Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle

Birth Name:

Birth Place:

Smith Center, Kansas, United States

Profession

Actor, Director, Writer

Found work doing odd jobs in a hotel, but would sing while he worked, which drew the attention of a professional singer customer
Made his stage debut at the age of 8 with Frank Bacon's company during their stop in Santa Ana, Calif
Started a career in vaudeville after delighting a talent show audience by somersaulting into the orchestra pit to avoid the shepherd's crook coming from the wings to pull him off the stage
Was acquitted of murder charges connected to the 1921 death of model Virginia Rappe after being tried three times, but his acting career suffered because of the scandal
Starred in and directed 14 films under producer Joseph Schenck, including "The Bell Boy," "The Butcher Boy" and "Out West․"
Was a popular actor in his day and is considered one of the great pioneers of comedy
At the height of his success, he had a $2,500 Rolls-Royce with a built-in back-seat toilet
Bought the Plantation Café in Culver City and turned it into a hangout for celebrities and others that was successful until the Great Depression
Opened the Montecito Inn with his friend Charlie Chaplin
Operatic tenor Enrico Caruso encouraged him to give up comedy and become the second greatest singer in the world after hearing him sing

Fast Facts