Actor · Director
Buster Keaton
Born 3 October 1895 · Piqua, Kansas, USA — died 1 February 1966
Buster Keaton was an American comic actor and filmmaker, nicknamed "The Great Stone Face" for his deadpan expression. He starred in and directed inventive silent comedies built on daring physical stunts and precise visual gags. He is widely regarded as one of cinema's greatest comedians and directors.
Key films
The General (1926)On Cinespective
His Civil War train-chase comedy, now widely ranked among the greatest films of the silent era.
Sherlock Jr. (1924)On Cinespective
A inventive film about a projectionist who steps into the movie screen, showcasing his technical daring.
Steamboat Bill, Jr. (1928)
Features the famous falling-house-facade stunt; one of his last major independent silent features.
The Navigator (1924)
A big box-office hit in which he plays a pampered man adrift on a deserted ocean liner.
One Week (1920)
An early short about a newlywed couple's prefab house, showing his gag construction and directing skill.
Key awards
- 1960: Academy Honorary Award for his unique talents that brought immortal comedies to the screen
On Cinespective
Full filmography · 233
- 1917Coney Island · as Rival / Cop with MoustacheActor
- 1917The Rough HouseDirector
- 1917The Rough House · as Gardener / Delivery Boy / CopActor
- 1917The Butcher Boy · as BusterActor
- 1917His Wedding Night · as Delivery boyActor
- 1917Oh, Doctor! · as Junior HolepokeActor
- 1917A Reckless Romeo · as Blind Organ GrinderActor
- 1917A Country Hero · as Vaudeville ArtistActor
- 1918The Cook · as The Waiter (uncredited)Actor
- 1918The Bell Boy · as BellboyActor
- 1918Good Night, Nurse! · as Dr. HamptonActor
- 1918Out West · as Sheriff, Saloon OwnerActor
- 1918Moonshine · as Revenue AgentActor
- 1919Back Stage · as StagehandActor
- 1919The Hayseed · as Manager, General StoreActor
- 1920One Week · as The GroomActor
- 1920One WeekDirector
- 1920The ScarecrowDirector
- 1920The Scarecrow · as FarmhandActor
- 1920NeighborsDirector
- 1920Neighbors · as The BoyActor
- 1920Convict 13 · as Golfer Turned Prisoner, GuardActor
- 1920Convict 13Director
- 1920The Garage · as Mechanic / FiremanActor
- 1920The Saphead · as Bertie Van AlstyneActor
- 1920The Round-Up · as Indian (uncredited)Actor
- 1921The GoatDirector
- 1921The Goat · as The GoatActor
- 1921The Haunted House · as Bank ClerkActor
- 1921The Haunted HouseDirector
- 1921The Play HouseDirector
- 1921The Play House · as Orchestra / Minstrels / Dancers / Audience / StagehandActor
- 1921The High Sign · as Our HeroActor
- 1921The High SignDirector
- 1921The Boat · as The Boat BuilderActor
- 1921The BoatDirector
- 1921Hard LuckDirector
- 1921Hard Luck · as Suicidal BoyActor
- 1922Cops · as The Young ManActor
- 1922CopsDirector
- 1922The Electric House · as BusterActor
- 1922The Electric HouseDirector
- 1922The Blacksmith · as Blacksmith's AssistantActor
- 1922The BlacksmithDirector
- 1922The PalefaceDirector
- 1922The Paleface · as Little Chief PalefaceActor
- 1922My Wife's Relations · as The HusbandActor
- 1922My Wife's RelationsDirector
- 1922Day Dreams · as The Young ManActor
- 1922Day DreamsDirector
- 1922The Frozen North · as The Bad ManActor
- 1922The Frozen NorthDirector
- 1922Seeing Stars · as SelfActor
- 1923Our Hospitality · as William McKayActor
- 1923Our HospitalityDirector
- 1923Three AgesDirector
- 1923Three Ages · as The BoyActor
- 1923The BalloonaticDirector
- 1923The Balloonatic · as The Young ManActor
- 1923The Love NestDirector
- 1923The Love Nest · as Buster KeatonActor
- 1924Sherlock Jr.Director
- 1924Sherlock Jr. · as Projectionist / Sherlock, Jr.Actor
- 1924The Navigator · as Rollo TreadwayActor
- 1924The NavigatorDirector
- 1925Seven ChancesDirector
- 1925Seven Chances · as James 'Jimmie' ShannonActor
- 1925Go WestDirector
- 1925Go West · as FriendlessActor
- 1925The Iron Mule · as Indian (uncredited)Actor
- 1926The General · as Johnnie GrayActor
- 1926The GeneralDirector
- 1926Battling Butler · as Alfred ButlerActor
- 1926Battling ButlerDirector
- 1927College · as Ronald, The BoyActor
- 1927CollegeDirector
- 1927Character Studies · as Self (uncredited)Actor
- 1927Life in Hollywood No. 1 · as SelfActor
- 1928The Cameraman · as BusterActor
- 1928Steamboat Bill, Jr.Director
- 1928Steamboat Bill, Jr. · as Steamboat Bill Jr.Actor
- 1928The Baby Cyclone · as Stunt Double (uncredited)Actor
- 1929Spite MarriageDirector
- 1929Spite Marriage · as ElmerActor
- 1929The Hollywood Revue of 1929 · as Self / Princess RajaActor
- 1929Tide of Empire · as Drunk Cowboy Thrown Out of Saloon (uncredited)Actor
- 1930Free and Easy · as ElmerActor
- 1930Doughboys · as Elmer J. Stuyvesant, Jr.Actor
- 1930The Voice of HollywoodActor
- 1930Forward, March!Actor
- 1930Estrellados · as Canuto CuadratinActor
- 1931The Stolen Jools · as PolicemanActor
- 1931Parlor, Bedroom and Bath · as Reginald IrvingActor
- 1931Sidewalks of New York · as HarmonActor
- 1931We’re Switching to Hollywood · as SelfActor
- 1931Casanova Against His Will · as Reggie IrvingActor
- 1931Buster se marie · as Reggie IrvingActor
- 1932Speak Easily · as Professor PostActor
- 1932The Passionate Plumber · as Elmer E. TuttleActor
- 1932Plumber in Love · as Elmer E. TuttleActor
- 1933What! No Beer? · as Elmer J. ButtsActor
- 1933Hollywood on Parade No. A-6 · as SelfActor
- 1934Allez OopDirector
- 1934Allez Oop · as ElmerActor
- 1934The Gold Ghost · as WallyActor
- 1934The Gold GhostDirector
- 1934The King of the Champs-Élysées · as Buster Garner / Jim le BalafréActor
- 1935La Fiesta de Santa Barbara · as SelfActor
- 1935Tars and StripesDirector
- 1935Tars and Stripes · as Apprentice Seaman Elmer DoolittleActor
- 1935One Run Elmer · as ElmerActor
- 1935The E-Flat Man · as ElmerActor
- 1935Palooka from Paducah · as Jim DiltzActor
- 1935Hayseed Romance · as Elmer DolittleActor
- 1935The Timid Young Man · as MiltonActor
- 1936Grand Slam Opera · as Elmer ButtsActor
- 1936Grand Slam OperaDirector
- 1936The Chemist · as Elmer TripleActor
- 1936Blue Blazes · as ElmerActor
- 1936Mixed Magic · as Elmer 'Happy' ButterworthActor
- 1936Three on a Limb · as Elmer BrownActor
- 1936Blue BlazesDirector
- 1936Mixed MagicDirector
- 1936The Invader · as Leander ProudfootActor
- 1936Sunkist Stars at Palm Springs · as SelfActor
- 1937Jail BaitActor
- 1937Love Nest on WheelsDirector
- 1937Love Nest on Wheels · as ElmerActor
- 1937Ditto · as The Forgotten ManActor
- 1938Hollywood HandicapDirector
- 1938Streamlined SwingDirector
- 1938Life in Sometown, U.S.A.Director
- 1939Mooching Through Georgia · as Homer CobbActor
- 1939Hollywood Hobbies · as Self (uncredited)Actor
- 1939Pest from the West · as SirActor
- 1939Hollywood Cavalcade · as Buster KeatonActor
- 1940Li'l AbnerActor
- 1940The Villain Still Pursued Her · as William DaltonActor
- 1940His Ex Marks the Spot · as Buster - the husbandActor
- 1940New Moon · as Prisoner - 'LuLu'Actor
- 1940Nothing But Pleasure · as Clarence PlunkettActor
- 1940The Spook Speaks · as BusterActor
- 1940Pardon My Berth Marks · as Elmer - Newspaper CopyboyActor
- 1940The Taming of the Snood · as Buster KeatonActor
- 1941So You Won't Squawk · as EddieActor
- 1941She's Oil Mine · as Buster Waters, plumberActor
- 1941General Nuisance · as Peter Hedley Lamar Jr.Actor
- 1941Screen Snapshots Series 21 No. 1 · as SelfActor
- 1943Forever and a Day · as WilkinsActor
- 1944San Diego I Love You · as Bus DriverActor
- 1944Take It or Leave It · as (archive footage) (uncredited)Actor
- 1945She Went to the Races · as Bellboy (uncredited)Actor
- 1945That's the Spirit · as L.M.Actor
- 1945That Night with You · as Sam - Short Order CookActor
- 1946Boom in the MoonActor
- 1946God's Country · as Old Tarp / Mr. BooneActor
- 1947A Duel to the Death · as The First FishermanActor
- 1949In the Good Old Summertime · as HickeyActor
- 1949You're My Everything · as ButlerActor
- 1949The Lovable Cheat · as GoulardActor
- 1950Sunset Boulevard · as Buster KeatonActor
- 1950The Misadventures of Buster Keaton · as BusterActor
- 1951Life with Buster KeatonActor
- 1951The Slappiest Days of Our Lives · as (archive footage)Actor
- 1952Limelight · as Calvero's PartnerActor
- 1952Paradise for Buster · as BusterActor
- 1953L'Incantevole nemica · as Baker's Apprentice in PlayActor
- 1954The Awakening · as The ManActor
- 1956Around the World in 80 Days · as Train ConductorActor
- 1958No Time at All · as HarrisonActor
- 1958The Adventures of Mr. Pastry · as ProfessorActor
- 1960The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn · as Lion TamerActor
- 1960When Comedy Was King · as (archive footage) (uncredited)Actor
- 1960Lifetime of Comedy · as (archive footage)Actor
- 1960The Devil to Pay · as DiablosActor
- 1961The Home Owner · as The Home OwnerActor
- 1962The Great ChaseActor
- 1962Crazy Days · as Various (archive footage) (uncredited)Actor
- 1962Simon Pure Beer · as SelfActor
- 1962The New March of Dimes Presents: The Scene Stealers · as SelfActor
- 1962Langlois-Keaton à Paris · as SelfActor
- 1963It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World · as Jimmy the CrookActor
- 196330 Years of Fun · as (archive footage)Actor
- 1963The Triumph of Lester Snapwell · as Lester SnapwellActor
- 1963The Sound of Laughter · as Elmer ButtsActor
- 1963There's No Business Like No Business · as SelfActor
- 1964Pajama Party · as Chief Rotten EagleActor
- 1964The Big Parade of Comedy · as Buster in 'The Cameraman' (archive footage)Actor
- 1965Film · as The ManActor
- 1965The RailrodderDirector
- 1965The Railrodder · as The ManActor
- 1965Beach Blanket Bingo · as BusterActor
- 1965How to Stuff a Wild Bikini · as BwanaActor
- 1965Buster Keaton Rides Again · as SelfActor
- 1965War Italian Style · as Gen. von KasslerActor
- 1965Sergeant Deadhead · as Airman BlinkenActor
- 1965Salute to Stan Laurel · as SelfActor
- 1966A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum · as ErroniusActor
- 1966The Scribe · as JournalistActor
- 19704 Clowns · as (archive footage)Actor
- 1970The Metaphysics of Buster Keaton · as Self (archival footage)Actor
- 1974That's Entertainment! · as (archive footage) (uncredited)Actor
- 1974The Three Stooges Follies · as Clarence Plunkett (archive footage)Actor
- 1976That's Entertainment, Part II · as (archive footage) (uncredited)Actor
- 1976It's Showtime · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 1976Hooray for Hollywood · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 1976Bob Hope's World of Comedy · as (archive footage)Actor
- 1979The Hollywood Clowns · as (archive footage)Actor
- 1984Going Hollywood: The '30s · as (archive footage)Actor
- 1990Dance Crazy in Hollywood · as Self - Actor (archive footage)Actor
- 1994That's Entertainment! III · as (archive footage) (uncredited)Actor
- 1995The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 1999Hidden Hollywood II: More Treasures from the 20th Century Fox Vaults · as (archive footage)Actor
- 2000Lucille Ball: Finding Lucy · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2004So Funny It Hurt: Buster Keaton & MGM · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2006Buster Keaton: From Silents to Shorts · as (archive footage)Actor
- 2007The Dawn of Sound: How Movies Learned to Talk · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2007Kings of Comedy: Masters of the Silent Screen · as (archive footage)Actor
- 2011Laurel & Hardy: Their Lives and Magic · as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)Actor
- 2014You Have to Live Somewhere · as (archive footage)Actor
- 2015Notfilm · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2016Buster Keaton: The Genius Destroyed by Hollywood · as SelfActor
- 2016Chaplin/Keaton: Duel of Legends · as (archive footage)Actor
- 2016Looking for Charlie: Or, the Day the Clown Died · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2018The Image Book · as (archive footage)Actor
- 2019Barney's Wall · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2020Charlie Chaplin, The Genius of Liberty · as archive footageActor
- 2020Time Travelers: Uncovering Old LA in Keaton Comedies · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2021The Real Charlie Chaplin · as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)Actor
- 2023Stunts: A Taste for Risk · as Various Roles (archive footage)Actor
- 2025Hodgepodge · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2026Bound for Glory: The General as Keaton's Cinematic Manifesto · as Self (Archival)Actor
- 2026A Brave Engineer: Buster Keaton's Last Ride · as Self (Archival)Actor
Filmography data from TMDB. The profile text is a draft written for Cinespective.