Trivia

Housman was one of two actors of the time who was famous for playing drunks, the other being Jack Norton. In real life Norton didn't drink at all, while Housman unfortunately developed a serious drinking problem.

Slim, aristocratic actor who, after the advent of talking pictures, specialized in playing a comical drunk.

Jack's Joke (1913) and The Edison Minstrels (1913) are two of Housman's early films that have been found and restored.

Started in vaudeville and on stage in New York and worked in silent comedies at Edison, Selig and Fox. Starred in his own series of 'Housman Comedies' in the 1920s, of which one, Male Wanted (1923), is apparently the only survivor.

Stan Laurel remarked that while he never saw Arthur sober he never saw him as he performed in films and he was in 5 with The Boys.

While other screen drunks were teetotal Arthur was a drinker.

While other screen drunks were invariably sober Arthur was a drinker.

He made 5 films with Laurel and Hardy.

Stan Laurel remarked that while he never saw Arthur sober he never saw him as he was in films.