Buster Keaton Biography

Joseph Frank Keaton Jr. (October 4, 1895 – February 1, 1966), known by his professional name as Buster Keaton, Pamplinas ("Nonsense") in Spanish markets, was a popular and influential American silent-film comic actor and filmmaker. His trademark was physical comedy with a stoic, deadpan expression on his face, earning him the nickname "The Great Stone Face", Cara de palo ("Wooden face") in Spanish markets. His work as a performer and director is widely regarded to be some of the most innovative and important work in the history of cinema. He was recognized as the 7th greatest director of all time by Entertainment Weekly.

A 2002 world-wide poll by Sight and Sound ranked Keaton's The General as the 15th best film of all time. Three other Keaton films received votes in the survey: Our Hospitality, Sherlock, Jr., and The Navigator.

Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin and Harold Lloyd are remembered as the great comic innovators of the silent era. Keaton was undoubtedly the most innovative filmmaker of the three, although Keaton never made such comparisons. He enjoyed Lloyd's films highly and often praised Chaplin for his genius.

Keaton has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame: 6619 Hollywood Boulevard (for motion pictures); and 6321 Hollywood Boulevard (for television). In 1994, he appeared on a United States postage stamp designed by caricaturist Al Hirschfeld.

Many actors and filmmakers were influenced by Keaton, including Alec Guinness, Peter Sellers, Orson Welles, Johnny Depp, Blake Edwards, Jackie Chan and Stephen Chow.