Chester Cooper Conklin (January 11, 1888 â€" October 11, 1971) was an
early American film comedian who started at Keystone Studios as one of
Mack Sennett’s Keystone Cops, often paired with Mack Swain. He
appeared in a series of films with Mabel Normand and worked closely
with Charlie Chaplin, both in silent and sound films.Conklin was born
in Oskaloosa, Iowa. One of three children, he grew up in a violent
household. When he was eight, his mother was found burned to death in
the family garden. Although first judged a suicide, his father, a
devoutly religious man who hoped his son would be a minister, was
eventually charged with murder, but found not guilty at trial.Conklin
won first prize when he gave a recitation at a community festival. A
few years later, he ran away from home after vowing to a friend he
would never return, a promise he kept. Heading to Des Moines he found
employment as a hotel bellhop, but then moved to Omaha, Nebraska,
where his interest in theatre led to a career in comedic acting. In
St. Louis, Missouri, he saw a performance by the vaudeville team of
Joe Weber and Lew Fields, which prompted Conklin to develop a
character based on his boss at the time, a man with a thick accent and
a bushy walrus moustache. With this character, Conklin broke into
vaudeville, and spent several years touring with various stock
companies, doing vaudeville shows and minstrel shows. He also
performed as a clown with the Al G. Barnes Wild Animal Show.
early American film comedian who started at Keystone Studios as one of
Mack Sennett’s Keystone Cops, often paired with Mack Swain. He
appeared in a series of films with Mabel Normand and worked closely
with Charlie Chaplin, both in silent and sound films.Conklin was born
in Oskaloosa, Iowa. One of three children, he grew up in a violent
household. When he was eight, his mother was found burned to death in
the family garden. Although first judged a suicide, his father, a
devoutly religious man who hoped his son would be a minister, was
eventually charged with murder, but found not guilty at trial.Conklin
won first prize when he gave a recitation at a community festival. A
few years later, he ran away from home after vowing to a friend he
would never return, a promise he kept. Heading to Des Moines he found
employment as a hotel bellhop, but then moved to Omaha, Nebraska,
where his interest in theatre led to a career in comedic acting. In
St. Louis, Missouri, he saw a performance by the vaudeville team of
Joe Weber and Lew Fields, which prompted Conklin to develop a
character based on his boss at the time, a man with a thick accent and
a bushy walrus moustache. With this character, Conklin broke into
vaudeville, and spent several years touring with various stock
companies, doing vaudeville shows and minstrel shows. He also
performed as a clown with the Al G. Barnes Wild Animal Show.
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