Charlie Spencer Chaplin was born on 16 April 1989 in London and died 25 December 1977 in Switzerland; he was 88 years old. His comic genius and talent for mime made him one of the most famous actor, film director, composer and musician. He was one of the most successful of the the silent movies.

His parents were both music-hall performers but separated when Charlie was three years old. His father was an alcoholic and died when Charlie was 12 yeas old. His mother was in and out of asylums. Eventually he was left in the workhouse. He and his older half-brother were very closed.

Charlie and his half-brother started to perform in music-halls at a very young age and they showed great talents. Charlie's films were all about his poverty, hopelessness, struggle , ups and downs.

When Charlie first went over to America he toured with the Fred Kamo troupe. There was also Arthur Stanley Jefferson who became later Stan Laurel. Charlie and Stan shared a room together.

Charlie made his mark in the fledgling film industries. In 1914 he made slap-stick films for Mack Sennett and the Keystone Company with his character of the little tramp wearing baggy trousers, bowler hat, big worn out shoes and a cane and it became a trademark.

In his first film 'The Kid' in 1921, he added pathos and sympathy for the under-dog to his role.

Charlie's mother died in 1928 in Hollywood after seven years living there. They found that there was another half-brother from his mother's side of which they never knew because he was living with the boy's father. The two brothers brought him over and he worked with them.

He kept on making silent movies well after they developed talking movies, because he disliked them. In 1936 'the film 'Modern Times' was still made without a dialogue.

His film 'The great Dictator' which was based on Hitler in 1940, was made with full sound.

During Wartime he still was a great favourite in the USA and Britain. Chaplin's popularity started to decline when when his left wing opinion became known and during a visit abroad Hoover made sure that he was not aloud to re-enter the USA.  Chaplin's patriotism was not enough for Hoover's communist witch-hunt.

Chaplin settled in Switzerland. He made four more films which he directed, and wrote the music. Only 'Limelight' was a box-office success.