Lon Chaney Jr.
ActingAbout Lon Chaney Jr.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Lon Chaney, Jr. (February 10, 1906 – July 12, 1973), born Creighton Tull Chaney, was an American character actor. He was best known for his roles in monster movies and as the son of famous silent film actor, Lon Chaney. He is notable for playing Larry Talbot in The Wolf Man movies. Originally credited in films as Creighton Chaney, he was first credited as "Lon Chaney, Jr." in 1935. Chaney had English, French and Irish ancestry. Description above from the Wikipedia article Lon Chaney, Jr., licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of Lon Chaney Jr. reveals a career defined by exceptional commercial consistency. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Documentary
The majority of Lon Chaney Jr.'s filmography leans towards the Documentary genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.
The "Box Office" Signature
With a 94% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Lon Chaney Jr. remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in Dracula: A Cinematic Scrapbook, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best Lon Chaney Jr. Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Lon Chaney Jr.'s career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Lon Chaney Jr..
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Jack Pierce: The Man Who Made the Monsters | Self (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2014 | Monster Madness: The Golden Age of the Horror Film | The Wolf Man / Larry Talbot (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2010 | Pure in Heart: The Life and Legacy of Lon Chaney, Jr. | Self (archive footage) | Hit | Similar → |
| 2007 | Famous Monster: Forrest J Ackerman | Self (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2004 | Los Angeles Plays Itself | Charles Benton in The Indestructible Man (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2001 | Heroes of Horror | (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2000 | Lon Chaney: A Thousand Faces | Self (archive footage) | Hit | Similar → |
| 2000 | The American Nightmare | Self | Hit | Similar → |
| 2000 | Mummy Dearest: A Horror Tradition Unearthed | Self (archive footage) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1999 | Monster by Moonlight! The Immortal Saga of 'The Wolf Man' | Self (archive footage) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1998 | Universal Horror | (archive footage) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1995 | Lon Chaney: Son of a Thousand Faces | (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1994 | Abbott and Costello Meet Jerry Seinfeld | Self (archive footage) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1991 | Wolfman Chronicles: A Cinematic Scrapbook | Lawrence Talbot / The Wolf Man (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1991 | Dracula: A Cinematic Scrapbook | Count Dracula / The Wolf Man (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1967 | Spider Baby | Bruno | Hit | Similar → |
| 1965 | Town Tamer | Charlie Leach | Hit | Similar → |
| 1964 | Witchcraft | Morgan Whitlock | Hit | Similar → |
| 1963 | The Haunted Palace | Simon Orne | Hit | Similar → |
| 1958 | The Defiant Ones | Big Sam | Hit | Similar → |
| 1956 | Pardners | Whitey | Hit | Similar → |
| 1955 | Big House, U.S.A | Leonard M. 'Alamo' Smith | Hit | Similar → |
| 1952 | The Black Castle | Gargon | Average | Similar → |
| 1952 | High Noon | Martin Howe | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1952 | Frankenstein | The Monster | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1948 | Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein | The Wolfman | Hit | Similar → |
| 1948 | Albuquerque | Steve Murkill | Hit | Similar → |
| 1947 | My Favorite Brunette | Willie | Hit | Similar → |
| 1945 | Pillow of Death | Wayne Fletcher | Hit | Similar → |
| 1945 | Strange Confession | Jeff Carter | Hit | Similar → |
| 1944 | Dead Man's Eyes | David Stuart | Hit | Similar → |
| 1943 | Calling Dr. Death | Dr. Mark Steel (as Lon Chaney) | Average | Similar → |
| 1942 | North to the Klondike | Nate Carson | Hit | Similar → |
| 1941 | The Wolf Man | Larry Talbot / The Wolf Man | Hit | Similar → |
| 1941 | Riders of Death Valley | Henchman Butch | Hit | Similar → |
| 1941 | San Antonio Rose | Jigsaw Kennedy | Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | Of Mice and Men | Lennie Small | Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | City in Darkness | Pierre | Average | Similar → |
| 1939 | Union Pacific | Dollarhide | Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | Jesse James | One Of James Gang | Hit | Similar → |
| 1938 | Submarine Patrol | Marine Sentry | Hit | Similar → |
| 1938 | Josette | Boatman | Hit | Similar → |
| 1938 | Alexander's Ragtime Band | Photographer | Hit | Similar → |
| 1937 | Charlie Chan on Broadway | Desk Reporter | Hit | Similar → |
| 1937 | One Mile from Heaven | Policeman | Hit | Similar → |
| 1937 | This Is My Affair | Federal Agent in Baltimore Bank | Hit | Similar → |
| 1937 | Secret Agent X-9 | Maroni | Hit | Similar → |
| 1936 | The Old Corral | Garland - Simms partner | Hit | Similar → |
| 1936 | Ace Drummond | Henchman Ivan | Hit | Similar → |
| 1933 | Son of the Border | Jack Breen | Super Hit | Similar → |
Lon Chaney Jr. - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Lon Chaney Jr.?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Lon Chaney Jr. is "Dracula: A Cinematic Scrapbook" with a rating of 10.0/10.
How many movies has Lon Chaney Jr. acted in?
Lon Chaney Jr. has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Lon Chaney Jr.?
Other notable films include "Frankenstein", "Jack Pierce: The Man Who Made the Monsters", and "Heroes of Horror".