Anecdotes

Was Chief of the original Keystone Kops.

He was actually quite handsome in real life, but in the Keystone Kops and Mack Sennett shorts that he appeared in, he would disguise his true appearance with glasses and a goatee, as well as fake eyebrows.

Harold Lloyd called Sterling "the funniest man in movies".

As a boy he ran away from home to join John Robinson's circus.

Would travel yearly to England to buy clothes.

Was an accomplished photographer, painter, sculptor and cartoonist.

Began his career as a circus clown.

Was considered one of America's leading artistic photographers by critics on both sides of the Atlantic.

Raised German Shepherds, Scotties, and Persian cats.

Was called "the best dressed man in Hollywood".

Co-founded, with Fred J. Balshofer, the Sterling Film Co. in 1914.

Early in his career with Sennett, he often appeared as comic Dutch or German characters, replete with top hat, frock coat, goatee and wire-framed glasses.

Off screen pseudonym: Albert Williams

Performed on Mississippi River show boats.

Owned a villa in Nice, France.

During his time with the circus he was known as "Keno, the Boy Clown".

In early publicity material for the 1926 Paramount Picture "Mantrap" Ford Sterling is listed in the cast. He eventually did not appear in the movie.

Variety, August 16, 1939: Ford Sterling's left leg amputated as a result of infection.

One late night, in June 1915, Edward Dillon came home to find his bungalow on fire, as Sterling, W.E. Lawrence, Chester Withey, Irene Hunt, Walter Long, Teddy Sampson, George Siegmann, Fay Tincher, Franc Newman and George Beranger, all wearing pajamas, tried to put out the flames. Their work was praised by the Los Angeles fire department, which found that the blaze had been caused by crossed wires, causing apparently serious damage.