Mack Swain (born Moroni Swain; February 16, 1876 – August 25, 1935) was a prolific 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 and starred in both the world's first feature length comedy and first film to feature a "movie-within-a-movie" premise.

Early years

Swain was born on February 16, 1876, to Robert Henry Swain and Mary Ingeborg Jensen in Salt Lake City, Utah, and was educated in Salt Lake City's public schools. At age 6 he put on his first act called "Mack Swain's Mammoth Minstrels" in the family barn. At age 8 he stole all of his mother's sheets and linens to build his own circus tent. He ran away from home at age 15, joining a minstrel show. His mother took him home after one performance, but he persuaded her to let him continue in entertainment.

Career In the early 1900s, Swain had his own stock theater company, the Mack Swain Co., which performed in the western and midwestern United States. His most notable residency, was in Santa Cruz, California, where at one point he was bringing in 6,000 patrons a week to see his performances; over two-thirds the population of the city at the time. On June 24, 1907, the Mack Swain Co. had its 61st show in 50 days, breaking the record by any theater company ever appearing in Santa Cruz. That same year Swain bought the Alisky Theatre, and changed its name to Swain’s Theatre. By 1913, audience attendance had begun to dry up and with it Swain's theatrical career. Mack was initially hesitant to work in the film industry, viewing it as an "inferior art form to theater," but eventually gave in after many of his fellow actors and peers had done the same.

His first foray into silent film began at Keystone Studios under Mack Sennett. His first dressing room was shared with Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle. Shortly after arriving at Keystone, Charlie Chaplin too joined the studio and the two quickly teamed up. Swain would later recall that Sennett initially saw him and Chaplin as a burden, and encouraged the two to work together. These early films, such as Laughing Gas (1914) and Mabel's Married Life (1914), would forge a friendship between the two that would endure until Swain's death. Chaplin would later state that his idea for his infamous character, The Tramp, came from him rummaging through Swain's and Arbuckle's dressing room; the baggy clothes from Arbuckle and the iconic mustache from one of Swain's own fake mustaches. Swain and Chaplin would eventually star in the world's first feature-length comedy, Tillie's Punctured Romance (1914).

Chaplin soon left Keystone, and Swain paired up with Chester Conklin to make a series of comedy films. Swain played "Ambrose" and Conklin the grand mustachioed "Walrus" 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 including some early sound shorts. 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 Chaplin 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.

Personal life Swain was married to actress Cora King. He was a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.https://www.ldsliving.com/8-stars-on-the-hollywood-walk-of-fame-that-belong-to-latter-day-saints/s/79203

Death Swain died on a train bound from Chicago to Hollywood in August 25, 1935, following an illness that lasted only a few hours. He was buried in Tacoma, Washington.

Legacy

For his contribution to the motion picture industry, Swain received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, at 1500 Vine Street.

Partial filmography

Year Title Role Notes1914 A False Beauty The Policeman 1914 Caught in the Rain Husband Short1914 His Musical Career Mike aka Ambrose - Tom's Partner Short1914 Tillie's Punctured Romance John Banks 1914 Getting Acquainted Ambrose Short1915 Love, Speed and Thrills Short1916A Movie StarHandsome JackShort1916 His Bitter PillJim - A Sheriff Short1917Lost- A CookCook1921 The Idle Class Edna's Father Short, Uncredited1922 Pay Day Foreman Short1923 The Pilgrim Deacon Jones 1925 The Gold Rush Big Jim McKay 1925 The Eagle Innkeeper Uncredited1926 Hands Up! Silas Woodstock 1926 Torrent Don Matías 1926 Sea Horses Bimbo-Bomba 1926 The Cohens and Kellys Minor Role Uncredited1926 Kiki Pastryman 1926 Footloose Widows Ludwig, Marian's husband-in-retrospect 1926 Honesty – The Best Policy Bendy Joe 1926 The Nervous Wreck Jerome Underwood 1926 Her Big Night Myers 1926 Whispering Wires McCarthy 1927 The Beloved Rogue Nicholas 1927 See You in Jail Slossom 1927 The Shamrock and the Rose Mr. Kelly 1927 The Tired Business Man Mike Murphy 1927 Mockery Vladimir Gaidaroff 1927 Finnegan's Ball Patrick Flannigan 1927 My Best Girl The Judge 1927 Becky Irving Spiegelberg 1927 A Texas Steer Bragg 1927 The Girl from Everywhere Wilfred Ashcraft - Director 1928 Gentlemen Prefer Blondes Sir Francis Beekman 1928 Tillie's Punctured Romance Tillie's Father 1928 Caught in the Fog Detective Ryan 1928 The Last Warning Robert Bunce 1929 The Cohens and the Kellys in Atlantic City Mr. Tom Kelly 1929 The Locked Door Hotel Proprietor 1929 Marianne General 1930 Redemption Magistrate 1930 The Sea Bat Dutchy 1930 Soup to Nuts First Fat Diner Uncredited1931 Finn and Hattie Le Bottin 1932 The Midnight Patrol 1935 Bad Boy Man on Rowing Machine Uncredited (final film role)

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