Charles Middleton

Acting

Charles Middleton

Born October 2, 1874Elizabethtown, Kentucky, USA177 credits

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

The Boy from Mercury
6.0

The Boy from Mercury

Movie

1996

Going Hollywood: The '30s
10.0

Going Hollywood: The '30s

Movie

1984

Dance of the Cookoos

Dance of the Cookoos

Movie

1982

A Look at the World of 'Soylent Green'

A Look at the World of 'Soylent Green'

Movie

1973

Peril from the Planet Mongo
6.0

Peril from the Planet Mongo

Movie

1966

Flash Gordon: The Deadly Ray From Mars
10.0

Flash Gordon: The Deadly Ray From Mars

Movie

1966

Filmography

The Boy from Mercury
1996The Boy from Mercuryas Ming the Merciless (Archive Footage)Movie
Going Hollywood: The '30s
1984Going Hollywood: The '30sas (archive footage)Movie
Dance of the Cookoos
1982Dance of the Cookoosas CommandantMovie
A Look at the World of 'Soylent Green'
1973A Look at the World of 'Soylent Green'as Self (archive footage)Movie
Peril from the Planet Mongo
1966Peril from the Planet Mongoas Ming the MercilessMovie
Flash Gordon: The Deadly Ray From Mars
1966Flash Gordon: The Deadly Ray From Marsas Ming the MercilessMovie
Purple Death from Outer Space
1966Purple Death from Outer Spaceas Ming the MercilessMovie
Spaceship to the Unknown
1966Spaceship to the Unknownas Ming the Merciless (archive footage)Movie
The Last Bandit
1949The Last Banditas Blindfolded Circuit RiderMovie
The Decision of Christopher Blake
1948The Decision of Christopher Blakeas President in Dream (uncredited)Movie
Jiggs and Maggie in Court
1948Jiggs and Maggie in Courtas Mr. Burton, an AttorneyMovie
Station West
1948Station Westas SheriffMovie
Feudin', Fussin' and A-Fightin'
1948Feudin', Fussin' and A-Fightin'as Townsman (uncredited)Movie
Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House
1948Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream Houseas Wrecker (uncredited)Movie
Here Comes Trouble
1948Here Comes Troubleas Reporter (uncredited)Movie
My Girl Tisa
1948My Girl TisaMovie
The Pretender
1947The Pretenderas William the butlerMovie
Gunfighters
1947Gunfightersas Sheriff #1 (uncredited)Movie
Welcome Stranger
1947Welcome Strangeras Farmer Pinkett (uncredited)Movie
The Sea of Grass
1947The Sea of Grassas Charley - Saloon Owner (uncredited)Movie
The Killers
1946The Killersas Farmer (uncredited)Movie
Spook Busters
1946Spook Bustersas Mr. StilesMovie
Strangler of the Swamp
1946Strangler of the Swampas Ferryman DouglasMovie
How DOooo You Do
1945How DOooo You Doas Sheriff HayworthMovie
Northwest Trail
1945Northwest Trailas PierreMovie
Our Vines Have Tender Grapes
1945Our Vines Have Tender Grapesas Mr. JensenMovie
Hollywood and Vine
1945Hollywood and Vineas AttorneyMovie
The Town Went Wild
1944The Town Went Wildas Sam, Midvale District AttorneyMovie
The Desert Hawk
1944The Desert Hawkas Koda BeyMovie
Black Arrow
1944Black Arrowas Tom WhitneyMovie
Wagon Wheels West
1943Wagon Wheels Westas Phineas HookMovie
Crazy House
1943Crazy Houseas SheriffMovie
Oklahoma Outlaws
1943Oklahoma Outlawsas Judge RingleMovie
Batman
1943Batmanas Ken ColtonMovie
Boobs in the Night
1943Boobs in the NightMovie
The Black Raven
1943The Black Ravenas SheriffMovie
Spook Louder
1943Spook Louderas Graves' ValetMovie
Perils of Nyoka
1942Perils of Nyokaas CassibMovie
Men of San Quentin
1942Men of San Quentinas SaundersonMovie
The Mystery of Marie Roget
1942The Mystery of Marie Rogetas CuratorMovie
Wild Bill Hickok Rides
1942Wild Bill Hickok Ridesas Claim Jumping LeaderMovie
Sergeant York
1941Sergeant Yorkas Mountaineer (uncredited)Movie
Jungle Man
1941Jungle Manas Rev. James 'Jim' GrahamMovie
Stick to Your Guns
1941Stick to Your Gunsas Long Ben, gambler-saloon ownerMovie
Belle Starr
1941Belle Starras CarpetbaggerMovie
Wild Geese Calling
1941Wild Geese Callingas Doctor Jed SloanMovie
The Shepherd of the Hills
1941The Shepherd of the Hillsas Blacksmith (uncredited)Movie
Western Union
1941Western Unionas Stagecoach RiderMovie
Santa Fe Trail
1940Santa Fe Trailas GentryMovie
Eyes of the Navy
1940Eyes of the Navyas Farmer (uncredited)Movie
Rangers of Fortune
1940Rangers of Fortuneas Water ThugMovie
Brigham Young
1940Brigham Youngas Mob MemberMovie
Gold Rush Maisie
1940Gold Rush Maisieas Camp Owner with a Pig (Uncredited)Movie
Women in Hiding
1940Women in Hidingas Alice's Father (uncredited)Movie
Island of Doomed Men
1940Island of Doomed Menas Captain CortMovie
Charlie Chan's Murder Cruise
1940Charlie Chan's Murder Cruiseas Jeremiah WaltersMovie
Shooting High
1940Shooting Highas Hod CarsonMovie
Virginia City
1940Virginia Cityas Jefferson DavisMovie
The Grapes of Wrath
1940The Grapes of Wrathas LeaderMovie
Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe
1940Flash Gordon Conquers the Universeas Emperor MingMovie
Abe Lincoln in Illinois
1940Abe Lincoln in Illinoisas Tom LincolnMovie
T
1939Thou Shalt Not Killas Lars OlsenMovie
Gone with the Wind
1939Gone with the Windas Man with Stove Pipe Hat in Charge of Convict Workers (uncredited)Movie
Cowboys from Texas
1939Cowboys from Texasas Kansas JonesMovie
Allegheny Uprising
1939Allegheny Uprisingas Dr. StokeMovie
The Flying Deuces
1939The Flying Deucesas CommandantMovie
$1,000 a Touchdown
1939$1,000 a Touchdownas Stage Manager (uncredited)Movie
Blackmail
1939Blackmailas Southern Deputy (uncredited)Movie
One Against the World
1939One Against the Worldas Mr. Crumley (uncredited)Movie
Way Down South
1939Way Down Southas CassMovie
Wyoming Outlaw
1939Wyoming Outlawas Luke ParkerMovie
Daredevils of the Red Circle
1939Daredevils of the Red Circleas 39013Movie
Captain Fury
1939Captain Furyas MergonMovie
The Oklahoma Kid
1939The Oklahoma Kidas Alec MartinMovie
Jesse James
1939Jesse Jamesas DoctorMovie
Kentucky
1938Kentuckyas SouthernerMovie
The Strange Case of Dr. Meade
1938The Strange Case of Dr. Meadeas LaceyMovie
Mars Attacks the World
1938Mars Attacks the Worldas Ming the MercilessMovie
Dick Tracy Returns
1938Dick Tracy Returnsas Pa StarkMovie
Flaming Frontiers
1938Flaming Frontiersas Ace DaggettMovie
Joaquin Murrieta
1938Joaquin Murrietaas Politician (uncredited)Movie
Jezebel
1938Jezebelas Officer (uncredited)Movie
Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars
1938Flash Gordon's Trip to Marsas Emperor MingMovie
Rocket Ship
1938Rocket Shipas Emperor MingMovie
The Man Without a Country
1937The Man Without a Countryas President Abraham Lincoln (uncredited)Movie
Stand-In
1937Stand-Inas Actor Dressed as Abraham LincolnMovie
The Last Train from Madrid
1937The Last Train from Madridas Warden (uncredited)Movie
Slave Ship
1937Slave Shipas Slave DealerMovie
Yodelin' Kid from Pine Ridge
1937Yodelin' Kid from Pine Ridgeas Gene Autry Sr.Movie
The Good Earth
1937The Good Earthas Banker (uncredited)Movie
Hollywood Cowboy
1937Hollywood Cowboyas 'Doc' KramerMovie
Two Gun Law
1937Two Gun Lawas Wolf LarsonMovie
We're on the Jury
1937We're on the Juryas Mr. MartinMovie
Empty Saddles
1936Empty Saddlesas Cim WhiteMovie
Career Woman
1936Career Womanas Matt ClayMovie
Wedding Present
1936Wedding Presentas TurnbullMovie
Ramona
1936Ramonaas American Settler (uncredited)Movie
The Texas Rangers
1936The Texas Rangersas Lawyer (uncredited)Movie
Jailbreak
1936Jailbreakas Dan StoneMovie
A Son Comes Home
1936A Son Comes Homeas ProsecutorMovie
Show Boat
1936Show Boatas Sheriff Ike VallonMovie
Flash Gordon
1936Flash Gordonas Ming the MercilessMovie
Road Gang
1936Road Gangas GraysonMovie
The Trail of the Lonesome Pine
1936The Trail of the Lonesome Pineas BlacksmithMovie
Song of the Saddle
1936Song of the Saddleas Phineas P. HookMovie
Sunset of Power
1936Sunset of Poweras Neil BrannumMovie
Rose of the Rancho
1936Rose of the Ranchoas Horse Doctor (uncredited)Movie
Frisco Kid
1935Frisco Kidas Speaker (uncredited)Movie
Special Agent
1935Special Agentas State Police Commander (uncredited)Movie
Steamboat Round the Bend
1935Steamboat Round the Bendas Fleety Belle's FatherMovie
Hop-a-long Cassidy
1935Hop-a-long Cassidyas Buck PetersMovie
Reckless
1935Recklessas District Attorney (uncredited)Movie
The Miracle Rider
1935The Miracle Rideras ZaroffMovie
In Spite of Danger
1935In Spite of Dangeras Mr. MerrittMovie
The Fixer Uppers
1935The Fixer Uppersas Pierre GustaveMovie
Square Shooter
1935Square Shooteras MillerMovie
Red Morning
1934Red Morningas StanchonMovie
Behold My Wife!
1934Behold My Wife!as Juan Storm CloudMovie
Broadway Bill
1934Broadway Billas Veterinarian (uncredited)Movie
Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch
1934Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patchas Mr. BagbyMovie
When Strangers Meet
1934When Strangers Meetas John TarmanMovie
Whom the Gods Destroy
1934Whom the Gods Destroyas Constable Malcolm (uncredited)Movie
Murder at the Vanities
1934Murder at the Vanitiesas Homer BoothbyMovie
The Last Round-up
1934The Last Round-upas SheriffMovie
David Harum
1934David Harumas DeaconMovie
Massacre
1934Massacreas Sheriff ScattersMovie
Mr. Skitch
1933Mr. Skitchas JoeMovie
Lone Cowboy
1933Lone Cowboyas U.S. MarshalMovie
The World Changes
1933The World Changesas Sheriff Wild Bill Hickok (uncredited)Movie
Duck Soup
1933Duck Soupas ProsecutorMovie
White Woman
1933White Womanas FentonMovie
Big Executive
1933Big Executiveas SheriffMovie
The Bowery
1933The Boweryas Detective (uncredited)Movie
Doctor Bull
1933Doctor Bullas Mr. UpjohnMovie
This Day and Age
1933This Day and Ageas District AttorneyMovie
Disgraced!
1933Disgraced!as District AttorneyMovie
Tomorrow at Seven
1933Tomorrow at Sevenas Jerry SimonsMovie
At Twelve Midnight
1933At Twelve Midnightas Roger ThurstonMovie
Sunset Pass
1933Sunset Passas WilliamsMovie
The Three Musketeers
1933The Three Musketeersas El Shaitan (voice)Movie
Destination Unknown
1933Destination Unknownas TurkMovie
Pick-up
1933Pick-upas Mr. BrewsterMovie
The Road Is Open Again
1933The Road Is Open Againas Abraham LincolnMovie
The Sign of the Cross
1932The Sign of the Crossas TyrosMovie
Silver Dollar
1932Silver Dollaras JenkinsMovie
Too Busy to Work
1932Too Busy to Workas Chief of PoliceMovie
Rockabye
1932Rockabyeas District Attorney (uncredited)Movie
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang
1932I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gangas Train Conductor (uncredited)Movie
B
1932Breach of Promiseas Joe PugmireMovie
Hell's Highway
1932Hell's Highwayas Matthew the HermitMovie
The Phantom President
1932The Phantom Presidentas Abe Lincoln (uncredited)Movie
Pack Up Your Troubles
1932Pack Up Your Troublesas Welfare Association OfficerMovie
Mystery Ranch
1932Mystery Ranchas Henry SteeleMovie
The Strange Love of Molly Louvain
1932The Strange Love of Molly Louvainas Police Capt. SladeMovie
The Hatchet Man
1932The Hatchet Manas Lip Hop FatMovie
High Pressure
1932High Pressureas Mr. BanksMovie
Manhattan Parade
1931Manhattan Paradeas Sheriff CaseyMovie
X Marks the Spot
1931X Marks the Spotas KirbyMovie
Safe in Hell
1931Safe in Hellas Lawyer JonesMovie
A House Divided
1931A House Dividedas MinisterMovie
Beau Hunks
1931Beau Hunksas CommandantMovie
Sob Sister
1931Sob Sisteras City Editor BakerMovie
A Dangerous Affair
1931A Dangerous Affairas TupperMovie
Palmy Days
1931Palmy Daysas YolandoMovie
The Ruling Voice
1931The Ruling Voiceas Board Member (uncredited)Movie
An American Tragedy
1931An American Tragedyas Attorney Reuben JephsonMovie
Caught Plastered
1931Caught Plasteredas Sheriff FlintMovie
The Miracle Woman
1931The Miracle Womanas SimpsonMovie
Ships of Hate
1931Ships of Hateas Captain LashMovie
The Devil's Cabaret
1930The Devil's Cabaretas Mr. Satan (uncredited)Movie
East Is West
1930East Is Westas Dr. FredericksMovie
Way Out West
1930Way Out Westas Buck RankinMovie
Beau Bandit
1930Beau Banditas Lucius J. PerkinsMovie
Welcome Danger
1929Welcome Dangeras John Thorne / The DragonMovie
The Far Call
1929The Far Callas Kris LarsenMovie
T
1929The Bellamy Trialas District AttorneyMovie
The Farmer's Daughter
1928The Farmer's Daughteras Hiram FlintMovie