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Roscoe Arbuckle
Actor

Roscoe Arbuckle

22 Mar 1887Born
29 Jun 1933Died
46Age at death
232Credits

Biography

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.

Read the full biography

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.

Known for

Filmography

The 80 most recent of 232 credits.

  1. 2025Wonder Dogs! Canine Stars of the Silent Era (1898-1928)Film
  2. 2020Charlie Chaplin, The Genius of LibertyFilm: archive footage
  3. 2009The Parrott ChaseFilm: (archive footage) (uncredited)
  4. 2006Buster Keaton: From Silents to ShortsFilm: (archive footage)
  5. 1995The Casting CouchFilm
  6. 1992The Chaplin PuzzleFilm: (archive footage)
  7. 1988Hollywood Scandals and TragediesFilm: (archive footage) (uncredited)
  8. 1981The Muppets Go to the MoviesFilm: Keystone Kop (archive footage) (uncredited)
  9. 1962Crazy DaysFilm: Various (archive footage) (uncredited)
  10. 1960When Comedy Was KingFilm: (archive footage) (uncredited)
  11. 1943Happy Times and Jolly MomentsFilm: (archive footage)
  12. 1933TomalioFilm: Wilbur
  13. 1933In the DoughFilm: Slim
  14. 1933Close RelationsFilm: Wilbur Wart
  15. 1933How've You Bean?Film
  16. 1933Buzzin' AroundFilm: Cornelius
  17. 1932It's a CinchFilm: Director
  18. 1932Hey, Pop!Film: Fatty
  19. 1932Niagara FallsFilm: Director
  20. 1932GigolettesFilm: Director
  21. 1932Hollywood LightsFilm: Director
  22. 1932Mother's HolidayFilm: Director
  23. 1932Hollywood LuckFilm: Director
  24. 1932Bridge WivesFilm: Director
  25. 1932Keep LaughingFilm: Director
  26. 1932Anybody's GoatFilm: Director
  27. 1932Moonlight and CactusFilm: Director
  28. 1931Smart WorkFilm: Director
  29. 1931Idle RoomersFilm: Director
  30. 1931The Tamale VendorFilm: Director
  31. 1931Once a HeroFilm: Director
  32. 1931Queenie of HollywoodFilm: Director
  33. 1931One Quiet NightFilm: Director
  34. 1931That's My MeatFilm: Director
  35. 1931Take 'em and Shake 'emFilm: Director
  36. 1931Beach PajamasFilm: Director, Writer
  37. 1931Up Pops the DukeFilm: Director
  38. 1931Honeymoon TrioFilm: Director
  39. 1931That's My LineFilm: Writer, Director
  40. 1931The Lure of HollywoodFilm: Director
  41. 1931The Back PageFilm: Director
  42. 1931Windy Riley Goes HollywoodFilm: Director
  43. 1931Crashing HollywoodFilm: Director
  44. 1931Ex-PlumberFilm: Writer, Director
  45. 1931Pete and RepeatFilm: Director
  46. 1931Marriage RowsFilm: Director
  47. 1931Three Hollywood GirlsFilm: Director
  48. 1930Up a TreeFilm: Director
  49. 1930Won by a NeckFilm: Director
  50. 1930Si Si SenorFilm: Director
  51. 1930The CuckoosFilm: Writer
  52. 1927Character StudiesFilm: Director
  53. 1927Special DeliveryFilm: Director
  54. 1927Listen LenaFilm: Fat man with strategically covered face (unconfirmed)
  55. 1927Peaceful OscarFilm: Director
  56. 1927The Red MillFilm: Director
  57. 1926One Sunday MorningFilm: Writer, Director
  58. 1926His Private LifeFilm: Writer, Director
  59. 1926Fool's LuckFilm: Director, Writer
  60. 1926Home CuredFilm: Director
  61. 1926My StarsFilm: Mailman (uncredited), Director, Writer
  62. 1925The Fighting DudeFilm: Director, Writer
  63. 1925Cleaning UpFilm: Director
  64. 1925Go WestFilm: Woman in Department Store (uncredited)
  65. 1925The MoviesFilm: Director, Writer
  66. 1925The TouristFilm: Director
  67. 1925CursesFilm: Director, Writer
  68. 1925The Iron MuleFilm: Director
  69. 1925Dynamite DoggieFilm: Writer, Director
  70. 1924LovemaniaFilm: Director
  71. 1924Stupid, but BraveFilm: Director
  72. 1924His First CarFilm: Director, Writer
  73. 1924Leap YearFilm: Stanley Piper
  74. 1923No LoafingFilm: Director
  75. 1923HollywoodFilm: Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle
  76. 1922The Fast FreightFilm: Ras Berry
  77. 1922Special DeliveryFilm: Director
  78. 1921Crazy to MarryFilm: Dr. Hobart Hupp
  79. 1921Gasoline GusFilm: Gasoline Gus
  80. 1921Traveling SalesmanFilm: Bob Blake

Biography and credits from TMDB. This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.