“Hello” Fatty Arbuckle – Born 24 March 1887

Roscoe Conkling “Fatty” Arbuckle (March 24, 1887 – June 29, 1933) was an American silent film actor, comedian, director, and screenwriter. He mentored Charlie Chaplin and discovered Buster Keaton and Bob Hope.

He was one of the most popular silent stars of the 1910s, and soon became one of the highest paid actors in Hollywood, signing a contract in 1921 with Paramount Pictures for an unprecedented $1 million.

In September 1921, Arbuckle attended a party at the St.FrancisHotel in San Francisco during the Labour Day weekend. Virginia Rappe became drunk and ill at the party; she died four days later at a hospital known for performing abortions. Arbuckle was accused by a well known madam of raping and accidentally killing Rappe and was subject to three trials for manslaughter. His films were subsequently banned and he was ostracised.

He was acquitted in the third trial and received a written apology from the jury. Though the ban on his films was lifted within a year, he worked irregularly. He was finally able to return to making short two-reel comedies in 1932 for Warner Brothers. He died in his sleep of a heart attack, aged 46, in 1933.