Charlie Chaplin

Net Worth

$400,000,000

Born in (City)

London

Born in (Country)

United Kingdom

Date of Birth

16th December, 1889

Date of Death

Mother

Hannah Chaplin

Father

Charles Chaplin, Sr.

Children

Norman Chaplin
Charles Chaplin
Sydney Chaplin
Geraldine Chaplin
Michael Chaplin
Josephine Chaplin
Victoria Chaplin
Eugene Chaplin

About

" Life is a play that does not allow testing. So, sing, cry, dance, laugh, and live intensely before the curtain closes and the piece ends with no Applause." - Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin. Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin a.k.a. Charlie Chaplin is a British actor, comedian, producer, writer, composer, and director. He is celebrated as the most iconic comic artist and of the prominent figures in the film industry. With a career spanning 75 years, Chaplin has given us so many memorable, immortal performances. Charlie Chaplin was born on 16 April 1889 to Hannah Chaplin and Charles Chaplin Sr. His mother had an unsuccessful career as an actor and his father was a singer. Charlie Chaplin had a very tough childhood. His parents were estranged. He and his half-brother Sydney lived with their mother. She ran the family only with minimal income from occasional nursing and dressmaking. His father never contributed anything. His childhood was filled with poverty.

Early Life

As said earlier he acted as a fill-in for her mother at the age of five. His mother frequently encouraged him, and when he was nine, he developed a passion for acting. Thanks to their parent's show business contacts, he joined a member of the Eight Lancashire Lads clog-dancing troupe and toured English music halls throughout 1899 and 1900. The act became very much popular. But he wasn’t happy and satisfied and he wished to create a comedy performance. He started working full-time and supported his family, doing a range of jobs when he was 13. He registered in a theatrical agency in London’s West End. Seeing his potential and talent, the manager cast him for his first role as a newsboy in Harry Arthur Saintsbury’s Jim, a Romance of Cockayne. The show was a failure, however, Chaplin’s performance was critically acclaimed. He then starred in Sherlock Holmes, playing Billy, the Pageboy. He did three nationwide tours for this play and it was very much appreciated. In 1905, he acted in the play’s West End production at the Duke of York’s Theatre. And in 1906 for one last time, he did the tour of Sherlock Holmes. Chaplin joined Casey’s Circus in 1908. He developed popular burlesque pieces, which made him the star of the show. By the time he was 18, he was already an accomplished and famous comic actor.

Road to Success

It was during this time his brother also tried his stint in acting. He joined Fred Karno, an esteemed comedy company and by 1908, Sydney was one of their key performers. He made arrangements for a two weeks trial for Charlie Chaplin in the company. Fred Karno was initially worried about the pale and sullen look of Chaplin. However, with his brilliant performance on his first gig at The London Coliseum, they were impressed and they signed a contract with him. Chaplin initially started in minor roles, eventually progressing to major roles from 1909. In 1910, he was the lead actor in Jimmy the Fearless, gaining so much appreciation and media attention. Soon he was selected for the North America Tour for the vaudeville circuit. He attained star status for playing The Drunk in the ensemble sketch A Night in an English Music Hall. The Drunk in the ensemble sketch A Night in an English Music Hall. This performance gave him the status of one of the finest pantomime actors ever seen.

Challenges

Born into grinding poverty in Victorian London, Charlie Chaplin rose from the streets to the highest paying actors in Hollywood. The actor's life seems to be the perfect example of tears behind the clown face. The Father of the actor walked out on his family with all the money they had when charlie was just one year old. Growing up in poverty his mother took jobs to run the household. After having a challenging childhood the actor's love life and love interests seemed to have a rollercoaster graph of their own. His first marriage with Mildred Hariss an actress barely lasted for two years. Yet, Charlie was quick to move on to his second wife Lita Grey in 1924, The actress was forced to marry Chaplin after unexpectedly getting pregnant at the of 16. Later, in her 50-page divorce, she revealed of Chaplin being abusive, demanded abortion; they married for 3 years where Lita gave birth to 2 sons before finally walking away. Paulette Goddard Chaplin's third wife, they were together for seven years when Chaplin's jealousy stepped in. His bullish nature resurfaced and constant pressure and control over Goddard films traumatized her and the couple split ways after the release of "The Great Dictator". In his 50's Chaplin found love in his fourth marriage with 18-year-old Oona O'Neill, the age difference didn't get in their love, bearing eight children and building a life in Switzerland, before returning to the U.S. after the exile. The inexplicable magic shared between the two kept them in marital bliss with O’Neill looking after Chaplin’s health till his passing in 1977. Even after his personal life crumbling down his feet Chaplin still worked as the biggest film star of his generation.

Failures

Allegedly Chaplin entered a "Charlie Chaplin Look A Like" contest and stood 20th in the crowd of 40 contestants, this story has mentioned and spreads a number of times this not being his only failure; Chaplin had hardships throughout his career. "Making a Living" his debut movie didn't do as well as one would expect. Keystones questioned their decision of hiring Chaplin as a comedian, while the director of the movie edited most of Charlie's gag from the movie. His character in the movie was received as quite nasty and unfunny, trying to make his living with his dream Charlie. Even after gaining success through his later hits "the little Tramp" and 32 other movies some of Chaplin's movies didn't receive well with the audience at the time, the current Chaplin classic like "The Great Dictator" seemed for the audience as communism shoving down their throats. As Chaplin's movies starting tilting towards the political end the response from the crowd started deteriorating. The claims of him being a communist and supporting the red flag didn't sit well with the masses.

Achievements

Quotes

Life is a play that does not allow testing. So, sing, cry, dance, laugh and live intensely, before the curtain closes and the piece ends with no Applause.
A day without laughter is a day wasted.
We think too much and feel too little.