orig. Joseph Francis Keaton IV
born Oct. 4, 1895, Piqua, Kan., U.S.
died Feb. 1, 1966, Woodland Hills, Calif.
U.S. film actor and director.
He acted with his parents in vaudeville (18991917), where he developed his mastery of comic falls and subtle timing and his trademark deadpan expression. His film debut in Fatty Arbuckle's The Butcher Boy (1917) was followed by several short films (191719). As head of his own production company (192028) he directed and starred in classic silent movies such as The Navigator (1924), Sherlock, Jr. (1924), The General (1927), and Steamboat Bill, Jr. (1928). For MGM he made The Cameraman (1928), but he was denied artistic control over his films, and his career declined. He later appeared in Sunset Boulevard (1950) and Limelight (1952). From the late 1940s his comedies were gradually revived, and he is now regarded as one of the greatest silent comedy stars.