Mack Swain
Mack Swain
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.
Known For
Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Known Credits
105
Gender
Male
Birthday
1876-02-15 (149 years old)
Place of Birth
Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
Acting

1998

Star Power: The Creation Of United Artists as Big Jim McKay (archive footage)

1959

The Chaplin Revue as Various (archive footage)

1953

Yesterday and Today as (archive footage)

1943

Happy Times and Jolly Moments as (archive footage)

1935

Bad Boy as Man on Rowing Machine

1932

The Midnight Patrol as Not available

1932

Lighthouse Love as Captain Wiggins - the Lighthouse Keeper

1931

Finn and Hattie as Le Bottin

1931

Stout Hearts and Willing Hands as Not available

1930

The Sea Bat as Dutchy

1930

Redemption as Magistrate

1930

Soup to Nuts as First Fat Diner (uncredited)

1930

Cleaning Up as Mack

1929

The Locked Door as Hotel Proprietor

1928

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes as Sir Francis Beekman

1928

The Girl from Nowhere as Wilbur Ashcraft

1928

Caught in the Fog as Detective Ryan

1928

Tillie's Punctured Romance as Tillie's Father

1928

The Last Warning as Robert Bunce

1927

The Shamrock and the Rose as Mike Kelly

1927

Mockery as Vladimir Gaidaroff

1927

My Best Girl as Judge

1927

The Girl from Everywhere as Wilfred Ashcraft - Director

1927

Becky as Irving Spiegelberg

1927

A Texas Steer as Bragg

1927

The Beloved Rogue as Nicholas

1926

Sea Horses as Bimbo-Bomba

1926

Torrent as Don Matías

1926

Kiki as Pastryman (uncredited)

1926

Whispering Wires as McCarthy

1926

Hands Up! as Silas Woodstock

1926

Footloose Widows as Ludwig

1926

The Nervous Wreck as Jerome Underwood

1925

The Gold Rush as Big Jim McKay

1925

The Eagle as Innkeeper (uncredited)

1923

The Pilgrim as Deacon

1923

Pitfalls of a Big City as The Vamp's Husband

1923

This Way Out as The Girl's Father

1922

Pay Day as Foreman

1921

The Idle Class as Edna's Father (uncredited)

1920

Full o' Spirits as Not available

1920

Innocent Ambrose as Ambrose Schnitz

1919

Her First False Hare as Unknown

1919

Heroic Ambrose as Ambrose Schnitz

1919

Oh, What a Knight as The Sheriff

1918

Adventurous Ambrose as Ambrose

1917

The Late Lamented as Boarder (unconfirmed)

1917

The Pullman Bride as Rover Peabody - the Chosen One

1917

Thirst as Ambrose

1917

Lost: A Cook as Farmer Ambrose

1917

His Naughty Thought as Walter Ambrose

1916

His Bitter Pill as Jim - a Big Hearted Sheriff

1916

Madcap Ambrose as Ambrose

1916

A Movie Star as Handsome Jack

1915

Fatty's New Role as Ambrose Schnitz

1915

That Little Band Of Gold as Audience Member (uncredited)

1915

Ambrose's Fury as Ambrose

1915

Love, Speed and Thrills as Ambrose

1915

Saved by Wireless as The Spy

1915

Caught in a Park as The Bartender

1915

Ye Olden Grafter as The Grafter

1915

Mabel Lost and Won as Mabel's Rival's Husband

1915

The Home Breakers as Ambrose

1915

Ambrose's Lofty Perch as Ambrose

1915

Ambrose's Sour Grapes as Ambrose

1915

Hogan's Romance Upset as Fight Spectator

1915

Ambrose's Little Hatchet as Ambrose

1915

Ambrose's Nasty Temper as Ambrose

1915

Willful Ambrose as Pa Ambrose

1914

Tillie's Punctured Romance as Tillie's Father

1914

Caught in the Rain as Husband (uncredited)

1914

Caught in a Cabaret as Tough Patron / Party Guest / Boy's Father (uncredited)

1914

Mabel at the Wheel as Race Spectator (uncredited)

1914

His Prehistoric Past as King Lowbrow

1914

Getting Acquainted as Ambrose

1914

The Knockout as Gambler (uncredited)

1914

The Fatal Mallet as Rival Suitor (uncredited)

1914

A Thief Catcher as Crook (uncredited)

1914

His Musical Career as Mike, Charlie's Partner

1914

Leading Lizzie Astray as Cafe Patron - In from the Mines

1914

Gentlemen of Nerve as Mr. Walrus

1914

A Gambling Rube as (unconfirmed)

1914

Mabel's Married Life as Wellington, a Ladykiller

1914

His Trysting Places as Ambrose

1914

A Busy Day as Husband

1914

Laughing Gas as Patient

1914

A Robust Romeo as Not available

1914

The Under-Sheriff as Villager

1914

Hello, Mabel as The Married Flirt

1914

Mabel’s Nerve as Not available

1914

Gussle, the Golfer as Ambrose

1914

Double Crossed as The Belle's Boyfriend

1914

Fatty's Wine Party as Restaurant Proprietor

1914

A Rowboat Romance as (unconfirmed)

1914

Love and Gasoline as Not available

1914

The Sea Nymphs as Ambrose

1914

A Missing Bride as Not available

1914

Other People's Business as Not available

1913

A Muddy Romance as Desk Sergeant / Park Attendant

1913

Fatty Joins the Force as Cop at Station House

1913

The Gusher as Villager / Cop
Crew

1920

Innocent Ambrose Director

1919

Heroic Ambrose Director