Ben Turpin
American actor (1869-1940)
Biography
Bernard "Ben" Turpin was an American comedian and actor, best remembered for his work in silent films. His trademarks were his cross-eyed appearance and adeptness at vigorous physical comedy. A sometime vaudeville performer, he was "discovered" for film while working as the janitor for Essanay Studios in Chicago. Turpin went on to work with notable performers such as Charlie Chaplin and Laurel and Hardy, and was a part of the Mack Sennett studio team. He is believed to have been the first filmed "victim" of the pie in the face gag. When sound came to films, Turpin chose to retire, having invested profitably in real estate, although he did do occasional cameos.
Occupation
Ben Turpin is recorded as a film actor and a comedian, born in Louisiana (1869–1940).
Connections to Louisiana
Ben Turpin was born in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1869. Explore other notable figures from Louisiana, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.
Everything a full report reveals about New Orleans
Ben Turpin came from New Orleans. A full Aubrey report on New Orleans pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
More notable figures from Louisiana
Other historical figures born in Louisiana, ranked by historical prominence.
Frequently asked about Ben Turpin
Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.
Research the history of any US location
Aubrey searches federal archives, archaeological records, historic registers, and primary sources to build a full historical report for any address or place in the United States.







