Buster Keaton (1895 - 1966)

American comic actor, filmmaker, producer and writer.

* October 4, 1895 Piqua, Kansas, USA
 as Joseph Frank Keaton VI
 February 1, 1966 Los Angeles, California, USA



Buster Keaton was a silent film actor, director, producer, and screenwriter who rose to fame in the 1920s as one of the most popular and influential figures in the history of American cinema. Keaton was born in 1895 in Piqua, Kansas, and grew up in a family of vaudeville performers. He made his stage debut at the age of three, and by the time he was five, he was touring with his parents as a member of the Three Keatons comedy troupe.

Keaton first appeared in film in 1917, and over the next decade he appeared in dozens of shorts and feature films, both as an actor and as a director. He is best known for his work in the 1920s, when he made a series of groundbreaking comedies that established him as one of the greatest physical comedians of all time. Keaton's films are known for their innovative use of camera angles and editing, as well as their intricate and often dangerous stunts.

One of Keaton's most famous films is "The General" (1926), a Civil War comedy that is widely considered to be one of the greatest movies ever made. In this film, Keaton plays a locomotive engineer who must rescue his girlfriend and his prized locomotive from Union spies. The film features some of Keaton's most impressive stunts, including a scene in which he jumps from a moving train onto a horse and rides away at full gallop.

Keaton's other notable films include "Sherlock Jr." (1924), in which he plays a projectionist who dreams of becoming a detective, and "The Navigator" (1924), in which he plays a wealthy young man who is stranded on a deserted island with a young woman (Kathryn McGuire). Keaton's films were highly influential and helped to establish many of the conventions of modern comedy, including the use of visual gags, physical humor, and the concept of the "straight man."

In addition to his work as a performer and director, Keaton was also a talented screenwriter and producer. He wrote and directed many of his own films, and he was known for his rigorous attention to detail and his willingness to take creative risks. Keaton's films were also notable for their technical innovation, and he was one of the first directors to use special effects and trick photography to enhance his comedies.

Keaton's career began to decline in the 1930s, as the popularity of sound films and the rise of other comedians eclipsed his work. He continued to act and direct in the 1930s and 1940s, but he never regained the popularity he had enjoyed in the 1920s. Despite this, Keaton's work has continued to be celebrated and his films have been widely seen and admired by generations of moviegoers. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest actors and filmmakers in the history of American cinema

Vintage magazines

Picture Play Magazine, March 1923
Picture Play Magazine, March 1923
Picture Play Magazine, March 1923

Mon Ciné, nr. 110, 27 March 1924
Mon Ciné, nr. 113, 17 April 1924
Photoplay, January 1928

Photoplay, January 1928
Photoplay, March 1928
Photoplay, June 1928


Books by Buster Keaton

Buster Keaton & Charles Samuels
My Wonderful World of Slapstick
Da Capo Press, 1982

Books on Buster Keaton

James L. Neibaur
The fall of Buster Keaton, His films for MGM, educational pictures, and Columbia
Lanham, 2010

Imogen Sara Smith
Buster Keaton, The Persistence of Comedy
Chicago, Illinois, 2008

Kevin W. Sweeney (editor) Buster Keaton Kevin W. Sweeney (editor)
Buster Keaton, Interviews
Jackson, Miss., 2007

Noel Carroll
Comedy incarnate, Buster Keaton, Physical Humor, and Bodily Coping
Malden, MA, 2007

James L. Neibaur Arbuckle and Keaton James L. Neibaur
Arbuckle and Keaton, Their 14 Film Collaborations
Jefferson, NC, 2006

Edward McPherson Buster Keaton Edward McPherson
Buster Keaton, Tempest in a Flat Hat
2005

Eleanor Keaton and Jeffrey Vance Buster Keaton Remembered Eleanor Keaton and Jeffrey Vance
Buster Keaton Remembered
New York, N.Y., 2001

Robert Knopf The Theater and Cinema of Buster Keaton Robert Knopf
The Theater and Cinema of Buster Keaton
Princetin, New Jersey, 1999

John Bengtson Silent Echoes John Bengtson
Silent Echoes, Discovering Early Hollywood Through the Films of Buster Keaton
1999

Marion Meade Buster Keaton Marion Meade
Buster Keaton, Cut to the Chase
London, 1996

Gabriella Oldham Keaton' Silent Shorts Gabriella Oldham
Keaton' Silent Shorts, Beyond the Laughter
Carbondale and Edwardsville, 1996

Helga Belach und Wolfgang Jacobsen (herausgebers) Buster Keaton Helga Belach und Wolfgang Jacobsen (herausgebers)
Buster Keaton
Berlin, 1995

Joanna E. Rapf and Gary L. Green Buster Keaton Joanna E. Rapf and Gary L. Green
Buster Keaton, A Bio-Bibliography
Westport, Connecticut - London, 1995

Oliver Lindsey Scott
Buster Keaton, the little iron man
Christchurch, N.Z., 1995

Larry Edwards
Buster, a legend in laughter
Bradenton, Fla., 1995

Jim Kline The Complete Films of Buster Keaton Jim Kline
The Complete Films of Buster Keaton
Secaucus, N.J., 1993

Wolfgang Leppmann Die Roaring Twenties Wolfgang Leppmann
Die Roaring Twenties, Amerikas wilde Jahre
München - Leipzig, 1992

Tom Dardis Keaton Tom Dardis
Keaton, The Man Who Wouldn't Lie Down
London, 1989

Jean-Pierre Coursodon
Buster Keaton
Paris, 1986

Wolfram Tichy Buster Keaton Wolfram Tichy
Buster Keaton
Reinbek, 1983

Robert Benayoun The Look of Buster Keaton Robert Benayoun
The Look of Buster Keaton
New York, 1982

Daniel Moews Keaton Daniel Moews
Keaton, The Silent Features Close Up
Berkeley-Los Angeles-London, 1977

George Wead and George Lellis
The film career of Buster Keaton
Boston, 1977

Michael Hanisch Über sie lach(t)en Millionen Michael Hanisch
Über sie lach(t)en Millionen, Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd, Laurel & Hardy
Berlin, 1976

Richard J. Anobile (editor) The Best of buster Richard J. Anobile (editor)
The Best of buster, The Classic Comedy Scenes Direct from the Films of Buster Keaton
Hamish Hamilton - London, 1976

George Wead
Buster Keaton and the dynamics of visual wit
New York, 1976

David Robinson Buster Keaton David Robinson
Buster Keaton
London, 1969

Donald W. McCaffrey Four Great Comedians Donald W. McCaffrey
Four Great Comedians, Chaplin, Lloyd, Keaton, Langdon
New York, 1968

J.-P. Lebel Buster Keaton J.-P. Lebel
Buster Keaton
London - New York, 1967

Rudi Blesh Keaton Rudi Blesh
Keaton
London, 1967

Jean-Pierre Coursodon Keaton & Co Jean-Pierre Coursodon
Keaton & Co, Les burlesques américains du "muet"
Paris, 1964

Marcel Oms Buster Keaton Marcel Oms
Buster Keaton
1964

Books with substantial mentioning of Buster Keaton

James Bawden and Ron Miller
You ain't heard nothin' yet, Interviews with stars from Hollywood's golden era
Lexington, 2017

Harper Cossar
Letterboxed, The evolution of widescreen cinema
Lexington, KY, 2011

Patrice Petro (ed.)
Idols of modernity, Movie stars of the 1920s
New Brunswick, N.J., 2010

Brian J. Robb Silent cinema Brian J. Robb
Silent cinema
Harpenden, Herts, 2007

Anthony Slide Silent Players Anthony Slide
Silent Players, A Biographical and Autobiographical Study of 100 Silent Film Actors and Actresses
Lexington, Ky, 2002

John C. Tibbetts and James M. Welsh The Encyclopedia of Filmmakers John C. Tibbetts and James M. Welsh
The Encyclopedia of Filmmakers, Volume I
New York, NY, 2002

Olivier Mongin
Eclats de rire, Variations sur le corps comique: Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Jacques Tati, les Marx Brothers, Laurel et Hardy, Jerry Lewis, Louis de Funès, Raymond Devos, Rufus, Pierre Desproges, Philippe Caubere
Paris, 2002

John Dileo 100 Great Film Performances You Should Remember - but probably don't John Dileo
100 Great Film Performances You Should Remember - but probably don't
New York, 2002

Alan Dale Comedy Is a Man in Trouble Alan Dale
Comedy Is a Man in Trouble, Slapstick in American Movies
Minneapolis - London, 2000

Tom Pendergast, Sara Pendergast (eds.)
International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers, 3. Actors and Actresses
Detroit/New York/San Francisco/London/Boston/Woodbridge, CT, 2000

Tom Pendergast, Sara Pendergast (eds.)
International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers, 2. Directors
Detroit/New York/San Francisco/London/Boston/Woodbridge, CT, 2000

Andrew Sarris (editor) The St. James Film Directors Encyclopedia Andrew Sarris (editor)
The St. James Film Directors Encyclopedia
Detroit - New York - Toronto - London, 1998

Glenn Mitchell A-Z of Silent Film Comedy Glenn Mitchell
A-Z of Silent Film Comedy, An Illustrated Companion
London, 1998

Andrew Sarris You ain't heard nothin' yet Andrew Sarris
"You ain't heard nothin' yet", the American talking film ; history & memory ; 1927 - 1949
New York, Oxford, 1998

Danny Peary Alternate Oscars Danny Peary
Alternate Oscars, One Critic's Defiant Choices for Best Picture, Actor, and Actress - From 1927 to the Present
New York, 1993

Ronald L. Smith
Who's Who in Comedy, Comedians, Comics and Clowns From Vaudeville to Today's Stand-ups
New York, Oxford, 1992

Harry Waldman Scenes Unseen Harry Waldman
Scenes Unseen, Unreleased and Uncompleted Films from the World's Master Filmmakers, 1912-1990
Jefferson, North Carolina, and London, 1991

Ann Lloyd (ed.) Movies of the Silent Years Ann Lloyd (ed.)
Movies of the Silent Years
London, 1985

James Robert Parish and William T. Leonard with Gregory W. Mank and Charles Hoyt
The Funsters
New Rochelle, New York, 1979

Kevin Brownlow The Parade's Gone by... Kevin Brownlow
The Parade's Gone by...
Berkeley and Los Angeles, California, 1976

Richard Koszarski
Hollywood Directors, 1914-1940
New York, 1976

Walter Kerr The Silent Clowns Walter Kerr
The Silent Clowns
New York, 1975

Stanley Hochman (ed.)
A Library of Film Criticism, American Film Directors
New York, 1974

Cedric Osmond Bermingham (editor) Stars of the Screen 1931 Cedric Osmond Bermingham (editor)
Stars of the Screen 1931, A volume of biographies of contemporary actors and actresses engaged in photoplay throughout the world
London, [1931]

Charles Donald Fox and Milton L. Silver (eds.) Who's Who on the Screen Charles Donald Fox and Milton L. Silver (eds.)
Who's Who on the Screen
New York City, 1920

Books with an entry on Buster Keaton

David Thomson The New Biographical Dictionary of Film David Thomson
The New Biographical Dictionary of Film
New York, 2003

Glenn Mitchell The Marx Brothers Encyclopedia Glenn Mitchell
The Marx Brothers Encyclopedia
London, 1996

Roy Liebman Silent Film Performers Roy Liebman
Silent Film Performers, An Annotated Bibliography of Published, Unpublished and Archival Sources for over 350 Actors and Actresses
Jefferson, North Carolina, and London, 1996

Anthony Slide (ed.) Selected Vaudeville Criticism Anthony Slide (ed.)
Selected Vaudeville Criticism
Metuchen, N.J., & London, 1988

Joe Franklin Encyclopedia of Comedians Joe Franklin
Encyclopedia of Comedians
Secaucus, N.J., 1979

Paul Michael, editor in chief. James Robert Parish, associate editor The American movies reference book Paul Michael, editor in chief. James Robert Parish, associate editor
The American movies reference book, The sound era
Englewood Cliffs, N.J.,, 1969

Martin J. Quigley (ed.) The Motion Picture Almanac Martin J. Quigley (ed.)
The Motion Picture Almanac, Big Stars in Big Pictures
Chicago, Ill., 1929

Charles Donald Fox Mirrors of Hollywood Charles Donald Fox
Mirrors of Hollywood, with brief biographies of favorite film folk
New York, 1925

Books with photograph(s) of Buster Keaton

John Richard Finch and Paul Elby Close-Ups John Richard Finch and Paul Elby
Close-Ups, From the Golden Age of the Silent Cinema
South Brunswick and New York - London, 1978

Films

1917
Coney Island
A Country Hero
His Wedding Night
The Rough House
The Butcher Boy
Oh Doctor!
A Reckless Romeo

1918
Out West
The Cook
The Bell Boy
Good Night, Nurse!
Moonshine

1919
The Hayseed
Back Stage

1920
Convict 13
Neighbors
One Week
The Scarecrow
The Garage
The Saphead
The Round-Up

1921
The High Sign
The Boat
The Goat
Hard Luck
The Haunted House
The Play House

1922
The Blacksmith
Cops
Day Dreams
The Electric House
The Frozen North
My Wife's Relations
The Paleface

1923
Our Hospitality
The Balloonatic
The Love Nest
Three Ages

1924
The Navigator
Sherlock Jr.

1925
Go West
Seven Chances

1926
Battling Butler
The General

1927
College
Character Studies

1928
Steamboat Bill, Jr.
The Cameraman
Brotherly Love

1929
Spite Marriage
The Hollywood Revue of 1929
Tide of Empire

1930
Doughboys
Free and Easy
Estrellados
The March of Time

1931
The Stolen Jools
Wir schalten um auf Hollywood
Parlor, Bedroom and Bath
Sidewalks of New York
Casanova wider Willen
Buster se marie

1932
Speak Easily
The Passionate Plumber

1933
What - No Beer?

1934
The Gold Ghost
Le Roi des Champs-Élysées
Allez Oop

1935
One Run Elmer
Palooka from Paducah
Hayseed Romance
The Timid Young Man
Tars and Stripes
The E-Flat Man
A Night at the Opera

1936
The Chemist
The Invader
Three on a Limb
Grand Slam Opera
Mixed Magic
Blue Blazes

1937
Ditto
Jail Bait
Love Nest on Wheels

1938
Too Hot to Handle

1939
Hollywood Hobbies
Hollywood Cavalcade
Pest from the West
Mooching Through Georgia
At the Circus

1940
New Moon
His Ex Marks the Spot
Nothing But Pleasure
Pardon My Berth Marks
Li'l Abner
The Taming of the Snood
The Villain Still Pursued Her
The Spook Speaks
Go West

1941
General Nuisance
So You Won't Squawk?
She's Oil Mine

1943
Forever and a Day

1944
San Diego I Love You

1945
That Night with You
She Went to the Races
That's the Spirit

1946
El moderno Barba Azul
God's Country
Easy to Wed

1947
Cynthia

1948
A Southern Yankee

1949
The Lovable Cheat
In the Good Old Summertime
You're My Everything

1950
Sunset Boulevard

1951
Excuse My Dust

1952
Limelight
Paradise for Buster

1956
Around the World in Eighty Days

1960
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

1963
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
The Triumph of Lester Snapwell

1964
Pajama Party
The Big Parade of Comedy

1965
The Railrodder
Due marines e un generale
Film
Sergeant Dead Head
How to Stuff a Wild Bikini
Beach Blanket Bingo

1966
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
The Scribe

1970
4 Clowns

1994
Thats Entertainment! III

IMDb: 0000036
VIAF: 66477478