Lon Chaney Jr. Biography

Fast Facts

• Recognized by the U․S․ Postal Service in 1997 with a commemorative stamp honoring iconic horror characters in film
• Following his death of heart failure in 1973, his body was donated to science and medical students kept his lungs and liver to demonstrate the negative effects caused by tobacco and alcohol consumption
• Born in Oklahoma City, as his parents were traveling across the United States in a road show at the time
• Quote: "My father would be horrified if he knew I was making it in the pictures and that I'm not billed as Creighton Chaney․"
• Usually billed in films pertaining to the horror genre later in his career, he would start out by launching his career after portraying Lennie in the 1939 film version of "Of Mice and Men"
• Never considered a career in show business until after the death of his father, as he felt overshadowed by his dad's enormous success in Hollywood
• Initially attempted to continue his father's legacy in makeup design, but strict union rules of the '30s and '40s prevented him from doing so