Born Feb. 10: Lon Chaney, Jr.

Lon Chaney, Jr. was born Creighton Tull Chaney Feb. 10, 1906, the son of silent film star Lon Chaney (1883-1930) and his 16-year old wife, singer Cleva Creighton, also known as Frances Chaney (1889-1967). The couple divorced in 1913, and Creighton was raised by his father and his second wife, Hazel Hastings (1887-1933).

Father and son both achieved great fame starring in horror films: Lon Chaney in The Phantom of the Opera (1925), and Creighton (adopting the name Lon Chaney Jr.) in the title role of The Wolf Man (1941).

But Lon Chaney Jr. had earlier taken on the significant role of Lennie Small in the acclaimed 1939 film Of Mice and Men, based on the John Steinbeck novella, and appeared in a range of different roles in films and on television until the years just before his death in 1973.

In a set of five 32¢ Classic Movie Monsters stamps issued Sept. 30, 1997, Lon Chaney Jr. is shown in his film role as the Wolf Man (Scott 3172).

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