Hilliard "Fat" Karr was a comedian who gained fame in the silent film era, particularly for his appearances in two-reel slapstick comedies alongside Frank Alexander and Kewpie Ross, as part of F.B.O.'s "Ton of Fun" series.
Born in Houston, Texas, Karr began his career in the film industry with the Florida Film Corp., starring in the 1919 film "A Dumbwaiter Scandal". He later worked for Metropolitan Pictures Corp., Universal, and Coffin Productions, appearing in Westerns and comedies.
In 1924, Karr started working with Century Film Corp., where he made comedy shorts with directors Edward Ludwig and Charles Lamont. He also appeared in the Buster Brown short "Educating Buster" and the Western "The Circus Cyclone".
Karr's most notable work was as part of the comedy team "Ton of Fun", alongside Alexander and Ross, from 1925 to 1928. The team made 34 shorts, many with titles featuring the word "Heavy", such as "The Heavy Parade" and "Heavy Infants".
The "Ton of Fun" team was known for their anarchic comedy and physical humor, often featuring sight gags and slapstick. Karr's character, "Fatty", was billed alongside Alexander's "Fatty" and Ross's "Kewpie", and the team was advertised as the "three fattest men on the screen".
After the "Ton of Fun" series ended, Karr continued to work in film, appearing in supporting roles in F.B.O. and R.K.O. productions, before retiring from the industry. He died in Dallas, Texas on October 5, 1945, at the age of 45.
