Buster Keaton

Buster Keaton (1895–1966) was an American actor, comedian, and filmmaker celebrated for silent-film physical comedy, daring stunts, and an impassive expression known as the Great Stone Face.

The General: A 1926 silent comedy film directed by and starring Buster Keaton, set during the American Civil War. Its elaborate train sequences exemplify Keaton’s large-scale physical comedy.
Deadpan: A comic style delivered with an impassive expression or an apparently serious manner. Keaton’s unchanged face makes extraordinary events seem like ordinary obstacles.
The Three Keatons: A vaudeville act featuring Buster Keaton, his parents, and a routine built around comic physical abuse. The act trained Keaton in timing and tumbling from early childhood.
Natalie Talmadge: An American actress who appeared in Buster Keaton’s films and was his second wife. She starred opposite Keaton in several features, including Our Hospitality.
Academy Honorary Award: An Academy Award presented to honor distinguished contributions to motion pictures outside competitive categories. Keaton received one in 1960, recognizing his lasting contribution to film.
Sherlock Jr.: A 1924 silent comedy film in which a projectionist dreams himself into a movie. Its tricks with editing and screen space turn Keaton’s filmmaking into the joke.
Slapstick: Physical comedy built around exaggerated actions, mishaps, and bodily harm treated as entertainment. His stunts are a distinctive, carefully controlled form of slapstick.
Vaudeville: A popular form of variety entertainment featuring a sequence of unrelated live acts. Keaton developed his stage timing and physical skills in this performance tradition.
Eleanor Keaton: An American dancer and actress who married Buster Keaton in 1940 and worked to preserve his legacy. Her partnership with Keaton lasted through the later stages of his life and career.
AFI Life Achievement Award: A lifetime honor presented by the American Film Institute for contributions to American cinema. Keaton received the award in 1987, more than two decades after his death.

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