- published: 07 Nov 2011
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Bernard "Ben" Turpin (September 19, 1869 – July 1, 1940) was an American comedian and actor, best remembered for his work in silent films.
Turpin was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on September 19, 1869, the son of a candy store owner, Ernest Turpin, and Sarah Buckley.
Turpin and his first wife, actress Carrie Lemieux, were married in Chicago on February 18, 1907. In 1923, Mrs. Turpin became ill with influenza, which caused the loss of her hearing. Heartbroken, Turpin took his seriously ill wife to the Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré in Quebec, hoping she would be healed. She eventually became an invalid, with Turpin placing his career on hold to care for her. Carrie died on October 2, 1925. Turpin re-married on July 8, 1926 to Babette Dietz in Los Angeles.
He was a Roman Catholic, and a member of the Good Shepherd Parish and the Catholic Motion Picture Guild in Beverly Hills, California.
He worked in vaudeville, burlesque, and circuses. Turpin had a distinctive appearance, with a small wiry frame, a brush mustache, and crossed eyes. Turpin's famous eyes, he said, only crossed as a young adult after he suffered an accident. Turpin was convinced that the crossed eyes were essential to his comic career; his co-workers recalled that after he received any blow to the head he made a point of looking himself in the mirror to assure himself that they had not become uncrossed. Turpin was a devout Catholic, and his workmates would occasionally goad him by threatening to pray that Turpin's eyes would uncross, thus depriving him of his livelihood.
Comedy Capers - Ben Turpin - ''At Your Service!''
Ben Turpin as the Plumber
The Prodigal Bridegroom (1926) Ben Turpin Thelma Hill Madeline Hurlock
Mack Sennett The Pride Of Pikeville (1927) Ben Turpin Thelma Hill
Idle eyes - Ben Turpin 1928 RARE full movie
THE DAREDEVIL (1923) -- Ben Turpin
Laurel & Hardy - Our Wife clip w/ Ben Turpin
TEN DOLLARS OR TEN DAYS (1924) -- Ben Turpin
"Mr. Flip"--1909- Ben Turpin--The great cross-eyed comedian -- An early silent comedy film
ASLEEP AT THE SWITCH (1923) - Ben Turpin
Actors: Mack Sennett (actor), Bud Ross (actor), Billy Bevan (actor), Andy Clyde (actor), Andy Clyde (actor), Charles Murray (actor), Teddy the Dog (actor), Andy Clyde (actor), Barney Hellum (actor), Gordon Lewis (actor), Jack Cooper (actor), Marvin Loback (actor), Vernon Dent (actor), Roger Moore (actor), Ben Turpin (actor),
Genres: Comedy, Short,Actors: Victor Potel (actor), Harry Todd (actor), Ben Turpin (actor), Margaret Joslin (actress), Wallace Beery (director), Roy Clements (director),
Genres: Comedy, Short,