Laurel and Hardy are often credited as being the first combination of two size opposites for one comic result, but in actuality the movies had done that years before the official pairing of Stan and Ollie. Charlie Chaplin had Eric Campbell. Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle paired himself at various times with both Al St. John and Buster Keaton. And when Keaton ventured off on his own he often found himself opposite "Big" Joe Roberts.
At a height of 6'3 compared to Keaton's 5'6, the size difference was bigger and visually funnier than many of the pairings before or after, but since they were never officially a team, Joe Roberts didn't have to share his talents. Instead, he became one of the best foils and sidekicks of the early days of movie comedy.
Like most of the silent clowns, Roberts vaudeville training was the perfect school for the new picture show medium that his co-star Keaton would thrive in. While not quite the acrobat as many of the other comedy performers of the time, Joe Roberts managed to steal focus with his large presence and impeccable timing.
With the exception of Buster Keaton fans, the work of Joe Roberts is mostly forgotten today. His untimely death in 1923 came at the time movie comedies were becoming more structured and critically accepted. And had he lived another ten years it's quite possible his talents would have added to the success of many films and brought his name to where it belongs - on the lips of film fans everywhere.
At a height of 6'3 compared to Keaton's 5'6, the size difference was bigger and visually funnier than many of the pairings before or after, but since they were never officially a team, Joe Roberts didn't have to share his talents. Instead, he became one of the best foils and sidekicks of the early days of movie comedy.
Like most of the silent clowns, Roberts vaudeville training was the perfect school for the new picture show medium that his co-star Keaton would thrive in. While not quite the acrobat as many of the other comedy performers of the time, Joe Roberts managed to steal focus with his large presence and impeccable timing.
With the exception of Buster Keaton fans, the work of Joe Roberts is mostly forgotten today. His untimely death in 1923 came at the time movie comedies were becoming more structured and critically accepted. And had he lived another ten years it's quite possible his talents would have added to the success of many films and brought his name to where it belongs - on the lips of film fans everywhere.
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