**Mack Swain (1870-1935)** was an American actor renowned during the silent film era. Emerging with Mack Sennett at the Keystone Film Company, he honed his comedic skills, subsequently becoming a recognizable face alongside Charlie Chaplin in numerous short and feature films.

With his massive physique and famous handlebar mustache, Swain was often the "gentle giant" or the comedic bully, the perfect nemesis or foil for Chaplin. He is unforgettable as Big Jim McKay in *The Gold Rush* (1925), where his struggle for the boiled shoe is iconic. Other notable roles include those in *The Pilgrim* (1923) and *Tillie's Punctured Romance* (1914), one of the first comedic feature films. His skill in physical comedy made him a pillar of slapstick humor.