Charlie Chaplin

Charles Chaplin popularly known as Charlie Chaplin was born on 16th April 1889 in London, England. He was an English actor and filmmaker. He is popularly known for his silent comedy in the silent era and is an important personality in the history of the movie industry, his works and contributions to the world cinema can never be forgotten. His parents were musical artists and performed shows. Chaplin’s spent his childhood in poverty and deprivation; his father left him, and his mother couldn’t support him financially. He was sent to a workhouse to perform jobs so that he could have the basic necessities. His mother was taken to a mental asylum due to her depriving health and abnormal behavior. Chaplin’s story of rising to riches from the rags is the most dramatic story ever told.

Chaplin began to perform at a very young age, at the age of 19; he was hired by Fred Karno, who took him to America where he later worked for Keystone Studios. Before Chaplin started to work as an actor, he worked at different areas to strengthen his art of comedy and sharpen himself as a stage performer, which ultimately led him to deliver some of the greatest and finest works in the history of world cinema. Chaplin founded United Artists in 1919 which gave him the full authority to his movies. He continued making silent movies and even portrayed as Adolf Hitler in the movie, The Great Dictator.

The 1940 era was full of ups and downs for Chaplin his popularity declined due to the communist issue, the paternity suit filed and his attraction to younger women and ultimately marrying them led to his decline. Chaplin was forced to leave US when an FBI investigation was set against him who led him to settle in Switzerland. After Chaplin had risen to fame, Keystone couldn’t afford his demand of salary hike which ultimately led him to leave. Later in 1917, in spite of receiving offers from different firms the best for Chaplin came at $10,000 a week from Mutual. The firm wanted to give what the public demanded, so they gave them Chaplin’s work fulfilling their dream of seeing him work. A Dog’s Life was Chaplin’s initial work under the current firm which was at the time when he considered the homeless person as a sort of sad clown. He raised funds for the Allied forces and donated them to the Government. On December 25th, 1977 Chaplin has his last breath as he suffered a stroke while he was asleep. He had 11 children from different women he married.

During his last years, he was married to Oona O’ Neill.