26 Facts About Ben Turpin

Bernard "Ben" Turpin was an American comedian and actor, best remembered for his work in silent films.

Ben Turpin's trademarks were his cross-eyed appearance and adeptness at vigorous physical comedy.

Ben Turpin is believed to have been the first filmed "victim" of the pie in the face gag.

When sound came to films, Ben Turpin chose to retire, having invested profitably in real estate, although he did do occasional cameos.

Ben Turpin was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on September 19,1869, the son of a candy store owner, Ernest Ben Turpin, and Sarah Buckley.

In 1923, Mrs Ben Turpin became ill with influenza, which caused the loss of her hearing.

Heartbroken, Ben Turpin took his seriously ill wife to the Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre in Quebec, hoping she would be healed.

Ben Turpin eventually became an invalid, with Turpin placing his career on hold to care for her.

Ben Turpin remarried on July 8,1926, to Babette Dietz in Los Angeles.

Ben Turpin was a Roman Catholic, and a member of the Good Shepherd Parish and the Catholic Motion Picture Guild in Beverly Hills, California.

Ben Turpin had a distinctive appearance, with a small wiry frame, a brush mustache, and crossed eyes.

Ben Turpin was convinced that the crossed eyes were essential to his comic career; his co-workers recalled that after he received any blow to the head he made a point of looking himself in the mirror to assure himself that they had not become uncrossed.

Ben Turpin was a devout Catholic, and his workmates occasionally goaded him by threatening to pray that his eyes would uncross, thus depriving him of his livelihood.

Ben Turpin famously bought a $25,000 insurance policy with Lloyd's of London, payable if his eyes ever uncrossed.

Ben Turpin developed a vigorous style of physical comedy, including an ability to stage comic pratfalls that impressed even his fellow workers in the rough-and-tumble world of silent comedy.

Ben Turpin first appeared on film in 1907 for Essanay Studios in Chicago in various small parts and comic bits.

The earthy Ben Turpin understood straightforward slapstick more than comic subtlety.

In 1917, Ben Turpin joined the leading comedy company, the Mack Sennett studio.

Ben Turpin appeared in both short subjects and feature films for Sennett.

Ben Turpin was signed by the low-budget Weiss Brothers-Artclass company, perhaps the most ambitious coup that Artclass ever attempted.

Ben Turpin had invested his earnings in real estate, and, being highly successful at this, had no financial need for more work.

Ben Turpin's speaking voice was a gritty rasp that retained elements of the New Orleans "Yat" accent of his youth.

Ben Turpin commanded a flat fee of $1000 per appearance, regardless of whether it was a speaking role or a fleeting cameo.

Ben Turpin was paid his $1000 for one quick shot of his face and just 16 words of dialogue.

Ben Turpin died July 1,1940, of a heart attack and was interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California, following a Requiem Mass at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Beverly Hills.

Ben Turpin's pallbearers included Andy Clyde, Billy Bevan, James Finlayson, Heinie Conklin, and Charlie Murray.