FATTY ARBUCKLE
Name: Roscoe Conkling Arbuckle
Born: 24 March 1887 Smith Center, Kansas, U.S.
Died: 29 June 1933 New York, New York, USA
Roscoe Conkling Arbuckle, also known as Fatty Arbuckle (March 24, 1887 - June 29,
1933), was an American silent film comedian, director, and screenwriter.
Arbuckle is noted as one of the most popular actors of his era, but he is best
remembered for a heavily publicized criminal prosecution that ended his career.
Although he was acquitted by a jury with a written apology, the trial's scandal
ruined the actor, who would not appear on screen again for another 10 years.
Born in Smith Center, Kansas, to Mollie and William Goodrich Arbuckle, he had
several years of Vaudeville experience, including work at Idora Park in Oakland,
California. One of his earliest mentors was comedian Leon Errol. He began his
film career with the Selig Polyscope Company in July 1909. Arbuckle appeared
sporadically in Selig one-reelers until 1913, moved briefly to Universal
Pictures and became a star in producer-director Mack Sennett's Keystone Cops
comedies.
Arbuckle was also a talented singer. After Enrico Caruso heard him sing he urged
the comedian to "give up this nonsense you do for a living, with training you
could become the second greatest singer in the world".
On August 6, 1908 he married Araminta Estelle Durfee (1889-1975), the daughter
of Charles Warren Durfee and Flora Adkins. Durfee starred in many early comedy
films under the name Minta Durfee, often with Arbuckle.
Name: Roscoe Conkling Arbuckle
Born: 24 March 1887 Smith Center, Kansas, U.S.
Died: 29 June 1933 New York, New York, USA
Roscoe Conkling Arbuckle, also known as Fatty Arbuckle (March 24, 1887 - June 29,
1933), was an American silent film comedian, director, and screenwriter.
Arbuckle is noted as one of the most popular actors of his era, but he is best
remembered for a heavily publicized criminal prosecution that ended his career.
Although he was acquitted by a jury with a written apology, the trial's scandal
ruined the actor, who would not appear on screen again for another 10 years.
Born in Smith Center, Kansas, to Mollie and William Goodrich Arbuckle, he had
several years of Vaudeville experience, including work at Idora Park in Oakland,
California. One of his earliest mentors was comedian Leon Errol. He began his
film career with the Selig Polyscope Company in July 1909. Arbuckle appeared
sporadically in Selig one-reelers until 1913, moved briefly to Universal
Pictures and became a star in producer-director Mack Sennett's Keystone Cops
comedies.
Arbuckle was also a talented singer. After Enrico Caruso heard him sing he urged
the comedian to "give up this nonsense you do for a living, with training you
could become the second greatest singer in the world".
On August 6, 1908 he married Araminta Estelle Durfee (1889-1975), the daughter
of Charles Warren Durfee and Flora Adkins. Durfee starred in many early comedy
films under the name Minta Durfee, often with Arbuckle.