Roscoe Arbuckle
Roscoe Arbuckle (March 24, 1887 - June 29, 1933), widely known to audiences as “Fatty” Arbuckle, was an American silent film actor, comedian, director, and screenwriter. He started at the Selig Polyscope Company and eventually moved to Keystone Studios, where he worked with Mabel Normand and Harold Lloyd as well as with his nephew, Al St. John. He also mentored Charlie Chaplin, Monty Banks and Bob Hope, and brought vaudeville star Buster Keaton into the movie business. Arbuckle was one of the most popular silent stars of the 1910s and one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood at the time.
In one of the earliest Hollywood scandals, Arbuckle was the defendant in three widely publicized trials between November 1921 and April 1922 for the rape and manslaughter of actress Virginia Rappe. Rappe had fallen ill at a party hosted by Arbuckle at San Francisco's St. Francis Hotel in September 1921, and died four days later. A friend of Rappe accused Arbuckle of raping and accidentally killing her. The first two trials resulted in hung juries, but the third acquitted Arbuckle. The third jury took the unusual step of giving Arbuckle a written statement of apology for his treatment by the justice system. Despite Arbuckle's acquittal, the scandal largely halted his career and has mostly overshadowed his legacy as a pioneering comedian.
Acting
Movie
Go West
as Woman in Department Store (uncredited)
1925
Movie
Making a Living
as Tough Guy (uncredited)
1914
Movie
The Cook
as The Chef
1918
Movie
A Film Johnnie
as Self
1914
Movie
The Masquerader
as Film actor
1914
Movie
Coney Island
as Fatty
1917
Movie
The Rough House
as Mr. Rough
1917
Movie
The Butcher Boy
as Fatty / Saccharine
1917
Movie
The Rounders
as Mr. Fuller
1914
Movie
The Garage
as Mechanic / Fireman
1920
Movie
His Wedding Night
as Gas station employee
1917
Movie
His New Profession
as Bartender Smoking Cigar
1914
Movie
Tango Tangles
as Clarinetist
1914
Movie
The Bell Boy
as Bellboy, barber
1918
Movie
Out West
as Train Rider, Bartender
1918
Movie
Good Night, Nurse!
as Fatty
1918
Movie
Oh, Doctor!
as Dr. Fatty Holepoke
1917
Movie
The Knockout
as Pug (uncredited)
1914
Movie
Back Stage
as Stagehand
1919
Movie
His Favorite Pastime
as Shabby Drunk
1914
Movie
Moonshine
as Revenue Agent
1918
Movie
The Hayseed
as Mailman
1919
Movie
Fatty's Tintype Tangle
as Fatty
1915
Movie
Leap Year
as Stanley Piper
1924
Crew
Movie
Day Dreams
Story
1922
Movie
The Cook
Director
1918
Movie
Coney Island
Director
1917
Movie
The Rough House
Director
1917
Movie
The Butcher Boy
Director
1917
Movie
The Garage
Director
1920
Movie
His Wedding Night
Director
1917
Movie
The Bell Boy
Director
1918
Movie
Out West
Director
1918
Movie
Good Night, Nurse!
Director
1918
Movie
Oh, Doctor!
Director
1917
Movie
Back Stage
Director
1919