Charles Middleton
Born
October 2, 1874
Died
April 22, 1949 (74 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Elizabethtown, Kentucky, USA
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.

Going Hollywood: The '30s
(archive footage)
1984

Dance of the Cookoos
Commandant
1982

A Look at the World of 'Soylent Green'
Self (archive footage)
1973

Purple Death from Outer Space
Ming the Merciless
1966

Spaceship to the Unknown
Ming the Merciless (archive footage)
1966

The Last Bandit
Blindfolded Circuit Rider
1949

The Decision of Christopher Blake
President in Dream (uncredited)
1948

Jiggs and Maggie in Court
Mr. Burton, an Attorney
1948

Station West
Sheriff
1948

Feudin', Fussin' and A-Fightin'
Townsman (uncredited)
1948

Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House
Wrecker (uncredited)
1948

Here Comes Trouble
Reporter (uncredited)
1948

My Girl Tisa
1948

The Pretender
William the butler
1947

Gunfighters
Sheriff #1 (uncredited)
1947

Welcome Stranger
Farmer Pinkett (uncredited)
1947

The Sea of Grass
Charley - Saloon Owner (uncredited)
1947

The Killers
Farmer (uncredited)
1946

Spook Busters
Mr. Stiles
1946

Strangler of the Swamp
Ferryman Douglas
1946

How DOooo You Do
Sheriff Hayworth
1945

Northwest Trail
Pierre
1945

Our Vines Have Tender Grapes
Mr. Jensen
1945

Hollywood and Vine
Attorney
1945

The Town Went Wild
Sam, Midvale District Attorney
1944

The Desert Hawk
Koda Bey
1944

Black Arrow
Tom Whitney
1944

Wagon Wheels West
Phineas Hook
1943

Crazy House
Sheriff
1943

Oklahoma Outlaws
Judge Ringle
1943

Batman
Ken Colton
1943

Boobs in the Night
1943

The Black Raven
Sheriff
1943

Spook Louder
Graves' Valet
1943

Perils of Nyoka
Cassib
1942

Men of San Quentin
Saunderson
1942

The Mystery of Marie Roget
Curator
1942

Wild Bill Hickok Rides
Claim Jumping Leader
1942

Sergeant York
Mountaineer (uncredited)
1941

Jungle Man
Rev. James 'Jim' Graham
1941

Stick to Your Guns
Long Ben, gambler-saloon owner
1941

Belle Starr
Carpetbagger
1941

Wild Geese Calling
Doctor Jed Sloan
1941

The Shepherd of the Hills
Blacksmith (uncredited)
1941

Western Union
Stagecoach Rider
1941

Santa Fe Trail
Gentry
1940

Eyes of the Navy
Farmer (uncredited)
1940

Rangers of Fortune
Water Thug
1940

Brigham Young
Mob Member
1940

Gold Rush Maisie
Camp Owner with a Pig (Uncredited)
1940

Women in Hiding
Alice's Father (uncredited)
1940

Island of Doomed Men
Captain Cort
1940

Charlie Chan's Murder Cruise
Jeremiah Walters
1940

Shooting High
Hod Carson
1940

Virginia City
Jefferson Davis
1940

The Grapes of Wrath
Leader
1940

Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe
Emperor Ming
1940

Abe Lincoln in Illinois
Tom Lincoln
1940
Thou Shalt Not Kill
Lars Olsen
1939

Gone with the Wind
Man with Stove Pipe Hat in Charge of Convict Workers (uncredited)
1939

Cowboys from Texas
Kansas Jones
1939

Allegheny Uprising
Dr. Stoke
1939

The Flying Deuces
Commandant
1939

$1,000 a Touchdown
Stage Manager (uncredited)
1939

Blackmail
Southern Deputy (uncredited)
1939

One Against the World
Mr. Crumley (uncredited)
1939

Way Down South
Cass
1939

Wyoming Outlaw
Luke Parker
1939

Daredevils of the Red Circle
39013
1939

Captain Fury
Mergon
1939

The Oklahoma Kid
Alec Martin
1939

Jesse James
Doctor
1939

Kentucky
Southerner
1938

The Strange Case of Dr. Meade
Lacey
1938

Mars Attacks the World
Ming the Merciless
1938

Dick Tracy Returns
Pa Stark
1938

Flaming Frontiers
Ace Daggett
1938

Joaquin Murrieta
Politician (uncredited)
1938

Jezebel
Officer (uncredited)
1938

Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars
Emperor Ming
1938

Flash Gordon: The Deadly Ray From Mars
Ming the Merciless
1938

Rocket Ship
Emperor Ming
1938

The Man Without a Country
President Abraham Lincoln (uncredited)
1937

Stand-In
Actor Dressed as Abraham Lincoln
1937

The Last Train from Madrid
Warden (uncredited)
1937

Slave Ship
Slave Dealer
1937

Yodelin' Kid from Pine Ridge
Gene Autry Sr.
1937

The Good Earth
Banker (uncredited)
1937

Hollywood Cowboy
'Doc' Kramer
1937

Two Gun Law
Wolf Larson
1937

We're on the Jury
Mr. Martin
1937

Empty Saddles
Cim White
1936

Career Woman
Matt Clay
1936

Wedding Present
Turnbull
1936

Ramona
American Settler (uncredited)
1936

The Texas Rangers
Lawyer (uncredited)
1936

Jailbreak
Dan Stone
1936

A Son Comes Home
Prosecutor
1936

Show Boat
Sheriff Ike Vallon
1936

Flash Gordon
Ming the Merciless
1936

Road Gang
Grayson
1936

The Trail of the Lonesome Pine
Blacksmith
1936

Song of the Saddle
Phineas P. Hook
1936

Sunset of Power
Neil Brannum
1936

Rose of the Rancho
Horse Doctor (uncredited)
1936

Frisco Kid
Speaker (uncredited)
1935

Special Agent
State Police Commander (uncredited)
1935

Steamboat Round the Bend
Fleety Belle's Father
1935

Hop-a-long Cassidy
Buck Peters
1935

Reckless
District Attorney (uncredited)
1935

The Miracle Rider
Zaroff
1935

In Spite of Danger
Mr. Merritt
1935

The Fixer Uppers
Pierre Gustave
1935

Square Shooter
Miller
1935

Red Morning
Stanchon
1934

Behold My Wife!
Juan Storm Cloud
1934

Broadway Bill
Veterinarian (uncredited)
1934

Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch
Mr. Bagby
1934

Whom the Gods Destroy
Constable Malcolm (uncredited)
1934

Murder at the Vanities
Homer Boothby
1934

The Last Round-up
Sheriff
1934

David Harum
Deacon
1934

Massacre
Sheriff Scatters
1934

Mr. Skitch
Joe
1933

Lone Cowboy
U.S. Marshal
1933

Duck Soup
Prosecutor
1933

White Woman
Fenton
1933

Big Executive
Sheriff
1933

The Bowery
Detective (uncredited)
1933

Doctor Bull
Mr. Upjohn
1933

This Day and Age
District Attorney
1933

Disgraced!
District Attorney
1933

Tomorrow at Seven
Jerry Simons
1933

At Twelve Midnight
Roger Thurston
1933

Sunset Pass
Williams
1933

The Three Musketeers
El Shaitan (voice)
1933

Destination Unknown
Turk
1933

Pick-up
Mr. Brewster
1933

The Road Is Open Again
Abraham Lincoln
1933

Silver Dollar
Jenkins
1932

Too Busy to Work
Chief of Police
1932

The Sign of the Cross
Tyros
1932

Rockabye
District Attorney (uncredited)
1932

I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang
Train Conductor (uncredited)
1932
Breach of Promise
Joe Pugmire
1932

Hell's Highway
Matthew the Hermit
1932

The Phantom President
Abe Lincoln (uncredited)
1932

Pack Up Your Troubles
Welfare Association Officer
1932

Mystery Ranch
Henry Steele
1932

The Strange Love of Molly Louvain
Police Capt. Slade
1932

The Hatchet Man
Lip Hop Fat
1932

High Pressure
Mr. Banks
1932

Manhattan Parade
Sheriff Casey
1931

X Marks the Spot
Kirby
1931

Safe in Hell
Lawyer Jones
1931

A House Divided
Minister
1931

Beau Hunks
Commandant
1931

Sob Sister
City Editor Baker
1931

A Dangerous Affair
Tupper
1931

Palmy Days
Yolando
1931

The Ruling Voice
Board Member (uncredited)
1931

An American Tragedy
Attorney Reuben Jephson
1931

Caught Plastered
Sheriff Flint
1931

The Miracle Woman
Simpson
1931

Ships of Hate
Captain Lash
1931

The Devil's Cabaret
Mr. Satan (uncredited)
1930

East Is West
Dr. Fredericks
1930

Way Out West
Buck Rankin
1930

Beau Bandit
Lucius J. Perkins
1930

Welcome Danger
John Thorne / The Dragon
1929

The Far Call
Kris Larsen
1929
The Bellamy Trial
District Attorney
1929