Person    | Male  Born 16/4/1889  Died 25/12/1977

Charlie Chaplin

Categories: Cinema, Seriously Famous

Countries: Switzerland, USA

Born Charles Spencer Chaplin in East Street, Walworth (possibly, see Londonist). Comic actor, composer, director and producer. Born 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). Became immensely famous and claimed that the only person he met who had not seen his films was Gandhi. 1952 left the US for a premier in London but, due to his supposed left-leaning political views (this being the McCarthy era), he was refused re-entry to the States and he went to live in Switzerland, where he died. He returned just once to receive an honorary Oscar in 1972. He was knighted in 1975.

Don't believe everything you read, especially about his poverty-stricken childhood - he embroidered shamelessly. For example his mother died in California in 1928, not when he was a baby. One story we hope is true: The Nazis, troubled by his success, asserted that he was Jewish. On being told this Chaplin replied "I do not have that honour."

Even his birth place is in doubt. According to the Telegraph his birth certificate has never been found and there are papers that suggest he was born near Birmingham.

January 2013 Spittalfields Life carries a wonderful article on Charlie in Spittalfields.

History.com tells the story of how Chaplin's body was stolen from the Swiss cemetery for ransom. (No money was paid, the culprits were arrested and Chaplin was reburied in a concrete grave.)

2022: Londonist report on Chaplin's time, aged 7, as a pupil at a school for destitute children in Ealing.

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Charlie Chaplin

Commemorated ati

Chaplin - Lambeth Walk

The BFI date the Hippodrome performance to Christmas 1900. The quote about a ...

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Chaplin mosaics 1

Southbank Mosaics

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Chaplin mosaics 2

This image is from the 1918 'A Dog's Life'.

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Show all 13

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The Flicker Club

The Flicker Club

A 'boutique' cinema club based in Stoke Newington that specialises in showing films adapted from short stories or novels. It invites surprise special guests from the worlds of entertainment and lit...

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2 memorials
R. W. Paul

R. W. Paul

Robert William Paul was a cinema pioneer, inventor, manufacturer, producer, exhibitor and cinematographer, based in Muswell Hill where he designed and constructed Britain's first film studio. Born...

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1 memorial
Burt Kwouk

Burt Kwouk

Actor. Born Herbert Tsangtse Kwouk in Warrington whilst his parents were visiting the UK, was brought up in Shanghai, moving to Hong Kong after the Chinese revolution. Arriving in Britain in 1949, ...

Person, Cinema, TV & Radio, China/Hong Kong

1 memorial
Wilfrid Brambell

Wilfrid Brambell

Actor Born Dublin.  Played the 'dirty old man' in the TV series 'Steptoe and Son' with Harry H. Corbett and Paul McCartney's granddad in 'A hard day's night'.  Died in Westminster.

Person, Cinema, Humour, TV & Radio, Ireland

1 memorial
Peter Greenaway

Peter Greenaway

Film director and screenwriter. Born in Newport, Monmouthshire. He trained as a muralist before turning to films. His best known works include 'The Draughtsman's Contract' and 'The Cook, the Thief,...

Person, Cinema, Wales

1 memorial

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Royal Marines who have served their country by land and sea

Royal Marines who have served their country by land and sea

This particular dedication does not actually specify that the commemorated are only those who lost their lives.

Group, Armed Forces

1 memorial
12th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (The Rangers)

12th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (The Rangers)

The 12th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (The Rangers), was formed on 1 April 1908 by the amalgamation of regiments under the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907. Their Wikipe...

Group, Armed Forces

2 memorials