Buster Keaton

ActorDirectorCrewWriterProducer Oct 3 (died age 70) Piqua, Kansas, USA 1917–2026 (109 year career)

6.3 avg rating

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

Film

Sunset Boulevard

Buster Keaton

Film

The General

Johnnie Gray

Film

Sherlock Jr.

Projectionist / Sherlock, Jr.

Film

Limelight

Calvero's Partner

Film

The Cameraman

Buster

Film

One Week

The Groom

Film

It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World

Jimmy the Crook

Film

Steamboat Bill, Jr.

William 'Willie' Canfield Jr.

Filmography

Acting (209)

Movies (193)

R.E.M x Buster Keaton's Sherlock Jr

2026

as Projectionist / Sherlock, Jr.

Reel to Reel to Reel to Reel

2026

as Himself (archival footage)

Hodgepodge

2025

as Self (archive footage)

Stunts: A Taste for Risk

2023

as Various Roles (archive footage)

9.0

The Real Charlie Chaplin

2021

as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

7.5

Charlie Chaplin, The Genius of Liberty

2020

as archive footage

7.8

Time Travelers: Uncovering Old LA in Keaton Comedies

2020

as Self (archive footage)

8.0

Barney's Wall

2019

as Self (archive footage)

The Image Book

2018

as (archive footage)

6.3

Busta Keaton in COPS

2017

as The Young Man (archive footage from 'Cops')

Chaplin/Keaton: Duel of Legends

2016

as (archive footage)

9.0

Buster Keaton: The Shorts Collection 1917-1923

2016

7.0

Buster Keaton: The Genius Destroyed by Hollywood

2016

as Self

7.8

Looking for Charlie: Or, the Day the Clown Died

2016

as Self (archive footage)

Notfilm

2015

as Self (archive footage)

5.0

You Have to Live Somewhere

2014

as (archive footage)

Laurel & Hardy: Their Lives and Magic

2011

as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

7.7

The Dawn of Sound: How Movies Learned to Talk

2007

as Self (archive footage)

7.0

Kings of Comedy: Masters of the Silent Screen

2007

as (archive footage)

Buster Keaton: From Silents to Shorts

2006

as (archive footage)

So Funny It Hurt: Buster Keaton & MGM

2004

as Self (archive footage)

7.0

Arbuckle & Keaton, Volume One

2001

as Various

5.0

Arbuckle & Keaton, Volume Two

2001

as Various

5.0

Lucille Ball: Finding Lucy

2000

as Self (archive footage)

Hidden Hollywood II: More Treasures from the 20th Century Fox Vaults

1999

as (archive footage)

That's Entertainment! III

1994

as (archive footage)

7.0

Dance Crazy in Hollywood

1990

as Self - Actor (archive footage)

6.0

Going Hollywood: The '30s

1984

as (archive footage)

10.0

The Hollywood Clowns

1979

as (archive footage)

It's Showtime

1976

as Self (archive footage)

7.0

That's Entertainment, Part II

1976

as (archive footage)

6.9

Hooray for Hollywood

1976

as Self (archive footage)

The Three Stooges Follies

1974

as Clarence Plunkett (archive footage)

That's Entertainment!

1974

as (archive footage) (uncredited)

7.4

4 Clowns

1970

as (archive footage)

7.0

The Metaphysics of Buster Keaton

1970

as Self (archival footage)

The Scribe

1966

as Journalist

6.0

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

as Erronius

Sergeant Deadhead

as Airman Blinken

Beach Blanket Bingo

as Buster

Film

as The Man

War Italian Style

as Gen. von Kassler

The Railrodder

as The Man

How to Stuff a Wild Bikini

1965

as Bwana

5.2

Salute to Stan Laurel

1965

as Self

Buster Keaton Rides Again

1965

as Self

7.3

Pajama Party

1964

as Chief Rotten Eagle

4.7

The Big Parade of Comedy

1964

as Buster in 'The Cameraman' (archive footage)

6.3

It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World

as Jimmy the Crook

30 Years of Fun

as (archive footage)

There's No Business Like No Business

1963

as Self

The Triumph of Lester Snapwell

1963

as Lester Snapwell

7.0

The Sound of Laughter

1963

as Elmer Butts

2.0

Crazy Days

1962

as Various (archive footage) (uncredited)

5.8

Langlois-Keaton à Paris

as Self

The Great Chase

Simon Pure Beer

as Self

The New March of Dimes Presents: The Scene Stealers

as Self

The Home Owner

as The Home Owner

Lifetime of Comedy

as (archive footage)

The Devil to Pay

as Diablos

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

1960

as Lion Tamer

5.8

When Comedy Was King

1960

as edited from 'Cops' (archive footage)

6.7

The Adventures of Mr. Pastry

1958

as Professor

No Time at All

1958

as Harrison

Around the World in 80 Days

as Train Conductor

The Awakening

as The Man

L'Incantevole nemica

as L'apprenti boulanger dans la pièce de théâtre

Limelight

as Calvero's Partner

Paradise for Buster

as Buster

Life with Buster Keaton

1951

7.0

The Slappiest Days of Our Lives

1951

as (archive footage)

Sunset Boulevard

1950

as Buster Keaton

8.3

The Misadventures of Buster Keaton

1950

as Buster

7.0

In the Good Old Summertime

as Hickey

You're My Everything

as Butler

The Lovable Cheat

as Goulard

A Duel to the Death

as The First Fisherman

Boom in the Moon

God's Country

as Old Tarp / Mr. Boone

6.0

She Went to the Races

1945

as Bellboy (uncredited)

That's the Spirit

as L.M.

That Night with You

as Sam - Short Order Cook

Take It or Leave It

1944

as (archive footage) (uncredited)

San Diego I Love You

as Bus Driver

Forever and a Day

as Wilkins

General Nuisance

as Peter Hedley Lamar Jr.

So You Won't Squawk

as Eddie

She's Oil Mine

as Buster Waters, plumber

6.5

Screen Snapshots Series 21 No. 1

1941

as Self

The Taming of the Snood

as Buster Keaton

New Moon

as Prisoner - 'LuLu'

Li'l Abner

as Lonesome Polecat

The Villain Still Pursued Her

1940

as William Dalton

4.8

Pardon My Berth Marks

1940

as Elmer - Newspaper Copyboy

Nothing But Pleasure

as Clarence Plunkett

The Spook Speaks

as Buster

His Ex Marks the Spot

1940

as Buster - the husband

Hollywood Cavalcade

as Buster Keaton

Pest from the West

as Sir

Hollywood Hobbies

as Self (uncredited)

Mooching Through Georgia

as Homer Cobb

Jail Bait

Love Nest on Wheels

as Elmer

Ditto

as The Forgotten Man

Three on a Limb

as Elmer Brown

The Invader

as Leander Proudfoot

Sunkist Stars at Palm Springs

as Self

Grand Slam Opera

as Elmer Butts

Blue Blazes

as Elmer

Mixed Magic

as Elmer 'Happy' Butterworth

The Chemist

as Elmer Triple

The Timid Young Man

as Milton

Palooka from Paducah

as Jim Diltz

Hayseed Romance

as Elmer Dolittle

One Run Elmer

as Elmer

Tars and Stripes

as Apprentice Seaman Elmer Doolittle

4.4

La Fiesta de Santa Barbara

as Self

The E-Flat Man

as Elmer

The King of the Champs-Élysées

1934

as Buster Garner / Jim le Balafré

Allez Oop

as Elmer

The Gold Ghost

as Wally

What! No Beer?

as Elmer J. Butts

Hollywood on Parade No. A-6

1933

as Self

4.5

The Passionate Plumber

as Elmer E. Tuttle

Speak Easily

as Professor Post

Plumber in love

as Elmer E. Tuttle

We’re Switching to Hollywood

1931

as Self

4.8

Sidewalks of New York

1931

as Harmon

6.1

Parlor, Bedroom and Bath

as Reginald Irving

The Stolen Jools

as Policeman

Buster se marie

as Reggie Irving

Casanova wider Willen

1931

as Reggie Irving

4.0

The Voice of Hollywood

Free and Easy

as Elmer

Doughboys

as Elmer J. Stuyvesant, Jr.

6.0

Estrellados

1930

as Canuto Cuadratin

Forward, March!

1930

Tide of Empire

1929

as Drunk Cowboy Thrown Out of Saloon (uncredited)

5.9

Spite Marriage

1929

as Elmer

6.6

The Hollywood Revue of 1929

1929

as Self / Princess Raja

5.6

Steamboat Bill, Jr.

1928

as William 'Willie' Canfield Jr.

The Cameraman

as Buster

The Baby Cyclone

as Stunt Double (uncredited)

College

as Ronald, The Boy

Character Studies

as Self (uncredited)

Life in Hollywood No. 1

1927

as Self

The General

as Johnnie Gray

Battling Butler

as Alfred Butler

Seven Chances

as James 'Jimmie' Shannon

Go West

as Friendless

The Iron Mule

as Indian (uncredited)

5.8

Sherlock Jr.

1924

as Projectionist / Sherlock, Jr.

The Navigator

as Rollo Treadway

Our Hospitality

as William McKay

Three Ages

as The Boy

The Balloonatic

as The Young Man

The Love Nest

as Buster Keaton

The Electric House

as Buster

Seeing Stars

as Self

Cops

as The Young Man

The Frozen North

as The Bad Man

The Paleface

as Little Chief Paleface

My Wife's Relations

as The Husband

Day Dreams

as The Young Man

The Blacksmith

as Blacksmith's Assistant

The Haunted House

as Bank Clerk

The Play House

as Orchestra / Minstrels / Dancers / Audience / Stagehand

Hard Luck

as Suicidal Boy

The Goat

as The Goat

The Boat

as The Boat Builder

The High Sign

as Our Hero

The Garage

as Mechanic / Fireman

6.1

The Saphead

1920

as Bertie Van Alstyne

One Week

as The Groom

Neighbors

as The Boy

The Scarecrow

as Farmhand

Convict 13

as Golfer Turned Prisoner, Guard

6.7

The Round-Up

1920

as Indian (uncredited)

5.8

The Hayseed

1919

as Manager, General Store

Back Stage

as Stagehand

The Bell Boy

as Bellboy

Moonshine

as Revenue Agent

Out West

as Sheriff, Saloon Owner

6.0

The Cook

1918

as The Waiter (uncredited)

Good Night, Nurse!

as Dr. Hampton

Coney Island

as Rival / Cop with Moustache

Oh, Doctor!

as Junior Holepoke

A Country Hero

as Vaudeville Artist

The Rough House

as Gardener / Delivery Boy / Cop

The Butcher Boy

as Buster

A Reckless Romeo

as Blind Organ Grinder

5.4

His Wedding Night

1917

as Delivery boy

5.6

Television (16)

Legends

2006

as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

5.0

Funny Business

1992

as (archive footage)

7.0

Buster Keaton: A Hard Act to Follow

1987

as Self (archive footage)

The Hollywood Palace

as Self

Burke's Law

as Mortimer Lovely

The Greatest Show on Earth

Route 66

The Twilight Zone

as Woodrow Mulligan

The Donna Reed Show

Playhouse 90

as Harrison

The Rosemary Clooney Show

1956

as Self

Screen Director's Playhouse

as Kelsey Dutton

This Is Your Life

as Self

What's My Line?

as Self

The Colgate Comedy Hour

as Self

The Ed Sullivan Show

as Self

Crew (108)

Movies (108)

R.E.M x Buster Keaton's Sherlock Jr

2026

Director

Hitman²

2025

In Memory Of

Busta Keaton in COPS

2017

Director

The Smelly Janitor

2008

Thanks

2.0

The Buster Keaton Story

1957

Technical Advisor

4.9

In the Good Old Summertime

1949

Additional Writing

6.6

In the Good Old Summertime

Screenplay

Bathing Beauty

Creative Consultant

Quick Millions

Story

Pest from the West

Writer

Mooching Through Georgia

1939

Writer

5.9

The Jones Family in Hollywood

1939

Story

Life in Sometown, U.S.A.

Director

Hollywood Handicap

Director

Streamlined Swing

Director

Too Hot to Handle

Creative Consultant

Love Nest on Wheels

Director

Grand Slam Opera

Director

Grand Slam Opera

Writer

Blue Blazes

Director

Mixed Magic

Director

Tars and Stripes

Director

Allez Oop

Director

The Gold Ghost

Director

Speak Easily

Producer

Plumber in love

Producer

Parlor, Bedroom and Bath

1931

Producer

5.2

Buster se marie

1931

Producer

Casanova wider Willen

Producer

Free and Easy

Producer

Doughboys

Story

Spite Marriage

Director

Spite Marriage

Producer

Steamboat Bill, Jr.

Director

The Cameraman

Director

The Cameraman

Producer

College

Director

The General

Director

The General

Editor

The General

Producer

The General

Screenplay

The General

Stunts

Battling Butler

Director

Battling Butler

Producer

Seven Chances

Director

Seven Chances

Editor

Seven Chances

Producer

Go West

Director

Go West

Producer

Go West

Writer

Sherlock Jr.

Director

Sherlock Jr.

Editor

Sherlock Jr.

Producer

The Navigator

Director

The Navigator

Editor

The Navigator

Producer

Our Hospitality

Director

Our Hospitality

Producer

Our Hospitality

Stunts

Three Ages

Director

Three Ages

Producer

Three Ages

Writer

The Balloonatic

Director

The Balloonatic

Writer

The Love Nest

Director

The Love Nest

Writer

The Electric House

Director

The Electric House

Writer

Cops

Director

Cops

Editor

Cops

Writer

The Frozen North

Director

The Frozen North

Writer

The Paleface

Director

The Paleface

Writer

My Wife's Relations

Director

My Wife's Relations

Writer

Day Dreams

Director

Day Dreams

Writer

The Blacksmith

Director

The Blacksmith

Writer

The Haunted House

Director

The Haunted House

Writer

The Play House

Director

The Play House

Writer

Hard Luck

Director

Hard Luck

Writer

The Goat

Director

The Goat

Writer

The Boat

Director

The Boat

Writer

The High Sign

Director

The High Sign

Writer

The Saphead

Writer

One Week

Director

One Week

Editor

One Week

Writer

Neighbors

Director

Neighbors

Writer

The Scarecrow

Director

The Scarecrow

Editor

The Scarecrow

Writer

Convict 13

Director

Convict 13

Editor

Convict 13

Writer

Moonshine

Editor

The Rough House

Director

The Rough House

Writer