Buster Keaton

Biography:

Buster Keaton was an American actor, comedian, filmmaker and stuntman whose works became an integral part of silent-film era. Born on October 4, 1895 in Piqua, Kansas under the name of Joseph Frank Keaton, he performed as a child together with his parents in vaudeville act called The Three Keatons. Buster began his career in film in 1910s; initially he worked together with Fatty Arbuckle until he decided to start producing movies independently. Keaton became famous for his unique deadpan look, physical humor and stunts, playing a role of an ordinary, determined character that becomes involved in more and more difficult situations. His most famous silent films are One Week (1920), Cops (1922), Sherlock Jr. (1924), The General (1926), and Steamboat Bill, Jr. (1928).

One more remarkable feature of Buster Keaton was a combination of humor and highly inventive filmmaking, physical choreography and camera effects. The General is considered nowadays one of the best silent films ever, and Sherlock Jr. is famous due to its revolutionary visual effects and editing. The transition to talkies and changes in the film studio system had a strong effect on Buster’s career, but he continued to work in small roles and on television. Buster Keaton received a major revival during his later life as his talent was recognized by filmmakers and critics. He won Academy Honorary Award in 1959 for his unique contribution to the visual comedy and died in Los Angeles, California on February 1, 1966.