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.
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.