Lon Chaney
1883 – 1930

Lon Chaney

American actor (1883–1930)

film actorfilm directordirectormake-up artiststage actor
Born
1883-04-01, Colorado Springs
Died
1930-08-26
Birthplace state
Colorado

Biography

Leonidas Frank "Lon" Chaney was an American actor and makeup artist. He is regarded as one of the most versatile and powerful actors of cinema, renowned for his characterizations of tortured, often grotesque and afflicted, characters and for his groundbreaking artistry with makeup. Chaney was known for his starring roles in such silent horror films as The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923) and The Phantom of the Opera (1925). His ability to transform himself using makeup techniques that he developed earned him the nickname "The Man of a Thousand Faces".

Occupation

Lon Chaney is recorded as a film actor, a film director, a director, a make-up artist, a stage actor, a writer, a actor and a screenwriter, born in Colorado (1883–1930).

Connections to Colorado

Lon Chaney was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado in 1883. Explore other notable figures from Colorado, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from ColoradoColoradohistory ›Historic sites in Colorado
Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Colorado Springs

Lon Chaney came from Colorado Springs. A full Aubrey report on Colorado Springs pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Colorado Springs report
Or see a real report first

More notable figures from Colorado

Other historical figures born in Colorado, ranked by historical prominence.

Willard Libby
Willard Libby
American physical chemist
Ken Kesey
Ken Kesey
American novelist (1935–2001)
Douglas Fairbanks
Douglas Fairbanks
American actor, screenwriter, director, and producer (1883–1939)
Talcott Parsons
Talcott Parsons
American sociologist (1902 – 1979)
Edward Lawrie Tatum
Edward Lawrie Tatum
US genetics scientist (1909-1975)
John Searle
John Searle
American philosopher (1932–2025)
Dalton Trumbo
Dalton Trumbo
American screenwriter (1905–1976)

Frequently asked about Lon Chaney

Who was Lon Chaney?
Lon Chaney was American actor (1883–1930), born in Colorado (1883 – 1930).
When and where was Lon Chaney born?
Lon Chaney was born on 1883-04-01 in Colorado Springs.
When did Lon Chaney die?
Lon died on 1930-08-26.
What was Lon Chaney known for?
Lon Chaney is recorded as a film actor, a film director, a director, a make-up artist, a stage actor, a writer, a actor and a screenwriter.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

Aubrey Research

Research the history of any US location

Aubrey searches federal archives, archaeological records, historic registers, and primary sources to build a full historical report for any address or place in the United States.

Research your locationView a free sample report