And he made others laugh!

Roscoe Conkling "Fatty" Arbuckle
24 March 1887 - 29 June 1933
mentored Charlie Chaplin, discovered Buster

Keaton and Bob Hope, contemporary of
Harold Lloyd.

My wife cannot understand why I keep on watching murder movies (the spouse is the usual perpetrator) and even reading crime dramas, like the current one I am reading on 'Crimes of the Century'. I simply tell her, " You never know when it may come in handy!"
I read this sad true story of a silent movie star (Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle) who had a sad life from birth, achieved unenviable stardom as a comedian and got entangled in a nasty murder case which made him a pariah amongst the movie industry and drained all his earnings.
He was born as a 13lbs baby raising suspicion on paternity by his father that he actually named him Roscoe Conkling, after a philandering politician whom he despised (the exact name)! His mother never recovered from the traumatic birth. She became chronically ill and died 12years later. His father refused to care for him after her death needing him to fend for himself. Roscoe had been called 'Fatty' all his life as he remained big. He was however quite agile and could sing well. So when a fat slob sang with an angelic voice, it naturally excited a singer who took him under his wings. And the next thing that happened was that he was a bumbling comedian after an accidental fall into the orchestra while performing! And he became the first performer to gross $1million annually!
All that came to zilch one fateful day when he feted his friends with drinks at the a room in a hotel that he rented. America, at that time was going through a period of self-realization and self righteousness. It banned liquor beverages of more 2.9% alcohol content; that started the many gangs and corrupt enforcers.
Among the many invitees were also gatecrashers. An aspiring actress of questionable reputation got intoxicated and Roscoe helped her to the rest in one room. The next thing thing he knew was that the girl was dead due to a ruptured bladder and peritonitis. Her companion with a history of giving false evidence in court vouched for Roscoe to be sexually involved in her demise!
That started the never ending saga of trial by journalist, question of decline of morality in US and the film fraternity with their hands all dirty, three trials, Roscoe losing  all his saving, Roscoe's movies being banned on both sides of the Atlantic and essentially a fall from grace that Roscoe never recovered. In spite of the long trials, Roscoe could not be convicted but instead was issued an apology by the courts.
His clean bill could not undo the damage done by the press. He tried to make a comeback as a director with a pseudonym with little success.
He died an unhappy man at the age of 46 battling the bottle, in his sleep.

The jury statement as read by the jury foreman stated:

Acquittal is not enough for Roscoe Arbuckle. We feel that a great injustice has been done to him... there was not the slightest proof adduced to connect him in any way with the commission of a crime. He was manly throughout the case and told a straightforward story which we all believe. We wish him success and hope that the American people will take the judgement of fourteen men and women that Roscoe Arbuckle is entirely innocent and free from all blame.