Buster Keaton

I was excited to research a physical comedian because they are really interesting actors as well as people. I love the silent film era, and I am a huge Charlie Chaplin fan. I decided to go with another actor I didn't know as well, so I chose the great Buster Keaton. I've seen a couple of his short films and he is also very fun to watch.

Buster lived from 1895-1966 and is American born. He was born into vaudeville family which explains right away why the bug of acting bit him. The myth about his name is that when he was a young child he fell down some stairs and suffered no injuries. Buster has stuck with him since then. That reminds me of the show Mythbusters, which has a stunt dummy dubbed Buster. Actors like Keaton and Chaplin had a real knack for falling and sliding and not hurting themselves. It is a mix of natural instinct, grace and smarts about the human body. He started performing in a family group called The Three Keatons. In his young years in this act he really honed his talent for falling and not getting injured. At one point he was marketed as, "The Little Boy Who Can't Be Damaged." It's said that now and then people would confront his parents about child abuse, which could always be disproved by lack of bruises or broken bones.

As he got older and left the vaudeville scene he started doing theater. He was in New York and was slowly making a name for himself in the theatrical scene. He moved on from there to film. Wikipedia says that he did not serve active combat, but he was enlisted during World War I. He suffered somedamage to his ear and hearing because of this.

His first silent film was called The Butcher Boy. This

image is of Buster Keaton and Fatty Arbuckle in that film.

One aspect of his technique that he is famous for are his great dead pan expressions. This is a really useful technique in comedy because it really shows that you are in control of your acting. Cracking up at your own jokes makes the audience laugh less. Keaton was very smart kid and noticed this while performing with his parents in The Three Keatons. He noticed that when he would get caught up and laugh along with the skit the audience would laugh less. He was finally dubbed "The Great Stone Face."

Some of Keaton's most famous and notable films include Steamboat Bill Jr., The General, The Navigator, Seven Chances and The Camera Man. One thing he also did that led to his famous aesthetic are the pork pie hats he wore. One is seen in the above photo (also showcasing his dead pan face.) He liked to fashion his own and they are directly linked to how people remember him. He was a very committed actor when it came to falling and sacrificing his body. Although he was skilled at not hurting himself, he did suffer some pain while making some of his films. It's said that during the filming of Sherlock Jr. he fell against the railroad track and broke his neck. He didn't even realize it until a year later. He was very lucky while doing some of the stunts in his films. They are even stunts that would be scary and tricky nowadays with film's modern technical advances.

Watching clips of Buster's movement really makes me think back to when you taught us how to fall correctly. He makes it look so effortless and real. He is a great example to watch for pratfalls and physical joking. He said that being limp helped him not to get hurt. I think he is a shining example of someone who was born to be a comedian. I like using all the technique you showed us in class on how to fall correctly. It is useful however, to watch him and try to emmulate how natural he makes it look. It is much rarer today to have an actor that can do his own stunts, and set up the "special effects" for it as well. Silent movie actors really sacrificed themselves for their art.

Like most actors and comedians, Buster had a bit of a tumultuous love life. He had several marriages and two sons. He also had a period of drinking and some rough times in his later life. He eventually died of lung cancer in 1966. He left an amazing legacy, and has influenced countless actors. His brand of physical comedy is so unique, and no one has been able to recreate it. He was truly an original and he is a great person to study if you are looking to get into slapstick or physical acting of any kind.