**Buster Keaton** (Joseph Frank Keaton, 1895-1966) was an iconic American actor, director, and screenwriter, a pioneer of silent comedy. Known as "The Great Stone Face" for his perpetually impassive expression, Keaton was a virtuoso of physical comedy.

His unique style combined daring acrobatics, elaborate gags, and mechanical precision in the execution of audacious stunts, often performed himself. His typical characters were ordinary men, stoic and resourceful, who faced surreal adversities with calm determination.

His masterpieces include *The General* (1926), considered one of the greatest films of all time for its epic scope and breathtaking action sequences, *Sherlock Jr.* (1924), for its visual innovation, and *Steamboat Bill, Jr.* (1928), famous for its iconic falling facade scene. His legacy and influence on comedic cinema remain immense.