Albert Austin

Born: 1882-12-13

Albert Austin (13 December 1881 or 1885 – 17 August 1953) was an actor, film star, director and script writer, noted mainly for his work in Charlie Chaplin films. He was the brother of actor William Austin. He was born in Birmingham, England, and was a music hall performer before coming to the U.S. with Chaplin, both as members of the Fred Karno troupe, in 1910. Noted for his painted handlebar mustache and acerbic manner, he worked for Chaplin's stock company and played supporting roles in many of his films, often as a foil to the star, and working as his assistant director. After the development of sound films, he moved into scriptwriting, directing and acting, chiefly in comedy short subjects. Among other things, he assisted Chaplin in developing the plot of The Adventurer (1917). However, he only received screen credit as a collaborator once, for City Lights. As an actor, he appeared in Chaplin's comedies for the Mutual Film Corporation. Later he had two brief, uncredited roles in one of Chaplin's 'silent' comedies made in the sound era, City Lights (1931). Austin is also seen very briefly (as a cab driver) at the beginning of Chaplin's short film One A.M.. He also appeared in movies starring Jackie Coogan and Mack Sennett. Austin's best known performance may be in Chaplin's short The Pawnshop. Austin enters the shop with an alarm clock, hoping to pawn it. To establish the clock's value, Chaplin dissects it. Austin maintains a deadpan expression as Chaplin progressively destroys his clock, then hands the pieces back to Austin. He had the leading role in Mary Pickford's Suds (1920), where he co-stars as a customer leaving his shirt at her laundry. In that film he appears without his comic mustache. In his final years he worked as a police officer at the Warner Brothers studios, according to a New York Times obituary. Description above from the Wikipedia article Albert Austin licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.


Placeholder

The Kid

as Car Thief / Man in Shelter (uncredited)
Released: 1921-01-21

A tramp cares for a boy after he's abandoned as a newborn by his mother. Later the mother has a...

Movie page

The Gold Rush

as Prospector (uncredited)
Released: 1925-07-13

A gold prospector in Alaska struggles to survive the elements and win the heart of a dance hall...

Movie page

City Lights

as Street Sweeper / Burglar (uncredited)
Released: 1931-02-06

A tramp falls in love with a beautiful blind flower girl. His on-and-off friendship with a...

Movie page

The Pawnshop

as Clock Client
Released: 1916-10-02

A pawnbroker's assistant deals with his grumpy boss, his annoying co-worker and some eccentric...

Movie page

The Circus

as Clown (uncredited)
Released: 1928-01-29

Charlie, a wandering tramp, becomes a circus handyman - soon the star of the show - and falls in...

Movie page

Shoulder Arms

as American Soldier / Clean Shaven German Soldier / Bearded German Soldier
Released: 1918-10-20

An American doughboy, stationed in France during the Great War, goes on a daring mission behind...

Movie page

The Rink

as The Cook
Released: 1916-12-04

After amusements working in a restaurant, a waiter uses his lunch break to go roller skating.

Movie page

A Dog's Life

as Crook (uncredited)
Released: 1918-04-14

The Tramp and his dog companion struggle to survive in the inner city.

Movie page

One A.M.

as Le chauffeur de taxi
Released: 1916-08-07

A drunken homeowner has a difficult time getting about in his home after arriving home late at...

Movie page

Triple Trouble

as A Man
Released: 1918-08-11

As Colonel Nutt is experimenting with explosives, a new janitor is joining his household. The...

Movie page

The Cure

as Sanitarium Attendant
Released: 1917-04-16

An alcoholic checks into a health spa and his antics promptly throw the establishment into chaos.

Movie page

The Vagabond

as Trombonist (uncredited)
Released: 1916-07-10

A tramp tries to earn money by playing the violin, but he’s soon facing off against the jealous...

Movie page

The Count

as Guest (uncredited)
Released: 1916-09-04

A tailor's apprentice burns Count Broko's clothes while ironing them and the tailor fires him....

Movie page

Easy Street

as Policeman / Preacher (uncredited)
Released: 1917-01-22

A derelict, huddled under the steps of a missionary church, feels enlightened by the sermon of a...

Movie page

The Immigrant

as A Diner / Immigrant
Released: 1917-06-17

An European immigrant endures a challenging voyage only to get into trouble as soon as he...

Movie page

Pay Day

as Workman
Released: 1922-04-02

A bricklayer and his wife clash over his end-of-the-week partying.

Movie page

The Adventurer

as The Butler
Released: 1917-10-22

The daring convict no. 23, known as The Eel, escapes from prison and, after mocking his inept...

Movie page

The Fireman

as Fireman
Released: 1916-06-12

Firefighter Charlie Chaplin is tricked into letting a house burn by an owner who wants to...

Movie page

Behind the Screen

as Stagehand (uncredited)
Released: 1916-11-13

During the troubled shooting of several movies, David, the prop man's assistant, meets an...

Movie page

The Professor

as Man in flophouse
Released: 1919-01-01

Professor Bosco, a poor flea trainer, rents a bed in a flophouse. Before going to bed, he...

Movie page

The Floorwalker

as Shop Assistant
Released: 1916-05-15

An impecunious customer creates chaos in a department store while the manager and his assistant...

Movie page

The Chaplin Revue

as Various (archive footage)
Released: 1959-09-01

Three Chaplin silent comedies "A Dog's Life", "Shoulder Arms", and "The Pilgrim" are strung...

Movie page

The Bond

as Friend
Released: 1918-09-29

A propaganda film created by Charlie Chaplin at his own expense for the Liberty Load Committee...

Movie page

The Charlie Chaplin Festival

as Various Roles (archive footage)
Released: 1941-04-01

Four Chaplin shorts from 1917: The Immigrant, The Adventurer, The Cure, and Easy Street,...

Movie page

Chaplin's Goliath

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 1996-01-01

A film about the tall actor who was most famous for playing the quintessential villain for...

Movie page

Suds

as Horace Greensmith
Released: 1920-01-27

Amanda Afflick is a lovesick laundress who daydreams about customer Horace Greensmith and...

Movie page

Grief

as uncredited
Released: 1921-05-01

Begins with a child-cast parody of "The Kid." The Adams portion finds the guy chased about town...

Movie page

Unknown Chaplin

as Self & In Out-Takes
First aired: 1983-01-05

A documentary series examining the film making methods and techniques of Charles Chaplin....

TV Show page