
Mack Swain
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Mack Swain (born Moroni Swain, February 16, 1876 โ August 25, 1935) was an early American film actor, who appeared in many of Mack Sennett's comedies at Keystone Studios, including the Keystone Cops series. He also appeared in major features by Charlie Chaplin. In the early 1900s Swain had his own stock theater company, which performed in the western and midwestern United States. Swain worked in vaudeville before starting in silent film at Keystone Studios under Mack Sennett. While with Keystone, he was teamed with Chester Conklin to make a series of comedy films. With Swain as "Ambrose" and Conklin as the grand mustachioed "Walrus", they performed these roles in several films including The Battle of Ambrose and Walrus and Love, Speed and Thrills, both made in 1915. Besides these comedies, the two appeared together in a variety of other films, 26 all told, and they also appeared separately and/or together in films starring Mabel Normand, Charles Chaplin, Roscoe Arbuckle and most of the rest of the roster of Keystone players. Swain later took his Ambrose character with him to the L-KO Kompany. Having already worked with Charles Chaplin at Keystone, Swain began working with him again at First National in 1921, appearing in The Idle Class, Pay Day, and The Pilgrim. He is also remembered for his large supporting role as Big Jim McKay in the 1925 film The Gold Rush, for United Artists, written by and starring Chaplin. For his contribution to the motion picture industry, Mack Swain received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, at 1500 Vine Street.
Known For
Credits
- 1998 ยทStar Power: The Creation Of United Artistsas Big Jim McKay (archive footage)
- 1959 ยทThe Chaplin Revueas Various (archive footage)
- 1953 ยทYesterday and Todayas (archive footage)
- 1943 ยทHappy Times and Jolly Momentsas (archive footage)
- 1935 ยทBad Boyas Man on Rowing Machine
- 1932 ยทLighthouse Loveas Captain Wiggins - the Lighthouse Keeper
- 1932 ยทThe Midnight Patrolas
- 1931 ยทStout Hearts and Willing Handsas
- 1931 ยทFinn and Hattieas Le Bottin
- 1930 ยทSoup to Nutsas First Fat Diner (uncredited)
- 1930 ยทCleaning Upas Mack
- 1930 ยทThe Sea Batas Dutchy
- 1930 ยทRedemptionas Magistrate
- 1929 ยทThe Locked Dooras Hotel Proprietor
- 1928 ยทThe Last Warningas Robert Bunce
- 1928 ยทCaught in the Fogas Detective Ryan
- 1928 ยทThe Girl from Nowhereas Wilbur Ashcraft
- 1928 ยทTillie's Punctured Romanceas Tillie's Father
- 1928 ยทGentlemen Prefer Blondesas Sir Francis Beekman
- 1927 ยทThe Girl from Everywhereas Wilfred Ashcraft - Director
- 1927 ยทA Texas Steeras Bragg
- 1927 ยทBeckyas Irving Spiegelberg
- 1927 ยทMy Best Girlas Judge
- 1927 ยทMockeryas Vladimir Gaidaroff
- 1927 ยทThe Shamrock and the Roseas Mike Kelly
- 1927 ยทThe Beloved Rogueas Nicholas
- 1926 ยทWhispering Wiresas McCarthy
- 1926 ยทThe Nervous Wreckas Jerome Underwood
- 1926 ยทFootloose Widowsas Ludwig
- 1926 ยทKikias Pastryman (uncredited)
- 1926 ยทSea Horsesas Bimbo-Bomba
- 1926 ยทTorrentas Don Matรญas
- 1926 ยทHands Up!as Silas Woodstock
- 1925 ยทThe Eagleas Innkeeper (uncredited)
- 1925 ยทThe Gold Rushas Big Jim McKay
- 1923 ยทPitfalls of a Big Cityas The Vamp's Husband
- 1923 ยทThis Way Outas The Girl's Father
- 1923 ยทThe Pilgrimas Deacon
- 1922 ยทPay Dayas Foreman
- 1921 ยทThe Idle Classas Edna's Father (uncredited)
- 1920 ยทFull o' Spiritsas
- 1920 ยทInnocent Ambroseas Ambrose Schnitz
- 1919 ยทHeroic Ambroseas Ambrose Schnitz
- 1919 ยทHer First False Hareas Unknown
- 1919 ยทOh, What a Knightas The Sheriff
- 1918 ยทAdventurous Ambroseas Ambrose
- 1917 ยทThe Late Lamentedas Boarder (unconfirmed)
- 1917 ยทLost: A Cookas Farmer Ambrose
- 1917 ยทThirstas Ambrose
- 1917 ยทHis Naughty Thoughtas Walter Ambrose
- 1917 ยทThe Pullman Brideas Rover Peabody - the Chosen One
- 1916 ยทMadcap Ambroseas Ambrose
- 1916 ยทHis Bitter Pillas Jim - a Big Hearted Sheriff
- 1916 ยทA Movie Staras Handsome Jack
- 1915 ยทSaved by Wirelessas The Spy
- 1915 ยทWhen Ambrose Dared Walrusas Ambrose
- 1915 ยทMabel Lost and Wonas Mabel's Rival's Husband
- 1915 ยทAmbrose's Nasty Temperas Ambrose
- 1915 ยทAmbrose's Lofty Perchas Ambrose
- 1915 ยทAmbrose's Furyas Ambrose
- 1915 ยทAmbrose's Little Hatchetas Ambrose
- 1915 ยทThat Little Band Of Goldas Audience Member (uncredited)
- 1915 ยทWillful Ambroseas Pa Ambrose
- 1915 ยทAmbrose's Sour Grapesas Ambrose
- 1915 ยทYe Olden Grafteras The Grafter
- 1915 ยทHogan's Romance Upsetas Fight Spectator
- 1915 ยทCaught in a Parkas The Bartender
- 1915 ยทFatty's New Roleas Ambrose Schnitz
- 1915 ยทThe Home Breakersas Ambrose
- 1915 ยทLove, Speed and Thrillsas Ambrose
- 1914 ยทGussle, the Golferas Ambrose
- 1914 ยทTillie's Punctured Romanceas Tillie's Father
- 1914 ยทAmbrose's First Falsehoodas Ambrose
- 1914 ยทHis Prehistoric Pastas King Lowbrow
- 1914 ยทOther People's Businessas
- 1914 ยทGetting Acquaintedas Ambrose
- 1914 ยทLeading Lizzie Astrayas Cafe Patron - In from the Mines
- 1914 ยทThe Sea Nymphsas Ambrose
- 1914 ยทFatty's Wine Partyas Restaurant Proprietor
- 1914 ยทHis Trysting Placesas Ambrose
- 1914 ยทHis Musical Careeras Mike, Charlie's Partner
- 1914 ยทGentlemen of Nerveas Mr. Walrus
- 1914 ยทHello, Mabelas The Married Flirt
- 1914 ยทLaughing Gasas Patient
- 1914 ยทA Rowboat Romanceas (unconfirmed)
- 1914 ยทMabel's Married Lifeas Wellington, a Ladykiller
- 1914 ยทA Gambling Rubeas (unconfirmed)
- 1914 ยทThe Knockoutas Gambler (uncredited)
- 1914 ยทThe Fatal Malletas Rival Suitor (uncredited)
- 1914 ยทMabelโs Nerveas
- 1914 ยทA Busy Dayas Husband
- 1914 ยทCaught in the Rainas Husband (uncredited)
- 1914 ยทCaught in a Cabaretas Tough Patron / Party Guest / Boy's Father (uncredited)
- 1914 ยทMabel at the Wheelas Race Spectator (uncredited)
- 1914 ยทLove and Gasolineas
- 1914 ยทA Thief Catcheras Crook (uncredited)
- 1914 ยทA Robust Romeoas
- 1914 ยทDouble Crossedas The Belle's Boyfriend
- 1914 ยทThe Under-Sheriffas Villager
- 1913 ยทThe Gusheras Villager / Cop
- 1913 ยทFatty Joins the Forceas Cop at Station House
- 1913 ยทA Muddy Romanceas Desk Sergeant / Park Attendant