Buster Keaton: The Silent Film Genius Who Never Laughed

Joseph Francis "Buster" Keaton, born October 4, 1895, in Piqua, and died February 1, 1966, in Woodland Hills, was a silent film comedian famed for his deadpan expression. He began performing as a child in his family's vaudeville act, with Harry Houdini reportedly giving him the nickname "Buster." In 1917, he moved to New York and entered films alongside Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle, earning $40 a week. Between 1918 and 1919, the duo made fifteen shorts. After serving in France in 1919, Keaton made three more films with Arbuckle before forming his own production company, Buster Keaton Comedies, in 1920. He directed and starred in 23 shorts from 1920 to 1923, often with Eddie Cline. His work explored themes of opposites, reality versus fiction, and the ordinary versus the unexpected. Notable films include One Week (1920), Senti, amore mio (1923), and Come vinsi la guerra (1926), co-directed with Clyde Bruckman. In 1928, Keaton signed with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, a decision he later called his biggest mistake. He struggled with the transition to sound, was fired by MGM in February 1932, and faced personal turmoil including divorce and alcoholism. He returned to prominence with roles in Sunset Boulevard (1950) and Limelight (1952), and received an honorary Oscar in 1959. His final major performance was in Film (1965), written by Samuel Beckett and presented at the Venice Biennale. He also appeared in Due marines e un generale with Franco and Ciccio.