"The turbulent life and professional career of vaudeville actor and silent screen horror star Lon Chaney (1883-1930), the man of a thousand faces; bearer of many personal misfortunes that even his great success could not mitigate."
James Cagney
as Lon Chaney
Dorothy Malone
as Cleva Creighton Chaney
Jane Greer
as Hazel Bennet Chaney
Marjorie Rambeau
as Gert
Jim Backus
as Clarence Locan
Robert Evans
as Irving Thalberg
Celia Lovsky
as Mrs. Chaney
Jeanne Cagney
as Carrie Chaney
Jack Albertson
as Dr. J. Wilson Shiels
Roger Smith
as Creighton Chaney (at 21)
Robert Lyden
as Creighton Chaney (at 13)
Rickie Sorensen
as Creighton Chaney (at 8)
Dennis Rush
as Creighton Chaney (at 4)
Nolan Leary
as Pa Chaney
Simon Scott
as Carl Hastings
Clarence Kolb
as Clarence Kolb
Danny Beck
as Max Dill
Philip Van Zandt
as George Loane Tucker
Hank Mann
as Comedy Waiter #1
Harry 'Snub' Pollard
as Comedy Waiter #2
Emile Avery
as Stagehand (uncredited)
Al Bain
as Actor in Bullpen (uncredited)
Bobby Barber
as The Miracle Man Extra (uncredited)
Russ Bender
as Judge (uncredited)
Marjorie Bennett
as Vera (uncredited)
June Blair
as Chorine (uncredited)
Nicky Blair
as Cameraman of ‘Unholy Three' (uncredited)
Larry J. Blake
as David T. Stone (uncredited)
Harold Bostwick
as Piano Player (uncredited)
Rudy Bowman
Chet Brandenburg
Helen Brown
as Mrs. Heinley (uncredited)
Robert Brubaker
as Jack Conway (uncredited)
John Bryant
as William R. Darrow Jr. (uncredited)
George Calliga
as Ceremony Guest (uncredited)
Charles Cane
as Studio Guard (uncredited)
Anna Lee Carroll
James J. Casino
Spencer Chan
as Chinese Extra in Bullpen (uncredited)
Bill Chatham
as Shadow Dancer (uncredited)
Jack Chefe
as Extra in Bullpen (uncredited)
Heinie Conklin
as Audience Extra (uncredited)
Billy Curtis
as Harry Earles (uncredited)
Troy Donahue
as Assistant Director (uncredited)
Nancy Kilgas
as Mary Philbin (uncredited)
Charles Horvath
as Ivan Linow (uncredited)
Robert F. Hoy
as Assistant Director in Bullpen
Joseph Pevney
Director
R. Wright Campbell
Screenplay
Ralph Wheelwright
Story
Ben Roberts
Ivan Goff
Clifford Stine
Visual Effects Camera
Edward L. Sandlin
Sound Editor
Robert L. Bratton
Milton Rosen
Music
Technical Advisor
Ray DeCamp
Assistant Director
Edward Dodds
Unit Manager
Bud Westmore
Makeup Artist
Adele Cannon
Script Supervisor
Edward Ward
Jack Kevan
Marjorie Ramsey
Julia Heron
Set Decoration
Russell Metty
Director of Photography
Visual Effects
Frank Skinner
Original Music Composer
Robert Pritchard
Sound
Bill Thomas
Costume Designer
Leslie I. Carey
Phil Bowles
Alexander Golitzen
Art Direction
Joseph Gershenson
Music Supervisor
Eric Orbom
Russell A. Gausman
Ted J. Kent
Editor
Robert Arthur
Producer