Albert Austin

In the U.S. from 1912 with the famous Fred Karno troupe, gangly British music-hall comic Albert Austin appeared in stock in Denver, CO, for two years before joining fellow Karno comedian Charles Chaplin at Mutual in 1916. One of Chaplin's closest associates, Austin was the shop assistant in The Floorwalker (1916), the trombone player in The Vagabond (1916), and the cab driver in One A. M. (1916). He continued to work for Chaplin through 1931's City Lights, often functioning as an assistant director. During the notoriously long delays in filming, Austin would direct or co-direct such other Chaplin regulars as child stars Jackie Coogan and Dean Reisner. Working as a gag writer in the early sound era, Austin ended his career as a guard at Warner Bros. in Burbank, CA. His brother, William Austin, also enjoyed a long Hollywood career, often playing foppish characters.