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Joe Roberts
Joe Roberts and Buster Keaton in "Our Hospitality" (1923).
Silent Hall of Fame is looking for contributors to create an original biography for this star.
Joe Roberts (February 2, 1871 – October 28, 1923) was an American comic actor, who appeared in 16 of Buster Keaton's 19 silent short films in 1920-1922, as well as in Buster Keaton's first two feature films "Three Ages" and "Our Hospitality" (both 1923).
"Big Joe" Roberts, as he was known in vaudeville, toured the country with his first wife, Lillian Stuart Roberts as part of a rowdy act known as Roberts, Hays, and Roberts. Their signature routine was called "The Cowboy, the Swell and the Lady." At this time, in the first decade of the twentieth century, Buster Keaton's father, Joe Keaton, had started a summer Actors' Colony for vaudevillians between Lake Michigan and Muskegon Lake in Michigan. Roberts became acquainted with the Keaton family as a member of this community.
When Buster Keaton's film apprenticeship years with Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle came to an end, and Keaton began making his own shorts in 1920, he asked Roberts to join him. Roberts' hefty 6'3" frame, usually playing a menacing heavy or authority figure, made a striking and amusing contrast to the thin, 5'6" Keaton.
When Keaton began making feature films in 1923, he apparently intended to continue working with Roberts. Roberts had roles in Keaton's Three Ages, and Our Hospitality (both 1923). During the filming of the second feature, Roberts had a stroke but insisted on returning to the set to finish the film. After completion, Roberts suffered another stroke and died shortly afterwards.
From Wikipedia
Click to enlarge: Joe Roberts Buster-Keaton-and-Joe-Roberts-and-Virginia-Fox-in-The-Electric-House-1922-04.jpg Buster Keaton, Joe Roberts and Virginia Fox in "The Electric House" (1922). Joe-Roberts-and-Buster-Keaton-in-The-Love-Nest-1922-07.jpg Joe Roberts and Buster Keaton in "The Love Nest" (1922). Joe-Roberts-in-The-Primitive-Lover-1922-17.jpg Joe Roberts shares a table with his ranch hand in "The Primitive Lover" (1922). Joe-Roberts-in-The-Primitive-Lover-1922-18.jpg Joe Roberts scrutinizes his pancake as Constance Talmadge looks insecure in "The Primitive Lover" (1922). Joe-Roberts-in-The-Primitive-Lover-1922-20.jpg Joe Roberts puts a pancake on his chest and says 'Shoot! This pancake is bullet-proof" in "The Primitive Lover" (1922). Joe-Roberts-and-Mary-Pickford-in-Little-Lord-Fauntleroy-1921-000.jpg Joe Roberts and Mary Pickford in "Little Lord Fauntleroy" (1921). Joe-Roberts-in-Little-Lord-Fauntleroy-1921-10.jpg Joe Roberts is Buzz Saw Brannigan, an ex-champion and the idol of the neighborhood in "Little Lord Fauntleroy" (1921). Joe-Roberts-in-The-Misfit-1924-07.jpg Joe Roberts is the Drill Sergeant in charge in "The Misfit" (1924). Joe-Roberts-in-The-Misfit-1924-15.jpg Another sergeant asks Joe Roberts for a guard in "The Misfit" (1924). Joe-Roberts-and-Buster-Keaton-in-Convict-13-1920-00.jpg Joe Roberts and Buster Keaton in "Convict 13" (1920). Joe-Roberts-in-Convict-13-1920-39.jpg Joe Roberts in "Convict 13" (1920). http://silent-hall-of-fame.org/images/StarPictures/Joe-Roberts/Joe-Roberts-in-Convict-13-1920-39.jpg Joe-Roberts-in-Daydreams-1922-sp.jpg Joe Roberts delivers a speech in front of the adoring crowds in "Day Dreams" (1922). http://silent-hall-of-fame.org/images/StarPictures/Joe-Roberts/Joe-Roberts-in-Daydreams-1922-sp.jpg Buster-Keaton-and-Joe-Roberts-in-Daydreams-1922-001.jpg Joe Roberts and Buster Keaton in "Day Dreams" (1922). Buster-Keaton-and-Joe-Roberts-in-Cops-1922-001.jpg Buster Keaton and Joe Roberts in "Cops" (1922). Buster-Keaton-and-Joe-Roberts-in-The-Frozen-North-1922-001.jpg Buster Keaton and Joe Roberts in "The Frozen North" (1922). Joe-Roberts-in-The-Goat-1921-7.jpg Joe Roberts in "The Goat" (1921). http://silent-hall-of-fame.org/images/StarPictures/Joe-Roberts/Joe-Roberts-in-The-Goat-1921-7.jpg Buster-Keaton-and-Joe-Roberts-in-The-Goat-1921-001.jpg Buster Keaton and Joe Roberts in "The Goat" (1921). Joe-Roberts-in-The-Paleface-1922-00.jpg Joe Roberts in "The Paleface" (1922). Buster-Keaton-and-Joe-Roberts-in-The-Paleface-1922-18jr.jpg Buster Keaton and Joe Roberts in "The Paleface" (1922). Buster-Keaton-and-Joe-Roberts-in-The-Play-House-1921-001.jpg Buster Keaton and Joe Roberts in "The Play House" (1921). Joe-Roberts-and-Buster-Keaton-in-Hard-Luck-1921-001.jpg Buster Keaton and Joe Roberts in "Hard Luck" (1921). Joe-Roberts-and-Buster-Keaton-in-One-Week-1920-001.jpg Buster Keaton and Joe Roberts in "One Week" (1920). Joe-Roberts-and-Buster-Keaton-in-The-Blacksmith-1922-001.jpg Buster Keaton and Joe Roberts in "The Blacksmith" (1922). Joe-Roberts-and-Buster-Keaton-in-The-Scarecrow-1920-001.jpg Buster Keaton and Joe Roberts in "The Scarecrow" (1920). Joe-Roberts-in-The-Scarecrow-1920-002.jpg Joe Roberts in "The Scarecrow" (1920). Buster-Keaton-and-Joe-Roberts-in-Our-Hospitality-1923-00.jpg Joe Roberts shadows Buster Keaton in "Our Hospitality" (1923). Joe-Roberts-and-Buster-Keaton-in-Our-Hospitality-1923-000.jpg Joe Roberts invites Buster Keaton to come again in "Our Hospitality" (1923). Joe-Roberts-in-Our-Hospitality-1923-001.jpg Joe Roberts in "Our Hospitality" (1923). Joe-Roberts-in-Neighbors-1920-001.jpg Joe Roberts in "Neighbors" (1920). http://silent-hall-of-fame.org/images/StarPictures/Joe-Roberts/Joe-Roberts-in-Neighbors-1920-001.jpg Joe-Roberts-in-The-Electric-House-1922-001.jpg Joe Roberts in "The Electric House" (1922). Joe-Roberts-in-The-Haunted-House-1921-001.jpg Joe Roberts in "The Haunted House" (1921). Joe-Roberts-in-The-Love-Nest-1922-001.jpg Joe Roberts in "The Love Nest" (1922). Joe-Roberts-and-Buster-Keaton-in-My-Wifes-Relations-1922-001.jpg Buster Keaton and Joe Roberts in "My Wife's Relations" (1922). Buster-Keaton-and-Joe-Roberts-in-Three-Ages-1923-002.jpg Buster Keaton and Joe Roberts in "Three Ages" (1923).
Filmography
- One Week 1920 - Free Movie
- Convict 13 1920 - Free Movie
- Neighbors 1920 - Free Movie
- The Scarecrow 1920 - Free Movie
- The Haunted House 1921 - Free Movie
- Hard Luck 1921 - Free Movie
- His Meal Ticket 1921
- The Goat 1921 - Free Movie
- Who's Who 1921
- The Devilish Romeo 1921
- Little Lord Fauntleroy 1921 - Free Movie
- The Play House 1921 - Free Movie
- The Paleface 1922 - Free Movie
- Cops 1922 - Free Movie
- The Primitive Lover 1922 - Free Movie
- My Wife's Relations 1922 - Free Movie
- The Blacksmith 1922
- The Frozen North 1922 - Free Movie
- The Electric House 1922 - Free Movie
- Day Dreams 1922 - Free Movie
- The Love Nest 1922 - Free Movie
- The Fourflusher 1923
- Three Ages 1923 - Free Movie
- Our Hospitality 1923 - Free Movie
- No Loafing 1923
- The Misfit 1924 - Hidden Gem
Joe Roberts and Mary Pickford in "Little Lord Fauntleroy" (1921)
Our Newsletter
Recent Movie Reviews
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- "Whistles And Windows" (1918) - hidden gem
- "The Scarlet Letter" (1926) - hidden gem
- "Seven Chances" (1925) - with film
- "So This is Paris" (1926) - hidden gem
- "Two Daughters of Eve" (1912) - hidden gem
- "Go West" (1925) - with film
- "Spies and Spills" (1918) - hidden gem
- "The Lesson" (1910) - hidden gem
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