Buster Keaton

By the time Buster Keaton entered the family business, at the age of five, he’d already learned to take a fall before most tots finish teething. Years later, as one of the kings of silent comedy, he learned to speak volumes without ever saying a word. Both on and off set, Keaton moved—floated, really—with a grace that defied physical science and defined comportment. He was a comedian but never a clown. And his clothing, as well as the classic formality with which he pulled himself together, made it clear this man took himself quite seriously. From the three-piece suits to the wing collars he matched perfectly to any manner of tie, Keaton affected the same understated elegance in his dress that made his on-screen choreography seem so charmed. And above it all, there was the porkpie hat, customized by Keaton himself, shading his eyes and that indelible, soulful stare.—RAFI KOHAN