Eric Stonestreet, Cinemax Team for Fatty Arbuckle Telefilm

Eric McCandless/ABCEric Stonestreet Modern Family star Eric Stonestreet is directing his inner Fizbo the Clown for Cinemax. The actor is mounted on star within the Day the Laughter Stopped, a telefilm in development at Cinemax Films turning around quiet film star Fatty Arbuckle. John Adams author Kirk Ellis is aboard to pen the project, with Craig Levinson aboard to direct the telepic in line with the book by David A. Yallop. Arbuckle (1887-1933) would be a quiet film star, comedian, director and film writer who mentored Charile Chaplin and discovered Buster Keaton and Bob Hope. The most popular comedian also had his troubles: in 1921 Arbuckle was charged with raping and accidentally killing actress Virginia Rappe and was attempted on her dying three occasions. Though he was found innocent, the scandal affected his career and labored moderately within the 20's. The Cinemax telepic would span his rise to fame and subsequent fall. "Additionally that I'm from Kansas and that he's from Kansas, I simply always found it this type of fascinating and tragic story," Stonestreet told Vulture. "He went out of this jolly individual who fell lower and entertained people right into a sexual deviant. It's a genuine story people don't learn about, having a twist." Ellis, Levinson, Stonestreet, Ron West, Chris Henze, Christine Vachon and Steve Kavovit take presctiption board as executive producers. Email: Lesley.Goldberg@thr.com Twitter: @Snoodit RELATED: Julianne Moore Eyes Cinemax Period Drama 'Dope' Eric Stonestreet Modern Family Cinemax Films