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Buster Keaton
January 2002 additions in RED
He was old school. You might think me stupid, but he was one of those silent film actors that sort of blurred in to the rest of them, to me. Harold Lloyd etc. I do remember him turning up in Beach Blanket Bingo, with my all time fave, Annette Funicello. Don’t you dare say a bad word about my girl.
He had been happily married to Eleanor Norris, who was considerably younger than him. He was once married to Natalie Talmadge, sister of the famous ones, and they had two sons together.
At the end of his life, Buster lived in Woodland Hills, Ca, on
Sylvan Street. His house was located at 22612. Here is another (with the mailbox), and last but not least, if Buster Keaton had lived, these would be his garbage cans. Big findadeath.com thanks to Steve Goldstein for the photographs.He was diagnosed with lung cancer in November of 1965.
On February first, 1966 at 6:15am, Buster succumbed to lung cancer in his home. He was 70 years old.
He is buried in Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills. Findadeath.com friend Rebecca Mennel managed to dig up the fact that Dick Van Dyke gave the eulogy at the funeral.
Trivia: Buster was mates with Mr. Bottle head, Fatty Arbuckle.
More: Buster was so nicknamed by Harry Houdini, who was also his god father (thanks Beca)
Findadeath.com friend Clint Ford sends this in:
Just wanted to make an addition to your great mention of Buster Keaton. I'm almost positive his very last movie was in the 1966 Zero Mostel movie, "A
Funny Thing Happened On The Way To the Forum". His part was small... he played Erronius, the "running father". I believe it was less than a month
after filming his parts in this movie that he passed away.
Also-- about getting the nickname "Buster" from Harry Houdini. I've heard this on a documentary somewhere. When Houdini visited the Keaton household
in 1896, he witnessed a 6-month-old baby crawl frantically towards the stairs, and before anyone could reach him-- Baby Keaton hurled himself down
the entire flight, allegedly "laughing all the way". When he landed, he looked up at his stunned mother, father, and Godfather Harry (who were still
standing atop the stairs), and laughed out loud.
Harry responded, "Well, looks like he enjoys getting busted around a bit... don't ya, Buster?"
The name stuck.
Findadeath.com friend Kevin Hassell sends this
in: I remember seeing Buster Keaton appear on an episode of Lucille Ball's second
series (Here's Lucy)? I forget the title. I saw it a while ago, and remembered it when I saw his entry. I think it was one of his
last appearances, next to Beach Blanket Bingo. Just thought you'd like to know! Cheers!
Great stuff, Kevin. Thanks.
UPDATE January 2003, from Findadeath friend Madeleine Partous of Montreal:
Great stuff, Madeleine, thanks!
This just in,February 2003, from Findadeath friend Wayne Hughes:
The nickname "Buster" has been attributed to Harry Houdini, who was indeed friends of the family and Buster's godfather.However it is only a myth, the truth can been found in Marion Meade's book cut to the chase. A friend of the family, George Pardy ( a vaudville comedien), watched Buster fall down a flight of stairs and exclaimed, "Gee whiz he's a regular Buster". Buster's father identifies him in 1903, for the New York Dramatic Mirror. Buster changed the story for his autobiography to include Harry Houdini; this isn't the only time Buster has stretched the truth!
Thanks for the info, Wayne! Interesting!