Ford Sterling (born George Ford Stich Jr.; November 3, 1883 – October 13, 1939) was an American comedian and actor best known for his work with

Keystone Studios Keystone Studios was an early film studio founded in Edendale, California (which is now a part of Echo Park) on July 4, 1912 as the Keystone Pictures Studio by Mack Sennett with backing from actor-writer Adam Kessel (1866–1946) and Charl ...

. One of the 'Big 4', he was the original chief of the Keystone Cops.

Biography

Born in

La Crosse, Wisconsin La Crosse is a city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of La Crosse County. Positioned alongside the Mississippi River, La Crosse is the largest city on Wisconsin's western border. La Crosse's population as of the 2020 census wa ...

, he began his career in

silent film A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, w ...

s in 1911 with

Biograph Studios Biograph Studios was an early film studio and laboratory complex, built in 1912 by the Biograph Company at 807 East 175th Street, in The Bronx, New York City, New York. History Early years The first studio of the Biograph Company, formerl ...

. When director Mack Sennett left to set up

in 1912, Sterling followed him. There, he performed various roles, such as 'Chief Teeheezel' in the Keystone Cops series of

slapstick Slapstick is a style of humor involving exaggerated physical activity that exceeds the boundaries of normal physical comedy. Slapstick may involve both intentional violence and violence by mishap, often resulting from inept use of props such ...

comedies in a successful career that spanned twenty-five years. From 1913 and throughout the 1910s, Sterling was among the most popular screen comedians in the world.

Charlie Chaplin Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin Jr. (16 April 188925 December 1977) was an English comic actor, filmmaker, and composer who rose to fame in the era of silent film. He became a worldwide icon through his screen persona, the Tramp, and is conside ...

recalled that, when joining Keystone in early 1914, he was at first dismayed to discover that he was expected to imitate Sterling. Chaplin and Sterling played together at least twice on film, in the

one-reeler A short film is any motion picture that is short enough in running time not to be considered a feature film. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences defines a short film as "an original motion picture that has a running time of 40 minutes ...

s ''

A Thief Catcher ''A Thief Catcher'' is a one-reel 1914 American comedy film, produced by Mack Sennett for his Keystone film company, directed by Ford Sterling, and starring Sterling, Mack Swain, Edgar Kennedy, and Charles Chaplin as a policeman. Cast * Ford S ...

'' and ''

Between Showers ''Between Showers'' is a 1914 short film made by Keystone Studios and directed by Henry Lehrman. It starred Charlie Chaplin, Ford Sterling, Emma Clifton, and Chester Conklin. Plot Chaplin and Sterling play two young men, Masher and Rival Mashe ...

'' (both 1914). In the 1920s, Sterling abandoned the short comedy format, instead playing supporting roles in both comedic and dramatic feature-length films, such as '' He Who Gets Slapped'' (1924) opposite

Lon Chaney Leonidas Frank "Lon" Chaney (April 1, 1883 – August 26, 1930) was an American actor. He is regarded as one of the most versatile and powerful actors of cinema, renowned for his characterizations of tortured, often grotesque and affli ...

. After talking pictures came along, Sterling returned to appearing in short comedies. Sterling was also a renowned amateur photographer, who won many prizes and at one point (in 1924) even had some of his work exhibited at the

Louvre The Louvre ( ), or the Louvre Museum ( ), is the world's most-visited museum, and an historic landmark in Paris, France. It is the home of some of the best-known works of art, including the ''Mona Lisa'' and the '' Venus de Milo''. A central ...

.White, Wendy Warwick: ''Ford Sterling - The Life and Films'' (McFarland & Company, 2007), p. 87.

Death

Making a smooth transition to talking films, Ford Sterling made the last of his more than two hundred and seventy film appearances in 1936. He died in 1939 of a

heart attack A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to the coronary artery of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which ma ...

(following long-standing

diabetes Diabetes, also known as diabetes mellitus, is a group of metabolic disorders characterized by a high blood sugar level ( hyperglycemia) over a prolonged period of time. Symptoms often include frequent urination, increased thirst and increased ...

) in

Los Angeles, California Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, largest city in the U.S. state, state of California and the List of United States cities by population, sec ...

, and is interred in the

Hollywood Forever Cemetery Hollywood Forever Cemetery is a full-service cemetery, funeral home, crematory, and cultural events center which regularly hosts community events such as live music and summer movie screenings. It is one of the oldest cemeteries in Los Angel ...

. For his contribution to the motion picture industry, Ford Sterling has a star on the

Hollywood Walk of Fame The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a historic landmark which consists of more than 2,700 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, Calif ...

at 6612 Hollywood Blvd.

Selected filmography

Marvel Rea, Ford Sterling, and Alice Maison

Still from Henry Lehrman - film Between Showers - 1914 - Keystone Film - Charley Chaplin - EYE FOT90376

* '' At Coney Island'' (1912, Short) - The Married Flirt * '' The Riot'' (1913, Short) * ''

Two Old Tars ''Two Old Tars'' is a 1913 American short comedy film featuring Fatty Arbuckle. Cast * Phyllis Allen * Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle * Nick Cogley * Charles Murray * Ford Sterling See also * List of American films of 1913 * Fatty Arbuckle filmogr ...

'' (1913, Short) * '' Fatty at San Diego'' (1913, Short) * '' Fatty's Flirtation'' (1913, Short) * '' Murphy's I.O.U.'' (1913, Short) - (uncredited) * '' His Chum the Baron'' (1913, Short) - Baron von Sneezer * ''

That Ragtime Band ''That Ragtime Band'' is a 1913 American short comedy film directed by Mack Sennett and featuring Fatty Arbuckle. Cast * Ford Sterling as Prof. Smelts * Mabel Normand as Mabel * Nick Cogley as Rival musician * Alice Davenport * Roscoe 'Fatt ...

'' (1913, Short) - Professor Smelts * '' The Foreman of the Jury'' (1913, Short) - Jones - Foreman of the Jury * '' The Gangsters'' (1913, Short) - Desk Officer * '' Barney Oldfield's Race for a Life'' (1913, Short) - The Villain * '' The Waiters' Picnic'' (1913, Short) - Louis - the Chef * ''

Peeping Pete ''Peeping Pete'' is a 1913 American short comedy film featuring Fatty Arbuckle. Cast * Phyllis Allen * Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle as Pete's wife * Charles Avery * Peggy Pearce * Nick Cogley as Sheriff * Dot Farley * Mack Sennett as Pete * Fo ...

'' (1913, Short) - Neighbor's Husband * '' A Bandit'' (1913, Short) - The Bandit * '' For the Love of Mabel'' (1913, Short) - (uncredited) * ''

Safe in Jail ''Safe in Jail'' is a 1913 American short comedy film featuring Fatty Arbuckle. Cast * Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle * Charles Avery * Edgar Kennedy * Hank Mann * Charles Murray * Ford Sterling See also * List of American films of 1913 * Fatty A ...

'' (1913, Short) - The Constable * '' Love and Courage'' (1913, Short) - (uncredited) * '' Professor Bean's Removal'' (1913, Short) - Professor Bean * '' A Game of Pool'' (1913, Short) - Schmidt * '' Mabel's Dramatic Career'' (1913, Short) - Actor / Onscreen Villain * '' The Faithful Taxicab'' (1913, Short) - Egbert Throckmorton * '' When Dreams Come True'' (1913, Short) - The Peddler * ''

The Speed Kings ''The Speed Kings'' is a 1913 American short comedy film starring Mabel Normand and featuring Fatty Arbuckle in an early role. The film is set at a race track and features footage of actual races. The story has Mabel's papa trying to prevent ...

'' (1913, Short) - Papa * '' A Ride for a Bride'' (1913) * ''

Wine Wine is an alcoholic drink typically made from Fermentation in winemaking, fermented grapes. Yeast in winemaking, Yeast consumes the sugar in the grapes and converts it to ethanol and carbon dioxide, releasing heat in the process. Different ...

'' (1913, Short) - The Diner * '' Cohen Saves the Flag'' (1913, Short) - Sgt. Cohen * ''

Some Nerve ''Some Nerve'' is a 1913 short comedy film featuring Fatty Arbuckle. Cast * Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle * Cecile Arnold * Alice Davenport * Dot Farley * Edgar Kennedy * George Nichols * Ford Sterling See also * List of American films of 1913 * ...

'' (1913, Short) - The Husband * '' A Misplaced Foot'' (1914, Short) * '' In the Clutches of the Gang'' (1914, Short) - Chief Tehiezel * '' Tango Tangles'' (1914, Short) - Band Leader * '' A Robust Romeo'' (1914, Short) * ''

'' (1914, Short) - Suspicious John * ''

'' (1914, Short) - Rival Masher * '' That Minstrel Man'' (1914) * '' The Sea Nymphs'' (1914, Short) * '' Hogan's Romance Upset'' (1915, Short) - Fight Spectator (uncredited) * ''

That Little Band of Gold ''That Little Band of Gold'' is a 1915 American short comedy film directed by Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle and starring Arbuckle, Mabel Normand, and Ford Sterling. Plot As described in a film magazine, Hubby decides to steal a night off away from ...

'' (1915, Short) - Gassy Gotrox - Tattletale * '' Court House Crooks'' (1915, Short) - The District Attorney * '' Dirty Work in a Laundry'' (1915, Short) - The Desperate Scoundrel * '' Fatty and the Broadway Stars'' (1915, Short) - Keystone Performer * ''The Now Cure'' (1916) * '' Yankee Doodle in Berlin'' (1919) - Kaiser Bill * ''

Salome vs. Shenandoah ''Salome vs. Shenandoah'' is a 1919 American silent film comedy short directed by Ray Grey, Erle C. Kenton, and Ray Hunt. It starred Ben Turpin, Charles Murray, and Phyllis Haver. It was produced by Mack Sennett and distributed by Famous Player ...

'' (1919, Short) - Ingenue Actress's Father * ''Married Life'' (1920) - Heckler at Theatre * ''

Love, Honor and Behave ''Love, Honor and Behave'' is a 1938 American drama film directed by Stanley Logan and starring Wayne Morris and Priscilla Lane. The supporting cast includes John Litel, Thomas Mitchell, Dick Foran and Dickie Moore. " Bei Mir Bist Du Sc ...

'' (1920) - Milton Robbin - Haberdasher * '' Oh, Mabel Behave'' (1922) - Squire Peachem * ''

The Strangers' Banquet ''The Strangers' Banquet'' is a 1922 American silent drama film directed by Marshall Neilan and starring Hobart Bosworth, Claire Windsor, and Rockliffe Fellowes.Connelly p. 272 It is based on the 1919 novel of the same title by Brian Oswald Donn ...

'' (1922) - Al Norton * '' The Brass Bottle'' (1923) - Rapkin * '' The Spoilers'' (1923) - 'Slapjack' Simms * ''

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywoo ...

'' (1923) - Himself * '' The Destroying Angel'' (1923) - Max Weil * ''

The Day of Faith ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the ...

'' (1923) - Montreal Sammy * ''

Wild Oranges ''Wild Oranges'' is a 1924 American silent drama film directed by King Vidor, adapted from a story by Joseph Hergesheimer. On January 12, 2010, the film had its first home video release, on the Warner Archive DVD series. Plot When John Woolf ...

'' (1924) - Paul Halvard * ''

The Galloping Fish ''The Galloping Fish'' is a 1924 American silent comedy film directed by Del Andrews and starring Louise Fazenda, Syd Chaplin, Ford Sterling, Chester Conklin, Lucille Ricksen, and John Steppling. It is based on the 1917 novel ''Friend Wife'' ...

'' (1924) - George Fitzgerald * '' The Woman on the Jury'' (1924) - Juror * ''

Love and Glory ''Love and Glory'' () is a 1983 novel by Robert B. Parker Robert Brown Parker (September 17, 1932 – January 18, 2010) was an American writer, primarily of fiction within the mystery/detective genre. His most famous works were the 40 nov ...

'' (1924) - Emile Pompaneau * '' He Who Gets Slapped'' (1924) - Tricaud * '' So Big'' (1924) - Jacob Hoogenduck * '' Daddy's Gone A-Hunting'' (1925) - Oscar * ''

My Lady's Lips ''My Lady's Lips'' (also known as ''My Ladies' Lips'') is a 1925 American silent drama film written by John F. Goodrich and directed by James P. Hogan for B.P. Schulberg and his company Preferred Pictures. The film stars Alyce Mills, and re ...

'' (1925) - Smike * ''The Three Way Trail'' (1925) * ''

The Trouble with Wives ''The Trouble with Wives'' is a 1925 American silent comedy film directed by Malcolm St. Clair, written by Sada Cowan and Howard Higgin, and starring Florence Vidor, Tom Moore, Esther Ralston, Ford Sterling, Lucy Beaumont, and Edgar Kenned ...

'' (1925) - Al Hennessey * '' Steppin' Out'' (1925) - John Durant * '' Stage Struck'' (1925) - Buck * ''

Mike Mike may refer to: Animals * Mike (cat), cat and guardian of the British Museum * Mike the Headless Chicken, chicken that lived for 18 months after his head had been cut off * Mike (chimpanzee), a chimpanzee featured in several books and document ...

'' (1926) - Tad * ''

The American Venus ''The American Venus'' is a 1926 American silent comedy film directed by Frank Tuttle, and starring Esther Ralston, Ford Sterling, Lawrence Gray, Fay Lanphier, Louise Brooks, and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. The film was based on an original story ...

'' (1926) - Hugo Niles * '' The Road to Glory'' (1926) - James Allen * '' Miss Brewster's Millions'' (1926) - Ned Brewster * ''

Good and Naughty ''Good and Naughty'' is a 1926 American silent romantic comedy film directed by Malcolm St. Clair and starring Pola Negri and Tom Moore. It was based on the play ''Naughty Cinderella'' by Henri Falk and René Peter. Released in 1926, it is a ...

'' (1926) - Bunny West * '' The Show-Off'' (1926) - Aubrey Piper * '' Everybody's Acting'' (1926) - Michael Poole * ''

Stranded in Paris Stranded may refer to: Music Albums and EPs * ''Stranded'' (album), a 1973 album by Roxy Music * ''Stranded'', a 1990 album by Tangier * ''Stranded'', a 1992 EP by Konkhra * '' (I'm) Stranded'', a 1977 album by Australian rock group The Saints ...

'' (1926) - Count Pasada * '' The Trunk Mystery'' (1926) - Jeff * '' Mantrap'' (1926) * ''

Casey at the Bat Casey at the Bat is a poem written in 1888 by Ernest Thayer. Casey at the Bat may also refer to: * ''Casey at the Bat'' (1916 film), a film based on the poem * ''Casey at the Bat'' (1927 film), a film based on the poem * ''Casey at the Bat'', a ...

'' (1927) - O'Dowd * '' Drums of the Desert'' (1927) - Perkins * '' For the Love of Mike'' (1927) - Herman Schultz * ''

Figures Don't Lie ''Figures Don't Lie'' is a 1927 American silent comedy film directed by A. Edward Sutherland and written by Ethel Doherty, Grover Jones, Louise Long, Herman J. Mankiewicz, and B. F. Zeidman. The film stars Esther Ralston, Richard Arlen, Ford ...

'' (1927) - 'Howdy' Jones * ''

Wife Savers ''Wife Savers'' is a lost 1928 American comedy silent film directed by Ralph Ceder and written by Thomas J. Geraghty, Grover Jones, George Marion Jr. and Arthur Wimperis. The film stars Wallace Beery, Raymond Hatton, ZaSu Pitts, Sally Blane ...

'' (1928) - Tavern Keeper * '' Gentlemen Prefer Blondes'' (1928) - Gus Eisman * ''

Sporting Goods Sports equipment, sporting equipment, also called sporting goods, are the tools, materials, apparel, and gear used to compete in a sport and varies depending on the sport. The equipment ranges from balls, nets, and protective gear like helmets. ...

'' (1928) - Mr. Jordan * '' Chicken a La King'' (1928) - Horace Trundle * ''

Oh, Kay! ''Oh, Kay!'' is a musical with music by George Gershwin, lyrics by Ira Gershwin, and a book by Guy Bolton and P. G. Wodehouse. It is based on the play ''La Présidente'' by Maurice Hennequin and Pierre Veber. The plot revolves around the advent ...

'' (1928) - Shorty McGee * ''

Dreary House ''Dreary House'' is a 1928 American silent drama film directed by Andrew L. Stone and starring Edith Roberts, Margaret Livingston and Ford Sterling.Munden p.202 Synopsis On the day off her marriage a young woman inherits an old mansion house ...

'' (1928) - Paul * ''

The Fall of Eve ''The Fall of Eve'' is a 1929 American comedy film directed by Frank R. Strayer, which stars Patsy Ruth Miller, Ford Sterling, and Gertrude Astor. The screenplay was written by Gladys Lehman, from a story by Anita Loos and John Emerson, and t ...

'' (1929) - Mr. Mack * ''

The Girl in the Show ''The Girl in the Show'' is a 1929 American comedy film directed by Edgar Selwyn and written by Edgar Selwyn and Joseph Farnham. The film stars Bessie Love, Raymond Hackett, Edward Nugent, Mary Doran, and Jed Prouty. The film was produced and ...

'' (1929) - Ed Bondell * '' Sally'' (1929) - 'Pops' Shendorff * '' Spring Is Here'' (1930) - Peter Braley * ''

Show Girl in Hollywood ''Showgirl in Hollywood'' is a 1930 American pre-Code all-talking musical film with Technicolor sequences, produced and distributed by First National Pictures, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. The film stars Alice White, Jack Mulhall and Blanche Sw ...

'' (1930) - Sam Otis - The Producer * ''

Bride of the Regiment ''Bride of the Regiment'' is a 1930 American Pre-Code musical film directed by John Francis Dillon and filmed entirely in Technicolor. The screenplay by Ray Harris and Humphrey Pearson is based on the book of the 1922 stage musical ''The Lady ...

'' (1930) - Tangy - Silhouette Cutter * '' Kismet'' (1930) - Amru * ''

Her Majesty, Love ''Her Majesty, Love'' is a 1931 American pre-Code musical comedy drama film directed by William Dieterle for First National Pictures, starring Broadway stars Marilyn Miller and Ben Lyon, and in his talking feature debut, W. C. Fields. It is ...

'' (1931) - Otmar * ''Playthings of Desire'' (1933) - Bromwell Jones * ''

Alice in Wonderland ''Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'' (commonly ''Alice in Wonderland'') is an 1865 English novel by Lewis Carroll. It details the story of a young girl named Alice who falls through a rabbit hole into a fantasy world of anthropomorphic creatur ...

'' (1933) - White King * ''

Behind the Green Lights ''Behind the Green Lights'' is a 1935 American crime film directed by Christy Cabanne and starring Norman Foster, Judith Allen and Sidney Blackmer.Goble p.685 Partial cast * Norman Foster as Detective Lt. Dave Britten * Judith Allen as Mary ...

'' (1935) - Max Schultz, German Janitor * ''

The Headline Woman ''The Headline Woman'' is a 1935 American crime film directed by William Nigh and starring Heather Angel and Ford Sterling. The film is also known as ''The Woman in the Case'' in the United Kingdom. Cast * Heather Angel as Myrna Van Buren * ...

'' (1935) - Hugo Meyer * ''

Black Sheep In the English language, black sheep is an idiom that describes a member of a group who is different from the rest, especially a family member who does not fit in. The term stems from sheep whose fleece is colored black rather than the more comm ...

'' (1935) - Mather * '' Keystone Hotel'' (1935, Short) - Sterling, Chief of Police

References

;Notes ;Bibliography * Wendy Warwick White, ''Ford Sterling - His Life and Films'' (McFarland & Company, 2007) *

Simon Louvish Simon Louvish (born 6 April 1947, Glasgow, Scotland) is a Scots-born Israeli author, writer and filmmaker. He has written many books about ''Avram Blok'', a fictional Israeli caught up between wars, espionage, prophets, revolutions, loves, and ...

, ''Keystone: The Life and Clowns of Mack Sennett'' (Faber & Faber, 2005)

External links

* *
Literature on Ford Sterling
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sterling, Ford 1883 births 1939 deaths American male film actors American male silent film actors Deaths from diabetes People from La Crosse, Wisconsin Burials at Hollywood Forever Cemetery Silent film comedians Male actors from Wisconsin 20th-century American male actors 20th-century American comedians American male comedy actors