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.
Acted in 121
2020s
- 2025
Wonder Dogs! Canine Stars of the Silent Era (1898-1928)
Movie
- 2020
Charlie Chaplin, The Genius of Liberty
archive footage
2000s
- 2006
Buster Keaton: From Silents to Shorts
(archive footage)
1990s
- 1995
The Casting Couch
Movie
- 1992
The Chaplin Puzzle
(archive footage)
1980s
- 1988
Hollywood Scandals and Tragedies
(archive footage) (uncredited)
- 1981
The Muppets Go to the Movies
Keystone Kop (archive footage) (uncredited)
1960s
- 1962
Crazy Days
Various (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 1960
When Comedy Was King
(archive footage) (uncredited)
1950s
- 1957
Los ojos del siglo (Volumen I)
Él mismo (material de archivo)
1940s
- 1943
Happy Times and Jolly Moments
(archive footage)
1930s
- 1933
Tomalio
Wilbur
In the Dough
Slim
Close Relations
Wilbur Wart
How've You Bean?
Movie
Buzzin' Around
Cornelius
- 1932
Hey, Pop!
Fatty
1920s
- 1926
My Stars
Mailman (uncredited)
- 1925
- 1924
Leap Year
Stanley Piper
- 1923
Hollywood
Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle
- 1922
The Fast Freight
Ras Berry
- 1921
Crazy to Marry
Dr. Hobart Hupp
Gasoline Gus
Gasoline Gus
Traveling Salesman
Bob Blake
The Dollar-a-Year Man
Franklin Pinney
Brewster's Millions
Monte Brewster
- 1920
The Life of the Party
Algernon Leary (as Roscoe Arbuckle)
The Round-Up
Slim Hoover
The Garage
Mechanic / Fireman
1910s
- 1919
The Hayseed
Mailman
Back Stage
Stagehand
A Desert Hero
The Sheriff, the Desert Hero
Love
Fatty
Camping Out
Movie
- 1918
The Sheriff
Cook
Moonshine
Revenue Agent
The Bell Boy
Bellboy, barber
Out West
Train Rider, Bartender
- 1917
A Country Hero
Village Blacksmith
Coney Island
Fatty
Oh, Doctor!
Dr. Fatty Holepoke
The Late Lamented
Cameo Appearance (unconfirmed)
His Wedding Night
Gas station employee
The Rough House
Mr. Rough
A Reckless Romeo
The Husband
The Butcher Boy
Fatty / Saccharine
- 1916
A Creampuff Romance
Fatty
The Waiters' Ball
The Cook
The Other Man
Fatty the Tramp (dual role)
His Wife's Mistake
The Janitor
Bright Lights
Fatty
He Did and He Didn’t
The Doctor
Fatty and Mabel Adrift
Fatty
- 1915
Fatty and the Broadway Stars
Fatty - Studio Janitor
A Village Scandal
Eddie - the Country Boy
Fickle Fatty's Fall
Fatty
Fatty's Tintype Tangle
Fatty
Fatty’s Plucky Pup
Fatty
The Little Teacher
Fat Unruly Student
Miss Fatty's Seaside Lovers
Finnegan's Daughter
Mabel’s Wilful Way
Fatty
Wished on Mabel
Fatty
When Love Took Wings
Reckless Fatty
Fatty’s Faithful Fido
Fatty
That Little Band Of Gold
Fatty - the Husband
Fatty’s Chance Acquaintance
Fatty
Fatty’s Reckless Fling
Fatty
Hogan's Romance Upset
Fight Spectator
Mabel and Fatty’s Married Life
Fatty
Fatty's New Role
Fatty
Fatty and Mabel at the San Diego Exposition
Fatty
Mabel, Fatty and the Law
Fatty
Fatty and Mabel’s Simple Life
Roscoe
Mabel and Fatty's Wash Day
Fatty
- 1914
Fatty and Minnie He-Haw
Fatty
Fatty's Magic Pants
Fatty
Leading Lizzie Astray
Fatty
Zip, the Dodger
Zip
Lover's Luck
Fatty
The Rounders
Mr. Fuller
The Masquerader
Film actor
Those Country Kids
Fatty
The Knockout
Pug (uncredited)
The Alarm
Movie
His Favorite Pastime
Shabby Drunk
Tango Tangles
Clarinetist
Twixt Love and Fire
The Iceman
The Water Dog
Fatty
Making a Living
Tough Guy (uncredited)
In the Clutches of the Gang
Cop
A Flirt's Mistake
Husband (uncredited)
- 1913
He Would a Hunting Go
Count Chicori
Some Nerve
The Jealous Man
A Ride for a Bride
Fatty
The Woman Haters
1st Old Tar
Fatty Joins the Force
Fatty
Fatty at San Diego
Fatty
The Speed Kings
Masher
The Fatal Taxicab
Mabel's Sweetheart
The Gypsy Queen
Fatty
Mabel's Dramatic Career
Man in Audience
Fatty's Day Off
Fatty
Mabel's New Hero
Fatty
The Riot
Cohen - Jewish Neighborhood Leader
A Noise from the Deep
Bob
Love and Rubbish
Fat Boy
Safe in Jail
Neighbor Woman
For the Love of Mabel
Suitor
Peeping Pete
Pete's Wife
A Bandit
Bully
The Waiters' Picnic
Oscar - the Waiter
The Gangsters
Cop
Alas! Poor Yorick!
Player in Female Costume
Murphy's I.O.U.
(uncredited) (unconfirmed)
- 1910
The Sanitarium
Charley Wise
1900s
- 1909
Mrs. Jones' Birthday
Movie
Ben's Kid
Fatty Carter
Directed 80
1930s
- 1932
It's a Cinch
Director
Niagara Falls
Director
Hollywood Lights
Director
Bridge Wives
Director
- 1931
Queenie of Hollywood
Director
That's My Line
Director
The Lure of Hollywood
Director
Windy Riley Goes Hollywood
Director
Ex-Plumber
Director
Three Hollywood Girls
Director
1920s
- 1927
Special Delivery
Director
The Red Mill
Director
- 1926
His Private Life
Director
Fool's Luck
Director
Home Cured
Director
My Stars
Director
- 1925
The Fighting Dude
Director
Cleaning Up
Director
The Movies
Director
The Tourist
Director
Curses
Director
The Iron Mule
Director
Dynamite Doggie
Director
- 1924
Lovemania
Director
Stupid, but Brave
Director
His First Car
Director
- 1920
The Garage
Director
1910s
- 1919
The Hayseed
Director
Back Stage
Director
A Desert Hero
Director
Love
Director
Camping Out
Director
- 1918
The Sheriff
Director
Moonshine
Director
The Bell Boy
Director
Out West
Director
- 1917
A Country Hero
Director
Coney Island
Director
Oh, Doctor!
Director
His Wedding Night
Director
The Rough House
Director
A Reckless Romeo
Director
The Butcher Boy
Director
- 1916
A Creampuff Romance
Director
The Waiters' Ball
Director
His Wife's Mistake
Director
Bright Lights
Director
He Did and He Didn’t
Director
Fatty and Mabel Adrift
Director
- 1915
Fatty and the Broadway Stars
Director
A Village Scandal
Director
Fickle Fatty's Fall
Director
Fatty's Tintype Tangle
Director
Fatty’s Plucky Pup
Director
Miss Fatty's Seaside Lovers
Director
Mabel’s Wilful Way
Director
Mabel and Fatty Viewing the World's Fair at San Francisco
Director
Wished on Mabel
Director
When Love Took Wings
Director
Fatty’s Faithful Fido
Director
That Little Band Of Gold
Director
Fatty’s Chance Acquaintance
Director
Fatty’s Reckless Fling
Director
Mabel and Fatty’s Married Life
Director
Fatty's New Role
Director
Fatty and Mabel at the San Diego Exposition
Director
Mabel, Fatty and the Law
Director
Fatty and Mabel’s Simple Life
Director
Mabel and Fatty's Wash Day
Director
- 1914
Fatty and Minnie He-Haw
Director
Fatty's Magic Pants
Director
Leading Lizzie Astray
Director
Zip, the Dodger
Director
Lover's Luck
Director
Those Country Kids
Director
The Alarm
Director
The Water Dog
Director
Wrote 28
1930s
- 1931
That's My Line
Writer
Ex-Plumber
Writer
- 1930
The Cuckoos
Writer
1920s
- 1926
His Private Life
Writer
Fool's Luck
Writer
My Stars
Writer
- 1925
The Fighting Dude
Writer
The Movies
Writer
Curses
Writer
Dynamite Doggie
Writer
- 1924
His First Car
Writer
- 1922
Day Dreams
Story
1910s
- 1919
A Desert Hero
Writer
Camping Out
Writer
- 1918
The Sheriff
Writer
Moonshine
Screenplay, Story
The Bell Boy
Screenplay, Story
Out West
Writer
- 1917
A Country Hero
Story
Coney Island
Story
His Wedding Night
Story
The Rough House
Story
A Reckless Romeo
Story
The Butcher Boy
Story
- 1916
Fatty and Mabel Adrift
Writer
- 1914
The Alarm
Writer
Appearances15
2020s
- 2026
A Brave Engineer: Buster Keaton's Last Ride
Self (Archival)
2010s
- 2015
Looking for Mabel Normand
Self (archive footage)
2000s
- 2007
Why Be Good?: Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema
Self (archive footage)
- 2004
So Funny It Hurt: Buster Keaton & MGM
Self (archive footage)
- 2003
Chaplin Today: The Gold Rush
Self (archive footage)
Murders of Hollywood
Self (archive footage)
1990s
- 1995
The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies
Self (archive footage)
1980s
- 1980
Hollywood
Self (archive footage, uncredited) · 1 episode
1960s
- 1961
Days of Thrills and Laughter
Self (archive footage)
1930s
- 1931
Stars of Yesterday
Self
1920s
- 1927
- 1921
Screen Snapshots (Series 1, No. 20)
Himself
1910s
- 1915
Mabel and Fatty Viewing the World's Fair at San Francisco
Himself
A Glimpse of the San Diego Exposition
Himself
- 1914
A Film Johnnie
Self