Biography
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Mack Swain (born Moroni Swain, February 16, 1876 – 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.
Acted in 87
1990s
- 1998
Star Power: The Creation Of United Artists
Big Jim McKay (archive footage)
1950s
- 1959
The Chaplin Revue
Various (archive footage)
- 1953
Yesterday and Today
(archive footage)
1940s
- 1943
Happy Times and Jolly Moments
(archive footage)
1930s
- 1935
Bad Boy
Man on Rowing Machine
- 1932
The Midnight Patrol
Movie
- 1931
Finn and Hattie
Le Bottin
- 1930
Soup to Nuts
First Fat Diner (uncredited)
The Sea Bat
Dutchy
Redemption
Magistrate
1920s
- 1929
The Locked Door
Hotel Proprietor
The Cohens and Kellys in Atlantic City
Mr. Tom Kelly
- 1928
The Last Warning
Robert Bunce
Caught in the Fog
Detective Ryan
The Girl from Nowhere
Wilbur Ashcraft
Tillie's Punctured Romance
Tillie's Father
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
Sir Francis Beekman
- 1927
The Girl from Everywhere
Wilfred Ashcraft - Director
A Texas Steer
Bragg
Becky
Irving Spiegelberg
My Best Girl
Judge
Finnegan's Ball
Patrick Flannigan
Mockery
Vladimir Gaidaroff
See You in Jail
Slossom
The Shamrock and the Rose
Mike Kelly
The Beloved Rogue
Nicholas
- 1926
Whispering Wires
McCarthy
Her Big Night
Myers, film producer
The Nervous Wreck
Jerome Underwood
Footloose Widows
Ludwig
Kiki
Pastryman (uncredited)
Sea Horses
Bimbo-Bomba
The Devil's Circus
Movie
Hands Up!
Silas Woodstock
- 1925
The Eagle
Innkeeper (uncredited)
- 1923
Pitfalls of a Big City
The Vamp's Husband
The Pilgrim
Deacon
- 1922
- 1921
- 1920
Full o' Spirits
Movie
1910s
- 1919
Her First False Hare
Unknown
- 1917
The Late Lamented
Boarder (unconfirmed)
Lost: A Cook
Farmer Ambrose
Thirst
Ambrose
His Naughty Thought
Walter Ambrose
The Pullman Bride
Rover Peabody - the Chosen One
- 1916
Madcap Ambrose
Ambrose
His Bitter Pill
Jim - a Big Hearted Sheriff
A Movie Star
Handsome Jack
- 1915
When Ambrose Dared Walrus
Ambrose
Mabel Lost and Won
Mabel's Rival's Husband
Ambrose's Nasty Temper
Ambrose
Ambrose's Lofty Perch
Ambrose
Ambrose's Little Hatchet
Ambrose
That Little Band Of Gold
Audience Member (uncredited)
Willful Ambrose
Pa Ambrose
Hogan's Romance Upset
Fight Spectator
Fatty's New Role
Ambrose Schnitz
The Home Breakers
Ambrose
Love, Speed and Thrills
Ambrose
- 1914
Ambrose's First Falsehood
Ambrose
His Prehistoric Past
King Lowbrow
Getting Acquainted
Ambrose
Leading Lizzie Astray
Cafe Patron - In from the Mines
His Trysting Places
Ambrose
His Musical Career
Mike, Charlie's Partner
Gentlemen of Nerve
Mr. Walrus
Hello, Mabel
The Married Flirt
Laughing Gas
Patient
Mabel's Married Life
Wellington, a Ladykiller
The Knockout
Gambler (uncredited)
The Fatal Mallet
Rival Suitor (uncredited)
A Busy Day
Husband
Caught in the Rain
Husband (uncredited)
Mabel at the Wheel
Race Spectator (uncredited)
A Thief Catcher
Crook (uncredited)
Double Crossed
The Belle's Boyfriend
- 1913
The Gusher
Villager / Cop
Fatty Joins the Force
Cop at Station House
A Muddy Romance
Desk Sergeant / Park Attendant
