Fatty Arbuckle

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Born March 14, 1887 in Smith Center, Kansas. He was an illustrated song slide model, silent film actor, comedian, director and screenwriter. He was one of the most popluar stars of the 1910's. Fatty was a mentor to Charlie Chaplin. He also discovered Buster Keaton and Bob Hope.

When Fatty was born he weighed 13 pounds. Since both of his parents were slender, his father did not believe that Fatty was his child. His father named him after a politician that he despised, a Republican Senator named roscoe Conkling. He had a wonderful singing voice. At 8 years old he started to sing a theater. He sang until his mothers death, when he was 12. Then his father refused to support him, so Fatty began to work in a hotel. A professional singer overhead him singing and invited Fatty to sing at an amateur talent show. Arbuckle sang, danced and clowned around. It wasn't until he somersaulted into the orchestra pit that he won over the audience. He won that show and began a career in vaudeville.

Arbuckle's film career began with the Selig Polyscope Company in 1909. His debut was in "Ben's Kids".

He made many shorts there, then went on to open his own company.

By 1916 Arbuckle's weight and heavy drinking were causing severe health problems. An infection he had on his leg became a carbuncle and doctors thought they might have to amputate the leg. He recovered and lost 80 pounds. This is when he became addicted to morphine.

He disliked being called Fatty. He had that nickname since he was a child and it followed him through his career. Everyone was discouraged from calling him that off screen.

In 1921 he threw a party during the Labor Day Weekend. A scarlet named Virginia Rappe attended while she was ill. Her friends said she wasn't well most of the time and she had a botched abortion a day before the party. She became ill at the party and a doctor went in to see her. She refused to go to the hospital and died later. Arbuckle was arrested for raping and accidentally killing Rappe. Although a doctor said he saw no signs of rape, Arbuckle was still accused. Rumors of a coke bottle being pushed into her swirled around although it never happened. Another doctor claimed she had cancer. Some of Arbuckle's co-stars came to his aide and claimed he was a shy and chaste man and never had a problem with violence or anger. They held three trials. His films were banned and his career was ruined. He was publicily osteracized. William Randolph Hearst's paper was always at the forefront of the rumors and gossip concerning the manslaughter trials. Arbuckle was acquitted by a jury but this scandal overshadowed his legacy as a pioneering comedian.

He worked sparringly in the 20's and started directing under the name William Goodrich.

Just when his career was getting back on track, he had a heart attack and passed away in his sleep on June 29, 1933 in New York City.

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