Comedian Keaton Buster: biography with photos

Keaton Buster is a famous American comedian, director and producer, The Great Stone Face of a Mute Screen. Known for his unflappable comic expressions, which are brilliantly demonstrated in complex scenes.

Like many great silent film actors , Buster remained unknown and unclaimed for several years. Only towards the end of his life was his activity rightfully rewarded. A psychologically perceptive actor, Keaton has created dozens of short films that confirm that he was one of the most talented and innovative artists of his time.

Buster Keaton: date of birth and early years

Joseph Frank Keaton was born on October 4, 1895 in Picois, Kansas, USA. He was the eldest of three children of Joseph Halley Keaton and Myra Cutler. Father was the director of the roving troupe Mohawk Indian Medicine Company, in which he brilliantly performed with his wife and famous magician Harry Houdini.

According to legend, Keaton got his nickname "Buster" when he was 18 months old, after falling down the stairs. Fortunately, Harry Houdini had time to pick him up and, turning to his parents, contended that Joseph Jr. was falling like a “real good man” (buster from English “good man”).

Early onstage

Already at the age of three, he began to perform at performances with his parents. During a comedy acrobatic performance, his father did incredible stunts with him (even dangerous throwing). After that, his family was accused by the American authorities of child abuse. But, as Keaton himself recalls, he actually never suffered from falls, as he simply played the role of a “mop-man”. Even then, Baster really liked that all the audience laughed at him.

At such a young age, the future comedian noticed that when he cheerfully imitated his father, the audience did not react at all. Then Keaton Buster came up with the idea of ​​using his unflappable facial expression to amuse the public. So he took the path of a comedian. His talent brought the family to New York in 1909.

Carier start

In 1917, his father Joseph Keaton began to have serious problems with alcohol, which caused the family to break up. Actor Buster Keaton did not appear on stage for a long time. But during this break, he was offered a role in the Broadway show with a staggering fee of $ 250 per week. However, a chance meeting with comedian Roscoe Arbuckle led to the termination of this contract. He was persuaded to play a major role in the short film "Butcher's Helper" (1917).

After that, Buster noticed that his calm face on the film looks very good. The only time he laughed in Rosco's Coney Island (1917).

Another 14 short films of his friend starred Buster Keaton, the best films - “His Wedding Night” and “Corridor”. His excellent film career was interrupted when Baster in 1918 joined the infantry division in France during the First World War.

After returning to the United States in 1919, he starred in several more Roscoe films. They had tremendous commercial success. In 1920, Buster Keaton, a comedian, makes his first feature film, The Balda, where he plays with Bertie Elstin. His work was appreciated, thanks to the pleasant reviews of the audience. This film was considered the basis for Keaton's further career.

Directorial activity

In 1920, Roscoe Arbuckle stopped making comedy films, and Buster became the new head of the company, which belonged to Joseph Schenk. His first directorial efforts were unsuccessful. Then he decided to work hard both behind the camera and in front of her. His partner, Eddie Cline, argued that Keaton always took on most of the work.

Film critic Peter Hog wrote that Baster impresses everyone with his ideal and expressive work, as well as the harmony between the roles of the performer and director. This balance came into force with the movie Theater (1921). He independently developed innovative special effects, which made him one of the first leaders in this field. Keaton began using moving cameras, while many of his colleagues continued to use stationary cameras.

Peak career

On May 31, 1921, Buster marries actress Natalie Tolmage. Two sons are born to them - Joseph and Robert. Soon, thanks to Buster’s great accomplishments and his undeniable successes, Comic Films was renamed Keaton Buster Production. It is important to note that he did not own any portion of the shares. The actor became the artistic director of projects in the formulation of which he developed his own working methodology, making two films a year.

In 1923, he begins to produce only feature films. Buster Keaton makes a parody of D.W. Griffith's famous painting Intolerance (1916) under the title Three Centuries. In 1924, two of his best films were shot. The first is Sherlock Jr., in which he plays the role of a dreamy projectionist who wants to become a real detective. In the process of filming, Keaton performs all the tricks on his own. He even injures his neck, but he will discover it only after 10 years. The second film is “Navigator”: according to the plot of Buster, they are shot on an ocean liner.

At the peak of his career, Keaton became a celebrity. His salary was $ 3,500 a week. By working hard, he was able to build himself a mansion for $ 300,000 in Beverly Hills.

Buster Keaton: filmography of the mid-20s

Thanks to interesting stories and a brilliant game, Buster films continue to be very popular. The paintings “Seven Opportunities” (1925), “To the West” (1925) and “Butling Buster” (1926) have tremendous commercial success. The film "General" (1926) about the heroes of the Civil War was ridiculed by many critics, but it soon became considered technically flawless. During the filming, Keaton spent $ 42,000 sending a train over a burning bridge.

In 1928, he makes the last film with Keaton Buster Production - Steamboat Bill Jr. He pleased the critics, but did not have commercial success.

"Fall down"

In 1928, Joseph Schenk, owner of Keaton Buster Production, sold his shares to Metro-Goldwyn-Meyer. Keaton never paid much attention to the business side of the film industry and paid a considerable price for this. He lost control of the creative process of his paintings. The first film with the new owners was pretty good ("Cameraman", 1928), but the last - "Spite of Marriage" (1929) - was a real failure in Buster’s career. The advent of the “sound era” in cinema did not work in favor of Keaton. And in 1933, the company terminated the contract with him.

Due to failures in his work, he also experienced several personal crises - a divorce from Natalie Tolmage, the problems that began with alcohol. Soon he will marry again - at the nurse Elizabeth May Scriven. However, this marriage was not durable, and in 1935 he again divorced.

And again the "white stripe"

After a short trip to Europe, Buster was able to overcome his alcohol addiction. In 1937, he again signed a contract with Metro-Goldwin-Mayer, but only as a writer of witticisms. He manages to amaze everyone again with his incomparable talent.

In 1938, Buster Keaton became the new artistic director at United Artists. The short comedies that were made under his leadership were unimaginably successful.

In 1940, Keaton married for the last time the dancer Eleanor Ruth Norris.

In 1949, he first appears on television and even begins to appear in commercials. Buster even performed in such shows: "Playhouse-90", "Rut-66" and "Twilight-show". Keaton holds his own concerts in 1949, the Buster Keaton Comedy Show, and in 1951, the Buster Keaton Show. New York Times correspondent Karin James wrote that Keaton’s television appearances were warmly received by the audience. After a decade of obscurity, he managed to perpetuate his comic images, embracing a new environment.

In the mid-50s, Buster Keaton appeared again on the screens. The best films with his participation: “Around the World in 80 Days” (1956), “This Crazy, Crazy, Crazy World” (1963), “Wars in the Italian Style” (1966) and others.

On February 1, 1966, an actor dies of lung cancer in Woodland Hills, California.

Summing up, it is worth noting that the secret of the actor’s lasting success lies in his amazing skill and talent. Few of the artists, too, would be able to fall so funny that all the audience laughed to tears, or to make a calm expression on their faces that you will never forget again. Only the ingenious Buster Keaton was able to do this (the photos presented above confirm this). And even 50 years after his death, films with Keaton’s participation seem amusing and relevant to the audience.