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
(1939)
Man with Stove Pipe Hat in Charge of Convict Workers (uncredited)
Batman
(1943)
Ken Colton
Duck Soup
(1933)
Prosecutor
The Killers
(1946)
Farmer (uncredited)
The Grapes of Wrath
(1940)
Leader
Jesse James
(1939)
Doctor
Frisco Kid
(1935)
Speaker (uncredited)
Sergeant York
(1941)
Mountaineer (uncredited)
Jezebel
(1938)
Officer (uncredited)
Virginia City
(1940)
Jefferson Davis
Flash Gordon
(1936)
Ming the Merciless
Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House
(1948)
Wrecker (uncredited)
The Flying Deuces
(1939)
Commandant
Santa Fe Trail
(1940)
Gentry
Show Boat
(1936)
Sheriff Ike Vallon
Western Union
(1941)
Stagecoach Rider
Full Filmography
Acting
Welcome Danger
(1929)
John Thorne / The Dragon
The Bellamy Trial
(1929)
District Attorney
The Far Call
(1929)
Kris Larsen
The Devil's Cabaret
(1930)
Mr. Satan (uncredited)
East Is West
(1930)
Dr. Fredericks
Way Out West
(1930)
Buck Rankin
Beau Bandit
(1930)
Lucius J. Perkins
The Miracle Woman
(1931)
Simpson
Beau Hunks
(1931)
Commandant
Safe in Hell
(1931)
Lawyer Jones
Caught Plastered
(1931)
Sheriff Flint
A House Divided
(1931)
Minister
Palmy Days
(1931)
Yolando
X Marks the Spot
(1931)
Kirby
Manhattan Parade
(1931)
Sheriff Casey
A Dangerous Affair
(1931)
Tupper
Ships of Hate
(1931)
Captain Lash
An American Tragedy
(1931)
Attorney Reuben Jephson
The Ruling Voice
(1931)
Board Member (uncredited)
Sob Sister
(1931)
City Editor Baker
High Pressure
(1932)
Mr. Banks
The Sign of the Cross
(1932)
Tyros
Hell's Highway
(1932)
Matthew the Hermit
The Hatchet Man
(1932)
Lip Hop Fat
The Strange Love of Molly Louvain
(1932)
Police Capt. Slade
Mystery Ranch
(1932)
Henry Steele
Too Busy to Work
(1932)
Chief of Police
Pack Up Your Troubles
(1932)
Welfare Association Officer
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang
(1932)
Train Conductor (uncredited)
Rockabye
(1932)
District Attorney (uncredited)
Silver Dollar
(1932)
Jenkins
The Phantom President
(1932)
Abe Lincoln (uncredited)
Breach of Promise
(1932)
Joe Pugmire
Duck Soup
(1933)
Prosecutor
This Day and Age
(1933)
District Attorney
Destination Unknown
(1933)
Turk
Tomorrow at Seven
(1933)
Jerry Simons
Pick-up
(1933)
Mr. Brewster
The Road Is Open Again
(1933)
Abraham Lincoln
White Woman
(1933)
Fenton
Mr. Skitch
(1933)
Joe
Sunset Pass
(1933)
Williams
Disgraced!
(1933)
District Attorney
At Twelve Midnight
(1933)
Roger Thurston
The Bowery
(1933)
Detective (uncredited)
Doctor Bull
(1933)
Mr. Upjohn
Big Executive
(1933)
Sheriff
Lone Cowboy
(1933)
U.S. Marshal
The Three Musketeers
(1933)
El Shaitan (voice)
Murder at the Vanities
(1934)
Homer Boothby
Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch
(1934)
Mr. Bagby
Broadway Bill
(1934)
Veterinarian (uncredited)
Massacre
(1934)
Sheriff Scatters
The Last Round-up
(1934)
Sheriff
David Harum
(1934)
Deacon Perkins
Red Morning
(1934)
Stanchon
Whom the Gods Destroy
(1934)
Constable Malcolm (uncredited)
Behold My Wife!
(1934)
Juan Storm Cloud
The Fixer Uppers
(1935)
Pierre Gustave
The Miracle Rider
(1935)
Zaroff
Reckless
(1935)
District Attorney (uncredited)
Hop-a-long Cassidy
(1935)
Buck Peters
Square Shooter
(1935)
Miller
Special Agent
(1935)
State Police Commander (uncredited)
Steamboat Round the Bend
(1935)
Fleety Belle's Father
In Spite of Danger
(1935)
Mr. Merritt
Frisco Kid
(1935)
Speaker (uncredited)
Flash Gordon
(1936)
Ming the Merciless
Show Boat
(1936)
Sheriff Ike Vallon
Ramona
(1936)
American Settler (uncredited)
Song of the Saddle
(1936)
Phineas P. Hook
Road Gang
(1936)
Grayson
Empty Saddles
(1936)
Cim White
Rose of the Rancho
(1936)
Horse Doctor (uncredited)
Jailbreak
(1936)
Dan Stone
Sunset of Power
(1936)
Neil Brannum
Wedding Present
(1936)
Turnbull
Career Woman
(1936)
Matt Clay
The Trail of the Lonesome Pine
(1936)
Blacksmith
The Texas Rangers
(1936)
Lawyer (uncredited)
A Son Comes Home
(1936)
Prosecutor
Stand-In
(1937)
Actor dressed as Abraham Lincoln
We're on the Jury
(1937)
Mr. Martin
Hollywood Cowboy
(1937)
'Doc' Kramer
Yodelin' Kid from Pine Ridge
(1937)
Gene Autry Sr.
Slave Ship
(1937)
Slave Dealer
Two Gun Law
(1937)
Wolf Larson
The Man Without a Country
(1937)
President Abraham Lincoln (uncredited)
The Good Earth
(1937)
Banker (uncredited)
Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars
(1938)
Emperor Ming
Dick Tracy Returns
(1938)
Pa Stark
Flaming Frontiers
(1938)
Ace Daggett
Kentucky
(1938)
Southerner
Rocket Ship
(1938)
Emperor Ming
Jezebel
(1938)
Officer (uncredited)
Mars Attacks the World
(1938)
Ming the Merciless
Joaquin Murrieta
(1938)
Politician (uncredited)
The Strange Case of Dr. Meade
(1938)
Lacey
The Flying Deuces
(1939)
Commandant
Daredevils of the Red Circle
(1939)
39013
Cowboys from Texas
(1939)
Kansas Jones
Jesse James
(1939)
Doctor
The Oklahoma Kid
(1939)
Alec Martin
Allegheny Uprising
(1939)
Dr. Stoke
Wyoming Outlaw
(1939)
Luke Parker
Way Down South
(1939)
Cass
Gone with the Wind
(1939)
Man with Stove Pipe Hat in Charge of Convict Workers (uncredited)
Blackmail
(1939)
Southern Deputy (uncredited)
Thou Shalt Not Kill
(1939)
Lars Olsen
Captain Fury
(1939)
Mergon
$1,000 a Touchdown
(1939)
Stage Manager (uncredited)
One Against the World
(1939)
Mr. Crumley (uncredited)
The Grapes of Wrath
(1940)
Leader
Santa Fe Trail
(1940)
Gentry
Abe Lincoln in Illinois
(1940)
Tom Lincoln
Charlie Chan's Murder Cruise
(1940)
Jeremiah Walters
Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe
(1940)
Emperor Ming
Shooting High
(1940)
Hod Carson
Virginia City
(1940)
Jefferson Davis
Women in Hiding
(1940)
Alice's Father (uncredited)
Rangers of Fortune
(1940)
Water Thug
Eyes of the Navy
(1940)
Farmer (uncredited)
Brigham Young
(1940)
Mob Member
Island of Doomed Men
(1940)
Captain Cort
Gold Rush Maisie
(1940)
Camp Owner with a Pig (Uncredited)
Belle Starr
(1941)
Carpetbagger
Wild Geese Calling
(1941)
Doctor Jed Sloan
Jungle Man
(1941)
Rev. James 'Jim' Graham
Stick to Your Guns
(1941)
Long Ben, gambler-saloon owner
Sergeant York
(1941)
Mountaineer (uncredited)
Western Union
(1941)
Stagecoach Rider
The Shepherd of the Hills
(1941)
Blacksmith (uncredited)
Perils of Nyoka
(1942)
Cassib
Men of San Quentin
(1942)
Saunderson
Wild Bill Hickok Rides
(1942)
Claim Jumping Leader
The Mystery of Marie Roget
(1942)
Curator
Black Raven
(1943)
Sheriff
Wagon Wheels West
(1943)
Phineas Hook
Oklahoma Outlaws
(1943)
Judge Ringle
Batman
(1943)
Ken Colton
Crazy House
(1943)
Sheriff
Boobs in the Night
(1943)
Spook Louder
(1943)
Graves' Valet
Black Arrow
(1944)
Tom Whitney
The Desert Hawk
(1944)
Koda Bey
The Town Went Wild
(1944)
Sam, Midvale District Attorney
Northwest Trail
(1945)
Pierre
Our Vines Have Tender Grapes
(1945)
Mr. Jensen
How DOooo You Do
(1945)
Sheriff Hayworth
Hollywood and Vine
(1945)
Attorney
Strangler of the Swamp
(1946)
Ferryman Douglas
The Killers
(1946)
Farmer (uncredited)
Spook Busters
(1946)
Mr. Stiles
The Pretender
(1947)
William the butler
Welcome Stranger
(1947)
Farmer Pinkett (uncredited)
Gunfighters
(1947)
Sheriff #1 (uncredited)
Station West
(1948)
Sheriff
The Decision of Christopher Blake
(1948)
President in Dream (uncredited)
Feudin', Fussin' and A-Fightin'
(1948)
Townsman (uncredited)
Jiggs and Maggie in Court
(1948)
Mr. Burton, an Attorney
My Girl Tisa
(1948)
Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House
(1948)
Wrecker (uncredited)
Here Comes Trouble
(1948)
Reporter (uncredited)
The Last Bandit
(1949)
Blindfolded Circuit Rider
Purple Death from Outer Space
(1966)
Ming the Merciless
Spaceship to the Unknown
(1966)
Ming the Merciless (archive footage)
A Look at the World of 'Soylent Green'
(1973)
Self (archive footage)
Dance of the Cookoos
(1982)
Commandant
Going Hollywood: The '30s
(1984)
(archive footage)