Chaplin, Sir Charles Spencer

Chaplin, Sir Charles Spencer (1889-1977), film comedian, b. Kennington, London.

Charlie Chaplin began his career on the stage at the age of eight.

In 1914 he went to Hollywood in the United States and began making films.

At this time, short comedy films were very popular and Chaplin made thirty-five in his first year in Hollywood.

He appeared as a tramp with a small moustache, a tight jacket, a bowler hat, large boots and a walking cane.

Soon he began making full-length films, always as the tramp, and he became famous all over the world.

All his early films were silent. In 1940 he made his first 'talking picture', The Great Dictator, and in this appeared for the first time as a different person than the tramp.

Since then he directed and produced several movies. He is looked upon as one of the greatest of all comedians.

See Jeffrey Vance Chaplin