Mack Swain
(02/16/1876 - 08/25/1935)

Mack Swain worked in vaudeville before starting in silent film at Keystone Studios under Mack Sennett. While with Keystone, he was teamed up 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 "Ambrose & Walrus" comedies, the two appeared together in a variety of other films, twenty-six all told.

In 1921, Swain began working with Charlie Chaplin at First National, appearing in "The Idle Class", "Pay Day" and "The Pilgrim".

Swain is also remembered for his role as Big Jim McKay in the 1925 film The Gold Rush, written by and starring Charlie Chaplin. He appeared in many later Hollywood productions such as Lon Chaney's "Mockery" and "The Last Warning" (1929).

In 1932 he appeared in the academy award nominee for best short "Stout Hearts and Willing Hands" which also co-starred former keystone actors such as Chester Conklin, Hank Mann, Harold Lloyd, Bobby Vernon, Ben Turpin and Owen Moore.

Mack Swain appeard in 152 films from 1913 until retired in 1935.

Available Films

Tillie's Punctured Romance (1914)

Innocent Ambrose (1920) short

Hands Up! (1926)

The Nervous Wreck (1926)

The Shamrock and the Rose (1927)