Hollywood’s first great scandal failed to stop silent era funnyman Roscoe ‘Fatty’ Arbuckle

WHEN Hollywood actor Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle was charged with murder of a young model in 1921, the public’s hunger for news of the scandal tainted his reputation. But while it did destroy his career, he made a brief comeback.

Actor comedian Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle (centre) with Buster Keaton (right) in Good Night, Nurse, in 1918.

THE American film industry was barely two decades old but stars were already signing contracts for millions of dollars. One of those at the top of the heap was a chubby comedy actor named Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle.

However, in 1921 the baby-faced star was faced with ruin when he was charged with the rape and murder of a young fashion model Virginia Rappe. It was Hollywood’s first great scandal; until then the actors were portrayed as all but perfect in their private lives. But this sordid affair seemed to show that they were very human after all.

Although Arbuckle was vindicated, the public’s hunger for news of the scandal tainted his reputation. But while it has been said it destroyed his career, Arbuckle did make a brief comeback.

Born 130 years ago today in Kansas, legend has it that Roscoe Conkling Arbuckle weighed 13 pounds (5.9kg) at birth. (However, some accounts say 16 pounds). His father William Goodrich Arbuckle, a farmer, was a slim man, who doubted the plump child was his. He named the boy after Roscoe Conkling, a womanising New York politician he despised.

Comedian actor Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle.

Arbuckle, nicknamed Fatty from birth, rose above the dislike of his father. In the 1990s William gave up farming and took his family to California. There Arbuckle showed a talent for singing, acting and dancing. Despite his weight he was agile and could move with grace and skill.

He made his stage debut aged eight, acting in Frank Bacon’s company. Arbuckle sought any opportunity to perform, defying his father who cut him off when he decided to pursue a show business career. By the age of 15 he was a regular on the vaudeville circuit and in 1906 was a headline theatre act. In 1908 he married actor Minta Durfee. But Arbuckle knew there was more money to be made in the fledgling film industry and, in 1908, got his first film role as an extra.

Soon he was getting enough film work to give away theatre. In 1913 he joined film producer Mack Sennett’s comedy troupe. Appearing mostly as one of the bumbling Keystone Cops, Sennett also gave Arbuckle roles alongside Charlie Chaplin and Sennett’s sometime romantic fling Mabel Normand, with whom he pioneered the “pie-in-the-face” gag.

Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle (right) in a scene from the 1914 Keystone Cops silent comedy short, In The Clutches Of The Gang, directed by George Nichols and Mack Sennett.)

He specialised in playing babyish innocents out of their depth. In 1914 Paramount signed him to a deal of $1000 and a cut of the profits but, in 1920, upped it to a three-year contract for a $1 million a year.

But he was living a life of excess and his health began to suffer. An abscess on his leg in 1916, which nearly resulted in an amputation, left him addicted to pain killers. He and his wife separated in 1921 and, despite continued professional success, other misfortunes began to befall him.

In September 1921 he burned his buttocks in an accident on a film set, but was invited from a friend to a Labour Day party at the luxurious St Francis hotel in San Francisco.

The party, with plenty of bootleg booze, was broken up when Rappe, writhing in pain from a ruptured bladder accused Arbuckle of raping her. When she died days later he was charged with murder, which was downgraded to manslaughter.

Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle on set with Harry Houdini in the 1919 film Back Stage.

Actor comedian Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle (centre) with Buster Keaton (right) in Good Night, Nurse, in 1918.

The evidence against him was thin. Rappe had made similar accusations against men before and there had been no evidence of sexual assault or violence on her body. It was known that she had already suffered from a bladder condition.

In 1922, after three trials — two with hung juries — he was acquitted of manslaughter but convicted of drinking illegal alcohol. His friends and even estranged wife Minta stuck by him. The jury also issued a statement that “a great injustice” had been done to Arbuckle.

Media baron William Hearst claimed the scandal had been great for newspaper sales and for a time the taint stuck. Film studios were not willing to take a chance on a convicted felon, but he continued as a director under the name William Goodrich (his father’s first two names). He returned to acting in 1924 and married actor Doris Deane in 1925 (they divorced in 1929).

Arbuckle married another actor Addie McPhail in 1931. His career seemed to be back on track when he signed with Warners to make a feature-length film in June 1933. But he died
of a heart attack the night after signing the contract.