This Day in Humor with Mike Durrett


Born 1886: Chester Conklin, circus clown and film comedian, made his first movie in 1913 at the Keystone studios, where he was one of the famed Keystone Kops. Easily recognizable for his gigantic "walrus" moustache, Conklin originated the disguise to alter his youthful features and it remained to become his lifelong trademark. Appearing in supporting or bit roles generally -- with notable periods alongside Charlie Chaplin and W.C. Fields -- he worked in more than 225 movies through the silent and sound eras until 1966. It's often reported that he helped Chaplin configure the famous Tramp costume. Died 1971.

1927: "Charlie Chaplin's $16 million estate is frozen by court receivers after his second wife, Lita Grey Chaplin, sues for divorce," reports HistoryChannel.com. "Lita was a 16-year-old hopeful actress when the 35-year-old Chaplin married her in 1924. The bitter and prolonged divorce ended a three-year marriage with a $1 million settlement."

Born 1966: Kim Coles, comic actress, featured during the first season of the "In Living Color" sketch show (1990) and as Synclaire James-Jones on "Living Single" (1993-98).

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