Statue

Charlie Chaplin - statue

Erection date: 1981

Inscription

{Inscribed on the plinth:}
The comic genius who gave pleasure to so many.

{On the chrome plaque on the front of the plinth:}
Charles Spencer Chaplin, 16 April 1889 - 25 December 1977, comic actor, director and producer.

Charlie Chaplin was born in Walworth, London into a music hall family. He joined a troupe of child dancers, 'Eight Lancashire Lads' at the age of 8. At 17, whilst on tour in America, he joined the Mack Sennett Keystone Company motion picture company.

His acting technique was characterised by a high degree of pathos, accentuated in the then silent movies, but he was unwilling later to adapt his style to the 'talkies'. His success enabled him to co-found United Artists in 1919.

His major films included The Tramp (1915), Shoulder Arms (1918), The Gold Rush (1925), City Lights (1931), Modern Times (1936) and The Great Dictator (1940).

He was knighted in 1975.

The statue is by John Doubleday and was unveiled by Sir Ralph Richardson in April 1981.

Unveiled by Sir Ralph.

Site: Charlie Chaplin - statue (1 memorial)

WC2, Leicester Square

December 2013: we came across this statue in a passageway. No plinth so looking forlorn and rather vulnerable amongst the bags of rubbish. It was beside the Prince Charles Cinema, very close to the Flora Robson foundation stone. We don't know if this relocation is temporary or permanent.

By March 2016 the statue had been damaged and taken away, for repair we hope. It really needs to be located somewhere more respectful and where it can be better looked after. We think a full size statue would be more appropriate, but presumably cost is the issue. April 2016: We're told Charlie is now back in Leicester Square.

This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Charlie Chaplin - statue

Subjects commemorated i

Charlie Chaplin

Born Charles Spencer Chaplin in East Street, Walworth (possibly, see Londonis...

Read More

This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
Charlie Chaplin - statue

Created by i

John Doubleday

Sculptor and painter. Born Essex.

Read More

Sir Ralph Richardson

Actor. Born Ralph David Richardson in Cheltenham. Along with Laurence Olivier...

Read More

Nearby Memorials

Sir Thomas More statue - SW3

Sir Thomas More statue - SW3

SW3, Chelsea Embankment

Unveiled by Horace Maybray King, then Speaker of the House of Commons. 2018: Clive Duncan kindly wrote, introduced himself and provided ...

1 subject commemorated, 4 creators
Buddy Bear

Buddy Bear

SE18, Thomas Street

Buddy Bear is on the right of the photograph and the plaques beneath the trees are from centre left to right: Victory in Europe Day 1, Vi...

1 subject commemorated, 5 creators
Dancer statue

Dancer statue

SW1, Millbank, 48

{Top plaque:} Jete (1975) by Enzo Plazzotta, unveiled by The Rt. Hon. The Earl of Gowrie, Minister for the Arts, in July 1985. {Lower pl...

1 subject commemorated, 3 creators
Imperial Hotel - statue 20

Imperial Hotel - statue 20

WC1, Russell Square

On this site there used to be a sister hotel to Hotel Russell, also designed by Charles Fitzroy Doll and erected in 1898. It was demolish...

1 creator
V&A façade - Wedgwood

V&A façade - Wedgwood

SW7, Cromwell Road

Excluding the allegories (such as Knowledge) there are 36 statues on the two public façades of the V&A Museum, on Exhibition Road and...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator