Mack Sennett (January 17, 1880 – November 5, 1960) was a Canadian-born American[1] director and actor and was known as the innovator ofslapstick comedy in film. During his lifetime he was known at times asthe "King of Comedy". His short "Wrestling Swordfish" was awarded theAcademy Award for Best Live Action Short Film in 1932 and he earnedan Academy Honorary Award in 1937.[2]
Early life
Born as Mikall (or Michael) Sinnott in Danville, Quebec, Canada, theson of Irish Catholic immigrant farmers, his father was a blacksmith inthe small Eastern Townships village. When he was 17 years old hisfamily moved to Connecticut.
The family lived for a time in Northampton, Massachusetts, where,according to his autobiography, Sennett first got the idea to become anopera singer after seeing a vaudeville show. He claimed that the mostrespected lawyer in town, Northampton mayor (and future President of the United States) Calvin Coolidge, as well as Sennett's own mother,tried to talk him out of his musical ambitions.[3]
In New York City, Sennett became an actor, singer, dancer, clown, setdesigner and director for Biograph. A major distinction in his actingcareer, often overlooked, is the fact that Sennett played Sherlock Holmes 11 times, albeit as a parody, between 1911 and1913.[citation needed]