John Miljan
John Miljan was an American actor. He appeared in more than 200 films between 1924 and 1958.
Biography
Born in 1892, Miljan was the tall, smooth-talking villain in Hollywood films for almost four decades, beginning in 1923. This kind of smooth villainy was made famous by more established actors like Ward Crane and Miljan continued in the mold after Crane's death in 1928. Miljan made his first sound film in 1927 in the promotional trailer for The Jazz Singer, inviting audiences to see the upcoming landmark film. In later years he played imposing, authoritative parts such as high-ranking executives and military officers. He is best remembered as General Custer in Cecil B. DeMille's film The Plainsman. DeMille also cast him in two notable supporting roles in two of his biblical epics: the Danite elder Lesh Lakish in Samson and Delilah, and the blind Israelite grandfather in The Exodus in The Ten Commandments.
Miljan campaigned for the reelection of President Herbert Hoover in 1932.
Miljan died from cancer in Hollywood in 1960, aged 67. He was married to Victoire Lowe and adopted her two sons from her first marriage to actor Creighton Hale.
Selected filmography
Love Letters as Thomas ChadwickThe Lone Chance as Lew BrodyRomance Ranch as Clifton VenableEmpty Hearts as Frank GormanThe Painted Lady as CarterOn the Stroke of Three as Henry MogridgeSackcloth and Scarlet as Samuel CurtisSilent Sanderson as Jim DowningThe Phantom of the Opera as Valentin The Overland Limited as Brice MillerWreckage as Maurice DysartSealed Lips as George GarnettThe Unnamed Woman as Archie WessonThe Unchastened Woman as Lawrence SanburyMorals for Men as Leonard WallaceFlaming Waters as Jasper ThorneThe Devil's Circus as LieberkindBrooding Eyes as DrummondLucky Fool Footloose Widows as Mr. SmithRace Wild Devil's Island as André Le FévierThe Amateur Gentleman as Viscount John DevenhamThe Men Women Love as EduardoUnknown Treasures as Ralph CheneeyAlmost a Lady as HenriMy Official Wife as NicholasWolf's Clothing as Johnson CraigieThe Final Extra as Mervin Le RoyQuarantined Rivals as Ed, the barberThe Yankee Clipper as Paul de VignyThe Ladybird as Jules RanierPaying the Price as Michael DonovanLovers as AlvarezRough House Rosie as Lew McKayFramed as Lola's HusbandOld San Francisco as Don Luis What Happened to Father? as Victor SmithThe Satin Woman as MauriceStranded as Grant PayneThe Desired Woman as Lieutenant KelloggThe Clown as Bert ColtonA Sailor's Sweetheart as MarkThe Jazz Singer as Host Sailor Izzy Murphy as The lunaticThe Silver Slave as Philip CaldwellThe Slaver as Cyril BlakeHusbands for Rent as Hugh FrazerThe Little Snob as Walt KeeneTenderloin as Bank TellerThe Crimson City as Gregory KentGlorious Betsy as PrestonLady Be Good as MurrayWomen They Talk About as OfficerThe Terror as Alfred KatmanLand of the Silver Fox as James CrawfordThe Home Towners as Joe RobertsStark Mad as Dr. MiloThe Eternal Woman as Gil MartinQueen of the Night Clubs as Grant - LawyerHardboiled Rose as Steve WallaceThe Desert Song as Capt. FontaineVoice of the City as Dapper Don WilkesInnocents of Paris as Monsieur RenardFashions in Love as Frank MartinSpeedway as Lee RennyThe Unholy Night as Major MalloryTimes Square as Dick BarclayUntamed as BennockDevil May Care as Lucien DeGrignonThe Woman Racket as ChrisNot So Dumb Free and Easy as himself - Actor in Bedroom SceneShow Girl in Hollywood as Frank Buelow - The DirectorIn Gay Madrid as Armada - the Torero The Unholy Three as Prosecuting AttorneyThe Sea Bat as JuanOur Blushing Brides as Martin W. SandersonWar Nurse as French Medical Officer Remote Control as Doctor Leonard T. KrugerPaid as Inspector BurkeGreat Day The Great Meadow as Daniel Boone Inspiration as Henry Coutant, the SculptorGentleman's Fate as FlorioThe Secret Six as Joe ColimoIron Man as Paul H. LewisPolitics as Jim CurangoSon of India as JuggatSusan Lenox, Her Fall and Rise as Wayne BurlinghamHell Divers as Lt. Commander Jack GriffinPossessed as John DriscollWest of Broadway as NormEmma as District AttorneyThe Beast of the City as District AttorneyArsène Lupin as Prefect of PoliceThe Wet Parade as Major DoleshalAre You Listening? as Ted RussellNight Court as CrawfordThe Rich Are Always with Us as Greg GrannardUnashamed as District Attorney HarrisProsperity as HollandThe Kid from Spain as PanchoFlesh as Joe WillardMade on Broadway Whistling in the Dark as CharlieWhat! No Beer? as Butch LoradoThe Nuisance as John CalhounBlind Adventure as ReganThe Way to Love as MarcoThe Mad Game as William BennettTwin Husbands as Jerry Van Trevor / Jerry WerrendenKing for a Night as Walter DouglasThe Sin of Nora Moran as PaulinoMadame Spy as WeberThe Poor Rich as Prince Abdul HamidshanWhirlpool as Barney GaigeThe Line-Up as Reginald FieldsUnknown Blonde as Frank WilsonYoung and Beautiful as Gordon DouglasBelle of the Nineties as Ace LamontTomorrow's Youth as Thomas Hall Sr.The Ghost Walks as Prescott AmesCharlie Chan in Paris as Albert DufresneMississippi as Major PattersonUnder the Pampas Moon as Graham ScottThree Kids and a Queen as Boss BentonMurder at Glen Athol as Bill HoltSutter's Gold as Gen. Juan Bautista AlvaradoPrivate Number as StappThe Gentleman from Louisiana as BaltimoreNorth of Nome as DawsonThe Plainsman as Gen. George A. CusterArizona Mahoney as Cameron LloydOf Human Hearts Man-Proof as Tommy GauntBorder G-Man as Louis RankinIf I Were King as Thibaut D'AussignyRide a Crooked Mile as Lt. Col. StuartPardon Our Nerve as Duke PageThe Oklahoma Kid as Ringo Juarez as Mariano EscobedoTorchy Runs for Mayor as Dr. DolanFast and Furious as Eric BartellEmergency Squad as Slade WileyWomen Without Names as John Marlin, Asst Dist. Attey.Queen of the Mob as PanNew Moon as Pierre BrugnonYoung Bill Hickok as Nicholas TowerTexas Rangers Ride Again as Carter DangerfieldThe Cowboy and the Blonde as Bob RoycroftDouble Cross as Nick TaggartForced Landing as General ValdaneThe Deadly Game as Henri FranckRiot Squad as Jim GrossoObliging Young Lady as George PotterTrue to the Army as DrakeNorth of the Rockies as Lionel MorganThe Big Street as McWhirter Criminal Investigator as Edward JudsonScattergood Survives a Murder as RolfeThe Boss of Big Town as Kenneth CraigeSubmarine Alert as Mr. Bambridge / Capt. HaigasBombardier as Chaplain Charlie CraigThe Fallen Sparrow as Inspector 'Toby' TobinThe Iron Major as Oregon State Coach Bride by Mistake as Major HarveyThe Merry Monahans as Arnold Pembroke, Has-Been Matinee IdolI Accuse My Parents as Dan WilsonIt's in the Bag! as Mr. ArnoldBack to Bataan as Gen. Jonathan Wainwright Wildfire as Pete FanningLost City of the Jungle as Dr. GaffronThe Last Crooked Mile as Police Lt. MayrinThe Killers as Jake the Rake White Tie and Tails as Mr. LatimerSinbad the Sailor as MogaQueen of the Amazons as narrator / Col. JonesThat's My Man as SecretaryUnconquered as Prosecutor at Court-Martial The Flame as DetectivePerilous Waters as Carter LarkinAdventure in Baltimore as Mr. EckertStampede as T.J. FurmanSamson and Delilah as Lesh LakishMrs. Mike as Mr. HowardMule Train as Judd Holbrook Walk Softly, Stranger as Old Man M as Blind Balloon VendorAnything Can Happen as Indian Bonzo Goes to College as Wilbur CraneThe Savage as Chief White Thunder Fort Algiers as Arab Chieftain Pirates of Tripoli as MalekRun for Cover as Mayor WalshThe Wild Dakotas as AntelopeThe Ten Commandments as The Blind OneThe Lone Ranger and the Lost City of Gold as Chief Tomache