Lon Chaney (1883-1930), nicknamed "The Man of a Thousand Faces," appeared in 157 films between 1913 and 1930. He is remembered for his inventive use of makeup and his portrayal of grotesque characters. Chaney's most famous starring roles were in film productions of The Hunchback of Notre Dame and The Phantom of the Opera.

Alonzo "Lon" Chaney was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado, on April 1, 1883. He was one of four children born to speech and hearing impaired parents. Chaney's father worked as a barber. When young Lon was still a child, his mother became seriously ill and was bedridden for the rest of her life. He left school and spent much of his time caring for her and his siblings, and entertaining them with pantomimed stories. Chaney later recalled his childhood as a happy time, with a tightly knit family that spent much time together at home.

Chaney's older brother, John...