Joe Roberts

When Buster's apprenticeship with Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle came to an end and Keaton began making his own short films in 1920, he asked Roberts to join him. The hefty 6 ft Roberts, usually playing a menacing heavy or authority figure, made an amusing contrast next to thin, 5 ft Keaton. Roberts played "Roaring Bill" Rivers in 1922's The Primitive Lover starring Keaton's sister-in-law Constance Talmadge and silent film actor Harrison Ford. He also had signed a deal with Fox Films, and played such roles as a drill master in the Clyde Cook comedy The Misfit, released in March 1924, after Roberts' death. When Keaton began making feature films in 1923, he apparently intended to keep working with Roberts. Roberts had roles in Keaton's Three Ages and Our Hospitality (both 1923). On August 17, while filming Our Hospitality, Roberts had a stroke. A Wassermann test, ordered by consulting physician Dr. Louis Regan, confirmed a diagnosis of late-onset neurosyphilis, a fatal disease that causes seizures, dementia, and paralysis.

• Name — Joe Roberts • Birth Name — Joseph Henry Roberts • Born — 2 February 1871 • Birthplace — Amsterdam, New York, U.S. • Died — 28 October 1923 • Place of death — Los Angeles, California, U.S. • Illustration — Roberts dragging Buster Keaton in a still from Neighbors (1920) • Illustration — Who’s Who (1921) • Illustration — Camera! Magazine (1922) • Illustration — With Engle & Duffy in The Mummy (1923)

• Film — Year — Character — Ref • One Week — 1920 — Piano Mover (uncredited) — Short • Convict 13 — The Crazed Prisoner • The Scarecrow — Farmhand (uncredited) • Neighbors — Her Father (uncredited) • The Haunted House — 1921 — Bank Cashier • Hard Luck — Lizard Lip Luke • The High Sign — Leader of Buzzards (uncredited) • His Meal Ticket — Organ Grinder • The Goat — Police Chief • Who's Who — The Judge • The Devilish Romeo • Little Lord Fauntleroy — Buzz Saw Brannigan (uncredited) • The Play House — Actor-Stage Manager (uncredited) — Short • One Moment, Please • The Paleface — 1922 — The Indian Chief (uncredited) • Cops — Police Chief (uncredited) • The Primitive Lover — 'Roaring' Bill Rivers • My Wife's Relations — Brother (uncredited) — Short • The Blacksmith — Blacksmith (uncredited) • The Frozen North — The Driver • The Electric House — Millionaire (uncredited) • Day Dreams — The Mayor (uncredited) • The Love Nest — 1923 — Captain of the Whaler • The Four Flusher — The Russian Count • The Mummy — Big Joe • Three Ages — The Girl's Father • Our Hospitality — Joseph Canfield • No Loafing — Big piano carrier — Short • The Misfit — 1924 — The Drill Master

Joe Roberts is recorded as actor.