Born in 1895 in Piqua, Kansas, Buster Keaton was a part of his parents' travelling vaudeville act from the age of 3. After being recruited as a support player in 1917 he went on to be one of the most successful screen comedians of the silent era. With the introduction of sound his star waned, and he suffered from alcoholism. He recovered and in the 1940's and 50's appeared in a number of film and television roles. He lived long enough to see a resurgence of interest in his silent films before dying in 1966 of lung cancer.