American silent-era actor, filmmaker, and stunt performer celebrated for his stoic comic persona and elaborate physical comedy.
Background
Born Joseph Frank Keaton in Piqua, Kansas, into a vaudeville family, he joined the act as a small child and acquired the nickname “Buster” reportedly from Harry Houdini.
Career
After working with Roscoe Arbuckle, Keaton wrote, directed, and starred in a string of short and feature comedies for his own production unit, including “Sherlock Jr.,” “The General,” and “Steamboat Bill, Jr.” He performed his own dangerous stunts and pioneered visual effects with cameras and process shots. His career declined when he signed with MGM and lost creative control.
Style
Keaton’s “Great Stone Face” — never smiling regardless of catastrophe — combined with athletic precision and inventive compositions, made him one of cinema’s most influential comic and visual directors.
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