Buster Keaton (1895-1966)

Joseph Francis "Buster" Keaton was born into an Irish-American theatrical family. His father, Joseph Hallie Keaton, teamed up with Harry Houdini and had a Vaudeville show called Mohawk Indian Medicine Company. Houdini was Buster's godfather and is credited with giving Buster his name after he fell down a flight of stairs without injury. Buster became a popular and influential silent film comic actor and filmmaker. His trademark was physical comedy with a stoic, deadpan expression on his face, earning him the nickname The Great Stone Face. His innovative work as a Director of films made basic contributions to the development of the art of cinema. The General (1927) is considered an American Masterpiece. The film combined Keaton's physical comedy and love for trains.