About

Known credits:
236
Birthday:
1883-12-16
Place of birth:
Cavernes, Saint-Loubès, Gironde, France
Website:
N/A

Max Linder

Overview

Although all too frequently neglected by fans of silent comedy, Max Linder is in many ways as important a figure as Charles Chaplin, Buster Keaton, or Harold Lloyd, not least because he predated (and influenced) them all by several years, and was largely responsible for the creation of the classic style of silent slapstick comedy.

He started out as an actor in the French theatre, but after making his screen debut in 1905 he quickly became an enormously famous and successful film comedian on both sides of the Atlantic, thanks to his character "Max", a top-hatted dandy. By 1912, he was the highest-paid film star in the world, with an unprecedented salary of one million francs. He began to direct films in 1911 and showed equal facility behind the camera, but his career suffered an almost terminal blow when he was called up to fight in World War I. He was gassed, and the illness that resulted would blight his career.

Although offered a contract in America, recurring ill-health meant that his US films had little of the sparkle of his early French work, and a brief attempt to revive his career by making films for the recently-formed United Artists (one of whose founders, of course, was Chaplin) in the early 1920s came to little, although these later films are now regarded as classics.

He returned to France and killed himself in a suicide pact with his wife in 1925.

Known for

Acting
2024 Life and Deaths of Max Linder Actor Self (archive footage) N/A
N/A
2013 Tout sur mon père Max Linder Actor Self (archive footage) N/A
N/A
2013 Birth of the Tramp Actor Self (archive footage) 59
Average
1983 The Man in the Silk Hat Actor Self (archive footage) N/A
N/A
1963 Laugh with Max Linder Actor Self (archive footage) 59
Average
1931 The Theft of the Mona Lisa Actor (archive footage) 59
Average
1924 Au Secours! Actor Max 59
Average
1924 King of the Circus Actor Max Graf von Pompadour 59
Average
1924 The World of Yesteryear – Max Linder Actor Self N/A
N/A
1922 The Three Must-Get-Theres Actor Dart-In-Again 59
Average
1921 Be My Wife Actor Max, the Fiancé 59
Average
1921 Seven Years Bad Luck Actor Max 59
Average
1919 Le Petit Café Actor N/A
N/A
1917 Max, médecin malgré lui Actor Max N/A
N/A
1917 Max the Heartbreaker Actor 58
Average
1917 Max in a Taxi Actor Himself 58
Average
1917 Max Wants a Divorce Actor Max 58
Average
1917 Max Comes Across Actor Max N/A
N/A
1917 Max and the Purse Actor 58
Average
1917 Max devrait porter des bretelles Actor Max N/A
N/A
1917 Max Linder Visits Charlie Chaplin Actor Self 59
Average
1915 Chance and Love Actor Max 58
Average
1915 Hairdresser of Love Actor 59
Average
1915 Max in Monaco Actor 58
Average
1914 The False Max Linder Actor Max 59
Average
1914 Max asthmatique Actor Max N/A
N/A
1914 Max in the Convent Actor 59
Average
1914 The Forced Marriage Actor 59
Average
1914 Max Plays at Drama Actor N/A
N/A
1914 Max and the Lady Doctor Actor Max 59
Average
1914 Max Plays the Part Actor 58
Average
1914 Max as a Chiropodist Actor Max 58
Average
1914 Max Wishes He Hadn't Actor N/A
N/A
1914 Max and the Jealous Husband Actor Max 58
Average
1914 Max Speaks English Actor Max 58
Average
1914 Max Sets the Style Actor Max 58
Average
1914 Max's Latest Hobby Actor N/A
N/A
1914 Max's Vacation Actor Max 58
Average
1913 Max as a Musician Actor Max N/A
N/A
1913 An Unexpected Marriage Actor 59
Average
1913 Le billet doux Actor Max N/A
N/A
1913 Max's Hat Actor Max 58
Average
1913 Max Hates Cats Actor 59
Average
1913 Max Toreador Actor 58
Average
1913 Le duel de Max Actor Max N/A
N/A
1913 Max Linder Does All the Sports Actor Max 59
Average
1913 Max: Jockey for Love Actor Max N/A
N/A
1913 Max Linder's Appointment Actor 59
Average
1913 Max Takes a Picture Actor 59
Average
1912 Max and the Statue Actor Max 59
Average
1912 Max Wants to Grow Actor Max 58
Average
1912 The Water-Funker Actor Max 58
Average
1912 Jalousie Actor N/A
N/A
1912 Max: Boxer By Love Actor 58
Average
1912 The Romance of Max Actor Max 58
Average
1912 Long-Lasting Love Actor Max 58
Average
1912 Cordial Agreement Actor 59
Average
1912 Max émule de Tartarin Actor Max N/A
N/A
1912 Max, Tango Teacher Actor 58
Average
1912 A Farmhouse Romance Actor Max 58
Average
1912 The Wedding Trunk Actor Max 58
Average
1912 Max and the Donkey Actor Max 58
Average
1912 Un pari original Actor Max N/A
N/A
1912 An Agitated Night Actor 58
Average
1912 Max Juggles for Love Actor 58
Average
1912 Max Fears the Dogs Actor Max 58
Average
1912 Max amoureux de la teinturière Actor Max N/A
N/A
1912 Max and His Dog Dick Actor Max 58
Average
1912 Max Takes Back His Freedom Actor Max (uncredited) 59
Average
1912 Max Sets the Fashion Actor Max 58
Average
1911 Max Takes Tonics Actor Max 59
Average
1911 Max and Jane Want to Do Theater Actor Max 58
Average
1911 Max a un duel Actor Max N/A
N/A
1911 Max Is Convalescent Actor Max 59
Average
1911 Max and His Mother-in-Law Actor Max 58
Average
1911 Max se marie Actor Max N/A
N/A
1911 Max Takes a Bath Actor Max 58
Average
1911 Une ruse de mari Actor N/A
N/A
1911 Champion de boxe Actor Max 58
Average
1911 Comment Max fait le tour du monde Actor N/A
N/A
1910 Max Gets Stuck Up Actor Max 58
Average
1910 Max manque un riche mariage Actor Max 58
Average
1910 Max Embarrassed Actor Max 58
Average
1910 Trop aimée Actor Max 59
Average
1910 Max's First Job Actor Max 58
Average
1910 Max Skiing Actor Max 58
Average
1910 The Effects of Pills Actor Max N/A
N/A
1910 Max est distrait Actor Max N/A
N/A
1910 A Short-Sighted Duellist Actor Max 58
Average
1910 Max Makes a Touch Actor 58
Average
1910 I Want a Baby Actor 58
Average
1910 The Adventures of Tartarin the Younger Actor Tartarin N/A
N/A
1910 Le serment d'un prince Actor Jacques de Lacerda N/A
N/A
1909 The Dentures Actor 58
Average
1909 The Barometer of Fidelity Actor 58
Average
1909 La Petite Rosse Actor 58
Average
1909 A Conquest Actor N/A
N/A
1909 Love's Surprises Actor 58
Average
1909 In Love with the Bearded Woman Actor 58
Average
1909 Romeo Turns Bandit Actor 59
Average
1909 The Gentleman Thief Actor Arsène Lupin N/A
N/A
1908 Noisy Neighbors Actor N/A
N/A
1908 Beginning of the Serpentine Dance Actor The ballet master 58
Average
1908 Troubles of a Grass Widower Actor 58
Average
1908 In a Difficult Position Actor Dieutegarde 58
Average
1908 His First Cigar Actor 58
Average
1907 Harlequin's Story Actor Polichinelle / Ponchinella / Harlequin 58
Average
1907 Max Learns to Skate Actor Max 58
Average
1907 Phial of Poison Actor N/A
N/A
1907 C'est Papa qui a pris la purge Actor Lover in the street 58
Average
1907 Joined Lips Actor 58
Average
1907 For a Necklace Actor N/A
N/A
1907 The Husband's Trick Actor N/A
N/A
1907 Chaussure trop étroite Actor Max N/A
N/A
1907 Au music-hall (At the Music Hall) Actor 59
Average
1906 Attempted Suicide Actor 58
Average
1906 Dogs Used as Smugglers Actor 58
Average
1906 Julot va dans le monde Actor Julot N/A
N/A
1906 Les étudiants de Paris Actor N/A
N/A
1906 La puce gênante Actor N/A
N/A
1905 First Night Out Actor N/A
N/A
1905 La rencontre imprévue Actor N/A
N/A
A Nervous Twitch Is Catching (Un Tic Nerveux Contagieux) Actor N/A
N/A
Pitou, bonne d'enfants Actor N/A
N/A

Directing
1922 The Three Must-Get-Theres Directing Director 59
Average
1921 Be My Wife Directing Director 59
Average
1921 Seven Years Bad Luck Directing Director 59
Average
1917 Max, médecin malgré lui Directing Director N/A
N/A
1917 Max the Heartbreaker Directing Director 58
Average
1917 Max in a Taxi Directing Director 58
Average
1917 Max Wants a Divorce Directing Director 58
Average
1917 Max Comes Across Directing Director N/A
N/A
1917 Max and the Purse Directing Director 58
Average
1917 Max devrait porter des bretelles Directing Director N/A
N/A
1915 Chance and Love Directing Director 58
Average
1915 Hairdresser of Love Directing Director 59
Average
1915 Max in Monaco Directing Director 58
Average
1914 Max asthmatique Directing Director N/A
N/A
1914 The Forced Marriage Directing Director 59
Average
1914 Max and the Lady Doctor Directing Director 59
Average
1914 Max as a Chiropodist Directing Director 58
Average
1914 Max Wishes He Hadn't Directing Director N/A
N/A
1914 Max and the Jealous Husband Directing Director 58
Average
1914 Max Speaks English Directing Director 58
Average
1914 Max Sets the Style Directing Director 58
Average
1914 Max's Latest Hobby Directing Director N/A
N/A
1914 Max's Vacation Directing Director 58
Average
1913 Max as a Musician Directing Director N/A
N/A
1913 An Unexpected Marriage Directing Director 59
Average
1913 Le billet doux Directing Director N/A
N/A
1913 Max's Hat Directing Director 58
Average
1913 Max Hates Cats Directing Director 59
Average
1913 Max Toreador Directing Director 58
Average
1913 Le duel de Max Directing Director N/A
N/A
1913 Max Linder Does All the Sports Directing Director 59
Average
1913 Max: Jockey for Love Directing Director N/A
N/A
1913 Max Linder's Appointment Directing Director 59
Average
1912 Max and the Statue Directing Director 59
Average
1912 Max Wants to Grow Directing Director 58
Average
1912 The Water-Funker Directing Director 58
Average
1912 Jalousie Directing Director N/A
N/A
1912 Max: Boxer By Love Directing Director 58
Average
1912 The Romance of Max Directing Director 58
Average
1912 Long-Lasting Love Directing Director 58
Average
1912 Cordial Agreement Directing Director 59
Average
1912 Max émule de Tartarin Directing Director N/A
N/A
1912 Max, Tango Teacher Directing Director 58
Average
1912 A Farmhouse Romance Directing Director 58
Average
1912 The Wedding Trunk Directing Director 58
Average
1912 Max and the Donkey Directing Director 58
Average
1912 Un pari original Directing Director N/A
N/A
1912 An Agitated Night Directing Director 58
Average
1912 Max Fears the Dogs Directing Director 58
Average
1912 Max Juggles for Love Directing Director 58
Average
1912 Max amoureux de la teinturière Directing Director N/A
N/A
1912 Max and His Dog Dick Directing Director 58
Average
1912 Max Takes Back His Freedom Directing Director 59
Average
1912 Max Sets the Fashion Directing Director 58
Average
1911 Max Takes Tonics Directing Director 59
Average
1911 Max and Jane Want to Do Theater Directing Director 58
Average
1911 Max a un duel Directing Director N/A
N/A
1911 Max Is Convalescent Directing Director 59
Average
1911 Max and His Mother-in-Law Directing Director 58
Average
1911 Max se marie Directing Director N/A
N/A
1911 Champion de boxe Directing Director 58
Average
1911 Comment Max fait le tour du monde Directing Director N/A
N/A
1910 Max Gets Stuck Up Directing Director 58
Average
1910 Max Embarrassed Directing Director 58
Average
1910 Max's First Job Directing Director 58
Average
1910 Max est distrait Directing Director N/A
N/A
1910 I Want a Baby Directing Director 58
Average
1910 The Adventures of Tartarin the Younger Directing Director N/A
N/A
1910 Le serment d'un prince Directing Director N/A
N/A
1909 Love's Surprises Directing Director 58
Average
1909 The Gentleman Thief Directing Director N/A
N/A
1908 Troubles of a Grass Widower Directing Director 58
Average
1907 Au music-hall (At the Music Hall) Directing Director 59
Average

Writing
1963 Laugh with Max Linder Writing Writer 59
Average
1927 Maxim's Porter Writing Writer N/A
N/A
1924 Au Secours! Writing Writer 59
Average
1924 King of the Circus Writing Writer 59
Average
1923 Par habitude Writing Story N/A
N/A
1922 The Three Must-Get-Theres Writing Writer 59
Average
1921 Be My Wife Writing Writer 59
Average
1921 Seven Years Bad Luck Writing Writer 59
Average
1919 Le Petit Café Writing Writer N/A
N/A
1917 Max, médecin malgré lui Writing Writer N/A
N/A
1917 Max Wants a Divorce Writing Writer 58
Average
1917 Max Comes Across Writing Writer N/A
N/A
1915 Chance and Love Writing Writer 58
Average
1914 Max and the Lady Doctor Writing Writer 59
Average
1914 Max Wishes He Hadn't Writing Writer N/A
N/A
1914 Max's Vacation Writing Writer 58
Average
1913 Max as a Musician Writing Writer N/A
N/A
1913 Max's Hat Writing Writer 58
Average
1913 Le billet doux Writing Scenario Writer N/A
N/A
1913 Max Linder's Appointment Writing Writer 59
Average
1912 Max and the Statue Writing Writer 59
Average
1912 Jalousie Writing Writer N/A
N/A
1912 Cordial Agreement Writing Writer 59
Average
1912 Max and His Dog Dick Writing Writer 58
Average
1912 Max Takes Back His Freedom Writing Writer 59
Average
1911 Max and Jane Want to Do Theater Writing Writer 58
Average
1911 Max Is Convalescent Writing Writer 59
Average
1911 Max and His Mother-in-Law Writing Writer 58
Average
1911 Max Takes a Bath Writing Scenario Writer 58
Average
1911 Une ruse de mari Writing Writer N/A
N/A
1911 Champion de boxe Writing Writer 58
Average
1910 Max Gets Stuck Up Writing Writer 58
Average
1910 Max manque un riche mariage Writing Writer 58
Average
1910 The Effects of Pills Writing Writer N/A
N/A
1910 I Want a Baby Writing Writer 58
Average
1910 The Adventures of Tartarin the Younger Writing Writer N/A
N/A
1910 Le serment d'un prince Writing Writer N/A
N/A

Production
1921 Be My Wife Production Producer 59
Average
1921 Seven Years Bad Luck Production Producer 59
Average