In 1921, the 320-pound silent comedy star and former Keystone Kop allegedly caused the death of a young starlet, Virginia Rappe, fiancee of the director of some of Arbuckle’s films.
At a wild party in San Francisco, Rappe went into convulsions, supposedly the result of a sexual assault by Arbuckle.
She died a few days later.
Arbuckle stood trial for manslaughter; two trials ended in hung juries, the third acquitted him.
But the notoriety ended his career. He died forgotten in 1933.