Charlie Chaplin (Comedian)

Sir Charles Spencer "Charlie" Chaplin Order of the British Empire was a British comedian and film director.  Charlie Chaplin rose to fame as a filmmaker in the early to mid-century of American cinema's classic Hollywood.

Birth: 16 April in 1889.

Nationality: British And  United State of America.

Residence: California.

Languages: English.

Profession: Film Director, Music Composer, Film Actor, Screen Writer, Film Maker, Comedian, Film Editor, Actor, Film Score Composer,Stage actor, and Silent Actor.

History:

Charlie Chaplin not only starred in his own films during the silent film era, but was also a writer, director, producer, and composer himself and was one of the most influential film personalities of the era.  Charlie Chaplin was greatly influenced by French silent film comedian Max Linder.  He also made a film of his own named Max Linder.  Chaplin's creative work spanned 75 years, from his childhood on the British stage and music halls during the Queen Victoria era to his death at the age of 88.  Along with Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks and DW Griffith, Charlie Chaplin founded the United Artists film studio in 1919.

 In 1999, the American Film Institute named Charlie Chaplin the 10th greatest actor of all time.  Commenting on the 2008 book Charlie Chaplin A Life, Martin Seif wrote, "Chaplin wasn't just big, he was giant."  George Bernard Shaw was very aware of the quality of Chaplin's work and worked on his films in almost every capacity such as actor, director, presenter, dialogue writer, composer, etc.  

Early life.....

 Charlie Chaplin's parents were artists from the musical tradition in Britain.  His father, Charles Spencer Chaplin Sr., was an actor and his mother, Hannah Spencer, was a singer and actress.  They separated when Charlie was less than 3 years old.  He received singing training from his parents.  The 1891 census shows that Charlie and his older half-brother Sidney were living with their mother in Barlow Street, Walworth.

 Charlie also lived with his mother in an address on Kennington Road during his childhood.  These include 3 Powell Terrace, Chester Street and 39 Methley Street.  His mother and maternal grandmother were from the Smith family of Romanchiles, although he referred to the relationship as "structure in his family closet". Chaplin's father, Charles Chaplin, was an alcoholic and had little contact with his son, although Charlie and his half-brother lived briefly with their father at 287 Kennington Road, where a plaque today commemorates the fact. Charlie's father's mistress sent him to Archbishop Temple's Boys' School. In 1901, when Charlie was 12, his father died of liver disease. According to the 1901 census, Charlie was living with The Eight Lancashire Boys at 94 Ferndale Road in Lambeth. The Eight Lancashire Boys were a dancing troupe led by wealthy 17-year-old John William Jack.

After Charlie's mother's admission to Kenhill, he was left at a workhouse in Lambeth, south London, from where he was transferred a few weeks later to the Central London District School for the Poor in Hanwell.  In order to survive in these conditions, the two brothers became very close to each other.  From childhood, both were very much inclined towards music hall and both had a natural ability to act on stage.  Charlie's characters were deeply influenced by the poverty of his early life.

 Chaplin's mother died in Hollywood in 1928.  He was brought to America by his sons 7 years ago.  Charlie and Sydney found out years later that they had another half-brother on their father's side.  Weller Dryden was raised by his father outside the country but later joined the rest of his family and took a job at his brother Charlie's studio in Hollywood.  Dryden was the father of Spencer Dryden.

Early years in United State of America: 

Chaplin made his first US tour with the Fred Carnot Troupe.  After spending five months in Great Britain, Chaplain came with the Cornu troupe on his second visit to America on October 2, 1912.  Also in the Carno company was Arthur Stanley Jefferson, who later became known as Stan Laurel.  Chaplin and Laurel stayed in the same room at the boarding house.  Stan Laurel went back to Britain but Chaplin stayed in America.  In late 1913, McSinnett, Mabel Normand, Manta Duffery and Fatty Arbuckle saw Chaplin perform in the Carno troupe.  Sinnett recruited him as Ford Sterling's replacement at his studio, the Keystone Film Company.  Chaplin initially found it difficult to adapt to the demands of film acting, which also affected his acting.  After the completion of Charlie's first film, "Making a Living", Sinnett realized that he had made a very costly mistake.  Most historians agree that Normand persuaded him to give Charlie another chance.

 Chaplin was handed over to Normand, who wrote and directed some of his earliest films.  Chaplin did not like taking instructions from a woman, and the two often disagreed. Charlie Chaplin's iconic character The Tramp originated in the silent-era Keystone comedy Kid Auto Races at Venice.  Chaplin's Little Tramp became the most famous of Keystone director Mack Sinnett's roles.  Chaplin continued to portray the Tramp in dozens of short films and a handful of feature films.  He played the role in very few other offerings.

Two films made in 1915, The Tramp and The Bank, achieved screen success due to the Tramp's distinctive features.  Although McSnitt did not immediately warn him, Chaplin believed he would be fired after a disagreement with Normand.  However, the success of Chaplin's films quickly catapulted him into the ranks of Keystone's biggest stars.

The Trampe.......

Charlie Chaplin's first films were made by Keystone Studios in Maine.  In these films, Chaplin created the character of the Tramp, learned and mastered the art of filmmaking.  People first saw the Tramp when the 24-year-old Chaplin appeared as the character in the film Kid Auto Races at Venice, released on February 7, 1914.

 However, he designed the Tramp's costume for a few earlier films.  This film was later released on February 9, 1914.  McSinnett asked her to do "make-up for comedy".