Sketch of the Day: 11FEB26 Buster Keaton Buster Keaton (1895–1966), often called “The Great Stone Face,” was a pioneering American silent film comedian, director, and stunt performer whose deadpan expression and groundbreaking physical comedy reshaped the language of cinema. Raised in a vaudeville family, Keaton honed astonishing acrobatic skills from childhood, later bringing that precision to films like The General, Sherlock Jr. and Steamboat Bill, Jr., where he performed many of his own daring stunts long before safety standards or special effects as we know them existed. His meticulous timing, inventive gags, and willingness to risk real danger made him a favorite among fellow filmmakers and a lasting influence on generations of comedians. A little-known fact about Keaton is that magician Harry Houdini was his godfather—and may even have been the one who gave young Joseph Keaton the nickname “Buster” after watching him take a spectacular fall as a child.