Roscoe Arbuckle
Acting Born Mar 22, 1887 Died Jun 29, 1933 Smith Center, Kansas, USA 350 credits
Biography
Roscoe Arbuckle was an American silent film actor, comedian, director, and screenwriter. He started his career at the Selig Polyscope Company and later worked at Keystone Studios. Arbuckle was one of the most popular silent stars of the 1910s and one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood at the time. He is known to have worked with Mabel Normand, Harold Lloyd, Al St. John, Charlie Chaplin, Monty Banks, Bob Hope, and Buster Keaton. Arbuckle was born on March 24, 1887, in Smith Center, Kansas, USA, and died on June 29, 1933, in New York, USA. He is also known as 'Fatty' Arbuckle.
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Career overview
Roscoe Arbuckle began his career in the film industry at the Selig Polyscope Company. He later moved to Keystone Studios, where he worked alongside notable figures such as Mabel Normand and Harold Lloyd. Arbuckle also collaborated with his nephew, Al St. John, and brought vaudeville star Buster Keaton into the movie business.
During his time at Keystone Studios, Arbuckle became one of the most popular silent stars of the 1910s. He was also one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood at the time. Arbuckle's career as an actor spanned multiple film genres, including silent films.
Arbuckle's influence extended beyond his own acting career, as he mentored several notable figures in the film industry, including Charlie Chaplin, Monty Banks, and Bob Hope. His contributions to the development of the film industry are well-documented, and he remains a significant figure in the history of silent cinema.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
A Brave Engineer: Buster Keaton's Last Ride
Wonder Dogs! Canine Stars of the Silent Era (1898-1928)
Charlie Chaplin, The Genius of Liberty
Looking for Mabel Normand
The Parrott Chase
Why Be Good?: Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema
Buster Keaton: From Silents to Shorts
So Funny It Hurt: Buster Keaton & MGM
Murders of HollywoodChaplin Today: The Gold Rush
The Casting CouchThe First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies
The Chaplin Puzzle
Hollywood Scandals and Tragedies
Crazy Days
Days of Thrills and Laughter
When Comedy Was King
Happy Times and Jolly Moments
TomalioIn the DoughBuzzin' AroundHow've You Bean?Close Relations
Bridge Wives · DirectorHollywood Luck · DirectorKeep Laughing · DirectorIt's a Cinch · DirectorMother's Holiday · Director
Marriage Rows · DirectorMarriage Rows · StoryIdle Roomers · DirectorSmart Work · DirectorUp Pops the Duke · Director
Won by a Neck · DirectorSi Si Senor · DirectorUp a Tree · DirectorUp a Tree · StoryThe Cuckoos · Writer
Character StudiesCharacter Studies · DirectorListen LenaPeaceful Oscar · DirectorSpecial Delivery · Director
Home Cured · DirectorMy StarsMy Stars · WriterMy Stars · DirectorOne Sunday Morning · Writer
The Movies · DirectorThe Movies · WriterThe Tourist · DirectorCurses · DirectorCurses · Writer
Lovemania · DirectorHis First Car · DirectorHis First Car · WriterLeap YearStupid, but Brave · Director
No Loafing · DirectorHollywood
Special Delivery · DirectorDay Dreams · StoryThe Fast Freight
Gasoline GusScreen Snapshots (Series 1, No. 20)Brewster's MillionsCrazy to MarryTraveling Salesman
The Life of the PartyThe GarageThe Garage · DirectorThe Round-Up
LoveLove · DirectorThe HayseedThe Hayseed · DirectorA Desert Hero
Good Night, Nurse!Good Night, Nurse! · DirectorGood Night, Nurse! · StoryOut WestOut West · Director
Full Filmography
350 titles- A Brave Engineer: Buster Keaton's Last Ride (2026) as Self (Archival)
- Wonder Dogs! Canine Stars of the Silent Era (1898-1928) (2025)
- Charlie Chaplin, The Genius of Liberty (2020) as archive footage
- Looking for Mabel Normand (2015) as Self (archive footage)
- The Parrott Chase (2009) as (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Why Be Good?: Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema (2007) 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)
- Murders of Hollywood (2003) as Self (archive footage)
- Chaplin Today: The Gold Rush (2003) as Self (archive footage)
- The Casting Couch (1995)
- The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies (1995) as Self (archive footage)
- The Chaplin Puzzle (1992) as (archive footage)
- Hollywood Scandals and Tragedies (1988) as (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Crazy Days (1962) as Various (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Days of Thrills and Laughter (1961) as Self (archive footage)
- When Comedy Was King (1960) as (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Happy Times and Jolly Moments (1943) as (archive footage)
- Tomalio (1933) as Wilbur
- In the Dough (1933) as Slim
- Buzzin' Around (1933) as Cornelius
- How've You Bean? (1933)
- Close Relations (1933) as Wilbur Wart
- Bridge Wives (1932) Director
- Hollywood Luck (1932) Director
- Keep Laughing (1932) Director
- It's a Cinch (1932) Director
- Mother's Holiday (1932) Director
- Anybody's Goat (1932) Director
- Hey, Pop! (1932) as Fatty
- Moonlight and Cactus (1932) Director
- Gigolettes (1932) Director
- Hollywood Lights (1932) Director
- Niagara Falls (1932) Director
- Marriage Rows (1931) Director
- Marriage Rows (1931) Story
- Idle Roomers (1931) Director
- Smart Work (1931) Director
- Up Pops the Duke (1931) Director
- Queenie of Hollywood (1931) Director
- Three Hollywood Girls (1931) Director
- The Back Page (1931) Director
- Once a Hero (1931) Director
- That's My Meat (1931) Director
- Pete and Repeat (1931) Director
- The Tamale Vendor (1931) Director
- Crashing Hollywood (1931) Director
- One Quiet Night (1931) Director
- The Lure of Hollywood (1931) Director
- Honeymoon Trio (1931) Director
- Beach Pajamas (1931) Writer
- Beach Pajamas (1931) Director
- Windy Riley Goes Hollywood (1931) Director
- That's My Line (1931) Writer
- That's My Line (1931) Director
- Take 'em and Shake 'em (1931) Director
- Stars of Yesterday (1931) as Self
- Ex-Plumber (1931) Director
- Ex-Plumber (1931) Writer
- Won by a Neck (1930) Director
- Si Si Senor (1930) Director
- Up a Tree (1930) Director
- Up a Tree (1930) Story
- The Cuckoos (1930) Writer
- Character Studies (1927) as Self (uncredited)
- Character Studies (1927) Director
- Listen Lena (1927) as Fat man with strategically covered face (unconfirmed)
- Peaceful Oscar (1927) Director
- Special Delivery (1927) Director
- The Red Mill (1927) Director
- Home Cured (1926) Director
- My Stars (1926) as Mailman (uncredited)
- My Stars (1926) Writer
- My Stars (1926) Director
- One Sunday Morning (1926) Writer
- One Sunday Morning (1926) Director
- Fool's Luck (1926) Director
- Fool's Luck (1926) Writer
- His Private Life (1926) Writer
- His Private Life (1926) Director
- The Movies (1925) Director
- The Movies (1925) Writer
- The Tourist (1925) Director
- Curses (1925) Director
- Curses (1925) Writer
- Dynamite Doggie (1925) Writer
- Dynamite Doggie (1925) Director
- Cleaning Up (1925) Director
- Go West (1925) as Woman in Department Store (uncredited)
- The Fighting Dude (1925) Director
- The Fighting Dude (1925) Writer
- The Iron Mule (1925) Director
- Lovemania (1924) Director
- His First Car (1924) Director
- His First Car (1924) Writer
- Leap Year (1924) as Stanley Piper
- Stupid, but Brave (1924) Director
- No Loafing (1923) Director
- Hollywood (1923) as Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle
- Special Delivery (1922) Director
- Day Dreams (1922) Story
- The Fast Freight (1922) as Ras Berry
- Gasoline Gus (1921) as Gasoline Gus
- Screen Snapshots (Series 1, No. 20) (1921) as Himself
- Brewster's Millions (1921) as Monte Brewster
- Crazy to Marry (1921) as Dr. Hobart Hupp
- Traveling Salesman (1921) as Bob Blake
- The Dollar-a-Year Man (1921) as Franklin Pinney
- The Life of the Party (1920) as Algernon Leary (as Roscoe Arbuckle)
- The Garage (1920) as Mechanic / Fireman
- The Garage (1920) Director
- The Round-Up (1920) as Slim Hoover
- Love (1919) as Fatty
- Love (1919) Director
- The Hayseed (1919) as Mailman
- The Hayseed (1919) Director
- A Desert Hero (1919) as The Sheriff, the Desert Hero
- A Desert Hero (1919) Director
- A Desert Hero (1919) Writer
- Back Stage (1919) as Stagehand
- Back Stage (1919) Director
- The Pullman Porter (1919)
- The Pullman Porter (1919) Director
- The Pullman Porter (1919) Writer
- Camping Out (1919)
- Camping Out (1919) Writer
- Camping Out (1919) Director
- The Bank Clerk (1919)
- The Bank Clerk (1919) Director
- The Bank Clerk (1919) Writer
- Good Night, Nurse! (1918) as Fatty
- Good Night, Nurse! (1918) Director
- Good Night, Nurse! (1918) Story
- Out West (1918) as Train Rider, Bartender
- Out West (1918) Director
- Out West (1918) Writer
- Moonshine (1918) as Revenue Agent
- Moonshine (1918) Story
- Moonshine (1918) Screenplay
- Moonshine (1918) Director
- The Bell Boy (1918) as Bellboy, barber
- The Bell Boy (1918) Story
- The Bell Boy (1918) Screenplay
- The Bell Boy (1918) Director
- The Cook (1918) as The Chef
- The Cook (1918) Story
- The Cook (1918) Director
- A Scrap of Paper (1918) as Fatty
- A Scrap of Paper (1918) Director
- The Sheriff (1918) as Cook
- The Sheriff (1918) Writer
- The Sheriff (1918) Director
- Oh, Doctor! (1917) as Dr. Fatty Holepoke
- Oh, Doctor! (1917) Director
- The Rough House (1917) as Mr. Rough
- The Rough House (1917) Story
- The Rough House (1917) Director
- Coney Island (1917) as Fatty
- Coney Island (1917) Director
- Coney Island (1917) Story
- His Wedding Night (1917) as Gas station employee
- His Wedding Night (1917) Story
- His Wedding Night (1917) Director
- The Butcher Boy (1917) as Fatty / Saccharine
- The Butcher Boy (1917) Director
- The Butcher Boy (1917) Story
- A Reckless Romeo (1917) as The Husband
- A Reckless Romeo (1917) Director
- A Reckless Romeo (1917) Story
- A Country Hero (1917) as Village Blacksmith
- A Country Hero (1917) Director
- A Country Hero (1917) Story
- The Late Lamented (1917) as Cameo Appearance (unconfirmed)
- Bright Lights (1916) as Fatty
- Bright Lights (1916) Director
- He Did and He Didn’t (1916) as The Doctor
- He Did and He Didn’t (1916) Director
- His Wife's Mistakes (1916) as The Janitor
- His Wife's Mistakes (1916) Director
- The Waiters' Ball (1916) as The Cook
- The Waiters' Ball (1916) Director
- A Creampuff Romance (1916) as Fatty
- A Creampuff Romance (1916) Director
- Fatty and Mabel Adrift (1916) as Fatty
- Fatty and Mabel Adrift (1916) Director
- Fatty and Mabel Adrift (1916) Writer
- The Other Man (1916) as Fatty the Tramp (dual role)
- A Glimpse of the San Diego Exposition (1915) as Himself
- Mabel and Fatty's Wash Day (1915) as Fatty
- Mabel and Fatty's Wash Day (1915) Director
- Hogan's Romance Upset (1915) as Fight Spectator
- Fatty’s Faithful Fido (1915) as Fatty
- Fatty’s Faithful Fido (1915) Director
- When Love Took Wings (1915) as Reckless Fatty
- When Love Took Wings (1915) Director
- Fatty's Tintype Tangle (1915) as Fatty
- Fatty's Tintype Tangle (1915) Director
- Fatty’s Plucky Pup (1915) as Fatty
- Fatty’s Plucky Pup (1915) Director
- A Village Scandal (1915) as Eddie - the Country Boy
- A Village Scandal (1915) Director
- That Little Band Of Gold (1915) as Fatty - the Husband
- That Little Band Of Gold (1915) Director
- Wished on Mabel (1915) as Fatty
- Wished on Mabel (1915) Director
- Fatty's New Role (1915) as Fatty
- Fatty's New Role (1915) Director
- Mabel, Fatty and the Law (1915) as Fatty
- Mabel, Fatty and the Law (1915) Director
- Fickle Fatty's Fall (1915) as Fatty
- Fickle Fatty's Fall (1915) Director
- Fatty and Mabel at the San Diego Exposition (1915) as Fatty
- Fatty and Mabel at the San Diego Exposition (1915) Director
- Miss Fatty's Seaside Lovers (1915) as Finnegan's Daughter
- Miss Fatty's Seaside Lovers (1915) Director
- Fatty and the Broadway Stars (1915) as Fatty - Studio Janitor
- Fatty and the Broadway Stars (1915) Director
- Fatty and Mabel’s Simple Life (1915) as Roscoe
- Fatty and Mabel’s Simple Life (1915) Director
- Mabel’s Wilful Way (1915) as Fatty
- Mabel’s Wilful Way (1915) Director
- The Little Teacher (1915) as Fat Unruly Student
- Fatty’s Reckless Fling (1915) as Fatty
- Fatty’s Reckless Fling (1915) Director
- Mabel and Fatty Viewing the World's Fair at San Francisco (1915) as Himself
- Mabel and Fatty Viewing the World's Fair at San Francisco (1915) Director
- Fatty’s Chance Acquaintance (1915) as Fatty
- Fatty’s Chance Acquaintance (1915) Director
- Mabel and Fatty’s Married Life (1915) as Fatty
- Mabel and Fatty’s Married Life (1915) Director
- The Alarm (1914)
- The Alarm (1914) Director
- The Alarm (1914) Writer
- The Masquerader (1914) as Film actor
- Barnyard Flirtations (1914) as The Cop
- Barnyard Flirtations (1914) Director
- His New Profession (1914) as Bartender Smoking Cigar
- The Under-Sheriff (1914) as The Under-Sheriff
- Making a Living (1914) as Tough Guy (uncredited)
- A Flirt's Mistake (1914) as Husband (uncredited)
- A Robust Romeo (1914) as Fatty
- Fatty and Minnie He-Haw (1914) as Fatty
- Fatty and Minnie He-Haw (1914) Director
- Zip, the Dodger (1914) as Zip
- Zip, the Dodger (1914) Director
- Those Country Kids (1914) as Fatty
- Those Country Kids (1914) Director
- The Knockout (1914) as Pug (uncredited)
- Fatty's Debut (1914) as Fatty
- Fatty's Debut (1914) Director
- Caught in a Flue (1914) as (unconfirmed)
- Fatty's Jonah Day (1914) as Fatty
- Fatty's Jonah Day (1914) Director
- His Favorite Pastime (1914) as Shabby Drunk
- The Water Dog (1914) as Fatty
- The Water Dog (1914) Director
- A Rowboat Romance (1914) as (unconfirmed)
- A Rowboat Romance (1914) Director
- Their Ups and Downs (1914) as Fatty
- Their Ups and Downs (1914) Director
- Fatty's Magic Pants (1914) as Fatty
- Fatty's Magic Pants (1914) Director
- A Brand New Hero (1914) as The Tramp
- A Brand New Hero (1914) Director
- Tango Tangles (1914) as Clarinetist
- Fatty's Wine Party (1914) as Fatty
- Fatty's Wine Party (1914) Director
- How Old Are You? (1914)
- An Incompetent Hero (1914) as Fatty
- An Incompetent Hero (1914) Director
- The Sky Pirate (1914) as The Heiress
- The Sky Pirate (1914) Director
- A Film Johnnie (1914) as Self
- The Rounders (1914) as Mr. Fuller
- Lover's Luck (1914) as Fatty
- Lover's Luck (1914) Director
- A Suspended Ordeal (1914) as The Cop
- A Suspended Ordeal (1914) Director
- Lovers' Post Office (1914) as Fatty
- Lovers' Post Office (1914) Director
- Shotguns That Kick (1914) as Fatty
- Shotguns That Kick (1914) Director
- Leading Lizzie Astray (1914) as Fatty
- Leading Lizzie Astray (1914) Director
- A Rural Demon (1914)
- Those Happy Days (1914) as Fatty
- Those Happy Days (1914) Director
- Love and Bullets (1914) as Film Actor (uncredited)
- Love and Bullets (1914) Director
- Our Country Cousin (1914) as The Country Boy (unconfirmed)
- Fatty's Gift (1914) as Fatty
- Fatty's Gift (1914) Director
- Bombs and Bangs (1914) as The Farmer's Daughter
- Bombs and Bangs (1914) Director
- Where Hazel Met the Villain (1914) as Fatty
- Where Hazel Met the Villain (1914) Director
- In the Clutches of the Gang (1914) as Cop
- Twixt Love and Fire (1914) as The Iceman
- Fatty's Finish (1914) as Fatty
- Fatty's Finish (1914) Director
- Rebecca's Wedding Day (1914) as Rebecca
- The Chicken Chaser (1914) as The Hired Man
- The Chicken Chaser (1914) Director
- The Sea Nymphs (1914) as Fatty
- Fatty and the Heiress (1914) as Fatty
- Fatty and the Heiress (1914) Director
- Fatty Again (1914) as Fatty Felix
- Fatty Again (1914) Director
- That Minstrel Man (1914) as Belle
- That Minstrel Man (1914) Director
- A Bath House Beauty (1914) as Fatty
- A Bath House Beauty (1914) Director
- Fatty's Wild Night (1914)
- The Baggage Smasher (1914) as (unconfirmed)
- A Misplaced Foot (1914) as Fatty
- Wine (1913) as The Waiter
- Peeping Pete (1913) as Pete's Wife
- His Sister's Kids (1913) as Dr. J. Jacobs
- Two Old Tars (1913) as First Old Tar
- A Small Time Act (1913) as Theatre Owner
- Fatty at San Diego (1913) as Fatty
- Rastus and the Game Cock (1913) as Spectator
- Fatty's Flirtation (1913) as Fatty
- Alas! Poor Yorick! (1913) as Player in Female Costume
- The Woman Haters (1913) as 1st Old Tar
- Love and Rubbish (1913) as Fat Boy
- The Speed Kings (1913) as Masher
- Mabel's Dramatic Career (1913) as Man in Audience
- Safe in Jail (1913) as Neighbor Woman
- The Gangsters (1913) as Cop
- Professor Bean's Removal (1913) as Man with Moustache
- A Bandit (1913) as Bully
- When Dreams Come True (1913) as The Man
- Fatty Joins the Force (1913) as Fatty
- For the Love of Mabel (1913) as Suitor
- Fatty's Day Off (1913) as Fatty
- Mabel's New Hero (1913) as Fatty
- He Would a Hunting Go (1913) as Count Chicori
- A Noise from the Deep (1913) as Bob
- Murphy's I.O.U. (1913) as (uncredited) (unconfirmed)
- A Quiet Little Wedding (1913) as Fatty
- The Waiters' Picnic (1913) as Oscar - the Waiter
- A Ride for a Bride (1913) as Fatty
- The Milk We Drink (1913) as The Dairy Farmer
- The Telltale Light (1913) as Tom aka Fatty
- The Riot (1913) as Cohen - Jewish Neighborhood Leader
- Passions, He Had Three (1913) as Henry
- Some Nerve (1913) as The Jealous Man
- The Gypsy Queen (1913) as Fatty
- The Fatal Taxicab (1913) as Mabel's Sweetheart
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Roscoe Arbuckle best known for?
Roscoe Arbuckle is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including When Comedy Was King (1960), Brilliant Heritage (2020), Brilliant Heritage (2020), The Cariocas (2010).
When and where was Roscoe Arbuckle born?
Roscoe Arbuckle was born on March 22, 1887 in Smith Center, Kansas, USA. They passed away on June 29, 1933.
How many credits does Roscoe Arbuckle have?
Roscoe Arbuckle has accumulated over 350 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1920 to 2026.
What is Roscoe Arbuckle's background in cinema and television?
Roscoe Arbuckle was an American silent film actor, comedian, director, and screenwriter. He started his career at the Selig Polyscope Company and later worked at Keystone Studios. Arbuckle was one of the most popular silent stars of the 1910s and one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood at the time. He is known to h...