Charles Middleton
View on IMDb ↗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
Dance of the Cookoos
Flash Gordon: The Deadly Ray From Mars
Boobs in the Night
Two Gun Law
Empty Saddles
When Strangers Meet
The Farmer's Daughter
Going Hollywood: The '30s
My Girl Tisa
Men of San QuentinFilmography (177)
- 1996
The Boy from MercuryMing the Merciless (Archive Footage) - 1984
Going Hollywood: The '30s(archive footage) - 1982
Dance of the CookoosCommandant - 1973
A Look at the World of 'Soylent Green'Self (archive footage) - 1966
Flash Gordon: The Deadly Ray From MarsMing the Merciless - 1966
Spaceship to the UnknownMing the Merciless (archive footage) - 1966
Peril from the Planet MongoMing the Merciless - 1966
Purple Death from Outer SpaceMing the Merciless - 1949
The Last BanditBlindfolded Circuit Rider - 1948
My Girl Tisa - 1948
Jiggs and Maggie in CourtMr. Burton, an Attorney - 1948
Feudin', Fussin' and A-Fightin'Townsman (uncredited) - 1948
Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream HouseWrecker (uncredited) - 1948
Station WestSheriff - 1948
Here Comes TroubleReporter (uncredited) - 1948
The Decision of Christopher BlakePresident in Dream (uncredited) - 1947
Welcome StrangerFarmer Pinkett (uncredited) - 1947
The Sea of GrassCharley - Saloon Owner (uncredited) - 1947
The PretenderWilliam the butler - 1947
GunfightersSheriff #1 (uncredited) - 1946
The KillersFarmer (uncredited) - 1946
Strangler of the SwampFerryman Douglas - 1946
Spook BustersMr. Stiles - 1945
How DOooo You DoSheriff Hayworth - 1945
Our Vines Have Tender GrapesMr. Jensen - 1945
Northwest TrailPierre - 1945
Hollywood and VineAttorney - 1944
The Town Went WildSam, Midvale District Attorney - 1944
Black ArrowTom Whitney - 1944
The Desert HawkKoda Bey - 1943
Boobs in the Night - 1943
Spook LouderGraves' Valet - 1943
Wagon Wheels WestPhineas Hook - 1943
Oklahoma OutlawsJudge Ringle - 1943
BatmanKen Colton - 1943
Crazy HouseSheriff - 1943
The Black RavenSheriff - 1942
Men of San QuentinSaunderson - 1942
Perils of NyokaCassib - 1942
The Mystery of Marie RogetCurator - 1942
Wild Bill Hickok RidesClaim Jumping Leader - 1941
Sergeant YorkMountaineer (uncredited) - 1941
The Shepherd of the HillsBlacksmith (uncredited) - 1941
Wild Geese CallingDoctor Jed Sloan - 1941
Western UnionStagecoach Rider - 1941
Belle StarrCarpetbagger - 1941
Stick to Your GunsLong Ben, gambler-saloon owner - 1941
Jungle ManRev. James 'Jim' Graham - 1940
The Grapes of WrathLeader - 1940
Eyes of the NavyFarmer (uncredited) - 1940
Shooting HighHod Carson - 1940
Women in HidingAlice's Father (uncredited) - 1940
Abe Lincoln in IllinoisTom Lincoln - 1940
Charlie Chan's Murder CruiseJeremiah Walters - 1940
Gold Rush MaisieCamp Owner with a Pig (Uncredited) - 1940
Rangers of FortuneWater Thug - 1940
Virginia CityJefferson Davis - 1940
Santa Fe TrailGentry - 1940
Flash Gordon Conquers the UniverseEmperor Ming - 1940
Island of Doomed MenCaptain Cort - 1940
Brigham YoungMob Member - 1939Thou Shalt Not KillLars Olsen
- 1939
One Against the WorldMr. Crumley (uncredited) - 1939
Gone with the WindMan with Stove Pipe Hat in Charge of Convict Workers (uncredited) - 1939
BlackmailSouthern Deputy (uncredited) - 1939
Jesse JamesDoctor - 1939
Way Down SouthCass - 1939
The Flying DeucesCommandant - 1939
The Oklahoma KidAlec Martin - 1939
Cowboys from TexasKansas Jones - 1939
Allegheny UprisingDr. Stoke - 1939
Wyoming OutlawLuke Parker - 1939
Captain FuryMergon - 1939
Daredevils of the Red Circle39013 - 1939
$1,000 a TouchdownStage Manager (uncredited) - 1938
Joaquin MurrietaPolitician (uncredited) - 1938
JezebelOfficer (uncredited) - 1938
The Strange Case of Dr. MeadeLacey - 1938
Mars Attacks the WorldMing the Merciless - 1938
Flash Gordon's Trip to MarsEmperor Ming - 1938
Rocket ShipEmperor Ming - 1938
KentuckySoutherner - 1938
Dick Tracy ReturnsPa Stark - 1938
Flaming FrontiersAce Daggett - 1937
Two Gun LawWolf Larson - 1937
Yodelin' Kid from Pine RidgeGene Autry Sr. - 1937
Stand-InActor Dressed as Abraham Lincoln - 1937
The Good EarthBanker (uncredited) - 1937
We're on the JuryMr. Martin - 1937
The Man Without a CountryPresident Abraham Lincoln (uncredited) - 1937
Hollywood Cowboy'Doc' Kramer - 1937
Slave ShipSlave Dealer - 1937
The Last Train from MadridWarden (uncredited) - 1936
Empty SaddlesCim White - 1936
Sunset of PowerNeil Brannum - 1936
Song of the SaddlePhineas P. Hook - 1936
Road GangGrayson - 1936
Rose of the RanchoHorse Doctor (uncredited) - 1936
Show BoatSheriff Ike Vallon - 1936
JailbreakDan Stone - 1936
The Texas RangersLawyer (uncredited) - 1936
The Trail of the Lonesome PineBlacksmith - 1936
Flash GordonMing the Merciless - 1936
Wedding PresentTurnbull - 1936
Career WomanMatt Clay - 1936
RamonaAmerican Settler (uncredited) - 1936
A Son Comes HomeProsecutor - 1935
Steamboat Round the BendFleety Belle's Father - 1935
Frisco KidSpeaker (uncredited) - 1935
The Fixer UppersPierre Gustave - 1935
Hop-a-long CassidyBuck Peters - 1935
Square ShooterMiller - 1935
Special AgentState Police Commander (uncredited) - 1935
The Miracle RiderZaroff - 1935
In Spite of DangerMr. Merritt - 1935
RecklessDistrict Attorney (uncredited) - 1934
When Strangers MeetJohn Tarman - 1934
The Last Round-upSheriff - 1934
Behold My Wife!Juan Storm Cloud - 1934
David HarumDeacon - 1934
Broadway BillVeterinarian (uncredited) - 1934
Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage PatchMr. Bagby - 1934
Whom the Gods DestroyConstable Malcolm (uncredited) - 1934
Red MorningStanchon - 1934
Murder at the VanitiesHomer Boothby - 1934
MassacreSheriff Scatters - 1933
Sunset PassWilliams - 1933
Mr. SkitchJoe - 1933
Duck SoupProsecutor - 1933
Destination UnknownTurk - 1933
The Road Is Open AgainAbraham Lincoln - 1933
Big ExecutiveSheriff - 1933
Doctor BullMr. Upjohn - 1933
Disgraced!District Attorney - 1933
Tomorrow at SevenJerry Simons - 1933
White WomanFenton - 1933
The Three MusketeersEl Shaitan (voice) - 1933
At Twelve MidnightRoger Thurston - 1933
The BoweryDetective (uncredited) - 1933
Pick-upMr. Brewster - 1933
This Day and AgeDistrict Attorney - 1933
The World ChangesSheriff Wild Bill Hickok (uncredited) - 1933
Lone CowboyU.S. Marshal - 1932Breach of PromiseJoe Pugmire
- 1932
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain GangTrain Conductor (uncredited) - 1932
Mystery RanchHenry Steele - 1932
Pack Up Your TroublesWelfare Association Officer - 1932
Too Busy to WorkChief of Police - 1932
The Phantom PresidentAbe Lincoln (uncredited) - 1932
RockabyeDistrict Attorney (uncredited) - 1932
The Sign of the CrossTyros - 1932
Silver DollarJenkins - 1932
Hell's HighwayMatthew the Hermit - 1932
The Strange Love of Molly LouvainPolice Capt. Slade - 1932
High PressureMr. Banks - 1932
The Hatchet ManLip Hop Fat - 1931
Ships of HateCaptain Lash - 1931
Palmy DaysYolando - 1931
A Dangerous AffairTupper - 1931
Sob SisterCity Editor Baker - 1931
Beau HunksCommandant - 1931
The Miracle WomanSimpson - 1931
Safe in HellLawyer Jones - 1931
X Marks the SpotKirby - 1931
An American TragedyAttorney Reuben Jephson - 1931
Caught PlasteredSheriff Flint - 1931
The Ruling VoiceBoard Member (uncredited) - 1931
A House DividedMinister - 1931
Manhattan ParadeSheriff Casey - 1930
Way Out WestBuck Rankin - 1930
The Devil's CabaretMr. Satan (uncredited) - 1930
East Is WestDr. Fredericks - 1930
Beau BanditLucius J. Perkins - 1929
The Far CallKris Larsen - 1929
Welcome DangerJohn Thorne / The Dragon - 1929The Bellamy TrialDistrict Attorney
- 1928
The Farmer's DaughterHiram Flint