Question: Universal Monsters was a concept that began with the silent films starring which American stage actor?
Context: John Emerson (born Clifton Paden on May 29, 1874 – March 7, 1956) was an American stage actor, playwright, producer, and director of silent films (many featuring Douglas Fairbanks).  Emerson was married to Anita Loos from June 15, 1919 until his death; prior to that they had functioned as a writing team for motion pictures and would continue to be credited jointly, even as Loos pursued independent projects. Leonidas Frank "Lon" Chaney (April 1, 1883 – August 26, 1930) was an American stage and film actor, make-up artist, director and screenwriter.  He is regarded as one of the most versatile and powerful actors of early cinema, renowned for his characterizations of tortured, often grotesque and afflicted characters, and his groundbreaking artistry with makeup.  Chaney was known for his starring roles in such silent horror films as "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" (1923) and "The Phantom of the Opera" (1925).  His ability to transform himself using makeup techniques he developed earned him the nickname "The Man of a Thousand Faces". Universal Monsters is a phrase used to describe the horror, suspense and science fiction films made by Universal Studios during the decades of the 1920s through the 1950s.  They began with "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" and "The Phantom of the Opera", both silent films starring Lon Chaney.  Universal continued with talkies including monster franchises "Dracula", "Frankenstein", "The Mummy", "The Invisible Man", "The Wolf Man" and "Creature from the Black Lagoon".  The films often featured Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff and Lon Chaney, Jr. Beetlejuice's Graveyard Mash-Up (formerly known as Beetlejuice's Rock and Roll Graveyard Revue) or Beetlejuice's Rockin' Graveyard Revue or Universal Monsters Live Rock and Roll Show is a live stage show based on the film of the same name and Universal's Classic Monsters.  It is located at Universal Studios Japan, and formerly at Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Studios Florida.  The venue at the Hollywood park was removed in 1999, and replaced by "Spider-Man Rocks". George F. Marion Sr. ((1860--) 16, 1860 – (1945--) 30, 1945 ) was an American stage actor and director, a film actor and director of two silent films.  George F. Marion, who was born in San Francisco, California was father of writer George Marion Jr. and he died of a heart attack at the age of 85 years in Carmel, California, United States.  Marion acted in 35 films between years 1915 and 1935.  He is best remembered for playing the father Chris Christopherson to the Broadway production of "Anna Christie" of Pauline Lord (1921 Broadway) and the two film versions of "Anna Christie" of Blanche Sweet (1923 silent) and Greta Garbo (1930 talkie).  His son George Marion, Jr. was a famous Hollywood screenwriter. The Werewolf (1913) is a silent film short that is considered the first werewolf film and the earliest film of the Universal Monsters series.  It was directed by Henry MacRae, produced by Bison Film Company, and released by Universal Studios.  The script is by Ruth Ann Baldwin, based on the short story "The Werewolves" (1898) by Henry Beaugrand.  It is now considered a lost film, all prints supposedly having been destroyed in a 1924 fire at Universal Studios. James Young (January 1, 1872 – June 9, 1948) was an American film director, actor and screenwriter of the silent era.  Before films Young had a successful career as a stage actor appearing on Broadway and throughout the country, and was the author of a notable 1905 book on theatrical makeup.  His first wife was librettist Rida Johnson Young who often composed with Victor Herbert.  Turning to silent films he directed 93 films between 1912 and 1928.  He also appeared as an actor in 62 films between 1909 and 1917. House of the Wolf Man is an American independent monster horror film produced in 2009 by My Way Pictures.  The film was inspired by the Universal Monsters movies, and was shot in the same style.  The film's star Ron Chaney is the great-grandson of Lon Chaney and the grandson of Lon Chaney, Jr., both of whom starred in numerous Universal Monsters films. Helen Ware (October 15, 1877 – January 25, 1939); born Helen Remer, to John August Remer and Elinor ("neé" Ware), was an American stage and film actress.  Before becoming an actress she worked as a governess.  She had a successful Broadway stage career making her first appearance in 1899 with Maude Adams and by her thirties was playing the character parts for which she became famous.  She began playing character parts in silent films in 1914 and continued into the sound era.  Like Louise Closser Hale, Ware was a raven haired woman for most of her stage career, but adopted an all blond coif towards the late 1920s at the end of the silent era and into the talkies. Susan's Gentleman is a lost 1917 silent film feature drama directed by Edwin Stevens, usually a stage actor but now making a foray into silent films, and the film starred Violet Mersereau.  It was produced by Bluebird Photoplays and released through the Universal Film Manufacturing Company.  This film has an appearance by James O'Neill, famed for "The Count of Monte Cristo", here making a rare screen appearance.
Answer: Leonidas Frank "Lon" Chaney