Ford Sterling (November 3, 1883 – October 13, 1939) was an American comedian and actor best known for his work with Keystone Studios. One of the ‘Big 4’ he was the original chief of the Keystone Cops. Born George Franklin Stich in La Crosse, Wisconsin, he began his career in silent films in 1911 with Biograph Studios. When director Mack Sennett left to set up Keystone Studios, Sterling followed him. There, he performed as ‘Chief Teeheezel’ in the Keystone Cops series of slapstick comedies in a successful career that spanned twenty-five years. Making a smooth transition to talking films, Ford Sterling made the last of his more than two hundred and seventy film appearances in 1936.In 1905 he got his start on the stage in the play “Breaking Into Society.” He then moved to California and in 1911 began his career in silent films with Biograph Studios. After director Mack Sennett left to set up Keystone Studios, he followed him and there he performed as ‘Chief Teeheezel’ in the Keystone Cops series of slapstick comedies in a successful career that spanned twenty-five years. In 1914 he co-founded the Sterling Film Company with director and cinematographer Fred J. Balshofer. A prolific actor, he appeared in over 275 films during his career, most notably “Tango Tangle” (1914), “Between Showers” (1914), and “The Show Off” (1926). His last film was “The Headline Woman” (1935, with Heather Angel). Ford Sterling died from a heart attack at the age of 55 following a long battle with diabetes. California and is interred in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. For his contribution to the motion picture industry, Ford Sterling has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6612 Hollywood Blvd.