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Ford Sterling
Born	George Ford Stich Jr. November 3, 1883(1883-11-03) La Crosse, Wisconsin, U.S.
Died	October 13, 1939 (aged 55) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Spouse(s)	Teddy Sampson (1914-1939)

Ford Sterling (November 3, 1882 – October 13, 1939) was an American comedian and actor best known for his work with Keystone Studios. One of the 'Big 4' he was the original chief of the Keystone Cops.

Biography

Born George Ford Stich in La Crosse, Wisconsin, he began his career in silent films in 1911 with Biograph Studios. When director Mack Sennett left to set up Keystone Studios, Sterling followed him. There, he performed what is probably his most remembered role as 'Chief Teeheezel' in the Keystone Cops series of slapstick comedies in a successful career that spanned twenty-five years.

Making a smooth transition to talking films, Ford Sterling made the last of his more than two hundred and seventy film appearances in 1936. He died in 1939 of a heart attack (following long standing diabetes) in Los Angeles, California and is interred in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

For his contribution to the motion picture industry, Ford Sterling has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6612 Hollywood Blvd.

With Marvel Rea and Alice Maison

Selected filmography

• Safe in Jail (1913)
• Murphy's I.O.U. (1913)
• His Chum the Baron (1913)
• That Ragtime Band (1913)
• The Foreman of the Jury (1913)
• The Gangsters (1913)
• Barney Oldfield's Race for a Life (1913)
• The Waiters' Picnic (1913)
• Peeping Pete (1913)
• A Bandit (1913)
• For the Love of Mabel (1913)
• Love and Courage (1913)
• Professor Bean's Removal (1913)
• The Riot (1913)
• Mabel's Dramatic Career (1913)
• The Faithful Taxicab (1913)
• When Dreams Come True (1913)
• Two Old Tars (1913)
• The Speed Kings (1913)
• Fatty at San Diego (1913)
• Wine (1913)
• A Ride for a Bride (1913)
• Fatty's Flirtation (1913)
• Some Nerve (1913)
• Cohen Saves the Flag (1913)
• A Game of Pool (1913)
• A Misplaced Foot (1914)
• In the Clutches of the Gang (1914)
• A Robust Romeo (1914)
• Between Showers (1914)
• Tango Tangles (1914)
• That Minstrel Man (1914)
• The Sea Nymphs (1914)
• Hogan's Romance Upset (1915)
• That Little Band of Gold (1915)
• Court House Crooks (1915)
• Fatty and the Broadway Stars (1915)
• The Day of Faith (1923)
• Hollywood (1923) cameo
• Wild Oranges (1924)
• He Who Gets Slapped (1924)
• Mantrap (1926)
• The American Venus (1926)
• Casey at the Bat (1927)
• For the Love of Mike (1927)
• Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1928)
• Sally (1929)
• Show Girl in Hollywood (1930)
• Bride of the Regiment (1930)

Bibliography

• Wendy Warwick White, Ford Sterling - His Life and Films (McFarland & Company, 2007) ISBN 0-7864-2587-3
• Simon Louvish, Keystone: The Life and Clowns of Mack Sennett (Faber & Faber, 2005) ISBN 0-5712-1100-3

References

External links

• Ford Sterling at the Internet Movie Database
• Ford Sterling at Find a Grave