The legendary actor of silent cinema, whose plasticity, inexhaustible fantasy and equanimity continues to inspire artists to this day.
Biography
Frank Keaton was born in 1895 in the small Kansas town of Pikwa into an acting family. Father owned a mobile theater, during the performances the actors put on vaudeville and at the same time sold the audience various patented drugs.
Keaton first appeared on stage at the age of 3, in a comedy sketch, in which he participated with his parents. According to the script, the boy had to do dangerous stunts. Participation in this show taught Buster to be careful; in the future, he was very rarely injured during the performance of risky scenes.
Keaton's family toured a lot in America and Britain, so the boy did not have the opportunity to regularly attend school. His mother taught him to write and count, if the family stayed in one of the cities for a long time, Buster was sent to study in one of the free schools.
When Buster was 21 years old, his father's alcoholism ruined the troupe's reputation, he decides to leave his father's theater and start a career in New York.
Career
Keaton's father considered cinema an unworthy occupation, and at a young age Buster shared this conviction. But when a camera fell into his hands, out of curiosity, he tried to shoot several scenes. The process inspired the young man so much that he began to look for opportunities to be involved in filmmaking professionally.
The first film with his participation, The Butcher Boy, was released in 1917. It was a silent comedy film. The actor's imperturbable face during funny reprises has become the actor's calling card. The tape was received with great interest by the public.
The most productive period of his work is the twenties, when he was free to express himself. In the thirties, after signing a contract with a large film company, due to the loss of freedom, he experienced a deep creative crisis, which he could overcome only by the forties.
In the forties, he was shot a lot, played characteristic roles most often of the second plan.
In the early 50s, a series with his participation The Buster Keaton Show was released on television, which became very popular with viewers.
In 1954 he starred in his first drama film "Awakening".
Personal life
In 1921, Keaton married Natalie Talmadge, a filming partner. Two sons were born in the marriage. After the birth of the younger, family relations deteriorated, the couple divorced in 1932.
Natalie sued her husband for most of the fortune and forbade meetings with children. Keaton was able to reconnect with his sons only after they came of age.
In 1933, he married May Scriven, a nurse whom he met while on alcohol addiction treatment. The couple divorced in 1936 after Keaton's betrayal. After the divorce, May won a significant part of the property.
In 1940, Keaton married Eleanor Norris, who is 23 years his junior.
He died in 1960 of lung cancer, continued to take part in filming until his last days.
