Lon Chaney Jr.: Movies & Box Office

Creighton Tull Chaney, famously known by his stage name Lon Chaney Jr., was an American actor whose roles in popular horror films made him a renowned figure in the film industry. Born on February 10, 1906, he came to prominence for his portrayal of Larry Talbot in the film The Wolf Man (1941) and its various crossovers. Venerated for his performance as other famous characters including Count Alucard (Dracula spelled backward) in Son of Dracula, and Frankenstein's monster in The Ghost of Frankenstein (1942), Chaney became a horror icon. Furthermore, he played numerous supporting parts in many mainstream movies, notably High Noon (1952) and The Defiant Ones (1958), and various Westerns, musicals, comedies, and dramas.

Chaney initially started his career in movies credited as Creighton Chaney, but in 1935 he was later recognized as Lon Chaney, Jr.. Following 1941, he was typically billed using his father's name, the deceased cinema giant Lon Chaney, at the studio's insistence. Chaney had English, French, and Irish ancestry and had a thriving career in movies and television that spanned four decades, ranging from 1931 to 1971. He passed away on July 12, 1973, leaving behind an impressive body of work that has remained influential.