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Charlie Chaplin is Born
Charlie Chaplin is born to entertainers Hannah Chaplin and Charles Chaplin Sr. Chaplin and his brother Sydney John Hill both grew up involved in the performing arts. They suffered poverty, their parents split appart, and were abandoned. -
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Early Years
The beginning of Charlie Chaplin's life and career -
Hannah Chaplin Hospitalized
Hannah Chaplin had fallen ill and the brothers would have to stay with their alcoholic father. Their father would soon pass away leaving the two Chaplin brothers to fend for themselves. Hannah Chaplin died in a mental asylum. -
Chaplin Joins The Eight Lancashire Lads
Chaplin officially became an entertainer, joining a tap-dancing group.The group was known as the Eight Lancashire Lads. He was a very talented tap-dancer, and the act was popular in the music halls. He was encouraged to be in the performing arts by his mother, and though he traveled with this group until 1900, he was dissatisfied with dancing, preferring the arts of acting and comedy. -
Chaplin Becomes a Comedic Actor
Chaplin registered with a theatrical agency and began working as a comedic actor in plays such as "Jim, a Romance of Cockayne" and "Sherlock Holmes". -
Chaplin Joins Casey's Circus
Chaplin refined his comedy act at Casey's Circus and was well recieved. -
Chaplin Tours with Karno
Chaplin toured in American Vaudeville acts. -
Chaplin Signs with Keystone Company
Chaplin was becoming increasingly more popular as he was perfecting his comedy acts. He became so well known that theaters would sell out weeks in advance. Mack Sennett, “The King of Comedy” and founder of the Keystone Company, offered Chaplin a contract. Of course, Chaplin accepted in December 1913, which was the starting point of Chaplin’s success in Hollywood. Chaplin first embraced but then evolved the basic Keystone-style slapstick comedy. -
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Hollywood Years
Charlie Chaplin's Hollywood career and some of his many films -
Release of Making a Living
First film with Keystone -
Release of Mabel's Strange Predicament
First costumed appearance of the Tramp persona -
Chaplin Joins Essany Studios
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Release of The Tramp
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Chaplin Joins the Mutual Film Corporation
Charlie Chaplin switched to Essanay Studios in 1915 and switched again in 1916 to Mutual Film Corporation. Chaplin’s popularity was through the roof as songs were song about him, was featured in cartoons and comic strips, and shops overflowed with the Tramp’s merchandise. With Mutual Company, Chaplin was an extremely wealthy man and was paid $670,000 a year. -
Release of One A.M.
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Release of The Rink
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Release of Easy Street
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Release of The Adventurer
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Chaplin Joins First National Exhibitors Circuit
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Release of A Dog's Life
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Release of Shoulder Arms
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United Artists Founded
Charlie co-founded United Artists with Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford, and D. W. Griffith. Each of them held a 20% stake and their lawyer William Gibbs McAdoo held the last 20%. This joint venture allowed the filmmakers abundant freedom within the developing Hollywood Studio System. -
Release of The Kid
Clip from The Kid
Before The Kid was released, Chaplin’s wife Mildred had begun a suit for divorce. Nervous that Mildred’s lawyers might seize The Kid, he fled to California to finish his editing in secret and the film ended up as the second highest grossing film of all time. -
Realease of The Pilgrim
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Release of The Gold Rush
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Release of The Circus
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Release of City Lights
Around this time, sound films have already been established in the film industry, but Chaplin’s City Lights was a silent film. His famous tramp persona was in the film and rather than ruin the character by making him talk, he used the capabilities of the sound film to arrange his own musical score and put it in as the film’s soundtrack. The film was about the tramp falling in love with a blind girl and tries to come up with the money for a surgery to restore her sight. -
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Later Years
The final films of Charlie Chaplin and the end of his life -
Release of Modern Times
This film had a soundtrack like City Lights and incorporated some speech but was for the most part a silent film. It’s about the tramp trying to survive in a modern world. This is the last appearance of Chaplin’s tramp persona. The film is a response to the poverty that Chaplin witnessed while he was away one an 18 month world tour. -
Release of The Great Dictator
This film parodied Adolf Hitler, but it was filmed before the events that started World War II, at the time when Hitler was seen as a great leader that has restored Germany. There was some controversy about the film, but it was a success nevertheless. -
Release of Monsieur Verdoux
It was a film that followed the story of a serial killer that supports his family by marrying and murdering wealthy women. It wasn’t well received by American audiences and many questioned Chaplin’s morality and whose side he was on when it came to the Cold War. Many wanted him deported. -
Release of Limelight
This was Chaplin’s last American film in which he tells the story of a comedian that has lost touch with his audience. In it we see the London that Chaplin grew up in and the music halls where he got his start. While he was away for the premiere of the film in London, his visa was revoked and was therefore banned from America. -
Release of A King in New York
This was Chaplin's final film. It was about a King that goes to New York to escape the revolution in his country, but in New York he’s suspected of being a communist. The film gave a very negative look on America and wasn’t shown there until 15 years after its release. -
Chaplin Returns to America
Charlie Chaplin Wins Honorary Award
In 1972, Charlie Chaplin would return to America for the 44th Academy Awards where he accepted an honorary award. They say that he received a standing ovation that lasted for over 10 minutes. -
Death of Charlie Chaplin
Charlie Chaplin dies at age 88 from a stroke in his sleep He was buried in Corsier-sur-Vevey cemetery in Switzerland.
