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
What's My Line?
1950
The Twilight Zone
1959
The Donna Reed Show
1958
Route 66
1960
The Colgate Comedy Hour
1950
The Ed Sullivan Show
1948
Burke's Law
1963
This Is Your Life
1952
Playhouse 90
1956
Legends
2006
Sunset Boulevard
1950
Screen Director's Playhouse
1955
Filmography
What's My Line?
as Self · 1950
The Twilight Zone
as Woodrow Mulligan · 1959
The Donna Reed Show
· 1958
Route 66
· 1960
The Colgate Comedy Hour
as Self · 1950
The Ed Sullivan Show
as Self · 1948
Burke's Law
as Mortimer Lovely · 1963
This Is Your Life
as Self · 1952
Playhouse 90
as Harrison · 1956
Legends
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited) · 2006
Sunset Boulevard
as Buster Keaton · 1950
Screen Director's Playhouse
as Kelsey Dutton · 1955
The Greatest Show on Earth
· 1963
The Hollywood Palace
as Self · 1964
Around the World in 80 Days
as Train Conductor · 1956
The Rosemary Clooney Show
as Self · 1956
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
as Jimmy the Crook · 1963
Hollywood
as Self (archive footage) · 1980
Hollywood
as Self (archive footage, uncredited) · 1980
The General
as Johnnie Gray · 1926
Sherlock Jr.
as Projectionist / Sherlock, Jr. · 1924
Limelight
as Calvero's Partner · 1952
The Cameraman
as Buster · 1928
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
as Erronius · 1966
One Week
as The Groom · 1920
The Image Book
as (archive footage) · 2018
Buster Keaton: A Hard Act to Follow
as Self (archive footage) · 1987
That's Entertainment, Part II
as (archive footage) (uncredited) · 1976
That's Entertainment!
as (archive footage) (uncredited) · 1974
The Real Charlie Chaplin
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited) · 2021
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
as Lion Tamer · 1960
Our Hospitality
as William McKay · 1923
The Navigator
as Rollo Treadway · 1924
Steamboat Bill, Jr.
as Steamboat Bill Jr. · 1928
Hollywood on Parade No. A-6
as Self · 1933
Funny Business
as (archive footage) · 1992
The Scarecrow
as Farmhand · 1920
Seven Chances
as James 'Jimmie' Shannon · 1925
Battling Butler
as Alfred Butler · 1926
Beach Blanket Bingo
as Buster · 1965
In the Good Old Summertime
as Hickey · 1949
Laurel & Hardy: Their Lives and Magic
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited) · 2011
How to Stuff a Wild Bikini
as Bwana · 1965
Jail Bait
· 1937
That's the Spirit
as L.M. · 1945
The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies
as Self (archive footage) · 1995
A Brave Engineer: Buster Keaton's Last Ride
as Self (Archival) · 2026
That's Entertainment! III
as (archive footage) (uncredited) · 1994
Three Ages
as The Boy · 1923
Hard Luck
as Suicidal Boy · 1921
The Balloonatic
as The Young Man · 1923
Pajama Party
as Chief Rotten Eagle · 1964
Bob Hope's World of Comedy
as (archive footage) · 1976
War Italian Style
as Gen. von Kassler · 1965
The Hollywood Revue of 1929
as Self / Princess Raja · 1929
Charlie Chaplin, The Genius of Liberty
as archive footage · 2020
You're My Everything
as Butler · 1949
Sidewalks of New York
as Harmon · 1931
The Frozen North
as The Bad Man · 1922
Parlor, Bedroom and Bath
as Reginald Irving · 1931
The Big Parade of Comedy
as Buster in 'The Cameraman' (archive footage) · 1964
Free and Easy
as Elmer · 1930
The Railrodder
as The Man · 1965
Go West
as Friendless · 1925
My Wife's Relations
as The Husband · 1922
New Moon
as Prisoner - 'LuLu' · 1940
Forever and a Day
as Wilkins · 1943
Sunkist Stars at Palm Springs
as Self · 1936
Pest from the West
as Sir · 1939
The Villain Still Pursued Her
as William Dalton · 1940
Lucille Ball: Finding Lucy
as Self (archive footage) · 2000
The Scribe
as Journalist · 1966
When Comedy Was King
as (archive footage) (uncredited) · 1960
Salute to Stan Laurel
as Self · 1965
So You Won't Squawk
as Eddie · 1941
Cops
as The Young Man · 1922
The Dawn of Sound: How Movies Learned to Talk
as Self (archive footage) · 2007
Hayseed Romance
as Elmer Dolittle · 1935
Character Studies
as Self (uncredited) · 1927
Going Hollywood: The '30s
as (archive footage) · 1984
Dance Crazy in Hollywood
as Self - Actor (archive footage) · 1990
She's Oil Mine
as Buster Waters, plumber · 1941
The Stolen Jools
as Policeman · 1931
Paradise for Buster
as Buster · 1952
No Time at All
as Harrison · 1958
The Boat
as The Boat Builder · 1921
It's Showtime
as Self (archive footage) · 1976
The Awakening
as The Man · 1954
The Saphead
as Bertie Van Alstyne · 1920
Hollywood Cavalcade
as Buster Keaton · 1939
The High Sign
as Our Hero · 1921
What! No Beer?
as Elmer J. Butts · 1933
Take It or Leave It
as (archive footage) (uncredited) · 1944
Hodgepodge
as Self (archive footage) · 2025
Lifetime of Comedy
as (archive footage) · 1960
Day Dreams
as The Young Man · 1922
Coney Island
as Rival / Cop with Moustache · 1917
30 Years of Fun
as (archive footage) · 1963
The Play House
as Orchestra / Minstrels / Dancers / Audience / Stagehand · 1921
Boom in the Moon
· 1946
The New March of Dimes Presents: The Scene Stealers
as Self · 1962
Hooray for Hollywood
as Self (archive footage) · 1976
College
as Ronald, The Boy · 1927
The Misadventures of Buster Keaton
as Buster · 1950
Allez Oop
as Elmer · 1934
Sergeant Deadhead
as Airman Blinken · 1965
The Passionate Plumber
as Elmer E. Tuttle · 1932
The Electric House
as Buster · 1922
That Night with You
as Sam - Short Order Cook · 1945
La Fiesta de Santa Barbara
as Self · 1935
The Blacksmith
as Blacksmith's Assistant · 1922
Bound for Glory: The General as Keaton's Cinematic Manifesto
as Self (Archival) · 2026
Life in Hollywood No. 1
as Self · 1927
The Haunted House
as Bank Clerk · 1921
Life with Buster Keaton
· 1951
The Slappiest Days of Our Lives
as (archive footage) · 1951
Ditto
as The Forgotten Man · 1937
Hidden Hollywood II: More Treasures from the 20th Century Fox Vaults
as (archive footage) · 1999
She Went to the Races
as Bellboy (uncredited) · 1945
The Sound of Laughter
as Elmer Butts · 1963
Oh, Doctor!
as Junior Holepoke · 1917
San Diego I Love You
as Bus Driver · 1944
The E-Flat Man
as Elmer · 1935
Buster Keaton Rides Again
as Self · 1965
Screen Snapshots Series 21 No. 1
as Self · 1941
The Goat
as The Goat · 1921
Langlois-Keaton à Paris
as Self · 1962
Spite Marriage
as Elmer · 1929
Speak Easily
as Professor Post · 1932
The Love Nest
as Buster Keaton · 1923
The Cook
as The Waiter (uncredited) · 1918
The Garage
as Mechanic / Fireman · 1920
Estrellados
as Canuto Cuadratin · 1930
L'Incantevole nemica
as Baker's Apprentice in Play · 1953
The Gold Ghost
as Wally · 1934
Love Nest on Wheels
as Elmer · 1937
Good Night, Nurse!
as Dr. Hampton · 1918
4 Clowns
as (archive footage) · 1970
The Butcher Boy
as Buster · 1917
Convict 13
as Golfer Turned Prisoner, Guard · 1920
The Home Owner
as The Home Owner · 1961
Li'l Abner
as Lonesome Polecat · 1940
Li'l Abner
· 1940
Hollywood Hobbies
as Self (uncredited) · 1939
Doughboys
as Elmer J. Stuyvesant, Jr. · 1930
Pardon My Berth Marks
as Elmer - Newspaper Copyboy · 1940
So Funny It Hurt: Buster Keaton & MGM
as Self (archive footage) · 2004
We’re Switching to Hollywood
as Self · 1931
The Timid Young Man
as Milton · 1935
The Three Stooges Follies
as Clarence Plunkett (archive footage) · 1974
The Adventures of Mr. Pastry
as Professor · 1958
The Voice of Hollywood
· 1930
Casanova Against His Will
as Reggie Irving · 1931
A Duel to the Death
as The First Fisherman · 1947
His Ex Marks the Spot
as Buster - the husband · 1940
The Round-Up
as Indian (uncredited) · 1920
The Rough House
as Gardener / Delivery Boy / Cop · 1917
Buster se marie
as Reggie Irving · 1931
The Triumph of Lester Snapwell
as Lester Snapwell · 1963
The Lovable Cheat
as Goulard · 1949
The Bell Boy
as Bellboy · 1918
Buster Keaton: From Silents to Shorts
as (archive footage) · 2006
Plumber in Love
as Elmer E. Tuttle · 1932
The Taming of the Snood
as Buster Keaton · 1940
The Metaphysics of Buster Keaton
as Self (archival footage) · 1970
Stunts: A Taste for Risk
as Various Roles (archive footage) · 2023
Seeing Stars
as Self · 1922
The King of the Champs-Élysées
as Buster Garner / Jim le Balafré · 1934
The Baby Cyclone
as Stunt Double (uncredited) · 1928
One Run Elmer
as Elmer · 1935
The Paleface
as Little Chief Paleface · 1922
Tars and Stripes
as Apprentice Seaman Elmer Doolittle · 1935
The Iron Mule
as Indian (uncredited) · 1925
Time Travelers: Uncovering Old LA in Keaton Comedies
as Self (archive footage) · 2020
Three on a Limb
as Elmer Brown · 1936
Neighbors
as The Boy · 1920
The Great Chase
· 1962
A Country Hero
as Vaudeville Artist · 1917
You Have to Live Somewhere
as (archive footage) · 2014
The Invader
as Leander Proudfoot · 1936
Out West
as Sheriff, Saloon Owner · 1918
God's Country
as Old Tarp / Mr. Boone · 1946
Buster Keaton: The Genius Destroyed by Hollywood
as Self · 2016
Mooching Through Georgia
as Homer Cobb · 1939
Kings of Comedy: Masters of the Silent Screen
as (archive footage) · 2007
Crazy Days
as Various (archive footage) (uncredited) · 1962
Tide of Empire
as Drunk Cowboy Thrown Out of Saloon (uncredited) · 1929
The Devil to Pay
as Diablos · 1960
Barney's Wall
as Self (archive footage) · 2019
Film
as The Man · 1965
Palooka from Paducah
as Jim Diltz · 1935
Back Stage
as Stagehand · 1919
Looking for Charlie: Or, the Day the Clown Died
as Self (archive footage) · 2016
The Hayseed
as Manager, General Store · 1919
The Hollywood Clowns
as (archive footage) · 1979
Grand Slam Opera
as Elmer Butts · 1936
The Spook Speaks
as Buster · 1940
A Reckless Romeo
as Blind Organ Grinder · 1917
Chaplin/Keaton: Duel of Legends
as (archive footage) · 2016
General Nuisance
as Peter Hedley Lamar Jr. · 1941
Nothing But Pleasure
as Clarence Plunkett · 1940
Forward, March!
· 1930
Moonshine
as Revenue Agent · 1918
Mixed Magic
as Elmer 'Happy' Butterworth · 1936
Notfilm
as Self (archive footage) · 2015
The Chemist
as Elmer Triple · 1936
There's No Business Like No Business
as Self · 1963
Blue Blazes
as Elmer · 1936
His Wedding Night
as Delivery boy · 1917
Simon Pure Beer
as Self · 1962