History Creator / BusterKeaton

Eventually, when the act's fortunes declined and Joe got too drunk and disorderly to work with safely[[note]] Speaking of safety, Keaton repeatedly stated in interviews that he never suffered an injury as a result of being thrown; their act was designed to look improvised and violent, but in reality was quite planned and controlled.[[/note]], Buster Keaton struck out on his own. He got into film with his good friend, [[Creator/FattyArbuckle Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle]], then one of the top comedy movie stars. Following Fatty's tragic fall from grace, Keaton formed his own production company, starring in and directing some of the most innovative comedy films of his day. From this period, his full-length film ''Film/TheGeneral'' is still considered one of the best silent films ever made. He was also never afraid of new technology: for instance, for a major silent movie star at the dawn of sound films, he ''wanted'' to get into them right away. After his company was dissolved, Keaton signed a contract with {{Creator/MGM}}. Keaton later came to seriously regret this decision, repeatedly calling it not just the biggest mistake of his career, but his ''life''. The best of his MGM films are the silents ''Film/TheCameraman'' and ''Film/SpiteMarriage''. He then began making sound pictures in which he was often teamed with JimmyDurante.[[note]] Unlike many silent film stars who were ruined because their voices were odd or otherwise did not match their images, Keaton's strong barritone voice and vaudeville-honed acting and singing skills allowed him to make the transition without much difficulty. He was even a great dancer, as one would expect from his acrobatic skills, though he rarely got a chance to display that on screen.[[/note]]

Eventually, when the act's fortunes declined and Joe got too drunk and disorderly to work with safely[[note]] Speaking of safety, Keaton repeatedly stated in interviews that he never suffered an injury as a result of being thrown; their act was designed to look improvised and violent, but in reality was quite planned and controlled.[[/note]], Buster Keaton struck out on his own. He got into film with his good friend, [[Creator/FattyArbuckle Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle]], then one of the top comedy movie stars. Following Fatty's tragic fall from grace, Keaton formed his own production company, starring in and directing some of the most innovative comedy films of his day. From this period, his full-length film ''Film/TheGeneral'' is still considered one of the best silent films ever made. He was also never afraid of new technology: for instance, for a major silent movie star at the dawn of sound films, he ''wanted'' to get into them right away. After his company was dissolved, Keaton signed a contract with {{Creator/MGM}}. The best of his MGM films are the silents ''Film/TheCameraman'' and ''Film/SpiteMarriage''. He then began making sound pictures in which he was often teamed with JimmyDurante.[[note]] Unlike many silent film stars who were ruined because their voices were odd or otherwise did not match their images, Keaton's strong barritone voice and vaudeville-honed acting and singing skills allowed him to make the transition without much difficulty. He was even a great dancer, as one would expect from his acrobatic skills, though he rarely got a chance to display that on screen.[[/note]]

* {{Adorkable}}: His characters are often sold on their endearing ineptitude. And really, just look at his expression(s).

* TheCutie: Look at the picture of him above and tell us you wouldn't want to give him a hug.

!!Later film roles

* RailroadTracksOfDoom: Subverted, then played straight, at the climax of ''OneWeek"

* CoolTrain: Keaton loved trains, likely from growing up on them traveling from vaudeville house to vaudeville house. His masterwork, ''Film/TheGeneral'', is the story of a young confederate desperate to retrieve his cool train after it has been stolen by union forces.
** Worthy of an honourable mention is the small motorized railcar or "speeder" Buster uses to cross Canada in ''The Railrodder''.

* IconicOutfit: [[NiceHat The Hat]]. The title-page and chapter-heading illustrations of his "as-told-to" autobiography, ''[[http://www.amazon.com/Wonderful-World-Slapstick-Capo-Paperback/dp/0306801787/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1282462115&sr=1-1 My Wonderful World of Slapstick,]]'' are a drawing of his eyes and The Hat. '''Just''' his eyes and The Hat.

* UndyingLoyalty: To Fatty Arbuckle, whom he considered a major influence in his own works. During the controversial Virgia Rappe incident, Buster made a public statement in defense of Arbuckle's innocence, and offered him work in some of his own films.

Joseph Frank "Buster" Keaton Jr. (October 4, 1895 – February 1, 1966) was an American comedian, actor, director, writer, and producer who is generally ranked alongside Creator/CharlieChaplin among the greats of [[UsefulNotes/TheSilentAgeOfHollywood silent-era]] movie comedy. Keaton was the original [[TheStoic Stoic]] (also known as "[[FrozenFace The Great Stone Face]]"), and possibly the toughest man in show business history; during one film shoot, he ''broke his neck'' and continued with the day's shooting.

Joseph Frank "Buster" Keaton Jr. (October 4, 1895 – February 1, 1966) was an American comedian, actor, director, writer producer who is generally ranked alongside Creator/CharlieChaplin among the greats of [[UsefulNotes/TheSilentAgeOfHollywood silent-era]] movie comedy. Keaton was the original [[TheStoic Stoic]] (also known as "[[FrozenFace The Great Stone Face]]"), and possibly the toughest man in show business history; during one film shoot, he ''broke his neck'' and continued with the day's shooting.

Joseph Frank "Buster" Keaton, Jr. (October 4, 1895 -- February 1, 1966), was the original [[TheStoic Stoic]], also known as [[FrozenFace The Great Stone Face]]. Possibly the toughest man in show business history; during one film shoot, he ''broke his neck'' and continued with the day's shooting.

* VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory: Keaton's masterpiece ''Film/TheGeneral'' is based on an actual incident from the AmericanCivilWar. Keaton's renaissance in the early 60's may have inspired Disney to make a dramatic feature more closely based on the same incident.

Things turned around for Keaton in the 1940s. He met and married his third wife, Eleanor Norris, who helped him get his drinking under control and sometimes worked as his partner in comedy routines. This led to Buster's engagement at France's Cirque Medrano, where he drew enthusiastic audiences. A 1949 article by James Agee in ''LIFE'' magazine (see quote above) renewed interest in Keaton, and his career picked up: he starred in a short-lived TV series; guest-starred on other shows, including ''Series/TheTwilightZone'', ''Series/{{Route 66}}'', and ''Series/CandidCamera''; appeared in many commercials; and performed memorable cameos and supporting roles in such films as ''Film/SunsetBoulevard'' (playing himself), ''Film/AroundTheWorldInEightyDays1956'', Creator/CharlieChaplin's ''Film/{{Limelight}}'', ''Film/ItsAMadMadMadMadWorld'', and ''Theatre/AFunnyThingHappenedOnTheWayToTheForum''. He even collaborated with avant-garde playwright Creator/SamuelBeckett on an unusual project called ''Film''.

Eventually, when the act's fortunes declined and Joe got too drunk and disorderly to work with safely[[note]] Speaking of safety, Keaton repeatedly stated in interviews that he never suffered an injury as a result of being thrown; their act was designed to look improvised and violent, but in reality was quite planned and controlled.[[/note]], Buster Keaton struck out on his own. He got into film with his good friend, [[Creator/FattyArbuckle Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle]], then one of the top comedy movie stars. Following Fatty's tragic fall from grace, Keaton formed his own production company, starring in and directing some of the most innovative comedy films of his day. From this period, his full-length film ''Film/TheGeneral'' is still considered one of the best silent films ever made. He was also never afraid of new technology: for instance, for a major silent movie star at the dawn of sound films, he ''wanted'' to get into them right away. After his company was dissolved, Keaton signed a contract with [[MetroGoldwynMayer MGM]]. The best of his MGM films are the silents ''Film/TheCameraman'' and ''Film/SpiteMarriage''. He then began making sound pictures in which he was often teamed with JimmyDurante.[[note]] Unlike many silent film stars who were ruined because their voices were odd or otherwise did not match their images, Keaton's strong barritone voice and vaudeville-honed acting and singing skills allowed him to make the transition without much difficulty. He was even a great dancer, as one would expect from his acrobatic skills, though he rarely got a chance to display that on screen.[[/note]]

* TheWoobie: Invoked. A good portion of the characters he plays are guys who just can't seem to catch a break, and he's so good at looking like a kicked puppy he's essentially made it an art form. It makes you wanna laugh at misfortune, then give the poor guy a big hug.

Things turned around for Keaton in the 1940s. He met and married his third wife, Eleanor Norris, who helped him get his drinking under control and sometimes worked as his partner in comedy routines. This led to Buster's engagement at France's Cirque Medrano, where he drew enthusiastic audiences. A 1949 article by James Agee in ''LIFE'' magazine (see quote above) renewed interest in Keaton, and his career picked up: he starred in a short-lived TV series; guest-starred on other shows, including ''Series/TheTwilightZone'', ''Series/{{Route 66}}'', and ''Series/CandidCamera''; appeared in many commercials; and performed memorable cameos and supporting roles in such films as ''Film/SunsetBoulevard'' (playing himself), ''Film/AroundTheWorldInEightyDays'', Creator/CharlieChaplin's ''Film/{{Limelight}}'', ''Film/ItsAMadMadMadMadWorld'', and ''Theatre/AFunnyThingHappenedOnTheWayToTheForum''. He even collaborated with avant-garde playwright Creator/SamuelBeckett on an unusual project called ''Film''.

* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold'': In the episode "Emperor Joker!", one of ComicBook/TheJoker's {{mook}}s is a [[http://scans-daily.dreamwidth.org/2443740.html huge, muscular version of Keaton]] (the overall effect, given Keaton's square-jawed, unsmiling face, is a bit like a caricature of Creator/BorisKarloff as the ''Film/{{Frankenstein|1931}} monster.)

* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold'': In the episode "Emperor Joker!", one of ComicBook/TheJoker's {{mook}}s is a [[http://scans-daily.dreamwidth.org/2443740.html huge, muscular version of Keaton]] (the overall effect, given Keaton's square-jawed, unsmiling face, is a bit like a caricature of Creator/BorisKarloff as the ''[[Film/{{Frankenstein 1931}} Frankenstein's]] monster.)

Things turned around for Keaton in the 1940s. He met and married his third wife, Eleanor Norris, who helped him get his drinking under control and sometimes worked as his partner in comedy routines. This led to Buster's engagement at France's Cirque Medrano, where he drew enthusiastic audiences. A 1949 article by James Agee in ''LIFE'' magazine (see quote above) renewed interest in Keaton, and his career picked up: he starred in a short-lived TV series; guest-starred on other shows, including ''Series/TheTwilightZone'', ''Series/{{Route 66}}'', and ''Series/CandidCamera''; appeared in many commercials; and performed memorable cameos and supporting roles in such films as ''Film/SunsetBoulevard'' (playing himself), ''Film/AroundTheWorldInEightyDays'', Creator/CharlieChaplin's ''Film/{{Limelight}}'', ''Film/ItsAMadMadMadMadWorld'', and ''Theatre/AFunnyThingHappenedOnTheWayToTheForum''. He lived to see his silent films preserved (including some supposedly lost films that actor Creator/JamesMason found in a house that Keaton had previously owned) and reintroduced for a new generation, and received a Career Oscar.

* ''Film/ItsAMadMadMadMadWorld'' (1963)