Ford Sterling

Ford Sterling (born George Stitch; November 3, 1883 – October 13, 1939) was an American comedian and actor best known for his work with Keystone Studios. One of the 'Big 4', he was the original chief of the Keystone Cops.
Early years
Sterling was born George Stitch in La Crosse, Wisconsin, on November 3, 1883, He left home at age 12 to join a repertory company.
Career
Sterling joined a circus, working with an aerial act, after which he performed as a acrobatic clown with another circus for five years. He then went to New York City, where he became featured in a musical show. Director Mack Sennett saw him there and offered him a job.
Sterling began his career in silent films in 1911 with Biograph Studios. When Sennett left to set up Keystone Studios in 1912, Sterling followed him. There, he performed various roles, such as 'Chief Teeheezel' in the Keystone Cops series of slapstick 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 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-reelers A Thief Catcher and Between Showers (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. After talking pictures came along, Sterling returned to appearing in short comedies.
Making a smooth transition to talking films, Ford Sterling made the last of his more than two hundred and seventy film appearances in 1936.
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.
Personal life and death
Sterling was married to actress Teddy Sampson. He was in a hospital for 18 months prior to his death, and his left leg was amputated above his knee a week before his death. He died on October 13, 1939, of thrombosis (following long-standing diabetes) in Los Angeles, California, and is interred in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.
For his contribution to the motion picture industry, Sterling has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6612 Hollywood Blvd.
Selected filmography
At Coney Island (1912, Short) - The Married Flirt
At It Again (1912, short)
The Riot (1913, Short)
Two Old Tars (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 (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 (1913, Short) - Neighbor's Husband
A Bandit (1913, Short) - The Bandit
For the Love of Mabel (1913, Short) - (uncredited)
Safe in Jail (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 (1913, Short) - Papa
A Ride for a Bride (1913)
Wine (1913, Short) - The Diner
Cohen Saves the Flag (1913, Short) - Sgt. Cohen
Some Nerve (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)
A Thief Catcher (1914, Short) - Suspicious John
Between Showers (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 (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 (1919, Short) - Ingenue Actress's Father
Married Life (1920) - Heckler at Theatre
Love, Honor and Behave (1920) - Milton Robbin - Haberdasher
Oh, Mabel Behave (1922) - Squire Peachem
The Strangers' Banquet (1922) - Al Norton
The Brass Bottle (1923) - Rapkin
The Spoilers (1923) - 'Slapjack' Simms
Hollywood (1923) - Himself
The Destroying Angel (1923) - Max Weil
The Day of Faith (1923) - Montreal Sammy
Wild Oranges (1924) - Paul Halvard
The Galloping Fish (1924) - George Fitzgerald
The Woman on the Jury (1924) - Juror
Love and Glory (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 (1925) - Smike
The Three Way Trail (1925)
The Trouble with Wives (1925) - Al Hennessey
Steppin' Out (1925) - John Durant
Stage Struck (1925) - Buck
Mike (1926) - Tad
The American Venus (1926) - Hugo Niles
The Road to Glory (1926) - James Allen
Miss Brewster's Millions (1926) - Ned Brewster
Good and Naughty (1926) - Bunny West
The Show-Off (1926) - Aubrey Piper
Everybody's Acting (1926) - Michael Poole
Stranded in Paris (1926) - Count Pasada
The Trunk Mystery (1926) - Jeff
Mantrap (1926)
Casey at the Bat (1927) - O'Dowd
Drums of the Desert (1927) - Perkins
For the Love of Mike (1927) - Herman Schultz
Figures Don't Lie (1927) - 'Howdy' Jones
Wife Savers (1928) - Tavern Keeper
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1928) - Gus Eisman
Sporting Goods (1928) - Mr. Jordan
Chicken a La King (1928) - Horace Trundle
Oh, Kay! (1928) - Shorty McGee
Dreary House (1928) - Paul
The Fall of Eve (1929) - Mr. Mack
The Girl in the Show (1929) - Ed Bondell
Sally (1929) - 'Pops' Shendorff
Spring Is Here (1930) - Peter Braley
Show Girl in Hollywood (1930) - Sam Otis - The Producer
Bride of the Regiment (1930) - Tangy - Silhouette Cutter
Kismet (1930) - Amru
Her Majesty, Love (1931) - Otmar
Playthings of Desire (1933) - Bromwell Jones
Alice in Wonderland (1933) - White King
Behind the Green Lights (1935) - Max Schultz, German Janitor
The Headline Woman (1935) - Hugo Meyer
Black Sheep (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, Keystone: The Life and Clowns of Mack Sennett (Faber & Faber, 2005)
External links
Literature on Ford Sterling
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