Roscoe Arbuckle

Born: 1887-03-22 in Smith Center, Kansas, USA

Died: 1933-06-29

Known For: Acting

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. 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.

Filmography

2015

Looking for Mabel Normand as Self (archive footage)

2009

The Parrott Chase as (archive footage) (uncredited)

2007

Why Be Good?: Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema as Self (archive footage)

2006

Buster Keaton: From Silents to Shorts as (archive footage)

2004

So Funny It Hurt: Buster Keaton & MGM as Self (archive footage)

2003

Chaplin Today: The Gold Rush as Self (archive footage)
Murders of Hollywood as Self (archive footage)

1995

The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies as Self (archive footage)
The Casting Couch

1992

The Chaplin Puzzle as (archive footage)

1988

Hollywood Scandals and Tragedies as (archive footage) (uncredited)

1981

The Muppets Go to the Movies as Keystone Kop (archive footage) (uncredited)

1980

Hollywood as Self (archive footage, uncredited)

1962

Crazy Days as Various (archive footage) (uncredited)

1961

Days of Thrills and Laughter as Self (archive footage)

1960

When Comedy Was King as (archive footage) (uncredited)

1943

Happy Times and Jolly Moments as (archive footage)

1933

Tomalio as Wilbur
In the Dough as Slim
How've You Bean?
Close Relations as Wilbur Wart
Buzzin' Around as Cornelius

1932

Bridge Wives ... (Director)
Hollywood Luck ... (Director)
It's a Cinch ... (Director)
Keep Laughing ... (Director)
Mother's Holiday ... (Director)
Hollywood Lights ... (Director)
Moonlight and Cactus ... (Director)
Anybody's Goat ... (Director)
Gigolettes ... (Director)
Hey, Pop! as Fatty
Niagara Falls ... (Director)

1931

Idle Roomers ... (Director)
Marriage Rows ... (Director)
Up Pops the Duke ... (Director)
That's My Meat ... (Director)
That's My Line ... (Writer)
Smart Work ... (Director)
Take 'em and Shake 'em ... (Director)
Queenie of Hollywood ... (Director)
Once a Hero ... (Director)
Pete and Repeat ... (Director)
Windy Riley Goes Hollywood ... (Director)
The Lure of Hollywood ... (Director)
Three Hollywood Girls ... (Director)
The Back Page ... (Director)
The Tamale Vendor ... (Director)
Crashing Hollywood ... (Director)
Stars of Yesterday as Self
Honeymoon Trio ... (Director)
Beach Pajamas ... (Writer)
Ex-Plumber ... (Director)
One Quiet Night ... (Director)

1930

Won by a Neck ... (Director)
Si Si Senor ... (Director)
The Cuckoos ... (Writer)
Up a Tree ... (Director)

1927

Listen Lena as Fat man with strategically covered face (unconfirmed)
Character Studies as Self (uncredited)
Special Delivery ... (Director)
Peaceful Oscar ... (Director)
The Red Mill ... (Director)

1926

Home Cured ... (Director)
My Stars as Mailman (uncredited)
One Sunday Morning ... (Writer)
Fool's Luck ... (Director)
His Private Life ... (Writer)

1925

The Movies ... (Director)
Go West as Woman in Department Store (uncredited)
Dynamite Doggie ... (Writer)
The Tourist ... (Director)
Cleaning Up ... (Director)
Curses ... (Director)
The Fighting Dude ... (Director)
The Iron Mule ... (Director)

1924

Lovemania ... (Director)
His First Car ... (Director)
Leap Year as Stanley Piper
Stupid, but Brave ... (Director)

1923

No Loafing ... (Director)
Hollywood as Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle

1922

Day Dreams ... (Story)
Special Delivery ... (Director)
The Fast Freight as Ras Berry

1921

Screen Snapshots (Series 1, No. 20) as Himself
Gasoline Gus as Gasoline Gus
The Dollar-a-Year Man as Franklin Pinney
Crazy to Marry as Dr. Hobart Hupp
Brewster's Millions as Monte Brewster
Traveling Salesman as Bob Blake

1920

The Life of the Party as Algernon Leary (as Roscoe Arbuckle)
The Round-Up as Slim Hoover
The Garage as Mechanic / Fireman

1919

Love as Fatty
A Desert Hero as The Sheriff, the Desert Hero
The Hayseed as Mailman
Back Stage as Stagehand
The Pullman Porter
Camping Out
The Bank Clerk

1918

The Cook as The Chef
Good Night, Nurse! as Fatty
Out West as Train Rider, Bartender
The Bell Boy as Bellboy, barber
Moonshine as Revenue Agent
A Scrap of Paper as Fatty
The Sheriff as Cook

1917

Oh, Doctor! as Dr. Fatty Holepoke
The Butcher Boy as Fatty / Saccharine
Coney Island as Fatty
His Wedding Night as Gas station employee
The Rough House as Mr. Rough
The Late Lamented as Cameo Appearance (unconfirmed)
A Country Hero as Village Blacksmith
A Reckless Romeo as The Husband

1916

Bright Lights as Fatty
His Wife's Mistake as The Janitor
He Did and He Didn’t as The Doctor
Fatty and Mabel Adrift as Fatty
The Waiters' Ball as The Cook
A Creampuff Romance as Fatty
The Other Man as Fatty the Tramp (dual role)

1915

Fatty’s Plucky Pup as Fatty
Fatty’s Faithful Fido as Fatty
That Little Band Of Gold as Fatty - the Husband
Hogan's Romance Upset as Fight Spectator
Fatty's Tintype Tangle as Fatty
Mabel and Fatty's Wash Day as Fatty
When Love Took Wings as Reckless Fatty
Fatty’s Reckless Fling as Fatty
Mabel, Fatty and the Law as Fatty
A Glimpse of the San Diego Exposition as Himself
Fatty and the Broadway Stars as Fatty - Studio Janitor
Fatty's New Role as Fatty
Mabel and Fatty Viewing the World's Fair at San Francisco as Himself
Fatty’s Chance Acquaintance as Fatty
Mabel and Fatty’s Married Life as Fatty
Fatty and Mabel at the San Diego Exposition as Fatty
Fatty and Mabel’s Simple Life as Roscoe
Mabel’s Wilful Way as Fatty
Fickle Fatty's Fall as Fatty
Miss Fatty's Seaside Lovers as Finnegan's Daughter
A Village Scandal as Eddie - the Country Boy
The Little Teacher as Fat Unruly Student
Wished on Mabel as Fatty

1914

The Alarm
A Flirt's Mistake as Husband (uncredited)
The Masquerader as Film actor
Making a Living as Tough Guy (uncredited)
The Knockout as Pug (uncredited)
Barnyard Flirtations as The Cop
A Bath House Beauty as Fatty
A Film Johnnie as Self
Fatty's Magic Pants as Fatty
Fatty and Minnie He-Haw as Fatty
Those Country Kids as Fatty
Tango Tangles as Clarinetist
Fatty's Jonah Day as Fatty
The Rounders as Mr. Fuller
Rebecca's Wedding Day as Rebecca
Fatty's Wine Party as Fatty
How Old Are You?
Their Ups and Downs as Fatty
Twixt Love and Fire as The Iceman
His New Profession as Bartender Smoking Cigar
The Sky Pirate as The Heiress
A Brand New Hero as The Tramp
The Under-Sheriff as The Under-Sheriff
In the Clutches of the Gang as Cop
A Rowboat Romance as (unconfirmed)
Where Hazel Met the Villain as Fatty
Caught in a Flue as (unconfirmed)
His Favorite Pastime as Shabby Drunk
The Water Dog as Fatty
Lover's Luck as Fatty
Fatty and the Heiress as Fatty
An Incompetent Hero as Fatty
Love and Bullets as Film Actor (uncredited)
A Suspended Ordeal as The Cop
Leading Lizzie Astray as Fatty
Zip, the Dodger as Zip
A Robust Romeo as Fatty
Fatty's Debut as Fatty
Lovers' Post Office as Fatty
Fatty's Wild Night
Those Happy Days as Fatty
A Misplaced Foot as Fatty
Our Country Cousin as The Country Boy (unconfirmed)
Bombs and Bangs as The Farmer's Daughter
Fatty's Gift as Fatty
Shotguns That Kick as Fatty
Fatty's Finish as Fatty
The Sea Nymphs as Fatty
The Chicken Chaser as The Hired Man
Fatty Again as Fatty Felix
The Baggage Smasher as (unconfirmed)
A Rural Demon
That Minstrel Man as Belle

1913

Mabel's Dramatic Career as Man in Audience
His Sister's Kids as Dr. J. Jacobs
Fatty at San Diego as Fatty
A Quiet Little Wedding as Fatty
Peeping Pete as Pete's Wife
Fatty's Day Off as Fatty
Wine as The Waiter
Fatty Joins the Force as Fatty
Rastus and the Game Cock as Spectator
A Noise from the Deep as Bob
A Small Time Act as Theatre Owner
When Dreams Come True as The Man
Mabel's New Hero as Fatty
Safe in Jail as Neighbor Woman
A Ride for a Bride as Fatty
Passions, He Had Three as Henry
Murphy's I.O.U. as (uncredited) (unconfirmed)
Alas! Poor Yorick! as Player in Female Costume
Two Old Tars as First Old Tar
He Would a Hunting Go as Count Chicori
Love and Rubbish as Fat Boy
The Woman Haters as 1st Old Tar
The Milk We Drink as The Dairy Farmer
For the Love of Mabel as Suitor
Professor Bean's Removal as Man with Moustache
The Riot as Cohen - Jewish Neighborhood Leader
Fatty's Flirtation as Fatty
The Speed Kings as Masher
The Gangsters as Cop
The Gypsy Queen as Fatty
The Waiters' Picnic as Oscar - the Waiter
Almost a Rescue as Jimmie
The Fatal Taxicab as Mabel's Sweetheart
Some Nerve as The Jealous Man
The Telltale Light as Tom aka Fatty
A Bandit as Bully
Mother's Boy as Mother's Boy
Help! Help! Hydrophobia! as Jim Brown
Love and Courage as The Country Boy