John Miljan

John Miljan (November 9, 1892 – January 24, 1960) 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. DeMille also cast him in two notable supporting roles in two of his biblical epics: the Danite elder Lesh Lakish in Samson and Delilah (1949), and the blind Israelite grandfather in The Exodus in The Ten Commandments (1956).

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 (d. 31 March 1965) and adopted her two sons from her first marriage to actor Creighton Hale.

Selected filmography

Love Letters (1924) as Thomas Chadwick The Lone Chance (1924) as Lew Brody Romance Ranch (1924) as Clifton Venable Empty Hearts (1924) as Frank Gorman The Painted Lady (1924) as Carter On the Stroke of Three (1924) as Henry Mogridge Sackcloth and Scarlet (1925) as Samuel Curtis Silent Sanderson (1925) as Jim Downing The Phantom of the Opera (1925) as Valentin (uncredited) The Overland Limited (1925) as Brice Miller Wreckage (1925) as Maurice Dysart Sealed Lips (1925) as George Garnett The Unnamed Woman (1925) as Archie Wesson The Unchastened Woman (1925) as Lawrence Sanbury Morals for Men (1925) as Leonard Wallace Flaming Waters (1925) as Jasper Thorne The Devil's Circus (1926) as Lieberkind Brooding Eyes (1926) as Drummond Lucky Fool (1926) Footloose Widows (1926) as Mr. Smith Race Wild (1926) Devil's Island (1926) as André Le Févier The Amateur Gentleman (1926) as Viscount John Devenham The Men Women Love (1926) as Eduardo Unknown Treasures (1926) as Ralph Cheneey Almost a Lady (1926) as Henri My Official Wife (1926) as Nicholas Wolf's Clothing (1927) as Johnson Craigie The Final Extra (1927) as Mervin Le Roy Quarantined Rivals (1927) as Ed, the barber The Yankee Clipper (1927) as Paul de Vigny The Ladybird (1927) as Jules Ranier Paying the Price (1927) as Michael Donovan Lovers (1927) as Alvarez Rough House Rosie (1927) as Lew McKay Framed (1927) as Lola's Husband Old San Francisco (1927) as Don Luis (uncredited) What Happened to Father? (1927) as Victor Smith The Satin Woman (1927) as Maurice Stranded (1927) as Grant Payne The Desired Woman (1927) as Lieutenant Kellogg The Clown (1927) as Bert Colton A Sailor's Sweetheart (1927) as Mark The Jazz Singer (1927) as Host (uncredited) Sailor Izzy Murphy (1927) as The lunatic The Silver Slave (1927) as Philip Caldwell The Slaver (1927) as Cyril Blake Husbands for Rent (1927) as Hugh Frazer The Little Snob (1928) as Walt Keene Tenderloin (1928) as Bank Teller The Crimson City (1928) as Gregory Kent Glorious Betsy (1928) as Preston Lady Be Good (1928) as Murray Women They Talk About (1928) as Officer The Terror (1928) as Alfred Katman Land of the Silver Fox (1928) as James Crawford The Home Towners (1928) as Joe Roberts Stark Mad (1929) as Dr. Milo The Eternal Woman (1929) as Gil Martin Queen of the Night Clubs (1929) as Grant - Lawyer Hardboiled Rose (1929) as Steve Wallace The Desert Song (1929) as Capt. Fontaine Voice of the City (1929) as Dapper Don Wilkes Innocents of Paris (1929) as Monsieur Renard Fashions in Love (1929) as Frank Martin Speedway (1929) as Lee Renny The Unholy Night (1929) as Major Mallory Times Square (1929) as Dick Barclay Untamed (1929) as Bennock Devil May Care (1929) as Lucien DeGrignon The Woman Racket (1930) as Chris Not So Dumb (1930) (uncredited) Free and Easy (1930) as himself - Actor in Bedroom Scene Show Girl in Hollywood (1930) as Frank Buelow - The Director In Gay Madrid (1930) as Armada - the Torero (uncredited) The Unholy Three (1930) as Prosecuting Attorney The Sea Bat (1930) as Juan Our Blushing Brides (1930) as Martin W. Sanderson War Nurse (1930) as French Medical Officer (uncredited) Remote Control (1930) as Doctor Leonard T. Kruger Paid (1930) as Inspector Burke Great Day (1930) The Great Meadow (1931) as Daniel Boone (uncredited) Inspiration (1931) as Henry Coutant, the Sculptor Gentleman's Fate (1931) as Florio The Secret Six (1931) as Joe Colimo Iron Man (1931) as Paul H. Lewis Politics (1931) as Jim Curango Son of India (1931) as Juggat Susan Lenox, Her Fall and Rise (1931) as Wayne Burlingham Hell Divers (1931) as Lt. Commander Jack Griffin Possessed (1931) as John Driscoll West of Broadway (1931) as Norm Emma (1932) as District Attorney The Beast of the City (1932) as District Attorney Arsène Lupin (1932) as Prefect of Police The Wet Parade (1932) as Major Doleshal Are You Listening? (1932) as Ted Russell Night Court (1932) as Crawford The Rich Are Always with Us (1932) as Greg Grannard Unashamed (1932) as District Attorney Harris Prosperity (1932) as Holland The Kid from Spain (1932) as Pancho Flesh (1932) as Joe Willard Made on Broadway (1933) Whistling in the Dark (1933) as Charlie What! No Beer? (1933) as Butch Lorado The Nuisance (1933) as John Calhoun Blind Adventure (1933) as Regan The Way to Love (1933) as Marco The Mad Game (1933) as William Bennett Twin Husbands (1933) as Jerry Van Trevor / Jerry Werrenden King for a Night (1933) as Walter Douglas The Sin of Nora Moran (1933) as Paulino Madame Spy (1934) as Weber The Poor Rich (1934) as Prince Abdul Hamidshan Whirlpool (1934) as Barney Gaige The Line-Up (1934) as Reginald Fields Unknown Blonde (1934) as Frank Wilson Young and Beautiful (1934) as Gordon Douglas Belle of the Nineties (1934) as Ace Lamont Tomorrow's Youth (1934) as Thomas Hall Sr. The Ghost Walks (1934) as Prescott Ames Charlie Chan in Paris (1935) as Albert Dufresne Mississippi (1935) as Major Patterson Under the Pampas Moon (1935) as Graham Scott Three Kids and a Queen (1935) as Boss Benton Murder at Glen Athol (1936) as Bill Holt Sutter's Gold (1936) as Gen. Juan Bautista Alvarado Private Number (1936) as Stapp The Gentleman from Louisiana (1936) as Baltimore North of Nome (1936) as Dawson The Plainsman (1936) as Gen. George A. Custer Arizona Mahoney (1936) as Cameron Lloyd Of Human Hearts (1938) Man-Proof (1938) as Tommy Gaunt Border G-Man (1938) as Louis Rankin If I Were King (1938) as Thibaut D'Aussigny Ride a Crooked Mile (1938) as Lt. Col. Stuart Pardon Our Nerve (1939) as Duke Page The Oklahoma Kid (1939) as Ringo (the lawyer) Juarez (1939) as Mariano Escobedo Torchy Runs for Mayor (1939) as Dr. Dolan Fast and Furious (1939) as Eric Bartell Emergency Squad (1940) as Slade Wiley Women Without Names (1940) as John Marlin, Asst Dist. Attey. Queen of the Mob (1940) as Pan New Moon (1940) as Pierre Brugnon Young Bill Hickok (1940) as Nicholas Tower Texas Rangers Ride Again (1940) as Carter Dangerfield The Cowboy and the Blonde (1941) as Bob Roycroft Double Cross (1941) as Nick Taggart Forced Landing (1941) as General Valdane The Deadly Game (1941) as Henri Franck Riot Squad (1941) as Jim Grosso Obliging Young Lady (1942) as George Potter True to the Army (1942) as Drake North of the Rockies (1942) as Lionel Morgan The Big Street (1942) as McWhirter (uncredited) Criminal Investigator (1942) as Edward Judson Scattergood Survives a Murder (1942) as Rolfe The Boss of Big Town (1942) as Kenneth Craige Submarine Alert (1943) as Mr. Bambridge / Capt. Haigas Bombardier (1943) as Chaplain Charlie Craig The Fallen Sparrow (1943) as Inspector 'Toby' Tobin The Iron Major (1943) as Oregon State Coach (uncredited) Bride by Mistake (1944) as Major Harvey The Merry Monahans (1944) as Arnold Pembroke, Has-Been Matinee Idol I Accuse My Parents (1944) as Dan Wilson It's in the Bag! (1945) as Mr. Arnold Back to Bataan (1945) as Gen. Jonathan Wainwright ('Skinny') (uncredited) Wildfire (1945) as Pete Fanning Lost City of the Jungle (1946, Serial) as Dr. Gaffron The Last Crooked Mile (1946) as Police Lt. Mayrin The Killers (1946) as Jake the Rake (uncredited) White Tie and Tails (1946) as Mr. Latimer Sinbad the Sailor (1947) as Moga Queen of the Amazons (1947) as narrator / Col. Jones That's My Man (1947) as Secretary Unconquered (1947) as Prosecutor at Court-Martial (uncredited) The Flame (1947) as Detective Perilous Waters (1948) as Carter Larkin Adventure in Baltimore (1949) as Mr. Eckert Stampede (1949) as T.J. Furman Samson and Delilah (1949) as Lesh Lakish Mrs. Mike (1949) as Mr. Howard Mule Train (1950) as Judd Holbrook (uncredited) Walk Softly, Stranger (1950) as Old Man (uncredited) M (1951) as Blind Balloon Vendor Anything Can Happen (1952) as Indian (scenes deleted) Bonzo Goes to College (1952) as Wilbur Crane The Savage (1952) as Chief White Thunder (uncredited) Fort Algiers (1953) as Arab Chieftain (uncredited) Pirates of Tripoli (1955) as Malek Run for Cover (1955) as Mayor Walsh The Wild Dakotas (1956) as Antelope The Ten Commandments (1956) as The Blind One The Lone Ranger and the Lost City of Gold (1958) as Chief Tomache (final film role) Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid (1982) (in "The Killers") (archive footage)