by John Petty

Created on: October 27, 2008

One of the greatest actors in the history of cinema, Leonidas Frank Chaney, more popularly known as Lon, was born on April 1, 1883 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, to deaf-mute parents. It's widely held that Chaney's early experience communicating to his parents in a non-verbal manner were the basis for the expressive acting skills he would demonstrate later in life.

To many people today, Chaney is thought of strictly as a horror actor, based on his strong performances in such classics as "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" and "The Phantom of the Opera." Nothing, however, could be further from the truth. Although Chaney did essay his share of horrific roles, his range was truly extraordinary, resulting in some of the finest silent films ever made. The following list should give movie fans, whose only exposure to Chaney may have been as Erik or Quasimodo, an idea of the vast talent of this important star. Fortunately, although it's true that many silent films have been lost to the ages, the victims of decomposition and neglect, a significant body of Chaney's work still survives, easily available on DVD with minimal effort.

1. "The Miracle Man" (1919): Although this was far from Chaney's first film - he had over 100 credits on his resume by this time - it was this picture that first brought the future "Man of a Thousand Faces" to the attention of the movie-going public. As "The Frog," Chaney played a contortionist who used his abilities in service of a con man and a group of grifters. Although most of this film is lost, Chaney's big scene, in which he unwinds his twisted body, survives as a fascinating look at the early look of a future superstar.

2. "The Penalty" (1920): Perhaps Chaney's greatest role ever, in this little-seen film he plays Blizzard, a legless criminal mastermind who runs a vast underground empire. A truly frightening character, Chaney achieved the effect of leglessness by constructing two leather cups that he wore on his knees, while his legs were strapped behind him. By all accounts, this was a very painful procedure which Chaney could only maintain for a few minutes at a time, but the effect is mesmerizing. Once seen, this movie is not soon forgotten; fortunately, the film is available on DVD, preserved for future generations of film buffs.

3. "Shadows" (1922): In this touching film, Chaney plays Yen Sin, a humble Chinese laundry man who, after a shipwreck, finds himself in the midst of a devoutly Christian community that hates and despises him for

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