Answer
Lon Chaney, renowned for his exceptional character portrayals, was of mixed French and Irish descent. His French heritage stemmed from his mother, Emma Beatrice Creveling, while his Irish lineage traced back to his father, Frank Chaney. This diverse ancestry contributed to Chaney's distinctive physical features and his ability to convincingly embody a wide range of characters, from the tragic Phantom of the Opera to the menacing Quasimodo.