Bud Ross

Aaron Crawford Ross, known professionally as Bud Ross, was born on November 8, 1868, and died on March 19, 1932. An American actor, comedian, and screenwriter, he worked across stage, vaudeville, and silent film throughout his career.

Ross began performing in musical comedies and vaudeville during the 1880s. His Broadway career spanned from 1897 to 1900 and included appearances in the musicals Miss Manhattan and Aunt Hannah. The latter production, in which he starred, ran at the Bijou Theatre in 1900. Aunt Hannah was composed by A. Baldwin Sloane, with lyrics by Clay M. Greene and a book by Matthew J. Royal.

Ross transitioned to film with his screen debut in the silent picture The Burglar's Dilemma in 1912. He subsequently appeared in A Sprig of Shamrock (1913) and supported actress Cissy Fitzgerald in addition to taking starring roles in comedies of his own. In 1915 he appeared in Pool Sharks and His Lordship's Dilemma, the first two films of W. C. Fields. His filmography from that period also includes Alias Mr. Jones (1916).

Beginning in 1917, Ross worked at Vim Comedy Company and King-Bee Films, where he appeared alongside a young Oliver Hardy and comedian Billy West, who was known as a Chaplin impersonator. Ross and Hardy collaborated as both writers and performers on Tootsies and Tamales (1919). His writing credits extended further when he co-wrote a number of Peggy comedies in 1925. By the late 1920s, Ross was primarily taking supporting roles in productions associated with Mack Sennett, including the Raymond McKee Smith Family comedy series.