Creighton Tull Chaney, known by his stage name Lon Chaney Jr., was an American actor known for playing Larry Talbot in the film The Wolf Man (1941) and its various crossovers, Count Alucard in Son of Dracula, Frankenstein's monster in The Ghost of Frankenstein (1942), the Mummy in three pictures, and various other roles in many Universal horror films, including six films in their 1940s Inner Sanctum series, making him a horror icon. He also portrayed Lennie Small in Of Mice and Men (1939) and supporting parts in dozens of mainstream movies, including High Noon (1952), The Defiant Ones (1958), and numerous Westerns, musicals, comedies and dramas.
Chaney Jr. in Indestructible Man (1956)
Lon Chaney, Creighton's father
Gigi Parrish and Chaney in Girl o' My Dreams (1934)
Chaney Jr., Evelyn Ankers and Bela Lugosi in The Ghost of Frankenstein (1942)
A stage name or professional name is a pseudonym used by performers, authors, and entertainers—such as actors, comedians, singers, and musicians. Such professional aliases are adopted for a wide variety of reasons and they may be similar, or nearly identical, to an individual's birth name. Though uncommon, some performers choose to adopt their stage name as a legal name.
Marilyn Monroe (born Norma Jeane Mortenson) created her stage name by combining her mother's maiden name with the first name of Broadway star Marilyn Miller. It became her legal name in 1956.
Madhubala (born Mumtaz Jehan Begum Dehlavi) was suggested for her stage name by Indian director Mohan Sinha, who launched her as a full-fledged leading star after a series of bit roles.
Singer Freddie Mercury legally changed his name from Farrokh Bulsara.
