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Charles Chaplin Birth
Charles Spencer Chaplin was born on East Street, Walworth in South London to his single illegitimate mother, Hannah Chaplin. Chaplin was raised along with his brother, Sydney, in Kennington in very terrible conditions seeing as his mother did not received a steady income and his father provided no financial aid. -
Chaplin's Mother
Throughout his young years Chaplin had endured hardship. Having no father to help a mentally ill mother with finances and having been sent to a workhouse twice before becoming an adolescent, Chaplin was living far differently than the life of a celebrity. In May Charles and his brother moved to live with Charles Sr. and his mistress when their mother suffered yet another mental breakdown and was forced into Hill Lunatic Asylum. -
Fred Karno Company
Chaplin was introduced to performing at an extremely young age with music hall tours and eventually stage acting and comedy. At the age of nineteen Charles and his understudy Arthur Jefferson (later to become Stan Laurel) signed with the Fred Karno Company. Karno was a very famous comedian who took credit for the custard-pie-in-the-face gag. -
A Night in an English Music Hall
Charles Chaplin became a part of a travelling trope with the Fred Karno Company. He became part of a show called “A Night in an English Music Hall“. This show became such a success that it began a repeat tour in 1912. After this show, Chaplin was given a motion picture contract. -
Keystone Studios
Keystone Studios had scouted Chaplin along with many other studios after his signing with Karno. Hot off the stage, Chaplin began making silent films with Keystone Studios. It was at this studio that Chaplin had created his very popular Tramp persona. Not only did Chaplin make some of his most famous movies with Keystone, but a compilation of famous silent films named "Charlie Chaplin at Keystone Studios" was made as well. -
Essanay Company
Chaplin agreed to sign with Essanay Company after Keystone failed to provide him with the salary that he demanded. Essanay produced fourteen Chaplin silent films over their time with him. As a result of the bad weather in Chicago and with higher paying salaries and more creative freedom lying elsewhere for Chaplin, he left the studio after a year. -
“The Tramp“
During Chaplin's time with Essanay he created the first silent film with his most beloved persona, "The Tramp". He portrays a comedic, child-like, playful character whom the audience falls in love with. This character, who was sometimes referred to as "the Little Tramp", was American. Chaplin however had a very prominent British accent. Therefore, when taikie's started to overcome the film industry, Chaplin refused to portray "The Tramp" until near the end of his career in a French/Italian song. -
Mutual Film
Charles Chaplin signed with Mutual Film for a salary of 670 000 dollars making him the highest paid actor at the time. Along with the healthy salary Chaplin was granted full freedom of creativity. On top of that, Mutual built Chaplin his own office to work from. Chaplin created twelve two-reel films while signed with Mutual, although he feared that they were become routine. -
First Marriage
Chaplin's first marriage was to an actress named Mildred Harris (1901-1944). The actress was only 16 when they married as a result of her sudden pregnancy. It was later discovered that she was not infact pregnant, although she did end up giving birth to Chaplin's first son who unfortunately lived for only three days. -
United Artists Birth
Alongside film sensations Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks and D.W. Griffith, Chaplin founded his very own film studio which the four named United Artists Corporation. As expected from the talented roster of the UA corporation, it quickly rose to power and became the home of many successful films over the years as well as a constant financial source to its four founders. -
Second Marriage
Chaplin's second marriage was to a women named Lita Grey. Lita was an actress, much like his first wife, and feel in love with Chaplin while starring alongside him in "Goldrush". As well as falling in love she fell pregnant. By the end of the marriage they had two kids together and Grey had fallen heavily into alcohol. -
Third Marriage
Paulette Goddard (1911-1990) became Chaplin's third wife. The marriage was short. it lasted only six years and was ended, to nobodies suprise, with disagreement and argument. -
Fourth and Final Marriage
Oona O'Neill was only eighteen at the time of their marriage and Chaplin was fiftythree, yet it had seemed they found love. He cast her in one of his own un-released films and from that point of they fell in love and never fell out of it. Oona proceeded to have eight children with Charles Chaplin. -
United Artists End
By 1940 the UA Corporation had lost its steam and became weak finacially. The original founders the corporation began to sell their share. By 1951 all of the founders had sold the company and it had become financing and distributing facility. This is until the mid-1950's when the company regained its steam. -
Honorary Academy Award
Although Chaplin had won and been nominated for Oscars in the past for his specific films, the Honorary Academy Award was very different. This award was given to Chaplin "for the incalculable effect he has had in making motion pictures the art form of this century". Charles Chaplin had been finally recognised for his overall contribution to the film industry. -
Oscar
Charles Chaplin was nominated and one the Oscar for Best Music, Original Dramatic Score for his movie "Limelight" (1952). He shared this award with Ray Rasch and Larry Russell. This movie was not released in Los Angeles until 1971 due to the rules that were in place during the time of its release. Therefore, it was eligible for the 1973 Oscar awards. -
Charlie Chaplin Death
