Chris Farley was set to play the biopic of silent film star Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle before his tragic death in 1997. Despite never coming to fruition, the project showed the unseen talents of the comedy legend. Farley’s life and career were cut short, but his legacy remains beloved decades later. A biopic about Arbuckle is now in the works, with Paul Walter Hauser starring as the legendary performer and Josh Gad directing.
Roscoe Arbuckle was born in 1887 and began his performing career as a youngster in vaudeville, carnivals, and traveling theater companies. He gained fame after appearing in several films produced by Keystone Studios, a major player in producing comedy films in the silent era. Arbuckle took over the Comique Film Corporation in 1917, cranking out several short comedy films as director and star. He met Buster Keaton and took a chance on the aspiring actor, helping him rise to fame.
Chris Farley (Via IMDB)
However, Arbuckle’s career was derailed by a scandalous scandal in 1921. Arbuckle was accused of assaulting Virginia Rappe at a Labor Day gathering, and despite being acquitted, the negative publicity led to Hollywood distancing itself from him. He continued to work under a pseudonym and died of a heart attack in 1933.
Chris Farley took an interest in Arbuckle’s story, seeing parallels between their struggles with fame and self-esteem. Farley’s struggles with substance abuse and self-doubt are well-known, and he saw Arbuckle’s life as a chance to connect with the silent film star. According to Tom Farley, Chris’s brother, the actor would have loved to play Arbuckle, saying “This is me.” The project never came to fruition, but it’s safe to assume that Farley had an innate understanding of Arbuckle and would have brought depth and insight to the role. Perhaps playing Arbuckle would have opened new doors for Farley, taking him to greater heights of opportunity and recognition.
