
Charles Middleton
Oct 02, 1874 - Apr 22, 1949 (74 years old) in 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.
Known For

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

The Grapes of Wrath
Leader

Santa Fe Trail
Gentry

The Sea of Grass
Charley - Saloon Owner (uncredited)

Duck Soup
Prosecutor

Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House
Wrecker (uncredited)

The Miracle Woman
Simpson

Jesse James
Doctor

Western Union
Stagecoach Rider

I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang
Train Conductor (uncredited)
Credits
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(archive footage)★ 10
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Dance of the Cookoos 1982Commandant★ NR
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Self (archive footage)★ NR
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Ming the Merciless★ 5.2
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Ming the Merciless (archive footage)★ 6
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The Last Bandit 1949Blindfolded Circuit Rider★ 6
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President in Dream (uncredited)★ 3.5
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Mr. Burton, an Attorney★ NR
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Station West 1948Sheriff★ 6.1
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Townsman (uncredited)★ 6.5
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Wrecker (uncredited)★ 7
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Here Comes Trouble 1948Reporter (uncredited)★ 4.6
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My Girl Tisa 1948★ NR
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The Pretender 1947William the butler★ 5.5
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Gunfighters 1947Sheriff #1 (uncredited)★ 5.5
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Welcome Stranger 1947Farmer Pinkett (uncredited)★ 6.6
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The Sea of Grass 1947Charley - Saloon Owner (uncredited)★ 6.3
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The Killers 1946Farmer (uncredited)★ 7.4
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Spook Busters 1946Mr. Stiles★ 4.8
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Ferryman Douglas★ 5.7
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How DOooo You Do 1945Sheriff Hayworth★ NR
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Northwest Trail 1945Pierre★ 5
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Mr. Jensen★ 6.9
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Hollywood and Vine 1945Attorney★ 4.4
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The Town Went Wild 1944Sam, Midvale District Attorney★ 5
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The Desert Hawk 1944Koda Bey★ 6
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Black Arrow 1944Tom Whitney★ NR
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Wagon Wheels West 1943Phineas Hook★ 4
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Crazy House 1943Sheriff★ 5
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Oklahoma Outlaws 1943Judge Ringle★ 5
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Batman 1943Ken Colton★ 6.4
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Boobs in the Night 1943★ NR
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The Black Raven 1943Sheriff★ 5.4
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Spook Louder 1943Graves' Valet★ 6.5
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Perils of Nyoka 1942Cassib★ NR
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Men of San Quentin 1942Saunderson★ NR
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Curator★ 5.5
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Claim Jumping Leader★ 4.7
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Sergeant York 1941Mountaineer (uncredited)★ 7.2
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Jungle Man 1941Rev. James 'Jim' Graham★ 2.8
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Stick to Your Guns 1941Long Ben, gambler-saloon owner★ 5
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Belle Starr 1941Carpetbagger★ 5.6
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Wild Geese Calling 1941Doctor Jed Sloan★ 5.8
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Blacksmith (uncredited)★ 6.6
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Western Union 1941Stagecoach Rider★ 6
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Santa Fe Trail 1940Gentry★ 5.8
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Eyes of the Navy 1940Farmer (uncredited)★ 7.4
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Rangers of Fortune 1940Water Thug★ 5
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Brigham Young 1940Mob Member★ 4.4
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Gold Rush Maisie 1940Camp Owner with a Pig (Uncredited)★ 6.5
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Women in Hiding 1940Alice's Father (uncredited)★ 7
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Island of Doomed Men 1940Captain Cort★ 5.3
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Jeremiah Walters★ 6.7
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Shooting High 1940Hod Carson★ 8
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Virginia City 1940Jefferson Davis★ 6.1
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The Grapes of Wrath 1940Leader★ 7.8
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Emperor Ming★ 5.6
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Tom Lincoln★ 7
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Thou Shalt Not Kill 1939Lars Olsen★ NR
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Gone with the Wind 1939Man with Stove Pipe Hat in Charge of Convict Workers (uncredited)★ 7.9
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Cowboys from Texas 1939Kansas Jones★ 2
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Allegheny Uprising 1939Dr. Stoke★ 5.6
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The Flying Deuces 1939Commandant★ 6.4
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$1,000 a Touchdown 1939Stage Manager (uncredited)★ 2
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Blackmail 1939Southern Deputy (uncredited)★ 6.4
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Mr. Crumley (uncredited)★ NR
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Way Down South 1939Cass★ 5.8
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Wyoming Outlaw 1939Luke Parker★ 5.6
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39013★ 5.5
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Captain Fury 1939Mergon★ 4.9
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The Oklahoma Kid 1939Alec Martin★ 5.9
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Jesse James 1939Doctor★ 6.4
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Kentucky 1938Southerner★ 5.8
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Lacey★ 5
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Ming the Merciless★ 6
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Dick Tracy Returns 1938Pa Stark★ 5.8
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Flaming Frontiers 1938Ace Daggett★ 5.2
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Joaquin Murrieta 1938Politician (uncredited)★ NR
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Jezebel 1938Officer (uncredited)★ 7
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Emperor Ming★ 6
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Ming the Merciless★ NR
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Rocket Ship 1938Emperor Ming★ 4.8
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President Abraham Lincoln (uncredited)★ 5.7
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Stand-In 1937Actor dressed as Abraham Lincoln★ 6.3
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Slave Ship 1937Slave Dealer★ 4.8
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Gene Autry Sr.★ 5.5
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The Good Earth 1937Banker (uncredited)★ 6.3
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Hollywood Cowboy 1937'Doc' Kramer★ 5
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Two Gun Law 1937Wolf Larson★ NR
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We're on the Jury 1937Mr. Martin★ 5.8
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Empty Saddles 1936Cim White★ NR
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Career Woman 1936Matt Clay★ 6
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Wedding Present 1936Turnbull★ 6.5
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Ramona 1936American Settler (uncredited)★ 5.1
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The Texas Rangers 1936Lawyer (uncredited)★ 6.4
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Jailbreak 1936Dan Stone★ 6.4
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A Son Comes Home 1936Prosecutor★ 1
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Show Boat 1936Sheriff Ike Vallon★ 6.7
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Flash Gordon 1936Ming the Merciless★ 6.4
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Road Gang 1936Grayson★ 6.5
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Blacksmith★ 6.4
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Song of the Saddle 1936Phineas P. Hook★ 7
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Sunset of Power 1936Neil Brannum★ NR
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Rose of the Rancho 1936Horse Doctor (uncredited)★ NR
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Frisco Kid 1935Speaker (uncredited)★ 6.8
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Special Agent 1935State Police Commander (uncredited)★ 6.2
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Fleety Belle's Father★ 7.6
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Hop-a-long Cassidy 1935Buck Peters★ 6
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Reckless 1935District Attorney (uncredited)★ 5.3
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The Miracle Rider 1935Zaroff★ 4.3
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In Spite of Danger 1935Mr. Merritt★ 1
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The Fixer Uppers 1935Pierre Gustave★ 6.7
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Square Shooter 1935Miller★ 6
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Red Morning 1934Stanchon★ 5
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Behold My Wife! 1934Juan Storm Cloud★ 7
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Broadway Bill 1934Veterinarian (uncredited)★ 6
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Mr. Bagby★ 6
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Constable Malcolm (uncredited)★ 5.5
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Homer Boothby★ 5.4
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The Last Round-up 1934Sheriff★ NR
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David Harum 1934Deacon★ 7
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Massacre 1934Sheriff Scatters★ 5.8
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Mr. Skitch 1933Joe★ 6
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Lone Cowboy 1933U.S. Marshal★ 3.5
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Duck Soup 1933Prosecutor★ 7.3
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White Woman 1933Fenton★ 5.7
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Big Executive 1933Sheriff★ NR
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The Bowery 1933Detective (uncredited)★ 5.1
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Doctor Bull 1933Mr. Upjohn★ 6.5
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This Day and Age 1933District Attorney★ 1
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Disgraced! 1933District Attorney★ NR
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Tomorrow at Seven 1933Jerry Simons★ 6
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At Twelve Midnight 1933Roger Thurston★ 4.5
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Sunset Pass 1933Williams★ 6
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The Three Musketeers 1933El Shaitan (voice)★ 5.6
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Destination Unknown 1933Turk★ NR
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Pick-up 1933Mr. Brewster★ 4.8
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Abraham Lincoln★ NR
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Silver Dollar 1932Jenkins★ 5.7
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Too Busy to Work 1932Chief of Police★ 4
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Tyros★ 6.2
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Rockabye 1932District Attorney (uncredited)★ 6.2
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Train Conductor (uncredited)★ 7.8
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Breach of Promise 1932Joe Pugmire★ NR
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Hell's Highway 1932Matthew the Hermit★ 6.1
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Abe Lincoln (uncredited)★ 5.5
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Welfare Association Officer★ 6.7
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Mystery Ranch 1932Henry Steele★ 6
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Police Capt. Slade★ 5.9
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The Hatchet Man 1932Lip Hop Fat★ 4.9
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High Pressure 1932Mr. Banks★ 6
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Manhattan Parade 1931Sheriff Casey★ 2
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X Marks the Spot 1931Kirby★ 6
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Safe in Hell 1931Lawyer Jones★ 6.8
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A House Divided 1931Minister★ 6.2
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Beau Hunks 1931Commandant★ 6.8
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Sob Sister 1931City Editor Baker★ NR
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A Dangerous Affair 1931Tupper★ NR
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Palmy Days 1931Yolando★ 7
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The Ruling Voice 1931Board Member (uncredited)★ 6
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An American Tragedy 1931Attorney Reuben Jephson★ 6.1
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Caught Plastered 1931Sheriff Flint★ 5.8
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The Miracle Woman 1931Simpson★ 6.6
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Ships of Hate 1931Captain Lash★ NR
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The Devil's Cabaret 1930Mr. Satan (uncredited)★ 5.2
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East Is West 1930Dr. Fredericks★ 4
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Way Out West 1930Buck Rankin★ 5.9
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Beau Bandit 1930Lucius J. Perkins★ 3.3
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Welcome Danger 1929John Thorne / The Dragon★ 5.1
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The Far Call 1929Kris Larsen★ NR
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The Bellamy Trial 1929District Attorney★ 1