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Fred KarnoActor
Date of Birth: 26.03.1866
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
- Fred Karno: The Father of Slapstick
- The Karno Pantomime Company
- Notable Performers
- - Albert Austin, Chaplin's longtime film collaborator
- Legacy in American Cinema
- Later Years and Death
Fred Karno: The Father of Slapstick
Early Life and CareerFred Karno, born Frederick John Westcott, was an English theatre entrepreneur and comedian. He is credited with inventing the famous comedic gag of throwing a cream pie in someone's face.
The Karno Pantomime Company
In the late 19th century, Karno established the Karno Pantomime Company, an entrepreneurial venture with multiple acting troupes. The company supplied music halls with pre-packaged comedy sketches and pantomimes, along with actors for hire. The high-quality performances of Karno's actors made their productions highly sought-after, and his business flourished until the 1920s, when the advent of film began to eclipse theatrical pantomime.
Notable Performers
The Karno Pantomime Company served as a training ground for countless comedic legends, including:
- Charlie Chaplin, who later incorporated some of Karno's sketches into his movies
- Albert Austin, Chaplin's longtime film collaborator
- Stan Laurel(one-half of the legendary comedy duo Laurel and Hardy)- Eric Campbell, a comedic actor who went on to have a successful film career
Legacy in American Cinema
The performers who emerged from Karno's company brought their slapstick artistry and comedic finesse to American cinema, where they played a significant role in shaping the industry.
Later Years and Death
Karno's company went bankrupt in 1926. He attempted to establish himself in Hollywood but left a limited legacy, contributing only a handful of screenplays to various films. Karno passed away from diabetes in 1941.
