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.

Known For

Leader

The Grapes of Wrath

Prosecutor

Duck Soup

Gentry

Santa Fe Trail

Ming the Merciless

Flash Gordon

My Girl Tisa

William the butler

The Pretender

Sam, Midvale District Attorney

The Town Went Wild

Commandant

The Flying Deuces

Sheriff Ike Vallon

Show Boat

Lacey

The Strange Case of Dr. Meade

Ferryman Douglas

Strangler of the Swamp

Blacksmith

The Trail of the Lonesome Pine

Boobs in the Night

Sheriff

Station West

Tom Lincoln

Abe Lincoln in Illinois

Simpson

The Miracle Woman

Jeremiah Walters

Charlie Chan's Murder Cruise

Banker (uncredited)

The Good Earth

Emperor Ming

Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe

Mr. Banks

High Pressure

Commandant

Beau Hunks

Pierre Gustave

The Fixer Uppers

Tyros

The Sign of the Cross

Homer Boothby

Murder at the Vanities

Lawyer Jones

Safe in Hell

John Thorne / The Dragon

Welcome Danger

Carpetbagger

Belle Starr

Sheriff Flint

Caught Plastered

U.S. Marshal

Lone Cowboy

Mr. Bagby

Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch

Mr. Stiles

Spook Busters

Veterinarian (uncredited)

Broadway Bill

Matthew the Hermit

Hell's Highway

Sheriff

The Black Raven

Mr. Satan (uncredited)

The Devil's Cabaret

Joe Pugmire

Breach of Promise

Reporter (uncredited)

Here Comes Trouble

Minister

A House Divided

Speaker (uncredited)

Frisco Kid

District Attorney

This Day and Age

Self (archive footage)

A Look at the World of 'Soylent Green'

Yolando

Palmy Days

Emperor Ming

Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars

Ming the Merciless

Purple Death from Outer Space

Kris Larsen

The Far Call

American Settler (uncredited)

Ramona

Kirby

X Marks the Spot

Dr. Fredericks

East Is West

Lip Hop Fat

The Hatchet Man

Police Capt. Slade

The Strange Love of Molly Louvain

Turk

Destination Unknown

Actor Dressed as Abraham Lincoln

Stand-In

Phineas P. Hook

Song of the Saddle

Jerry Simons

Tomorrow at Seven

Mr. Brewster

Pick-up

Abraham Lincoln

The Road Is Open Again

Zaroff

The Miracle Rider

Fenton

White Woman

Kansas Jones

Cowboys from Texas

Sheriff Scatters

Massacre

Grayson

Road Gang

39013

Daredevils of the Red Circle

El Shaitan (voice)

The Three Musketeers

'Doc' Kramer

Hollywood Cowboy

Mr. Martin

We're on the Jury

Gene Autry Sr.

Yodelin' Kid from Pine Ridge

Joe

Mr. Skitch

Henry Steele

Mystery Ranch

Farmer Pinkett (uncredited)

Welcome Stranger

Sheriff

The Last Round-up

District Attorney (uncredited)

Reckless

Deacon

David Harum

Pa Stark

Dick Tracy Returns

Ace Daggett

Flaming Frontiers

Farmer (uncredited)

The Killers

Pierre

Northwest Trail

Hod Carson

Shooting High

Buck Rankin

Way Out West

(archive footage)

Going Hollywood: The '30s

Williams

Sunset Pass

Cassib

Perils of Nyoka

District Attorney

Disgraced!

Graves' Valet

Spook Louder

Slave Dealer

Slave Ship

Stanchon

Red Morning

Southerner

Kentucky

Doctor

Jesse James

Chief of Police

Too Busy to Work

Doctor Jed Sloan

Wild Geese Calling

District Attorney (uncredited)

Rockabye

Wrecker (uncredited)

Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House

Saunderson

Men of San Quentin

Alec Martin

The Oklahoma Kid

President in Dream (uncredited)

The Decision of Christopher Blake

Sheriff Casey

Manhattan Parade

Buck Peters

Hop-a-long Cassidy

Curator

The Mystery of Marie Roget

Welfare Association Officer

Pack Up Your Troubles

Jefferson Davis

Virginia City

Tupper

A Dangerous Affair

District Attorney

The Bellamy Trial

Dr. Stoke

Allegheny Uprising

Cass

Way Down South

Luke Parker

Wyoming Outlaw

Man with Stove Pipe Hat in Charge of Convict Workers (uncredited)

Gone with the Wind

Lawyer (uncredited)

The Texas Rangers

Cim White

Empty Saddles

Southern Deputy (uncredited)

Blackmail

Neil Brannum

Sunset of Power

Miller

Square Shooter

Train Conductor (uncredited)

I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang

Phineas Hook

Wagon Wheels West

Wolf Larson

Two Gun Law

Blacksmith (uncredited)

The Shepherd of the Hills

Alice's Father (uncredited)

Women in Hiding

Water Thug

Rangers of Fortune

Mr. Jensen

Our Vines Have Tender Grapes

Farmer (uncredited)

Eyes of the Navy

Emperor Ming

Rocket Ship

Prosecutor

A Son Comes Home

Abe Lincoln (uncredited)

The Phantom President

Horse Doctor (uncredited)

Rose of the Rancho

Dan Stone

Jailbreak

Townsman (uncredited)

Feudin', Fussin' and A-Fightin'

Lars Olsen

Thou Shalt Not Kill

Captain Lash

Ships of Hate

Rev. James 'Jim' Graham

Jungle Man

Charley - Saloon Owner (uncredited)

The Sea of Grass

Mob Member

Brigham Young

Long Ben, gambler-saloon owner

Stick to Your Guns

Tom Whitney

Black Arrow

Sheriff #1 (uncredited)

Gunfighters

Mountaineer (uncredited)

Sergeant York

Officer (uncredited)

Jezebel

Roger Thurston

At Twelve Midnight

Captain Cort

Island of Doomed Men

Attorney Reuben Jephson

An American Tragedy

State Police Commander (uncredited)

Special Agent

Detective (uncredited)

The Bowery

Turnbull

Wedding Present

Ming the Merciless

Mars Attacks the World

Mergon

Captain Fury

Mr. Upjohn

Doctor Bull

Fleety Belle's Father

Steamboat Round the Bend

Stagecoach Rider

Western Union

Claim Jumping Leader

Wild Bill Hickok Rides

Blindfolded Circuit Rider

The Last Bandit

Matt Clay

Career Woman

Camp Owner with a Pig (Uncredited)

Gold Rush Maisie

Board Member (uncredited)

The Ruling Voice

Constable Malcolm (uncredited)

Whom the Gods Destroy

Sheriff Hayworth

How DOooo You Do

Jenkins

Silver Dollar

Lucius J. Perkins

Beau Bandit

Juan Storm Cloud

Behold My Wife!

Stage Manager (uncredited)

$1,000 a Touchdown

Judge Ringle

Oklahoma Outlaws

President Abraham Lincoln (uncredited)

The Man Without a Country

Ken Colton

Batman

Sheriff

Crazy House

Koda Bey

The Desert Hawk

Attorney

Hollywood and Vine

Ming the Merciless (archive footage)

Spaceship to the Unknown

Mr. Merritt

In Spite of Danger

Politician (uncredited)

Joaquin Murrieta

Sheriff

Big Executive

Mr. Crumley (uncredited)

One Against the World

Commandant

Dance of the cookoos

Mr. Burton, an Attorney

Jiggs and Maggie in Court

City Editor Baker

Sob Sister

Ming the Merciless

Flash Gordon: The Deadly Ray From Mars

Warden (uncredited)

The Last Train from Madrid

Ming the Merciless (Archive Footage)

The Boy from Mercury

Ming the Merciless

Peril from the Planet Mongo

Sheriff Wild Bill Hickok (uncredited)

The World Changes

John Tarman

When Strangers Meet

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

176

Gender

Male

Birthday

1874-10-02

Place of Birth

Elizabethtown, Kentucky, USA

Also Known As

Charles B. Middleton