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Mack Swain

Mack Swain

Actor · Died August 25, 1935, aged 59 · Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

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.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
February 15, 1876
Died
August 25, 1935 (aged 59)
From
Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
10 on MovieCove · 111 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 38 days to Oct 27Down 43% in 30 days

What are Mack Swain's films like?

Across their 7 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Themes

share of theme weight
Self
23%
Bonds
16%
Morality
16%
Power
13%
Survival
13%
Society
10%
Ideas
8%
Identity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 7 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 7 · Serious 0 · Dark 0

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 2 · Stylized 4 · Heightened 1

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 4 · Charged 2 · Intense 1

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 5 · Shifting 2 · Whiplash 0

Funny: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their funny movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 0 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 6

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 1 · Even-paced 5 · Relentless 1

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 6 · Engaged 1 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 7 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

4 analyzed roles
Threshold guardian
1 of 4
Mentor
1 of 4
Ally
1 of 4
Trickster
1 of 4

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
7
Absurd
3
Manic
1
Warm
2
Contemplative
1
Other
2

How their films linger

Feel-good5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy2
  • Bittersweet3
  • Ambiguous2

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Mack Swain's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 7 of their 10 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on The Criterion Channel (4).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Mack Swain's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

111 credits, 10 with a MovieCove page.

  • Charlie: The Life and Art of Charles Chaplin(2003)

    as Various Roles

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Star Power: The Creation Of United Artists (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Big Jim McKay (archive footage)

  • The Chaplin Revue(1959)

    as Various (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Yesterday and Today (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as (archive footage)

  • Happy Times and Jolly Moments (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as (archive footage)

  • Bad Boy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Man on Rowing Machine

  • Lighthouse Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Captain Wiggins—the Lighthouse Keeper

  • The Midnight Patrol (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    Actor

  • Stout Hearts and Willing Hands (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Kop(as the Original Keystone Kops)

  • Love, Be with Humanity: Part 1 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Doctor

  • Love, Be with Humanity: Part 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Doctor

  • Finn and Hattie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Le Bottin

  • Soup to Nuts(1930)

    as First Fat Diner (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Cleaning Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Mack

  • The Sea Bat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Dutchy

  • Redemption (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Magistrate

  • The Locked Door (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as Hotel Proprietor

  • The Cohens and Kellys in Atlantic City (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as Mr. Tom Kelly

  • The Last Warning (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as Robert Bunce

  • Caught in the Fog (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as Detective Ryan

  • The Girl from Nowhere (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as Wilbur Ashcraft

  • Tillie's Punctured Romance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as Tillie's Father

  • Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as Sir Francis Beekman

  • The Girl from Everywhere (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as Wilfred Ashcraft - Director

  • A Texas Steer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as Bragg

  • Becky (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as Irving Spiegelberg

  • My Best Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as Judge

  • Finnegan's Ball (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as Patrick Flannigan

  • Mockery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as Vladimir Gaidaroff

  • See You in Jail (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as Slossom

  • The Shamrock and the Rose (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as Mike Kelly

  • The Beloved Rogue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as Nicholas

  • Whispering Wires (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as McCarthy

  • Her Big Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as Myers, film producer

  • The Nervous Wreck (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as Jerome Underwood

  • Footloose Widows (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as Ludwig

  • Kiki (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as Pastryman (uncredited)

  • Sea Horses (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as Bimbo-Bomba

  • Torrent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as Don Matías

  • The Devil's Circus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    Actor

  • Hands Up! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as Silas Woodstock

  • The Eagle(1925)

    as Innkeeper (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • The Gold Rush(1925)

    as Big Jim

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Pitfalls of a Big City (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1923)

    as The Vamp's Husband

  • This Way Out (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1923)

    as The Girl's Father

  • The Pilgrim(1923)

    as Deacon

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Pay Day(1922)

    as Foreman

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • The Idle Class(1921)

    as Edna's Father (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Full o' Spirits (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1920)

    Actor

  • Innocent Ambrose (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1920)

    Director · as Ambrose Schnitz

  • Heroic Ambrose (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

    Director · as Ambrose Schnitz

  • Her First False Hare (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

    as Unknown

  • Oh, What a Knight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

    as The Sheriff

  • Adventurous Ambrose (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1918)

    as Ambrose

  • The Late Lamented (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

    as Boarder (unconfirmed)

  • Lost: A Cook (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

    as Farmer Ambrose

  • Thirst (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

    as Ambrose

  • His Naughty Thought (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

    as Walter Ambrose

  • The Pullman Bride (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

    as Rover Peabody - the Chosen One

  • Madcap Ambrose (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)

    as Ambrose

  • His Bitter Pill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)

    as Jim - a Big Hearted Sheriff

  • A Movie Star (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)

    as Handsome Jack

  • Saved by Wireless (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    as The Spy

  • When Ambrose Dared Walrus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    as Ambrose

  • Mabel Lost and Won (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    as Mabel's Rival's Husband

  • Ambrose's Nasty Temper (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    as Ambrose

  • Ambrose's Lofty Perch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    as Ambrose

  • Ambrose's Fury (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    as Ambrose

  • Ambrose's Little Hatchet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    as Ambrose

  • That Little Band Of Gold (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    as Audience Member (uncredited)

  • Ambrose's Sour Grapes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    as Ambrose

  • Willful Ambrose (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    as Pa Ambrose

  • Ye Olden Grafter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    as The Grafter

  • Hogan's Romance Upset (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    as Fight Spectator

  • Caught in a Park (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    as The Bartender

  • Fatty's New Role (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    as Ambrose Schnitz

  • The Home Breakers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    as Ambrose

  • Love, Speed and Thrills (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    as Ambrose

  • Gussle, the Golfer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    as Ambrose

  • Tillie's Punctured Romance(1914)

    as Tillie's Father

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Ambrose's First Falsehood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    as Ambrose

  • His Prehistoric Past (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    as King Lowbrow

  • Other People's Business (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    Actor

  • Getting Acquainted (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    as Ambrose

  • Leading Lizzie Astray (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    as Cafe Patron - In from the Mines

  • The Sea Nymphs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    as Ambrose

  • Fatty's Wine Party (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    as Restaurant Proprietor

  • His Trysting Places (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    as Ambrose

  • His Musical Career (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    as Mike, Charlie's Partner

  • Gentlemen of Nerve (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    as Mr. Walrus

  • Hello, Mabel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    as The Married Flirt

  • Laughing Gas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    as Patient

  • A Rowboat Romance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    as (unconfirmed)

  • Mabel's Married Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    as Wellington, a Ladykiller

  • A Missing Bride (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    Actor

  • A Gambling Rube (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    as (unconfirmed)

  • The Knockout (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    as Gambler (uncredited)

  • The Fatal Mallet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    as Rival Suitor (uncredited)

  • Mabel’s Nerve (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    Actor

  • A Busy Day (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    as Husband

  • Caught in the Rain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    as Husband (uncredited)

  • Caught in a Cabaret(1914)

    as Tough Patron / Party Guest / Boy's Father (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Mabel at the Wheel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    as Race Spectator (uncredited)

  • Love and Gasoline (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    Actor

  • A Thief Catcher (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    as Crook (uncredited)

  • A Robust Romeo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    Actor

  • Double Crossed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    as The Belle's Boyfriend

  • The Under-Sheriff (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    as Villager

  • The Gusher (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1913)

    as Villager / Cop

  • Fatty Joins the Force (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1913)

    as Cop at Station House

  • A Muddy Romance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1913)

    as Desk Sergeant / Park Attendant

Career shape

Star power in the 97th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 110 titles from 1913 to 1998.

Biggest box office

The Gold Rush (1925)

$83K worldwide

Highest rated

The Gold Rush (1925)

Midcredits 99th

Film career

Top draw in 2 MovieCove titles.

  • 1914Screen debut· A Thief Catcher
  • 1925Career best· The Gold Rush

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting110 of 110: 108 only acting, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score84thDirecting2 of 110: 0 only directing, 2 with another role

By decade

1910s61 · 61 acting · 1 crew1920s34 · 34 acting · 1 crew1930s11 · acting1940s1 · acting1950s2 · acting1990s1 · acting

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 0% of 22 roles
1419

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Mack Swain's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 85th percentile, the median of all 10; across their 7 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 84th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

84thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 7

Approval · how many liked their films

91stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 7

Reach · how many have seen their films

63rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 7

Midcredits score across 10 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up6
  • 50th to 74th2
  • 25th to 49th2

Shape of the crowd

None of their 10 titles divides audiences: 5 are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Crowd Pleaser5
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed1

Most loved · actor

The Gold Rush (1925)

Midcredits 99th · 88% liked

Reviewers score the acting 85/100 in their films, across 6 reviewed titles; fans 89, detractors 69. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Mack Swain work with?

People who share at least 2 of Mack Swain's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Charles Chaplin shares the most, 6.

Directors

Actors

Cinematographers