The Comic

A funny new motion picture that tells Hollywood like it was!

An account of the rise and fall of a silent film comic, Billy Bright. The movie begins with his funeral, as he speaks from beyond the grave in a bitter tone about his fate, and takes us through his fame, as he ruins it with womanizing and drink, and his fall, as a lonely, bitter old man unable to reconcile his life's disappointments. The movie is based loosely on the life of Buster Keaton.

Comedy Drama

Dick Van Dyke

(Billy Bright)

Michele Lee

(Mary Gibson)

Mickey Rooney

(Cockeye)

Cornel Wilde

(Frank Powers)

Nina Wayne

(Sybil Atlas)

Pert Kelton

(Mama Bell)

Steve Allen

(Steve Allen)

Barbara Heller

(Ginger)

Ed Peck

(Edwin G. Englehardt)

Jeannine Riley

(Lorraine Bell)

Gavin MacLeod

(1st Director)

Jay Novello

(Miguel)

Craig Huebing

(Doctor)

Paulene Myers

(Phoebe)

Fritz Feld

(Armand)

Jerome Cowan

(Lawrence)

Isabel Sanford

(Woman)

Jeff Donnell

(Nurse)

Carl Reiner

(Al Schilling)

Howard Dayton

(Ketchup Man)

Maurice Dallimore

(Lord Faversham)

Mantan Moreland

(Passerby at Billy's Funeral (unbilled))

Frank Adamo

(Minor Role (uncredited))

Lillian Adams

(Old Lady (uncredited))

Priscilla Ann

(Consuela (uncredited))

Robert Ball

(Mike Fields (uncredited))

Rex Benson

(Minor Role (uncredited))

Mel Berger

(Fatso / Dental Patient (uncredited))

Jack Berle

(Minor Role (uncredited))

Frank Biro

(Fred - Director (uncredited))

Nick Borgani

(Premiere Guest (uncredited))

William Boyce

(Minor Role (uncredited))

Paul Bradley

(Funeral Guest (uncredited))

Peter Brocco

(Minister (uncredited))

Linda Burton

(Minor Role (uncredited))

Patrick Campbell

(Funeral Director (uncredited))

Calvin Coolidge

(Self (archive footage) (uncredited))

Suzanne Covington

(Minor Role (uncredited))

Billy Curtis

(Lifeguard in Film (uncredited))

Luis Delgado

(Minor Role (uncredited))

Peter Eastman

(Screening Room Executive (uncredited))

Joyce Easton

(French Maid (uncredited))

Geoff Edwards

(Late Night Movie Host (uncredited))

Lynn Fields

(Mailbox Gag (uncredited))

Harry Fleer

(Cop (uncredited))

Paul Frees

(Newsreel Narrator / Commerical Announcer / Man in Restaurant (voice))

Leonard Frey

(Talk Show Guest (uncredited))

Sig Frohlich

(Minor Role (uncredited))

Ben Frommer

(Mexican Barfly (uncredited))

Dee Gardner

(Minor Role (uncredited))

Eddie Garrett

(Restaurant Patron (uncredited))

Bobby Gilbert

(Minor Role (uncredited))

The Great John L.

(Burly Man (uncredited))

Clive Halliday

(Butler (uncredited))

Alvin Hammer

(Cameraman (uncredited))

Carter Harbaugh

(Tommy (uncredited))

Andre Hemmers

(Minor Role (uncredited))

Brick Huston

(Still Photographer (uncredited))

Scott James

(Billy Jr. (uncredited))

Stardedt Kaava

(Minor Role (uncredited))

Lou Kane

(Storekeeper (uncredited))

Suzie Kaye

(Amanda Lou Phipps (uncredited))

Kenner G. Kemp

(Theatre Doorman (uncredited))

Walter Kightly

(Minor Role (uncredited))

Joseph La Cava

(Restaurant Patron (uncredited))

Ethelreda Leopold

(Restaurant Patron (uncredited))

Marilyn Malloy

(Nurse (uncredited))

Alan Marston

(Restaurant Patron (uncredited))

Frank Mathias

(Hearse Driver (uncredited))

Kres Mersky

(Bathing Beauty (uncredited))

Celeste Michaels

(Girl in Miniskirt (uncredited))

Howard Morris

(Pedestrian Gag Man in 'Love Honor and Oh Boy' (uncredited))

Ottola Nesmith

(Housekeeper (uncredited))

William H. O'Brien

(Funeral Guest (uncredited))

Angel Pine

(Minor Role (uncredited))

Murray Pollack

(Wedding Guest (uncredited))

Ward Ramsey

(Officer (uncredited))

Bob Rhodes

(Cameraman (uncredited))

Christopher Ross

(Musician (uncredited))

Mark Russell

(Minor Role (uncredited))

Paul Russell

(Funeral Guest (uncredited))

Cosmo Sardo

(Pallbearer at Funeral (uncredited))

Joe Sawyers

(Driver (uncredited))

Jeffrey Sayre

(Pallbearer at Funeral (uncredited))

Johnny Silver

(Little Man (uncredited))

Ralph Smiley

(Hot Dog Man (uncredited))

Irene Tedrow

(Billy's Mother in 'Forget Me Not' (uncredited))

Viki Vigen

(Little Girl (uncredited))

Johnny Weissmüller

(Jungle Jim (archive footage) (uncredited))

Jean Willes

(Denise in Film Clip (archive footage) (uncredited))

Dick Winslow

(Organist (uncredited))

Bill Zuckert

(Prison Warden in Film (uncredited))