Chester Conklin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chester Conklin
Conklin in 1919
Born	Chester Cooper Conklin (1886-01-11)January 11, 1886 Oskaloosa, Iowa, U.S.
Died	October 11, 1971(1971-10-11) (aged 85) Van Nuys, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actor Comedian
Years active	1912–1966
Spouse(s)	Minnie V. Goodwin ​ ​ (m. 1913; div. 1933)​ Margherita Rouse ​ ​ (m. 1934; died 1937)​ Valda C. Genessee (m. 1949; ? 19??) Catherine June Ayres Gunther ​ (m. 1965)​
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Chester Cooper Conklin (born January 11, 1886 – died October 11, 1971) was a famous American comedian and actor. He started his career in early movies at Keystone Studios. There, he became one of Mack Sennett’s funny Keystone Cops. He often worked with another comedian named Mack Swain. Chester Conklin also starred in many films with Mabel Normand and was a close friend and co-star of Charlie Chaplin. He acted with Chaplin in both silent films and movies with sound.

Early Life and First Steps in Acting

Chester Conklin was born in Oskaloosa, Iowa. He was one of three children. When he was young, he won a prize for giving a speech at a local festival. A few years later, he left home and never went back.

He went to Des Moines and worked as a hotel bellhop. Then he moved to Omaha, Nebraska. His love for theater grew, and he started a career in comedy acting. In St. Louis, Missouri, he saw a show by the famous vaudeville team of Joe Weber and Lew Fields. This show inspired Conklin to create a special character. This character was based on his boss at the time, who had a strong accent and a big, bushy walrus moustache.

With this funny character, Conklin began performing in vaudeville shows. He spent several years traveling with different acting groups. He performed in vaudeville and minstrel shows. He also worked as a clown in the Al G. Barnes Wild Animal Show.

Chester Conklin's Film Career

Conklin in 1919

In 1913, Chester Conklin saw some Mack Sennett comedies. He was in Venice, California, at the time. The 27-year-old Conklin decided to try acting in movies. He went to Keystone Studios and got a job as a Keystone Kop. He earned $3 a day. Mack Sennett directed Conklin's first movie, a short comedy called Hubby's Job.

In 1914, Conklin starred with Mabel Normand in several films. These included Mabel's Strange Predicament, Mabel's New Job, Mabel's Busy Day, and Mabel at the Wheel. That same year, he appeared in Making a Living. This movie was special because it was Charlie Chaplin's very first film role. Conklin went on to make more than a dozen movies with Chaplin at Keystone. They became friends for life. Years later, Conklin acted with Chaplin in three more big movies: City Lights (1931), Modern Times (1936), and The Great Dictator (1940). During this time, Chaplin made sure Conklin had a steady job and salary.

While at Keystone, Conklin became very popular when he teamed up with the funny actor Mack Swain. They made a series of comedies together. Swain played "Ambrose" and Conklin played "Walrus," known for his big moustache. They appeared in films like The Battle of Ambrose and Walrus and Love, Speed and Thrills, both made in 1915. They acted together in twenty-six different movies.

In 1920, Conklin left Keystone Studios. He then worked for Fox Film Corporation and Famous Players–Lasky Corporation. He also had an important role in the 1924 movie Greed. In 1928, he appeared in a version of Tillie's Punctured Romance with W.C. Fields. This movie was different from the 1914 version where Conklin also appeared. Paramount Pictures later brought Conklin and Fields together for more comedy films between 1927 and 1931.

Chester Conklin successfully moved into "talkies" (movies with sound). Even though he continued acting for another thirty years, his roles became smaller. This was because he was getting older and movie tastes were changing to different kinds of comedy. He appeared in short films, including some with the Three Stooges. He played a fire chief in Flat Foot Stooges and a bartender in Dutiful But Dumb. He was also a circus butcher in Three Little Twirps and a drunken pianist in Micro-Phonies.

Conklin also appeared in movies that reminded people of the silent film era. These included Hollywood Cavalcade (1939) and The Perils of Pauline (1947). He was also part of director Preston Sturges' group of actors in the 1940s. In 1957, he appeared on the TV show To Tell The Truth wearing his Keystone Kops uniform.

Later Years and Final Role

In the 1950s, Conklin's acting career slowed down. He worked as a department-store Santa Claus to earn money. In the 1960s, he lived at the Motion Picture Country Home and Hospital. There, he met and married June Gunther in Las Vegas in 1965. He was 79 and she was 65. This was the fourth marriage for both of them. They lived in Van Nuys, California. Conklin made one last movie after that, a Western comedy called A Big Hand for the Little Lady, released in 1966.

Personal Life

Chester Conklin was married four times. His first marriage to Minnie V. Conklin ended in divorce in 1933 after 18 years. He married Margherita Rouse in 1934, but she passed away in 1937. His last marriage was to June Gunther in 1965.

Chester Conklin passed away on October 11, 1971, in California. He was 85 years old.

Legacy

Chester Conklin has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It is located at 1560 Vine Street. This star honors his important contributions to the movie industry.

Selected Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Chester Conklin para niños