Charlie Chaplin
Charlie Chaplin, 1889-1977
Charles Spencer Chaplin was born on April 16th, 1889, to two well known actors and vocalists. His father died when he was very young, and his mother became ill enough that she could no longer take care of them, making it necessary for Charlie to provide for himself and his brother, Sydney. The pair took to the stage in the hopes of earning a living as their parents had, joining many theater groups. He was discovered first in a play, "Sherlock Holmes" at the age of twelve. This success eventually took him to America in 1910, starring as a comedian in Vaudeville. His slapstick antics and charming persona brought him immediate success with American audiences, and he soon landed a motion picture contract with Keystone Film Company. He bounced from company to company as his popularity grew, eventually becoming an independent producer in 1917. His first film under this venue was "A Dog's Life". He starred in many feature films before this one alongside stars like Mary Pickford.
His iconic character, The Little Tramp, was a major influence on the silent film era with his pantomime and quirky movements. He was one of the first real "stars" of Hollywood, with a personal life as interesting as his on-screen life. He married four times, to very young girls, resulting in numerous rumors of affairs... and children. His life was followed closely by his fans.
"My pain may be the reason for somebody's laugh, but my laugh must never be the reason for somebody's pain." - Charlie Chaplin
His iconic character, The Little Tramp, was a major influence on the silent film era with his pantomime and quirky movements. He was one of the first real "stars" of Hollywood, with a personal life as interesting as his on-screen life. He married four times, to very young girls, resulting in numerous rumors of affairs... and children. His life was followed closely by his fans.
"My pain may be the reason for somebody's laugh, but my laugh must never be the reason for somebody's pain." - Charlie Chaplin
Charlie Chaplin was a well-known advocate of comedy, and thoroughly enjoyed making people smile. It is said that he often did this to mask the sadness in his own personal life, ever emphasizing the link between comedy and tragedy. No other comedian of the time was able to develop a character like The Tramp who could be funny, but also kind and genuine. He has influenced many actors of today with his unique brand of comedy.
"Life can be worthwhile if you're not afraid of it. All it takes is courage, imagination... and a little dough." - Charlie Chaplin
"Life can be worthwhile if you're not afraid of it. All it takes is courage, imagination... and a little dough." - Charlie Chaplin