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

Gone with the Wind

The Grapes of Wrath

Batman

Duck Soup

Sergeant York

The Killers

Jesse James

Flash Gordon

All Movies (177)

• The Boy from Mercury1996 · as Ming the Merciless (Archive Footage)
• Going Hollywood: The '30s1984 · as (archive footage)
• Dance of the Cookoos1982 · as Commandant
• A Look at the World of 'Soylent Green'1973 · as Self (archive footage)
• Peril from the Planet Mongo1966 · as Ming the Merciless
• Flash Gordon: The Deadly Ray From Mars1966 · as Ming the Merciless
• Purple Death from Outer Space1966 · as Ming the Merciless
• Spaceship to the Unknown1966 · as Ming the Merciless (archive footage)
• The Last Bandit1949 · as Blindfolded Circuit Rider
• The Decision of Christopher Blake1948 · as President in Dream (uncredited)
• Jiggs and Maggie in Court1948 · as Mr. Burton, an Attorney
• Station West1948 · as Sheriff
• Feudin', Fussin' and A-Fightin'1948 · as Townsman (uncredited)
• Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House1948 · as Wrecker (uncredited)
• Here Comes Trouble1948 · as Reporter (uncredited)
• My Girl Tisa1948
• The Pretender1947 · as William the butler
• Gunfighters1947 · as Sheriff #1 (uncredited)
• Welcome Stranger1947 · as Farmer Pinkett (uncredited)
• The Sea of Grass1947 · as Charley - Saloon Owner (uncredited)
• The Killers1946 · as Farmer (uncredited)
• Spook Busters1946 · as Mr. Stiles
• Strangler of the Swamp1946 · as Ferryman Douglas
• How DOooo You Do1945 · as Sheriff Hayworth
• Northwest Trail1945 · as Pierre
• Our Vines Have Tender Grapes1945 · as Mr. Jensen
• Hollywood and Vine1945 · as Attorney
• The Town Went Wild1944 · as Sam, Midvale District Attorney
• The Desert Hawk1944 · as Koda Bey
• Black Arrow1944 · as Tom Whitney
• Wagon Wheels West1943 · as Phineas Hook
• Crazy House1943 · as Sheriff
• Oklahoma Outlaws1943 · as Judge Ringle
• Batman1943 · as Ken Colton
• Boobs in the Night1943
• The Black Raven1943 · as Sheriff
• Spook Louder1943 · as Graves' Valet
• Perils of Nyoka1942 · as Cassib
• Men of San Quentin1942 · as Saunderson
• The Mystery of Marie Roget1942 · as Curator
• Wild Bill Hickok Rides1942 · as Claim Jumping Leader
• Sergeant York1941 · as Mountaineer (uncredited)
• Jungle Man1941 · as Rev. James 'Jim' Graham
• Stick to Your Guns1941 · as Long Ben, gambler-saloon owner
• Belle Starr1941 · as Carpetbagger
• Wild Geese Calling1941 · as Doctor Jed Sloan
• The Shepherd of the Hills1941 · as Blacksmith (uncredited)
• Western Union1941 · as Stagecoach Rider
• Santa Fe Trail1940 · as Gentry
• Eyes of the Navy1940 · as Farmer (uncredited)
• Rangers of Fortune1940 · as Water Thug
• Brigham Young1940 · as Mob Member
• Gold Rush Maisie1940 · as Camp Owner with a Pig (Uncredited)
• Women in Hiding1940 · as Alice's Father (uncredited)
• Island of Doomed Men1940 · as Captain Cort
• Charlie Chan's Murder Cruise1940 · as Jeremiah Walters
• Shooting High1940 · as Hod Carson
• Virginia City1940 · as Jefferson Davis
• The Grapes of Wrath1940 · as Leader
• Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe1940 · as Emperor Ming
• Abe Lincoln in Illinois1940 · as Tom Lincoln
• Thou Shalt Not Kill1939 · as Lars Olsen
• Gone with the Wind1939 · as Man with Stove Pipe Hat in Charge of Convict Workers (uncredited)
• Cowboys from Texas1939 · as Kansas Jones
• Allegheny Uprising1939 · as Dr. Stoke
• The Flying Deuces1939 · as Commandant
• $1,000 a Touchdown1939 · as Stage Manager (uncredited)
• Blackmail1939 · as Southern Deputy (uncredited)
• One Against the World1939 · as Mr. Crumley (uncredited)
• Way Down South1939 · as Cass
• Wyoming Outlaw1939 · as Luke Parker
• Daredevils of the Red Circle1939 · as 39013
• Captain Fury1939 · as Mergon
• The Oklahoma Kid1939 · as Alec Martin
• Jesse James1939 · as Doctor
• Kentucky1938 · as Southerner
• The Strange Case of Dr. Meade1938 · as Lacey
• Mars Attacks the World1938 · as Ming the Merciless
• Dick Tracy Returns1938 · as Pa Stark
• Flaming Frontiers1938 · as Ace Daggett
• Joaquin Murrieta1938 · as Politician (uncredited)
• Jezebel1938 · as Officer (uncredited)
• Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars1938 · as Emperor Ming
• Rocket Ship1938 · as Emperor Ming
• The Man Without a Country1937 · as President Abraham Lincoln (uncredited)
• Stand-In1937 · as Actor Dressed as Abraham Lincoln
• The Last Train from Madrid1937 · as Warden (uncredited)
• Slave Ship1937 · as Slave Dealer
• Yodelin' Kid from Pine Ridge1937 · as Gene Autry Sr.
• The Good Earth1937 · as Banker (uncredited)
• Hollywood Cowboy1937 · as 'Doc' Kramer
• Two Gun Law1937 · as Wolf Larson
• We're on the Jury1937 · as Mr. Martin
• Empty Saddles1936 · as Cim White
• Career Woman1936 · as Matt Clay
• Wedding Present1936 · as Turnbull
• Ramona1936 · as American Settler (uncredited)
• The Texas Rangers1936 · as Lawyer (uncredited)
• Jailbreak1936 · as Dan Stone
• A Son Comes Home1936 · as Prosecutor
• Show Boat1936 · as Sheriff Ike Vallon
• Flash Gordon1936 · as Ming the Merciless
• Road Gang1936 · as Grayson
• The Trail of the Lonesome Pine1936 · as Blacksmith
• Song of the Saddle1936 · as Phineas P. Hook
• Sunset of Power1936 · as Neil Brannum
• Rose of the Rancho1936 · as Horse Doctor (uncredited)
• Frisco Kid1935 · as Speaker (uncredited)
• Special Agent1935 · as State Police Commander (uncredited)
• Steamboat Round the Bend1935 · as Fleety Belle's Father
• Hop-a-long Cassidy1935 · as Buck Peters
• Reckless1935 · as District Attorney (uncredited)
• The Miracle Rider1935 · as Zaroff
• In Spite of Danger1935 · as Mr. Merritt
• The Fixer Uppers1935 · as Pierre Gustave
• Square Shooter1935 · as Miller
• Red Morning1934 · as Stanchon
• Behold My Wife!1934 · as Juan Storm Cloud
• Broadway Bill1934 · as Veterinarian (uncredited)
• Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch1934 · as Mr. Bagby
• When Strangers Meet1934 · as John Tarman
• Whom the Gods Destroy1934 · as Constable Malcolm (uncredited)
• Murder at the Vanities1934 · as Homer Boothby
• The Last Round-up1934 · as Sheriff
• David Harum1934 · as Deacon
• Massacre1934 · as Sheriff Scatters
• Mr. Skitch1933 · as Joe
• Lone Cowboy1933 · as U.S. Marshal
• The World Changes1933 · as Sheriff Wild Bill Hickok (uncredited)
• Duck Soup1933 · as Prosecutor
• White Woman1933 · as Fenton
• Big Executive1933 · as Sheriff
• The Bowery1933 · as Detective (uncredited)
• Doctor Bull1933 · as Mr. Upjohn
• This Day and Age1933 · as District Attorney
• Disgraced!1933 · as District Attorney
• Tomorrow at Seven1933 · as Jerry Simons
• At Twelve Midnight1933 · as Roger Thurston
• Sunset Pass1933 · as Williams
• The Three Musketeers1933 · as El Shaitan (voice)
• Destination Unknown1933 · as Turk
• Pick-up1933 · as Mr. Brewster
• The Road Is Open Again1933 · as Abraham Lincoln
• The Sign of the Cross1932 · as Tyros
• Silver Dollar1932 · as Jenkins
• Too Busy to Work1932 · as Chief of Police
• Rockabye1932 · as District Attorney (uncredited)
• I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang1932 · as Train Conductor (uncredited)
• Breach of Promise1932 · as Joe Pugmire
• Hell's Highway1932 · as Matthew the Hermit
• The Phantom President1932 · as Abe Lincoln (uncredited)
• Pack Up Your Troubles1932 · as Welfare Association Officer
• Mystery Ranch1932 · as Henry Steele
• The Strange Love of Molly Louvain1932 · as Police Capt. Slade
• The Hatchet Man1932 · as Lip Hop Fat
• High Pressure1932 · as Mr. Banks
• Manhattan Parade1931 · as Sheriff Casey
• X Marks the Spot1931 · as Kirby
• Safe in Hell1931 · as Lawyer Jones
• A House Divided1931 · as Minister
• Beau Hunks1931 · as Commandant
• Sob Sister1931 · as City Editor Baker
• A Dangerous Affair1931 · as Tupper
• Palmy Days1931 · as Yolando
• The Ruling Voice1931 · as Board Member (uncredited)
• An American Tragedy1931 · as Attorney Reuben Jephson
• Caught Plastered1931 · as Sheriff Flint
• The Miracle Woman1931 · as Simpson
• Ships of Hate1931 · as Captain Lash
• The Devil's Cabaret1930 · as Mr. Satan (uncredited)
• East Is West1930 · as Dr. Fredericks
• Way Out West1930 · as Buck Rankin
• Beau Bandit1930 · as Lucius J. Perkins
• Welcome Danger1929 · as John Thorne / The Dragon
• The Far Call1929 · as Kris Larsen
• The Bellamy Trial1929 · as District Attorney
• The Farmer's Daughter1928 · as Hiram Flint