91³Ô¹ÏÍø

Person    | Male  Born 16/4/1889  Died 25/12/1977

Charlie Chaplin

Categories: Cinema, Seriously Famous

Countries: Switzerland, USA

Charlie Chaplin

Born Charles Spencer Chaplin in East Street, Walworth (possibly, see ). Comic actor, composer, director and producer. Born into a music hall family. He joined a troupe of child dancers, 'Eight Lancashire Lads' at the age of 8. At 17, whilst on tour in America, he joined the Mack Sennett Keystone Company motion picture company. His acting technique was characterised by a high degree of pathos, accentuated in the then silent movies, but he was unwilling later to adapt his style to the 'talkies'. His success enabled him to co-found United Artists in 1919. His major films included The Tramp (1915), Shoulder Arms (1918), The Gold Rush (1925), City Lights (1931), Modern Times (1936) and The Great Dictator (1940). Became immensely famous and claimed that the only person he met who had not seen his films was Gandhi. 1952 left the US for a premier in London but, due to his supposed left-leaning political views (this being the McCarthy era), he was refused re-entry to the States and he went to live in Switzerland, where he died. He returned just once to receive an honorary Oscar in 1972. He was knighted in 1975.

Don't believe everything you read, especially about his poverty-stricken childhood - he embroidered shamelessly. For example his mother died in California in 1928, not when he was a baby. One story we hope is true: The Nazis, troubled by his success, asserted that he was Jewish. On being told this Chaplin replied "I do not have that honour."

Even his birth place is in doubt. According to the his birth certificate has never been found and there are papers that suggest he was born near Birmingham.

January 2013 carries a wonderful article on Charlie in Spittalfields.

tells the story of how Chaplin's body was stolen from the Swiss cemetery for ransom. (No money was paid, the culprits were arrested and Chaplin was reburied in a concrete grave.)

2022: report on Chaplin's time, aged 7, as a pupil at a school for destitute children in Ealing.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Charlie Chaplin

Commemorated ati

Chaplin - Lambeth Walk

The BFI date the Hippodrome performance to Christmas 1900. The quote about a ...

91³Ô¹ÏÍø

Chaplin mosaics 1

Southbank Mosaics

91³Ô¹ÏÍø

Chaplin mosaics 2

This image is from the 1918 'A Dog's Life'.

91³Ô¹ÏÍø

Show all 13

Other Subjects

Sir Cecil Beaton

Sir Cecil Beaton

Photographer, painter, interior designer and designer for stage and screen. Born 21 Langland Gardens, Hampstead. Excelling in a number of art forms he had equally catholic tastes in his affairs, wi...

Person, Cinema, Craft / Design, Photography, Seriously Famous, Theatre

3 memorials
Harry H. Corbett OBE

Harry H. Corbett OBE

Actor.  Son of an army officer he was born in Burma.  The Son of Wilfrid Brambell in the TV series 'Steptoe and Son'.  Died Hastings. Not to be confused with Harry Corbett, Sooty and Sweep's handler.

Person, Cinema, Humour, TV & Radio, Burma

1 memorial
Peter Cushing

Peter Cushing

Actor. Born Peter Wilton Cushing in Kenley, Surrey. After playing small roles on stage, he went to America where he performed in several films, including one with Laurel and Hardy. Returning to Bri...

Person, Cinema, Theatre, TV & Radio, USA

1 memorial
Tony Moss

Tony Moss

Former President of the Cinema Theatre Association.

Person, Cinema

1 memorial
Wilfred Day

Wilfred Day

Cinema historian. His collection is now held at the Cinémathèque Française which has an on-line catalogue. Founded the Anima Masonic Lodge in November 1912, whose membership was entirely connected ...

Person, Cinema, History, TV & Radio

1 memorial