Charles B. Middleton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charles Middleton
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| Born | October 3, 1874 Elizabethtown, Kentucky, U.S.
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| Died | April 22, 1949 (aged 74) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Occupation | Movie & stage actor |
| Years active | 1920-1949 |
| Spouse(s) | Leora Spellman |
Charles B. Middleton (born October 3, 1874 – died April 22, 1949) was an American actor. He was famous for his roles in many movies and plays. He is best known for playing the evil Emperor Ming the Merciless. Ming was the main villain from the planet Mongo in the exciting Flash Gordon movie series.
Meet Charles Middleton
Charles B. Middleton was born in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. He started his acting career on stage, performing in many plays. Later, he moved to Hollywood and became a very busy movie actor. He often played serious or villainous characters. This was partly because of his deep voice and strong look.
His Memorable Role as Ming the Merciless
Charles Middleton's most famous role was Emperor Ming the Merciless. Ming was the powerful and evil ruler of the planet Mongo. He was always trying to conquer Earth and stop Flash Gordon. Middleton played this character so well that he became one of the most iconic movie villains of his time. He appeared as Ming in three popular Universal Pictures movie serials:
- Flash Gordon (1936)
- Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars (1938)
- Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe (1940)
Other Movie Roles
Besides playing Ming, Charles Middleton acted in almost 200 movies. He played many different kinds of characters. He was often cast as tough guys, sheriffs, or other serious figures. His career in Hollywood lasted for nearly 30 years, from 1920 until his death in 1949.
