Lon Chaney, rightly known as the 'Man with a Thousand Faces,' is one of silent cinema's most legendary actors, renowned for his shapeshifting performances. A self-taught master of makeup and physical expression, Chaney was able to morph into a wide range of characters, often embodying tragic or monstrous figures with intense emotional depth. His collaborations with director Tod Browning such as The Unknown (1927) and The Unholy Three (1925), showcased his ability to convey both horror and pathos. Chaney was at his mercurial best in impactful roles such as the titular characters in The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923) and The Phantom of the Opera (1925), which cemented his legacy in silent cinema, blending spectacle with deep, haunting humanity. Despite his profound impact on early film, Chaney's legacy was, for many years, underappreciated—his pioneering work in makeup and performance now stands as a cornerstone of cinematic history.