COMEDIANS BEHIND BARS (PART ONE)

Over the last four weeks, I published four articles (one a week) featuring a list of famous people who've been charged with breaking the law. Two of these articles only listed musicians (click here and here to check those out), whereas the other two only listed actors (click here and here to do the same). So, in the name of fairness, I thought that it would be a jolly good idea to do a similar thing once again, but this time only list comedians who've been charged with at least one crime. A comedian like Bill Hicks, for instance, who in 1990 was arrested for using explicit language and talking about controversial topics in one of his shows. Want to know more? Then please have a look at this 👇.

Fatty Arbuckle (Roscoe Conkling Arbuckle)

Born: March 24, 1887, in Smith Center, Kansas, USA / Claim to fame: Comedian, actor, director, and screenwriter / Some of their popular films: 'Coney Island' (1917), 'Good Night, Nurse!' (1918), and 'Leap Year' (1924) / Years active: 1904 to 1933

Summary of the crime: Fatty was accused of raping and accidentally killing the actress, Virginia Rappe, who fell ill during a party he was hosting and then died four days later from a ruptured bladder and secondary peritonitis / Charged with: First-degree murder, which was later changed to manslaughter / Date and location: September 1921, in San Francisco, California, USA / Outcome: After three trials, he was acquitted, but unfortunately Fatty's career never fully recovered from the scandal.

Charlie Chaplin (Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin KBE)

Born: April 16, 1889, in Walworth, London, UK / Claim to fame: Comedian, actor, director, composer, screenwriter, and creator of his regular on-screen persona, the Tramp / Some of their popular films: 'The Kid' (1921), 'City Lights' (1931), and 'The Great Dictator' (1940) / Years active: 1899 to 1975

Summary of the crime: An aspiring actress named Joan Barry accused Charlie of transporting her across state lines and having sexual intercourse with her, which resulted in the birth of her daughter, Carol Ann / Charged with: Violation of the Mann Act, which prohibits transporting individuals across state lines for immoral purposes, along with a paternity suit / Date and location: March 1944, in Los Angeles, California, USA / Outcome: Despite dropping his alleged violation of the Mann Act and proving that he wasn't Carol Ann's biological father with blood tests, the jury ruled against Charlie and he was ordered to pay child support until she turned 21, which he did.

Richard Pryor (Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor Sr.)

Born: December 1, 1940, in Peoria, Illinois, USA / Claim to fame: Stand-up comedian, actor, and screenwriter / Some of their popular films: 'Stir Crazy' (1980), 'Superman III' (1983), and 'Harlem Nights' (1989) / Years active: 1963 to 1999

Summary of the crime: While backstage at a nightclub in Pittsburgh's Hill District, Richard got into a confrontation with a female singer, who then decided to report their altercation to the police / Charged with: Assault and battery / Date and location: January 1963, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA / Outcome: He was found guilty and served ninety days in the Allegheny County Jail.

Lenny Bruce (Leonard Alfred Schneider)

Born: October 13, 1925, in Mineola, New York State, USA / Claim to fame: Stand-up comedian, actor, and social critic / Some of their popular films: 'Dance Hall Racket' (1953), 'Dream Follies' (1954), and 'The Leather Jacket' (1955) / Years active: 1947 to 1966

Summary of the crime: Following his performance at The Unicorn nightclub, Lenny's act was deemed obscene by the local authorities in attendance because he used explicit language and talked about controversial topics / Charged with: Obscenity / Date and location: February 1963, in Los Angeles, California, USA / Outcome: Even though his trial ended in a mistrial, Lenny continued to face legal challenges for the remainder of his life and was eventually convicted of obscenity in a separate trial in October of the same year, which led to his decline.

George Carlin (George Denis Patrick Carlin)

Born: May 12, 1937, in Manhattan, New York City, USA / Claim to fame: Stand-up comedian, actor, social critic, and author / Some of their popular films: 'Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure' (1989), 'Dogma' (1999), and 'Jersey Girl' (2004) / Years active: 1959 to 2008

Summary of the crime: George went on stage and performed a stand-up routine he called, 'Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television', which included words considered indecent by many people, especially the authorities present, who then arrested him / Charged with: Obscenity / Date and location: July 1972, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA / Outcome: The charge was dropped on the grounds of free speech.

So, what do you think of all that, folks? What do you think of this list of comedians who've been charged with breaking the law? Are you sad to see Charlie Chaplin on this list? (😢) Or are you happy to find out that George Carlin beat the rap? (✌) Either way, please feel free to leave your thoughts in the comment section below.