Ben Turpin

Ben Turpin

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Ben Turpin
Film: West side of the 1700 block of Vine Street
Comedian
Born Sept. 17, 1869 in New Orleans, LA
Died July 1, 1940 of heart disease in Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center, CA

Ben Turpin was famous for his cross-eyes and slapstick comedy in the heyday of vaudeville and silent pictures.

Turpin played with Charlie Chaplin on the screen and was the first to win roars of laughter from audiences with slapstick routines.

Turpin was one of the few stars of the silent era who saved his money. At one time he was rated a millionaire. His salary at the the height of his career, was reported about $3500 weekly.

He was signed by the old Essanay Studio in Chicago, when Bronco Billy Anderson first started his thrillers. He appeared in several with Charlie Chaplin before Chaplin came into prominence.

His career brought him West and he joined the Keystone Kops and bathing beauties made famous by Mack Sennett. Turpin appeared in scores of two-reeler comedies for Sennett and other companies and, on occasion took roles in the talkies.

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