DIRECTOR
Buster Keaton
Known for The Twilight Zone · What's My Line?
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…
Snapshot 2026-10-15
- Born
- Oct 3, 1895
- Died
- Feb 1, 1966
- Birthplace
- Piqua, Kansas, USA
- Known For
- Directing
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.
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Known For
Filmography
Movies
A Country HeroVaudeville Artist
1917
A Reckless RomeoBlind Organ Grinder
1917
Coney IslandRival / Cop with Moustache
1917
His Wedding NightDelivery boy
1917
Oh, Doctor!Junior Holepoke
1917
The Butcher BoyBuster
1917
The Rough HouseGardener / Delivery Boy / Cop
1917The Rough HouseWriter
1917The Rough HouseDirector
1917
Good Night, Nurse!Dr. Hampton
1918
MoonshineRevenue Agent
1918MoonshineEditor
1918
Out WestSheriff, Saloon Owner
1918
The Bell BoyBellboy
1918
The CookThe Waiter (uncredited)
1918
Back StageStagehand
1919
The HayseedManager, General Store
1919
Convict 13Golfer Turned Prisoner, Guard
1920Convict 13Director
1920Convict 13Editor
1920Convict 13Writer
1920
NeighborsThe Boy
1920NeighborsDirector
1920NeighborsWriter
1920
One WeekThe Groom
1920One WeekDirector
1920One WeekEditor
1920One WeekWriter
1920
The GarageMechanic / Fireman
1920
The Round-UpIndian (uncredited)
1920
The SapheadBertie Van Alstyne
1920The SapheadWriter
1920
The ScarecrowFarmhand
1920The ScarecrowWriter
1920The ScarecrowDirector
1920
Hard LuckSuicidal Boy
1921Hard LuckWriter
1921Hard LuckDirector
1921
The BoatThe Boat Builder
1921The BoatWriter
1921The BoatDirector
1921
The GoatThe Goat
1921The GoatWriter
1921The GoatDirector
1921
The Haunted HouseBank Clerk
1921The Haunted HouseDirector
1921The Haunted HouseWriter
1921
The High SignOur Hero
1921The High SignWriter
1921The High SignDirector
1921
The Play HouseOrchestra / Minstrels / Dancers / Audience / Stagehand
1921The Play HouseDirector
1921The Play HouseWriter
1921
CopsThe Young Man
1922CopsDirector
1922CopsWriter
1922CopsEditor
1922
Day DreamsThe Young Man
1922Day DreamsWriter
1922Day DreamsDirector
1922
My Wife's RelationsThe Husband
1922My Wife's RelationsDirector
1922My Wife's RelationsWriter
1922
Seeing StarsSelf
1922
The BlacksmithBlacksmith's Assistant
1922The BlacksmithWriter
1922The BlacksmithDirector
1922
The Electric HouseBuster
1922The Electric HouseDirector
1922The Electric HouseWriter
1922
The Frozen NorthThe Bad Man
1922The Frozen NorthWriter
1922The Frozen NorthDirector
1922
The PalefaceLittle Chief Paleface
1922The PalefaceDirector
1922The PalefaceWriter
1922
Our HospitalityWilliam McKay
1923Our HospitalityDirector
1923Our HospitalityProducer
1923Our HospitalityStunts
1923
The BalloonaticThe Young Man
1923The BalloonaticDirector
1923The BalloonaticWriter
1923
The Love NestBuster Keaton
1923The Love NestDirector
1923The Love NestWriter
1923
Three AgesThe Boy
1923Three AgesDirector
1923Three AgesWriter
1923Three AgesProducer
1923
Sherlock Jr.Projectionist / Sherlock, Jr.
1924Sherlock Jr.Director
1924Sherlock Jr.Editor
1924Sherlock Jr.Producer
1924
The NavigatorRollo Treadway
1924The NavigatorDirector
1924The NavigatorEditor
1924The NavigatorProducer
1924
Go WestFriendless
1925Go WestDirector
1925Go WestProducer
1925Go WestWriter
1925
Seven ChancesJames 'Jimmie' Shannon
1925Seven ChancesDirector
1925Seven ChancesProducer
1925Seven ChancesEditor
1925
The Iron MuleIndian (uncredited)
1925
Battling ButlerAlfred Butler
1926Battling ButlerDirector
1926Battling ButlerProducer
1926
The GeneralJohnnie Gray
1926The GeneralScreenplay
1926The GeneralEditor
1926The GeneralDirector
1926The GeneralProducer
1926The GeneralStunts
1926
Character StudiesSelf (uncredited)
1927
CollegeRonald, The Boy
1927CollegeDirector
1927
Life in Hollywood No. 1Self
1927
Steamboat Bill, Jr.Steamboat Bill Jr.
1928Steamboat Bill, Jr.Director
1928Steamboat Bill, Jr.Screenplay
1928
The Baby CycloneStunt Double (uncredited)
1928
The CameramanBuster
1928The CameramanProducer
1928
Spite MarriageElmer
1929Spite MarriageProducer
1929Spite MarriageDirector
1929
The Hollywood Revue of 1929Self / Princess Raja
1929
Tide of EmpireDrunk Cowboy Thrown Out of Saloon (uncredited)
1929
DoughboysElmer J. Stuyvesant, Jr.
1930DoughboysStory
1930
EstrelladosCanuto Cuadratin
1930
Forward, March!
1930
Free and EasyElmer
1930Free and EasyProducer
1930TV
The Voice of Hollywood
1930
Buster se marieReggie Irving
1931Buster se marieProducer
1931
Casanova Against His WillReggie Irving
1931Casanova Against His WillProducer
1931
Parlor, Bedroom and BathReginald Irving
1931Parlor, Bedroom and BathProducer
1931
Sidewalks of New YorkHarmon
1931
The Stolen JoolsPoliceman
1931
We’re Switching to HollywoodSelf
1931
Plumber in LoveElmer E. Tuttle
1932Plumber in LoveProducer
1932
Speak EasilyProfessor Post
1932Speak EasilyProducer
1932
The Passionate PlumberElmer E. Tuttle
1932
Hollywood on Parade No. A-6Self
1933
What! No Beer?Elmer J. Butts
1933
Allez OopElmer
1934Allez OopDirector
1934
The Gold GhostWally
1934The Gold GhostDirector
1934
The King of the Champs-ÉlyséesBuster Garner / Jim le Balafré
1934
Hayseed RomanceElmer Dolittle
1935
La Fiesta de Santa BarbaraSelf
1935
One Run ElmerElmer
1935
Palooka from PaducahJim Diltz
1935
Tars and StripesApprentice Seaman Elmer Doolittle
1935Tars and StripesDirector
1935
The E-Flat ManElmer
1935
The Timid Young ManMilton
1935
Blue BlazesElmer
1936Blue BlazesDirector
1936
Grand Slam OperaElmer Butts
1936Grand Slam OperaWriter
1936Grand Slam OperaDirector
1936
Mixed MagicElmer 'Happy' Butterworth
1936Mixed MagicDirector
1936
Sunkist Stars at Palm SpringsSelf
1936
The ChemistElmer Triple
1936
The InvaderLeander Proudfoot
1936
Three on a LimbElmer Brown
1936
DittoThe Forgotten Man
1937
Jail Bait
1937
Love Nest on WheelsElmer
1937Love Nest on WheelsDirector
1937
Hollywood HandicapDirector
1938
Life in Sometown, U.S.A.Director
1938
Streamlined SwingDirector
1938
Too Hot to HandleCreative Consultant
1938
Hollywood CavalcadeBuster Keaton
1939
Hollywood HobbiesSelf (uncredited)
1939
Mooching Through GeorgiaHomer Cobb
1939Mooching Through GeorgiaWriter
1939
Pest from the WestSir
1939Pest from the WestWriter
1939
Quick MillionsStory
1939
The Jones Family in HollywoodStory
1939
His Ex Marks the SpotBuster - the husband
1940
Li'l AbnerLonesome Polecat
1940Li'l Abner
1940
New MoonPrisoner - 'LuLu'
1940
Nothing But PleasureClarence Plunkett
1940
Pardon My Berth MarksElmer - Newspaper Copyboy
1940
The Spook SpeaksBuster
1940
The Taming of the SnoodBuster Keaton
1940
The Villain Still Pursued HerWilliam Dalton
1940
General NuisancePeter Hedley Lamar Jr.
1941
Screen Snapshots Series 21 No. 1Self
1941
She's Oil MineBuster Waters, plumber
1941
So You Won't SquawkEddie
1941
Forever and a DayWilkins
1943
Bathing BeautyCreative Consultant
1944
San Diego I Love YouBus Driver
1944
Take It or Leave It(archive footage) (uncredited)
1944
She Went to the RacesBellboy (uncredited)
1945
That Night with YouSam - Short Order Cook
1945
That's the SpiritL.M.
1945
Boom in the Moon
1946
God's CountryOld Tarp / Mr. Boone
1946
A Duel to the DeathThe First Fisherman
1947
In the Good Old SummertimeHickey
1949In the Good Old SummertimeAdditional Writing
1949In the Good Old SummertimeScreenplay
1949
The Lovable CheatGoulard
1949
You're My EverythingButler
1949
Sunset BoulevardBuster Keaton
1950
The Misadventures of Buster KeatonBuster
1950
Life with Buster Keaton
1951
The Slappiest Days of Our Lives(archive footage)
1951
LimelightCalvero's Partner
1952
Paradise for BusterBuster
1952
L'Incantevole nemicaBaker's Apprentice in Play
1953
The AwakeningThe Man
1954
Around the World in 80 DaysTrain Conductor
1956
The Buster Keaton StoryTechnical Advisor
1957
No Time at AllHarrison
1958
The Adventures of Mr. PastryProfessor
1958
Lifetime of Comedy(archive footage)
1960
The Adventures of Huckleberry FinnLion Tamer
1960
The Devil to PayDiablos
1960
When Comedy Was King(archive footage) (uncredited)
1960
The Home OwnerThe Home Owner
1961
Crazy DaysVarious (archive footage) (uncredited)
1962LÀ
Langlois-Keaton à ParisSelf
1962
Simon Pure BeerSelf
1962
The Great Chase
1962
The New March of Dimes Presents: The Scene StealersSelf
1962
30 Years of Fun(archive footage)
1963
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad WorldJimmy the Crook
1963
The Sound of LaughterElmer Butts
1963
The Triumph of Lester SnapwellLester Snapwell
1963
There's No Business Like No BusinessSelf
1963
Pajama PartyChief Rotten Eagle
1964
The Big Parade of ComedyBuster in 'The Cameraman' (archive footage)
1964
Beach Blanket BingoBuster
1965
Buster Keaton Rides AgainSelf
1965
FilmThe Man
1965
How to Stuff a Wild BikiniBwana
1965ST
Salute to Stan LaurelSelf
1965
Sergeant DeadheadAirman Blinken
1965
The RailrodderThe Man
1965The RailrodderDirector
1965
War Italian StyleGen. von Kassler
1965
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the ForumErronius
1966
The ScribeJournalist
1966
4 Clowns(archive footage)
1970
The Metaphysics of Buster KeatonSelf (archival footage)
1970
That's Entertainment!(archive footage) (uncredited)
1974
The Three Stooges FolliesClarence Plunkett (archive footage)
1974BH
Bob Hope's World of Comedy(archive footage)
1976
Hooray for HollywoodSelf (archive footage)
1976
It's ShowtimeSelf (archive footage)
1976
That's Entertainment, Part II(archive footage) (uncredited)
1976
The Hollywood Clowns(archive footage)
1979
Going Hollywood: The '30s(archive footage)
1984
Dance Crazy in HollywoodSelf - Actor (archive footage)
1990
That's Entertainment! III(archive footage) (uncredited)
1994
The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American MoviesSelf (archive footage)
1995
Hidden Hollywood II: More Treasures from the 20th Century Fox Vaults(archive footage)
1999LB
Lucille Ball: Finding LucySelf (archive footage)
2000
So Funny It Hurt: Buster Keaton & MGMSelf (archive footage)
2004
Buster Keaton: From Silents to Shorts(archive footage)
2006KO
Kings of Comedy: Masters of the Silent Screen(archive footage)
2007TD
The Dawn of Sound: How Movies Learned to TalkSelf (archive footage)
2007
The Smelly JanitorThanks
2008
Laurel & Hardy: Their Lives and MagicSelf (archive footage) (uncredited)
2011
You Have to Live Somewhere(archive footage)
2014
NotfilmSelf (archive footage)
2015
Buster Keaton: The Genius Destroyed by HollywoodSelf
2016
Chaplin/Keaton: Duel of Legends(archive footage)
2016
Looking for Charlie: Or, the Day the Clown DiedSelf (archive footage)
2016
The Image Book(archive footage)
2018
Barney's WallSelf (archive footage)
2019
Charlie Chaplin, The Genius of Libertyarchive footage
2020
Time Travelers: Uncovering Old LA in Keaton ComediesSelf (archive footage)
2020
The Real Charlie ChaplinSelf (archive footage) (uncredited)
2021
Stunts: A Taste for RiskVarious Roles (archive footage)
2023
HodgepodgeSelf (archive footage)
2025
A Brave Engineer: Buster Keaton's Last RideSelf (Archival)
2026BF
Bound for Glory: The General as Keaton's Cinematic ManifestoSelf (Archival)
2026Television
The Ed Sullivan ShowSelf · 6 eps
1948
The Colgate Comedy HourSelf · 1 eps
1950
What's My Line?Self · 2 eps
1950
This Is Your LifeSelf · 1 eps
1952
Screen Director's PlayhouseKelsey Dutton · 1 eps
1955
Playhouse 90Harrison · 1 eps
1956TR
The Rosemary Clooney ShowSelf · 1 eps
1956
The Donna Reed Show2 eps
1958
The Twilight ZoneWoodrow Mulligan · 1 eps
1959
Route 661 eps
1960
Burke's LawMortimer Lovely · 1 eps
1963TG
The Greatest Show on Earth1 eps
1963
The Hollywood PalaceSelf · 1 eps
1964
HollywoodSelf (archive footage) · 1 eps
1980HollywoodSelf (archive footage, uncredited) · 1 eps
1980
Buster Keaton: A Hard Act to FollowSelf (archive footage) · 3 eps
1987
Funny Business(archive footage) · 6 eps
1992
LegendsSelf (archive footage) (uncredited) · 1 eps
2006Photos
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