Charlie Chaplin

Charlie Chaplin did not use sound to communicate to the audience in his movies. Despite the fact that there was no spoken language, his movies were sensational and the audiences loved them. Chaplin was thought of as cinema’s first genius and has been called the single most-influential artist in the history of motion pictures. I am researching Charlie Chaplin to learn how he became a sensational comedian and one of the best actors of all time.

Chaplin is considered as one of the most pivotal stars of the early days of Hollywood. He lived an interesting life both in his films and behind the camera. Charlie Chaplin is most recognized as an icon of the silent film era, often associated with his popular “Little Tramp” character; a man with a toothbrush mustache, derby hat, bamboo cane, and a funny walk (“Biography for Charles Chaplin”).

Charles Spencer Chaplin was born in London, England, on April 16th 1889. Charlie inherited natural talents from his parents. He took to the stage to help him start a career in acting. Charlie’s first stage appearance was at the age of five, when he had to fill in for his mother at a music hall performance (“Biography for Charles Chaplin”). He joined a juvenile tap-dancing group called “The Eight Lancashire Lads” at the age of eight where he quickly won popularity as a topnotch tap-dancer (“Biography of Charlie Chaplin”).

At eleven, he appeared in “Giddy Ostende” at London’ Hippodrome (“Biography for Charles Chaplin”).

Charlie’s parents, Charles Chaplin Sr. and Hannah Harriett, got married on June 25, 1885. His father was a versatile vocalist and actor. His mother, who performed under the stage name Lili Harley, was an attractive actress and singer who gained a reputation in the light opera field. The two also performed in music halls where she would play piano and he would sing ballads (“Charles Chaplin” 100).

Charles Chaplin Sr. died on May 9th, 1901 because of unknown causes. On May 5th, 1903 his mother was thrown into a mental institution and committed as a lunatic. Charlie and his half-brother, Sydney, quickly found themselves without a home or parents The boys were put in an orphanage where they were often cold and hungry. After spending two years in the orphanage, they were ...

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...is eight children from his last marriage with Oona O’Neill, and one son from his brief marriage with Lita Grey. The grief didn’t stop with his poorly-timed death. In 1978, Chaplin’s corpse was stolen from his grave and not recovered for three months (“Biography of Charlie Chaplin” ; “Biography for Charles Chaplin”).

Charlie Chaplin was considered one of the greatest actors of all time. Even more impressive was that he did it without the use of verbal communication. Instead, he communicated to his audiences with his actions and emotions, which he acted out so well. His films show, through the Little Tramp's positive outlook on life in a world full of chaos, that the human spirit has and always will remain the same (“Biography for Charles Chaplin”).

Works Cited

“Charles Chaplin.” Current Biography Yearbook. 1961 ed.

“Charlie Chaplin.” The New Encyclopedia Britannica. 1981 ed.

“Charlie Chaplin.” The World Book Encyclopedia. 2001 ed.

“Biography of Charlie Chaplin.” 27 Sept. 2004. Online posting. Available: .

“Biography for Charles Chaplin.” 27 Sept. 2004. Online posting. Available: .