Charlie Charlie Chaplin Chaplin  Charlie Chaplin, Charlie Chaplin, considered to be one of considered to be one of the most pivotal stars of the most pivotal stars of the early days of the early days of Hollywood, lived an Hollywood, lived an interesting life both in interesting life both in his films and behind the his films and behind the camera. He is most camera. He is most recognized as an icon of recognized as an icon of the silent film era, often the silent film era, often associated with his associated with his popular "Little Tramp" popular "Little Tramp" character; the man with character; the man with the toothbrush the toothbrush mustache, bowler hat, mustache, bowler hat, bamboo cane, and a bamboo cane, and a funny walk. funny walk. Charles Spencer Chaplin was born in Walworth, Charles Spencer Chaplin was born in Walworth, London, England on April 26th, 1889 to Charles and London, England on April 26th, 1889 to Charles and Hannah (Hill) Chaplin, both music hall performers, Hannah (Hill) Chaplin, both music hall performers, who were married on June 22nd, 1885. After Charles who were married on June 22nd, 1885. After Charles Sr. separated from Hannah to perform in New York Sr. separated from Hannah to perform in New York City. City.  Hannah then tried to resurrect Hannah then tried to resurrect her stage career. Unfortunately, her stage career. Unfortunately, her singing voice had a tendency her singing voice had a tendency to break at unexpected to break at unexpected moments. When this happened, moments. When this happened, the stage manager spotted young the stage manager spotted young Charlie standing in the wings Charlie standing in the wings and led him on stage, where and led him on stage, where five-year-old Charlie began to five-year-old Charlie began to sing a popular tune. Charlie and sing a popular tune. Charlie and his half-brother, Syd Chaplin his half-brother, Syd Chaplin (born Sydney Hawkes), spent (born Sydney Hawkes), spent their lives in and out of charity their lives in and out of charity homes and workhouses between homes and workhouses between their mother's bouts of insanity. their mother's bouts of insanity. Hannah was committed to Cane Hannah was committed to Cane Hill Asylum in May of 1903 and Hill Asylum in May of 1903 and lived there until 1921, when lived there until 1921, when Chaplin moved her to California. Chaplin moved her to California.  Chaplin began his official Chaplin began his official acting career at the age of acting career at the age of eight, touring with The Eight eight, touring with The Eight Lancashire Lads. At 18 he Lancashire Lads. At 18 he began touring with Fred began touring with Fred Karno's vaudeville troupe, Karno's vaudeville troupe, joining them on the troupe's joining them on the troupe's 1910 US tour. He traveled 1910 US tour. He traveled west to California in west to California in December 1913 and signed on December 1913 and signed on with Keystone Studios' with Keystone Studios' popular comedy director popular comedy director Mack Sennett, who had seen Mack Sennett, who had seen Chaplin perform on stage in Chaplin perform on stage in New York. Charlie soon wrote New York. Charlie soon wrote his brother Syd, asking him his brother Syd, asking him to become his manager. to become his manager.  While at Keystone, Chaplin While at Keystone, Chaplin appeared in and directed 35 appeared in and directed 35 films, starring as the Little films, starring as the Little Tramp in nearly all. In Tramp in nearly all. In November 1914 he left November 1914 he left Keystone and signed on at Keystone and signed on at Essanay, where he made 15 Essanay, where he made 15 films. In 1916, he signed on at films. In 1916, he signed on at Mutual and made 12 films. In Mutual and made 12 films. In June 1917 Chaplin signed up June 1917 Chaplin signed up with First National Studios, with First National Studios, after which he built Chaplin after which he built Chaplin Studios. In 1919 he and Studios. In 1919 he and Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford and D.W. Griffith Pickford and D.W. Griffith formed United Artists (UA). formed United Artists (UA).  Chaplin's life and career was full of Chaplin's life and career was full of scandal and controversy. His first scandal and controversy. His first big scandal was during World War big scandal was during World War I, during which time his loyalty to I, during which time his loyalty to England, his home country, was England, his home country, was questioned. He had never applied questioned. He had never applied for US citizenship, but claimed that for US citizenship, but claimed that he was a "paying visitor" to the he was a "paying visitor" to the United States. Many British United States. Many British citizens called Chaplin a coward citizens called Chaplin a coward and a slacker. This and his other and a slacker. This and his other career eccentricities sparked career eccentricities sparked suspicion with FBI chief J. Edgar suspicion with FBI chief J. Edgar Hoover and the House Un- Hoover and the House Un- American Activities Council American Activities Council (HUAC), who believed that he was (HUAC), who believed that he was injecting Communist propaganda injecting Communist propaganda into his films. Chaplin's later film into his films. Chaplin's later film The Great Dictator (1940), which The Great Dictator (1940), which was his first "talkie", also created a was his first "talkie", also created a stir. In the film Chaplin plays a stir. In the film Chaplin plays a humorous caricature of Adolf humorous caricature of Adolf Hitler. Hitler.  Chaplin was also scrutinized Chaplin was also scrutinized for his support in aiding the for his support in aiding the Russian struggle against the Russian struggle against the invading Nazis during World invading Nazis during World War II, and the U.S. War II, and the U.S. government questioned his government questioned his moral and political views, moral and political views, suspecting him of having suspecting him of having Communist ties. For this Communist ties. For this reason HUAC subpoenaed him reason HUAC subpoenaed him in 1947. However, HUAC in 1947. However, HUAC finally decided that it was no finally decided that it was no longer necessary for him to longer necessary for him to appear for testimony. appear for testimony. Conversely, when Chaplin and Conversely, when Chaplin and his family traveled to London his family traveled to London for the premier of Limelight for the premier of Limelight (1952), he was denied re-entry (1952), he was denied re-entry to the United States. In reality, to the United States. In reality, the government had almost no the government had almost no evidence to prove that he was evidence to prove that he was a threat to national security. a threat to national security.  He and his wife decided, He and his wife decided, instead, to settle in instead, to settle in Switzerland. During his Switzerland. During his absence from the States he absence from the States he made two more films, A King in made two more films, A King in New York (1957), released in New York (1957), released in America 20 years later, and his America 20 years later, and his final film A Countess from final film A Countess from Hong Kong (1967), which Hong Kong (1967), which starred Marlon Brando and starred Marlon Brando and Sophia Loren. This last film Sophia Loren. This last film proved to be Chaplin's only proved to be Chaplin's only failure and was a box-office failure and was a box-office flop. flop.  Chaplin was married four Chaplin was married four times and had a total of 11 times and had a total of 11 children. children. In contrast to many of his In contrast to many of his boisterous characters, Chaplin boisterous characters, Chaplin was a quiet man who kept to was a quiet man who kept to himself a lot. He also had an himself a lot. He also had an "un-millionaire" way of living. "un-millionaire" way of living. Even after he had accumulated Even after he had accumulated millions, he continued to live in millions, he continued to live in shabby accommodations. shabby accommodations.