Buster Keaton
Biography
Joseph Frank "Buster" Keaton (October 4, 1895 – February 1, 1966) was an American comic actor, filmmaker, producer and writer. He was best known for his silent films, in which his trademark was physical comedy with a consistently stoic, deadpan expression, earning him the nickname The Great Stone Face. He was recognized as the seventh-greatest director of all time by Entertainment Weekly. In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked Keaton the 21st-greatest male star of all time.
Known For
TV
What's My Line?
Self
1950
TV
The Twilight Zone
Woodrow Mulligan
1959
TV
Route 66
1960
TV
The Donna Reed Show
1958
TV
The Colgate Comedy Hour
Self
1950
TV
The Ed Sullivan Show
Self
1948
TV
Burke's Law
Mortimer Lovely
1963
TV
This Is Your Life
Self
1952
TV
Legends
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
2006
TV
Playhouse 90
Harrison
1956
TV
Screen Director's Playhouse
Kelsey Dutton
1955
TV
The Greatest Show on Earth
1963
TV
The Hollywood Palace
Self
1964
Film
His Wedding Night
Delivery boy
1917
Film
Sunset Boulevard
Buster Keaton
1950
Film
Pajama Party
Chief Rotten Eagle
1964
TV
The Rosemary Clooney Show
Self
1956
Film
Around the World in 80 Days
Train Conductor
1956
Film
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
Jimmy the Crook
1963
Film
Limelight
Calvero's Partner
1952
Filmography
2026FilmR.E.M x Buster Keaton's Sherlock Jras Projectionist / Sherlock, Jr.2025FilmHodgepodgeas Self (archive footage)2023FilmStunts: A Taste for Riskas Various Roles (archive footage)2021FilmThe Real Charlie Chaplinas Self (archive footage) (uncredited)2020FilmCharlie Chaplin, The Genius of Libertyas archive footage2020FilmTime Travelers: Uncovering Old LA in Keaton Comediesas Self (archive footage)2019FilmBarney's Wallas Self (archive footage)2018FilmThe Image Bookas (archive footage)2017FilmBusta Keaton in COPSas The Young Man (archive footage from 'Cops')2016FilmBuster Keaton: The Shorts Collection 1917-19232016FilmBuster Keaton: The Genius Destroyed by Hollywoodas Self2016FilmChaplin/Keaton: Duel of Legendsas (archive footage)2016FilmLooking for Charlie: Or, the Day the Clown Diedas Self (archive footage)2015FilmNotfilmas Self (archive footage)2014FilmYou Have to Live Somewhereas (archive footage)2011FilmLaurel & Hardy: Their Lives and Magicas Self (archive footage) (uncredited)2007FilmKings of Comedy: Masters of the Silent Screenas (archive footage)2007FilmThe Dawn of Sound: How Movies Learned to Talkas Self (archive footage)2006TVLegendsas Self (archive footage) (uncredited)2006FilmBuster Keaton: From Silents to Shortsas (archive footage)2004FilmSo Funny It Hurt: Buster Keaton & MGMas Self (archive footage)2001FilmArbuckle & Keaton, Volume Oneas Various2001FilmArbuckle & Keaton, Volume Twoas Various2000FilmLucille Ball: Finding Lucyas Self (archive footage)1999FilmHidden Hollywood II: More Treasures from the 20th Century Fox Vaultsas (archive footage)1994FilmThat's Entertainment! IIIas (archive footage)1992TVFunny Businessas (archive footage)1990FilmDance Crazy in Hollywoodas Self - Actor (archive footage)1987TVBuster Keaton: A Hard Act to Followas Self (archive footage)1984FilmGoing Hollywood: The '30sas (archive footage)1979FilmThe Hollywood Clownsas (archive footage)1976FilmThat's Entertainment, Part IIas (archive footage)1976FilmIt's Showtimeas Self (archive footage)1976FilmHooray for Hollywoodas Self (archive footage)1974FilmThe Three Stooges Folliesas Clarence Plunkett (archive footage)1974FilmThat's Entertainment!as (archive footage) (uncredited)1970FilmThe Metaphysics of Buster Keatonas Self (archival footage)1970Film4 Clownsas (archive footage)1966FilmA Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forumas Erronius1966FilmThe Scribeas Journalist1965FilmWar Italian Styleas Gen. von Kassler1965FilmSalute to Stan Laurelas Self1965FilmBuster Keaton Rides Againas Self1965FilmFilmas The Man1965FilmSergeant Deadheadas Airman Blinken1965FilmHow to Stuff a Wild Bikinias Bwana1965FilmThe Railrodderas The Man1965FilmBeach Blanket Bingoas Buster1964FilmPajama Partyas Chief Rotten Eagle1964FilmThe Big Parade of Comedyas Buster in 'The Cameraman' (archive footage)1964TVThe Hollywood Palaceas Self1963FilmThe Sound of Laughteras Elmer Butts1963FilmIt's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Worldas Jimmy the Crook1963TVBurke's Lawas Mortimer Lovely1963TVThe Greatest Show on Earth1963Film30 Years of Funas (archive footage)1963FilmThe Triumph of Lester Snapwellas Lester Snapwell1963FilmThere's No Business Like No Businessas Self1962FilmThe Great Chase1962FilmSimon Pure Beeras Self1962FilmCrazy Daysas Various (archive footage) (uncredited)1962FilmLanglois-Keaton à Parisas Self1962FilmThe New March of Dimes Presents: The Scene Stealersas Self1961FilmThe Home Owneras The Home Owner1960FilmThe Devil to Payas Diablos1960TVRoute 661960FilmThe Adventures of Huckleberry Finnas Lion Tamer1960FilmWhen Comedy Was Kingas edited from 'Cops' (archive footage)1960FilmLifetime of Comedyas (archive footage)1959TVThe Twilight Zoneas Woodrow Mulligan1958TVThe Donna Reed Show1958FilmThe Adventures of Mr. Pastryas Professor1958FilmNo Time at Allas Harrison1956FilmAround the World in 80 Daysas Train Conductor1956TVPlayhouse 90as Harrison1956TVThe Rosemary Clooney Showas Self1955TVScreen Director's Playhouseas Kelsey Dutton1954FilmThe Awakeningas The Man1953FilmL'Incantevole nemicaas L'apprenti boulanger dans la pièce de théâtre1952FilmLimelightas Calvero's Partner1952TVThis Is Your Lifeas Self1952FilmParadise for Busteras Buster1951FilmThe Slappiest Days of Our Livesas (archive footage)1951FilmLife with Buster Keaton1950FilmThe Misadventures of Buster Keatonas Buster1950TVThe Colgate Comedy Houras Self1950FilmSunset Boulevardas Buster Keaton1950TVWhat's My Line?as Self1949FilmIn the Good Old Summertimeas Hickey1949FilmYou're My Everythingas Butler1949FilmThe Lovable Cheatas Goulard1948TVThe Ed Sullivan Showas Self1947FilmA Duel to the Deathas The First Fisherman1946FilmBoom in the Moon1946FilmGod's Countryas Old Tarp / Mr. Boone1945FilmShe Went to the Racesas Bellboy (uncredited)1945FilmThat Night with Youas Sam - Short Order Cook1945FilmThat's the Spiritas L.M.1944FilmSan Diego I Love Youas Bus Driver1944FilmTake It or Leave Itas (archive footage) (uncredited)1943FilmForever and a Dayas Wilkins1941FilmShe's Oil Mineas Buster Waters, plumber1941FilmGeneral Nuisanceas Peter Hedley Lamar Jr.1941FilmScreen Snapshots Series 21 No. 1as Self1941FilmSo You Won't Squawkas Eddie1940FilmHis Ex Marks the Spotas Buster - the husband1940FilmLi'l Abneras Lonesome Polecat1940FilmThe Villain Still Pursued Heras William Dalton1940FilmThe Spook Speaksas Buster1940FilmThe Taming of the Snoodas Buster Keaton1940FilmNew Moonas Prisoner - 'LuLu'1940FilmPardon My Berth Marksas Elmer - Newspaper Copyboy1940FilmNothing But Pleasureas Clarence Plunkett1939FilmHollywood Cavalcadeas Buster Keaton1939FilmMooching Through Georgiaas Homer Cobb1939FilmPest from the Westas Sir1939FilmHollywood Hobbiesas Self (uncredited)1937FilmLove Nest on Wheelsas Elmer1937FilmDittoas The Forgotten Man1937FilmJail Bait1936FilmMixed Magicas Elmer 'Happy' Butterworth1936FilmThe Chemistas Elmer Triple1936FilmBlue Blazesas Elmer1936FilmGrand Slam Operaas Elmer Butts1936FilmSunkist Stars at Palm Springsas Self1936FilmThree on a Limbas Elmer Brown1936FilmThe Invaderas Leander Proudfoot1935FilmLa Fiesta de Santa Barbaraas Self1935FilmThe Timid Young Manas Milton1935FilmThe E-Flat Manas Elmer1935FilmTars and Stripesas Apprentice Seaman Elmer Doolittle1935FilmHayseed Romanceas Elmer Dolittle1935FilmOne Run Elmeras Elmer1935FilmPalooka from Paducahas Jim Diltz1934FilmThe King of the Champs-Élyséesas Buster Garner / Jim le Balafré1934FilmAllez Oopas Elmer1934FilmThe Gold Ghostas Wally1933FilmWhat! No Beer?as Elmer J. Butts1933FilmHollywood on Parade No. A-6as Self1932FilmPlumber in loveas Elmer E. Tuttle1932FilmSpeak Easilyas Professor Post1932FilmThe Passionate Plumberas Elmer E. Tuttle1931FilmCasanova wider Willenas Reggie Irving1931FilmSidewalks of New Yorkas Harmon1931FilmBuster se marieas Reggie Irving1931FilmWe’re Switching to Hollywoodas Self1931FilmThe Stolen Joolsas Policeman1931FilmParlor, Bedroom and Bathas Reginald Irving1930FilmForward, March!1930FilmDoughboysas Elmer J. Stuyvesant, Jr.1930FilmEstrelladosas Canuto Cuadratin1930FilmThe Voice of Hollywood1930FilmFree and Easyas Elmer1929FilmThe Hollywood Revue of 1929as Self / Princess Raja1929FilmSpite Marriageas Elmer1929FilmTide of Empireas Drunk Cowboy Thrown Out of Saloon (uncredited)1928FilmThe Baby Cycloneas Stunt Double (uncredited)1928FilmThe Cameramanas Buster1928FilmSteamboat Bill, Jr.as William 'Willie' Canfield Jr.1927FilmCharacter Studiesas Self (uncredited)1927FilmCollegeas Ronald, The Boy1927FilmLife in Hollywood No. 1as Self1926FilmThe Generalas Johnnie Gray1926FilmBattling Butleras Alfred Butler1925FilmGo Westas Friendless1925FilmThe Iron Muleas Indian (uncredited)1925FilmSeven Chancesas James 'Jimmie' Shannon1924FilmThe Navigatoras Rollo Treadway1924FilmSherlock Jr.as Projectionist / Sherlock, Jr.1923FilmOur Hospitalityas William McKay1923FilmThree Agesas The Boy1923FilmThe Love Nestas Buster Keaton1923FilmThe Balloonaticas The Young Man1922FilmDay Dreamsas The Young Man1922FilmSeeing Starsas Self1922FilmThe Electric Houseas Buster1922FilmThe Frozen Northas The Bad Man1922FilmThe Blacksmithas Blacksmith's Assistant1922FilmMy Wife's Relationsas The Husband1922FilmCopsas The Young Man1922FilmThe Palefaceas Little Chief Paleface1921FilmThe Boatas The Boat Builder1921FilmThe Play Houseas Orchestra / Minstrels / Dancers / Audience / Stagehand1921FilmThe Goatas The Goat1921FilmThe High Signas Our Hero1921FilmHard Luckas Suicidal Boy1921FilmThe Haunted Houseas Bank Clerk1920FilmNeighborsas The Boy1920FilmThe Scarecrowas Farmhand1920FilmConvict 13as Golfer Turned Prisoner, Guard1920FilmThe Round-Upas Indian (uncredited)1920FilmThe Sapheadas Bertie Van Alstyne1920FilmOne Weekas The Groom1920FilmThe Garageas Mechanic / Fireman1919FilmThe Hayseedas Manager, General Store1919FilmBack Stageas Stagehand1918FilmThe Cookas The Waiter (uncredited)1918FilmGood Night, Nurse!as Dr. Hampton1918FilmMoonshineas Revenue Agent1918FilmThe Bell Boyas Bellboy1918FilmOut Westas Sheriff, Saloon Owner1917FilmA Country Heroas Vaudeville Artist1917FilmConey Islandas Rival / Cop with Moustache1917FilmOh, Doctor!as Junior Holepoke1917FilmHis Wedding Nightas Delivery boy1917FilmThe Rough Houseas Gardener / Delivery Boy / Cop1917FilmA Reckless Romeoas Blind Organ Grinder1917FilmThe Butcher Boyas Buster