Skip to content
MovieCove
Ben Turpin

Ben Turpin

Actor · Died July 1, 1940, aged 70 · New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Bernard "Ben" Turpin was an American comedian and actor, best remembered for his work in silent films.

Biography from TMDB.

Born
September 18, 1869
Died
July 1, 1940 (aged 70)
From
New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
5 on MovieCove · 150 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 38 days to Oct 27Down 14% in 30 days

What are Ben Turpin's films like?

Across their 5 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Society and Self.

Themes

share of theme weight
Society
31%
Self
26%
Ideas
17%
Survival
13%
Bonds
6%
Morality
6%
Identity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFame3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 5 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 4 · Serious 1 · Dark 0

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 2 · Stylized 3 · Heightened 0

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 2 · Charged 2 · Intense 1

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 2 · Shifting 1 · Whiplash 2

Funny: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their funny movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 0 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 4

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 2 · Even-paced 3 · Relentless 0

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 5 · Engaged 0 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 4 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

2 analyzed roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Absurd
3
Joyful
3
Manic
2
Warm
1
Melancholic
1
Other
2

How their films linger

Fun4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Happy3
  • Bittersweet2

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Ben Turpin's films?

As of October 24, 2026, none of Ben Turpin's 5 MovieCove titles is streaming on a subscription or free service.

Subscription and free streaming for Ben Turpin's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted.

Filmography

150 credits, 5 with a MovieCove page; 7 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Dance of the Cookoos (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Cross-Eyed Plumber

  • When Comedy Was King(1960)

    as (archive footage) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Lifetime of Comedy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    as (archive footage)

  • The Golden Age of Comedy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as archive footage

  • Big Farewell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as Dancer

  • Ça c'est du cinéma(1951)

    as (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • A Burlesque on the Opera "Carmen" (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Actor

  • Down Memory Lane (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as (archive footage)

  • Happy Times and Jolly Moments (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as (archive footage)

  • Wedding Yells (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Jackson Snood

  • Saps at Sea(1940)

    as Cross-Eyed Plumber

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Hollywood Cavalcade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Bartender in Western

  • A Small Town Idol (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Sam Smith

  • Keystone Hotel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Count Drewa Blanc

  • Any Day in Hollywood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Ben (archive footage)

  • The Law of the Wild (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Henry

  • Hollywood on Parade No. B-9 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Bartender

  • Million Dollar Legs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Mysterious Man

  • Make Me a Star(1932)

    as Ben

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Lighthouse Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as The Russian Prince

  • Running Hollywood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Traffic Cop

  • Ambassador Bill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as The Butcher

  • Our Wife (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Justice of the Peace (uncredited)

  • Cracked Nuts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Cross-eyed Ben

  • Swing High (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Bartender

  • A Royal Romance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Cossack Guard (uncredited)

  • Show of Shows(1929)

    as Waiter in 'What Became of the Floradora Boys' Number

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Taking the Count (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    Actor

  • The Cockeyed Family (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as Amos Gillig

  • Holding His Own (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as Ben Muggs

  • Idle Eyes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as Benjamin Turps

  • Seein' Things (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    Actor

  • She Said No (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    Actor

  • The Eyes Have It (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    Actor

  • A Woman's Way (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    Actor

  • The Wife's Relations (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as Rodney St. Clair

  • Why Babies Leave Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    Actor

  • The College Hero (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as The Janitor

  • The Pride of Pikeville (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as Baron Bonamo

  • Broke in China (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as Donald Drake

  • The Jolly Jilter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as Vigil Vancourt

  • A Blonde's Revenge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as Gerald Montague

  • A Harem Knight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as Rodney St. Clair

  • When a Man's a Prince (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as Prince Nikolo

  • A Prodigal Bridegroom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    Actor

  • Hogan's Alley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    as The Stranger

  • The Marriage Circus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    as Rodney St. Clair

  • The Raspberry Romance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    as Rodney St. Clair

  • The Wild Goose Chaser (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    as Rodney St. Clair

  • Three Foolish Weeks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    as Baron Sergius Rodney St. Clair

  • Romeo and Juliet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    as Rodney St. Clair / Romeo

  • Yukon Jake (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    as Sheriff Cyclone Bill

  • Ten Dollars or Ten Days (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    as The Soda Clerk

  • The Dare-Devil (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1923)

    as Joe Magee

  • Asleep at the Switch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1923)

    as The Station Agent

  • Pitfalls of a Big City (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1923)

    as Rodney St. Clair

  • Hollywood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1923)

    as Ben Turpin

  • Where's My Wandering Boy This Evening? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1923)

    as Rodney St. Clair

  • The Shriek of Araby (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1923)

    as Bill Poster - The Sheik

  • Step Forward (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

    as Rodney Robbin

  • Bright Eyes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)

    as Luke Larson the Oil Magnate

  • Love and Doughnuts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)

    as The Baker

  • She Sighed by the Seaside (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)

    as The Lifeguard

  • A Small Town Idol (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)

    as Sam Smith

  • The Quack Doctor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1920)

    as The Justice of the Peace

  • Married Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1920)

    as Rodney St. Clair - a Man's Man

  • Down on the Farm (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1920)

    as The Faithful Wife's Husband

  • Charlie Butts In (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1920)

    Actor

  • Up in Alf's Place (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

    as Oswald Planter - Mortician

  • Trying to Get Along (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

    as Freeloading Customer

  • Yankee Doodle in Berlin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

    as A Prussian Guardsman

  • Cupid's Day Off (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

    as 1st Shoe Salesman

  • She Loved Him Plenty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1918)

    Actor

  • Chase Me Charlie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1918)

    as Ben

  • Sheriff Nell's Tussle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1918)

    as Honest Eyed Jack - Still After Her

  • Watch Your Neighbor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1918)

    as Banana Peel Victim

  • That Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

    Actor

  • Are Waitresses Safe? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

    as Ralph - Who Loved Her So

  • Roping Her Romeo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

    as Honest Eyed Jack - a Poor Butterfly

  • A Bedroom Blunder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

    as Hotel Desk Clerk

  • The Pawnbroker's Heart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

    as The Pawnshop Janitor

  • Lost: A Cook (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

    as Pest Guest

  • A Clever Dummy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

    as A Romantic Janitor

  • Caught in the End (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

    as Superintent of the Union Squar Fish Ball Co

  • Bucking the Tiger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

    as The Grand Ruin

  • Masked Mirth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

    as Suffern Phatt

  • When Ben Bolted (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

    Actor

  • His Bogus Boast (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

    Actor

  • A Studio Stampede (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

    as Vic

  • The Butcher's Nightmare (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

    as The Butcher

  • The Musical Marvel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay · as Dickie, the pianist

  • Picture Pirates (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)

    as 2nd Ne'er-Do-Well

  • He Died and He Didn't (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)

    as The Gambler

  • Poultry à la Mode (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)

    as Ben

  • Doctoring a Leak (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)

    as 1st Plumber

  • The Stolen Booking (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)

    as Ben

  • A Burlesque on Carmen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    as Remendados

  • A Christmas Revenge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    as Loafer

  • Snakeville’s Champion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    as Bloggie

  • Broncho Billy's Love Affair (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    Actor

  • Too Much Turkey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    as The Neighbor

  • Versus Sledge Hammers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    as The Count's Valet

  • Broncho Billy Steps In (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    Actor

  • Sweedie's Finish (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    Actor

  • Sweedie's Hero (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    as The Bellboy

  • Sweedie in Vaudeville (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    Actor

  • A Coat Tale (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    Actor

  • Curiosity (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    as The Lunatic

  • Sweedie Learns to Ride (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    as Sweedie's Romeo

  • Love and Trouble (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    as Sweedie's Beau

  • The Champion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    as Ringside vendor

  • Sweedie's Hopeless Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    as The Grocery Boy

  • A Night Out (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    as Fellow Reveller

  • Sweedie Goes to College (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    as Sweedie's Romeo

  • His New Job (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    as Film Extra, in Anteroom

  • Two Hearts That Beat as Ten (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    Actor

  • Sweedie and Her Dog (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    as Captain of the Dog Catchers

  • Sweedie's Suicide (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    as Police Captain

  • Sweedie and the Sultan's Present (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    as Swipes, her husband

  • Sweedie Collects for Charity (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    as Mr. Tightwad

  • Their Cheap Vacation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    Actor

  • Madame Double X (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    as Mr. Von Crooks Jr.

  • Sweedie and the Hypnotist (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    as The Hypnotist

  • Sweedie at the Fair (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    as Captain of the Police

  • Countess Sweedie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    as The Waiter

  • Sweedie the Trouble Maker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    as Captain of the Police

  • The Laundress (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    as His Assistant

  • The Fable of the 'People's Choice Who Answered the Call of Duty and Took Seltzer' (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    Actor

  • She Landed a Big One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    as The Chief of Police

  • Sweedie Learns to Swim (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    as Captain of Life Savers

  • The Fickleness of Sweedie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    as Police Captain

  • Golf Champion 'Chick' Evans Links with Sweedie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    as The Captain

  • Sweedie's Clean-Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    as The Chief of Police

  • Sweedie's Skate (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    as Captain

  • Sweedie Springs a Surprise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    as Mr. Prim

  • Sweedie and the Double Exposure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    Actor

  • The Fable of the Busy Business Boy and the Droppers-in (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    Actor

  • Sweedie the Swatter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    Actor

  • Sweedie and the Lord (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    Actor

  • The Usual Way (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1913)

    as Secondary Role

  • The Hidden Treasure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1912)

    as Puddlefoot Pete

  • The Hobble Skirt (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1910)

    as Happy Mike

  • You Saved My Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1910)

    Actor

  • Mr. Flip (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1909)

    as Mr. Flip

  • A Mexican's Gratitude (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1909)

    Actor

  • Tag Day (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1909)

    as The Tramp

  • The Haunted Lounge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1909)

    as Tramp

  • The Neighbors' Kids (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1909)

    as Servant

  • Oh! What Lungs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1908)

    Actor

  • An Awful Skate; or, The Hobo on Rollers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1907)

    as The Hobo

Career shape

Star power in the 87th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 150 titles from 1907 to 1982.

Highest rated

Saps at Sea (1940)

Midcredits 82nd

Most popular right now

Ça c'est du cinéma (1951)

Film career

  • 1915Screen debut· His New Job

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting150 of 150: 149 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score56thDirecting1 of 150: 0 only directing, 1 with another roleWriting1 of 150: 0 only writing, 1 with another roleProducing1 of 150: 0 only producing, 1 with another role

By decade

1900s7 · acting1910s75 · 75 acting · 1 crew1920s42 · acting1930s15 · acting1940s4 · acting1950s4 · acting1960s2 · acting1980s1 · acting

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 0% of 6 roles

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

How do Ben Turpin's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 56th percentile, the median of all 5; across their 5 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 55th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

55thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 5

Approval · how many liked their films

55thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 5

Reach · how many have seen their films

32ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 5

Midcredits score across 5 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up2
  • 50th to 74th1
  • 25th to 49th1
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

3 of their 5 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Panned1
  • Crowd Pleaser3
  • Mixed1

Most divisive · actor

Ça c'est du cinéma (1951)

60th percentile spread · 71% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

When Comedy Was King (1960)

Midcredits 83rd · 76% liked

Reviewers score the acting 70/100 in their films, across 4 reviewed titles; fans 79, detractors 43. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Ben Turpin work with?

People who share at least 2 of Ben Turpin's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Oliver Hardy shares the most, 3.

Actors

Mixed roles