If you’re anything resembling a cinephile, it’s extremely likely that you’ve heard the name Buster Keaton. Born Joseph Frank Keaton in 1895, he was one of the brightest stars of the silent film era, and his penchant for hilarious physical comedy while wearing a deadpan expression earned him the nickname “The Great Stone Face.” Even today, many film critics consider him to be among the greatest actor-directors of all time, so it’s quite surprising that he hailed from a small town in the Sunflower State that’s barely a speck on the map! There are plenty of famous people from Kansas, but most of them are from our larger cities, not places as tiny as little Piqua, Kansas.

If you've never heard of Piqua, don't feel bad. The little unincorporated community has only about 90 residents.
KDOT/Wikimedia Commons
It was established in 1882, one of the numerous railroad towns that dotted the Kansas landscape around that time.
It's located in Woodson County and isn't far from the county seat of Yates Center.
J. Stephen Conn/Flickr
This is an agricultural area. Though Woodson County is small, it's home to nearly 300 farms.
Piqua Co-Op

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Keaton didn't have an extensive family history in Kansas. His mother, Myra Keaton, was a vaudeville performer and she just happened to be in Piqua when she went into labor.
J. Willis Sayre Collection of Theatrical Photographs/Wikimedia Commons
He grew up touring the country performing in his family's vaudeville act.
Throughout the 1910s, Keaton began transitioning into silent film acting. By the 1920s, he was one of the biggest stars in the medium.
Paramount Pictures/Wikimeida Commons
Pictured is a still from the 1918 Western satire "Out West."
Keaton's career faded some after poor business decisions, but he had a resurgence in popularity after television appearances in the 1940s and 1950s.
Bain News Service/Library of Congress/Wikimedia Commons
He passed away in 1966 from lung cancer and is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Hollywood Hills.

Though Buster Keaton may have not spent much time in the state, the fact remains that he is one of the most famous big-name celebrities from Kansas!

We love hearing about famous people from Kansas – share your favorites in the comments!

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Piqua, KS 66761, USA