Ford Sterling

Ford Sterling (born George Franklin Stich; he was the original chief of the Keystone Cops.

Early years Sterling was born George Franklin Stich

He later joined the Flying Lees circus, working with an aerial act, before joining the Forepaugh Amalgamated Circus to perform as an acrobatic clown for five years. Chaplin and Sterling played together at least twice on film, in the one-reelers A Thief Catcher and Between Showers (both 1914).

In the 1920s, Sterling abandoned the short comedy format, instead playing supporting roles in both comedic and dramatic feature-length films, such as He Who Gets Slapped (1924) opposite Lon Chaney. Stering also starred as Michael Poole in Howard Hughes' now lost film Everybody's Acting (1926).

After talking pictures came along, Sterling returned to appearing in short comedies. Making a smooth transition to talking films, Ford Sterling made the last of his more than two hundred and seventy film appearances in 1936.

Sterling was also a renowned amateur photographer, who won many prizes and at one point (in 1924) even had some of his work exhibited at the Louvre.

Personal life and death Sterling was married to actress Teddy Sampson. He was in a hospital for 18 months prior to his death, and his left leg was amputated above his knee a week before his death. He died on October 13, 1939, of thrombosis

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

Selected filmography

At Coney Island (1912, Short) – The Married Flirt At It Again (1912, short) The Riot (1913, Short) Two Old Tars (1913, Short) Fatty at San Diego (1913, Short) Fatty's Flirtation (1913, Short) Murphy's I.O.U. (1913, Short) – (uncredited) His Chum the Baron (1913, Short) – Baron von Sneezer That Ragtime Band (1913, Short) – Professor Smelts The Foreman of the Jury (1913, Short) – Jones – Foreman of the Jury The Gangsters (1913, Short) – Desk Officer Barney Oldfield's Race for a Life (1913, Short) – The Villain The Waiters' Picnic (1913, Short) – Louis – the Chef Peeping Pete (1913, Short) – Neighbor's Husband A Bandit (1913, Short) – The Bandit For the Love of Mabel (1913, Short) – (uncredited) Safe in Jail (1913, Short) – The Constable The Rivals (1913, short) – The Village Shoemaker (also titled A STRONG REVENGE) Love and Courage (1913, Short) – (uncredited) Professor Bean's Removal (1913, Short) – Professor Bean A Game of Pool (1913, Short) – Schmidt Mabel's Dramatic Career (1913, Short) – Actor / Onscreen Villain The Fatal Taxicab (1913, Short) – Egbert Throckmorton When Dreams Come True (1913, Short) – The Peddler The Speed Kings (1913, Short) – Papa A Ride for a Bride (1913) Wine (1913, Short) – The Diner Cohen Saves the Flag (1913, Short) – Sgt. Cohen Some Nerve (1913, Short) – The Husband A Misplaced Foot (1914, Short) In the Clutches of the Gang (1914, Short) – Chief Tehiezel Tango Tangles (1914, Short) – Band Leader A Robust Romeo (1914, Short) A Thief Catcher (1914, Short) – Suspicious John Between Showers (1914, Short) – Rival Masher That Minstrel Man (1914) The Sea Nymphs (1914, Short) Hogan's Romance Upset (1915, Short) – Fight Spectator (uncredited) That Little Band of Gold (1915, Short) – Gassy Gotrox - Tattletale Court House Crooks (1915, Short) – The District Attorney Dirty Work in a Laundry (1915, Short) – The Desperate Scoundrel The Hunt (1915, Short) – Clarke's groom (in blackface) Fatty and the Broadway Stars (1915, Short) – Keystone Performer The Now Cure (1916) Yankee Doodle in Berlin (1919) – Kaiser Bill Salome vs. Shenandoah (1919, Short) – Ingenue Actress's Father Married Life (1920) – Heckler at Theatre Love, Honor and Behave (1920) – Milton Robbin – Haberdasher Oh, Mabel Behave (1922) – Squire Peachem The Strangers' Banquet (1922) – Al Norton The Brass Bottle (1923) – Rapkin The Spoilers (1923) – 'Slapjack' Simms Hollywood (1923) – Himself The Destroying Angel (1923) – Max Weil The Day of Faith (1923) – Montreal Sammy Wild Oranges (1924) – Paul Halvard The Galloping Fish (1924) – George Fitzgerald The Woman on the Jury (1924) – Juror Love and Glory (1924) – Emile Pompaneau He Who Gets Slapped (1924) – Tricaud So Big (1924) – Jacob Hoogenduck Daddy's Gone A-Hunting (1925) – Oscar My Lady's Lips (1925) – Smike The Three Way Trail (1925) The Trouble with Wives (1925) – Al Hennessey Steppin' Out (1925) – John Durant Stage Struck (1925) – Buck Mike (1926) – Tad The American Venus (1926) – Hugo Niles The Road to Glory (1926) – James Allen Miss Brewster's Millions (1926) – Ned Brewster Good and Naughty (1926) – Bunny West The Show-Off (1926) – Aubrey Piper Everybody's Acting (1926) – Michael Poole Stranded in Paris (1926) – Count Pasada The Trunk Mystery (1926) – Jeff Mantrap (1926) Casey at the Bat (1927) – O'Dowd Drums of the Desert (1927) – Perkins For the Love of Mike (1927) – Herman Schultz Figures Don't Lie (1927) – 'Howdy' Jones Wife Savers (1928) – Tavern Keeper Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1928) – Gus Eisman Sporting Goods (1928) – Mr. Jordan Chicken a La King (1928) – Horace Trundle Oh, Kay! (1928) – Shorty McGee Dreary House (1928) – Paul The Fall of Eve (1929) – Mr. Mack The Girl in the Show (1929) – Ed Bondell Sally (1929) – 'Pops' Stendorff Spring Is Here (1930) – Peter Braley Showgirl in Hollywood (1930) – Sam Otis – The Producer Bride of the Regiment (1930) – Tangy – Silhouette Cutter Kismet (1930) – Amru Her Majesty, Love (1931) – Otmar Playthings of Desire (1933) – Bromwell Jones Alice in Wonderland (1933) – White King Behind the Green Lights (1935) – Max Schultz, German Janitor The Headline Woman (1935) – Hugo Meyer Black Sheep (1935) – Mather Keystone Hotel (1935, Short) – Sterling, Chief of Police