Buster Keaton
Biography
Buster Keaton was an American comic actor, filmmaker, producer, and writer. He was known for his silent films featuring physical comedy with a consistently stoic, deadpan expression, earning him the nickname The Great Stone Face. Keaton was recognized as the seventh-greatest director of all time by Entertainment Weekly. He was ranked the 21st-greatest male star of all time by the American Film Institute in 1999. Born in Piqua, Kansas, USA, on October 3, 1895, Keaton passed away on February 1, 1966, at the age of 70.
Career overview
Buster Keaton was an American filmmaker, producer, and writer. He is best known for his work in silent films, which showcased his physical comedy skills. Keaton's trademark was his consistently stoic, deadpan expression, earning him the nickname The Great Stone Face.
As a director, Keaton was recognized for his contributions to the film industry. He was ranked the seventh-greatest director of all time by Entertainment Weekly. Keaton's directing career is notable for its impact on the development of silent films.
Keaton's directing credits are extensive, with a total of 217 known credits. His work in the film industry has had a lasting influence, with the American Film Institute ranking him the 21st-greatest male star of all time in 1999.
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Career timeline
Full filmography
- A Brave Engineer: Buster Keaton's Last Ride (2026) as Self (Archival)
- Hodgepodge (2025) as Self (archive footage)
- Stunts: A Taste for Risk (2023) as Various Roles (archive footage)
- The Real Charlie Chaplin (2021) as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Charlie Chaplin, The Genius of Liberty (2020) as archive footage
- Time Travelers: Uncovering Old LA in Keaton Comedies (2020) as Self (archive footage)
- Barney's Wall (2019) as Self (archive footage)
- The Image Book (2018) as (archive footage)
- Chaplin/Keaton: Duel of Legends (2016) as (archive footage)
- Buster Keaton: The Genius Destroyed by Hollywood (2016) as Self
- Looking for Charlie: Or, the Day the Clown Died (2016) as Self (archive footage)
- Notfilm (2015) as Self (archive footage)
- You Have to Live Somewhere (2014) as (archive footage)
- Laurel & Hardy: Their Lives and Magic (2011) as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- The Smelly Janitor (2008) Thanks
- Kings of Comedy: Masters of the Silent Screen (2007) as (archive footage)
- The Dawn of Sound: How Movies Learned to Talk (2007) as Self (archive footage)
- Legends (2006) as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Silent Clowns (2006) as Self(archive footage)
- Buster Keaton: From Silents to Shorts (2006) as (archive footage)
- So Funny It Hurt: Buster Keaton & MGM (2004) as Self (archive footage)
- Lucille Ball: Finding Lucy (2000) as Self (archive footage)
- Hidden Hollywood II: More Treasures from the 20th Century Fox Vaults (1999) as (archive footage)
- The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies (1995) as Self (archive footage)
- That's Entertainment! III (1994) as (archive footage)
- Funny Business (1992) as (archive footage)
- Dance Crazy in Hollywood (1990) as Self - Actor (archive footage)
- Buster Keaton: A Hard Act to Follow (1987) as Self (archive footage)
- Going Hollywood: The '30s (1984) as (archive footage)
- The Hollywood Clowns (1979) as (archive footage)
- Bob Hope's World of Comedy (1976) as Self (archive footage)
- That's Entertainment, Part II (1976) as (archive footage)
- It's Showtime (1976) as Self (archive footage)
- Hooray for Hollywood (1976) as Self (archive footage)
- That's Entertainment! (1974) as (archive footage) (uncredited)
- The Three Stooges Follies (1974) as Clarence Plunkett (archive footage)
- The Metaphysics of Buster Keaton (1970) as Self (archival footage)
- 4 Clowns (1970) as (archive footage)
- The Scribe (1966) as Journalist
- A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1966) as Erronius
- The Railrodder (1965) as The Man
- The Railrodder (1965) Director
- Beach Blanket Bingo (1965) as Buster
- How to Stuff a Wild Bikini (1965) as Bwana
- Salute to Stan Laurel (1965) as Self
- War Italian Style (1965) as Gen. von Kassler
- Buster Keaton Rides Again (1965) as Self
- Sergeant Deadhead (1965) as Airman Blinken
- Film (1965) as The Man
- The Hollywood Palace (1964) as Self
- Pajama Party (1964) as Chief Rotten Eagle
- The Big Parade of Comedy (1964) as Buster in 'The Cameraman' (archive footage)
- Burke's Law (1963) as Mortimer Lovely
- The Greatest Show on Earth (1963)
- It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963) as Jimmy the Crook
- The Triumph of Lester Snapwell (1963) as Lester Snapwell
- The Sound of Laughter (1963) as Elmer Butts
- 30 Years of Fun (1963) as (archive footage)
- There's No Business Like No Business (1963) as Self
- Langlois-Keaton à Paris (1962) as Self
- Simon Pure Beer (1962) as Self
- The Great Chase (1962)
- The New March of Dimes Presents: The Scene Stealers (1962) as Self
- Crazy Days (1962) as Various (archive footage) (uncredited)
- The Home Owner (1961) as The Home Owner
- Route 66 (1960)
- When Comedy Was King (1960) as (archive footage) (uncredited)
- The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1960) as Lion Tamer
- Lifetime of Comedy (1960) as (archive footage)
- The Devil to Pay (1960) as Diablos
- The Twilight Zone (1959) as Woodrow Mulligan
- The Donna Reed Show (1958)
- No Time at All (1958) as Harrison
- The Adventures of Mr. Pastry (1958) as Professor
- The Buster Keaton Story (1957) Technical Advisor
- Playhouse 90 (1956) as Harrison
- Around the World in 80 Days (1956) as Train Conductor
- The Rosemary Clooney Show (1956) as Self
- Screen Director's Playhouse (1955) as Kelsey Dutton
- The Awakening (1954) as The Man
- L'Incantevole nemica (1953) as Baker's Apprentice in Play
- This Is Your Life (1952) as Self
- Limelight (1952) as Calvero's Partner
- Paradise for Buster (1952) as Buster
- The Slappiest Days of Our Lives (1951) as (archive footage)
- Life with Buster Keaton (1951)
- What's My Line? (1950) as Self
- The Colgate Comedy Hour (1950) as Self
- Sunset Boulevard (1950) as Buster Keaton
- The Misadventures of Buster Keaton (1950) as Buster
- In the Good Old Summertime (1949) as Hickey
- In the Good Old Summertime (1949) Additional Writing
- In the Good Old Summertime (1949) Screenplay
- You're My Everything (1949) as Butler
- The Lovable Cheat (1949) as Goulard
- The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) as Self
- A Duel to the Death (1947) as The First Fisherman
- God's Country (1946) as Old Tarp / Mr. Boone
- Boom in the Moon (1946)
- That's the Spirit (1945) as L.M.
- That Night with You (1945) as Sam - Short Order Cook
- She Went to the Races (1945) as Bellboy (uncredited)
- Bathing Beauty (1944) Creative Consultant
- Take It or Leave It (1944) as (archive footage) (uncredited)
- San Diego I Love You (1944) as Bus Driver
- Forever and a Day (1943) as Wilkins
- She's Oil Mine (1941) as Buster Waters, plumber
- So You Won't Squawk (1941) as Eddie
- General Nuisance (1941) as Peter Hedley Lamar Jr.
- Screen Snapshots Series 21 No. 1 (1941) as Self
- The Villain Still Pursued Her (1940) as William Dalton
- Pardon My Berth Marks (1940) as Elmer - Newspaper Copyboy
- Li'l Abner (1940) as Lonesome Polecat
- Li'l Abner (1940)
- The Taming of the Snood (1940) as Buster Keaton
- His Ex Marks the Spot (1940) as Buster - the husband
- The Spook Speaks (1940) as Buster
- Nothing But Pleasure (1940) as Clarence Plunkett
- New Moon (1940) as Prisoner - 'LuLu'
- Hollywood Cavalcade (1939) as Buster Keaton
- Mooching Through Georgia (1939) as Homer Cobb
- Mooching Through Georgia (1939) Writer
- Hollywood Hobbies (1939) as Self (uncredited)
- The Jones Family in Hollywood (1939) Story
- Quick Millions (1939) Story
- Pest from the West (1939) as Sir
- Pest from the West (1939) Writer
- Life in Sometown, U.S.A. (1938) Director
- Hollywood Handicap (1938) Director
- Streamlined Swing (1938) Director
- Too Hot to Handle (1938) Creative Consultant
- Jail Bait (1937)
- Ditto (1937) as The Forgotten Man
- Love Nest on Wheels (1937) as Elmer
- Love Nest on Wheels (1937) Director
- Sunkist Stars at Palm Springs (1936) as Self
- Blue Blazes (1936) as Elmer
- Blue Blazes (1936) Director
- Grand Slam Opera (1936) as Elmer Butts
- Grand Slam Opera (1936) Writer
- Grand Slam Opera (1936) Director
- Three on a Limb (1936) as Elmer Brown
- The Chemist (1936) as Elmer Triple
- The Invader (1936) as Leander Proudfoot
- Mixed Magic (1936) as Elmer 'Happy' Butterworth
- Mixed Magic (1936) Director
- Hayseed Romance (1935) as Elmer Dolittle
- One Run Elmer (1935) as Elmer
- Tars and Stripes (1935) as Apprentice Seaman Elmer Doolittle
- Tars and Stripes (1935) Director
- La Fiesta de Santa Barbara (1935) as Self
- The Timid Young Man (1935) as Milton
- Palooka from Paducah (1935) as Jim Diltz
- The E-Flat Man (1935) as Elmer
- The Gold Ghost (1934) as Wally
- The Gold Ghost (1934) Director
- The King of the Champs-Élysées (1934) as Buster Garner / Jim le Balafré
- Allez Oop (1934) as Elmer
- Allez Oop (1934) Director
- What! No Beer? (1933) as Elmer J. Butts
- Hollywood on Parade No. A-6 (1933) as Self
- The Passionate Plumber (1932) as Elmer E. Tuttle
- Plumber in love (1932) as Elmer E. Tuttle
- Plumber in love (1932) Producer
- Speak Easily (1932) as Professor Post
- Speak Easily (1932) Producer
- Parlor, Bedroom and Bath (1931) as Reginald Irving
- Parlor, Bedroom and Bath (1931) Producer
- Sidewalks of New York (1931) as Harmon
- The Stolen Jools (1931) as Policeman
- Buster se marie (1931) as Reggie Irving
- Buster se marie (1931) Producer
- Casanova Against His Will (1931) as Reggie Irving
- Casanova Against His Will (1931) Producer
- We’re Switching to Hollywood (1931) as Self
- The Voice of Hollywood (1930)
- Free and Easy (1930) as Elmer
- Free and Easy (1930) Producer
- Doughboys (1930) as Elmer J. Stuyvesant, Jr.
- Doughboys (1930) Story
- Estrellados (1930) as Canuto Cuadratin
- Forward, March! (1930)
- Spite Marriage (1929) as Elmer
- Spite Marriage (1929) Producer
- The Hollywood Revue of 1929 (1929) as Self / Princess Raja
- Tide of Empire (1929) as Drunk Cowboy Thrown Out of Saloon (uncredited)
- The Cameraman (1928) as Buster
- The Cameraman (1928) Producer
- Steamboat Bill, Jr. (1928) as William 'Willie' Canfield Jr.
- Steamboat Bill, Jr. (1928) Director
- Steamboat Bill, Jr. (1928) Screenplay
- The Baby Cyclone (1928) as Stunt Double (uncredited)
- Character Studies (1927) as Self (uncredited)
- College (1927) as Ronald, The Boy
- Life in Hollywood No. 1 (1927) as Self
- The General (1926) as Johnnie Gray
- The General (1926) Producer
- The General (1926) Screenplay
- The General (1926) Director
- The General (1926) Editor
- The General (1926) Stunts
- Battling Butler (1926) as Alfred Butler
- Battling Butler (1926) Director
- Battling Butler (1926) Producer
- Seven Chances (1925) as James 'Jimmie' Shannon
- Seven Chances (1925) Director
- Seven Chances (1925) Producer
- Seven Chances (1925) Editor
- Go West (1925) as Friendless
- Go West (1925) Director
- Go West (1925) Producer
- Go West (1925) Writer
- The Iron Mule (1925) as Indian (uncredited)
- Sherlock Jr. (1924) as Projectionist / Sherlock, Jr.
- Sherlock Jr. (1924) Director
- Sherlock Jr. (1924) Producer
- Sherlock Jr. (1924) Editor
- The Navigator (1924) as Rollo Treadway
- The Navigator (1924) Director
- The Navigator (1924) Editor
- The Navigator (1924) Producer
- Our Hospitality (1923) as William McKay
- Our Hospitality (1923) Producer
- Our Hospitality (1923) Director
- Our Hospitality (1923) Stunts
- The Balloonatic (1923) as The Young Man
- The Balloonatic (1923) Director
- The Balloonatic (1923) Writer
- Three Ages (1923) as The Boy
- Three Ages (1923) Director
- Three Ages (1923) Writer
- Three Ages (1923) Producer
- The Love Nest (1923) as Buster Keaton
- The Love Nest (1923) Writer
- The Love Nest (1923) Director
- My Wife's Relations (1922) as The Husband
- My Wife's Relations (1922) Director
- My Wife's Relations (1922) Writer
- The Electric House (1922) as Buster
- The Electric House (1922) Director
- The Electric House (1922) Writer
- The Blacksmith (1922) as Blacksmith's Assistant
- The Blacksmith (1922) Director
- The Blacksmith (1922) Writer
- Day Dreams (1922) as The Young Man
- Day Dreams (1922) Director
- Day Dreams (1922) Writer
- Cops (1922) as The Young Man
- Cops (1922) Editor
- Cops (1922) Writer
- Cops (1922) Director
- The Frozen North (1922) as The Bad Man
- The Frozen North (1922) Director
- The Frozen North (1922) Writer
- Seeing Stars (1922) as Self
- The Paleface (1922) as Little Chief Paleface
- The Paleface (1922) Director
- The Paleface (1922) Writer
- Hard Luck (1921) as Suicidal Boy
- Hard Luck (1921) Director
- Hard Luck (1921) Writer
- The Goat (1921) as The Goat
- The Goat (1921) Director
- The Goat (1921) Writer
- The Boat (1921) as The Boat Builder
- The Boat (1921) Director
- The Boat (1921) Writer
- The Play House (1921) as Orchestra / Minstrels / Dancers / Audience / Stagehand
- The Play House (1921) Writer
- The Play House (1921) Director
- The Haunted House (1921) as Bank Clerk
- The Haunted House (1921) Director
- The Haunted House (1921) Writer
- The High Sign (1921) as Our Hero
- The High Sign (1921) Director
- The High Sign (1921) Writer
- One Week (1920) as The Groom
- One Week (1920) Director
- One Week (1920) Editor
- One Week (1920) Writer
- The Scarecrow (1920) as Farmhand
- The Scarecrow (1920) Director
- The Scarecrow (1920) Writer
- The Garage (1920) as Mechanic / Fireman
- Neighbors (1920) as The Boy
- Neighbors (1920) Director
- Neighbors (1920) Writer
- The Round-Up (1920) as Indian (uncredited)
- The Saphead (1920) as Bertie Van Alstyne
- The Saphead (1920) Writer
- Convict 13 (1920) as Golfer Turned Prisoner, Guard
- Convict 13 (1920) Director
- Convict 13 (1920) Editor
- Convict 13 (1920) Writer
- The Hayseed (1919) as Manager, General Store
- Back Stage (1919) as Stagehand
- Good Night, Nurse! (1918) as Dr. Hampton
- The Cook (1918) as The Waiter (uncredited)
- Moonshine (1918) as Revenue Agent
- Moonshine (1918) Editor
- Out West (1918) as Sheriff, Saloon Owner
- The Bell Boy (1918) as Bellboy
- Oh, Doctor! (1917) as Junior Holepoke
- The Butcher Boy (1917) as Buster
- The Rough House (1917) as Gardener / Delivery Boy / Cop
- The Rough House (1917) Writer
- The Rough House (1917) Director
- Coney Island (1917) as Rival / Cop with Moustache
- His Wedding Night (1917) as Delivery boy
- A Country Hero (1917) as Vaudeville Artist
- A Reckless Romeo (1917) as Blind Organ Grinder