BRITISH CELEBRITIES (VI) : CHARLES CHAPLIN

Charles Chaplin

Charles Spencer Chaplin (1889-1977) was an English actor who famed in the silent film era. His childhood was hard and poor with his father absent and his mother committed to a mental asylum.

Chaplin started in the film industry at age 14 and since that moment his career was meteoric co-founding the distribution company United Artists in 1919 and playing successful films as The Kid, Modern Times, Limelight or The Great Dictator where he satirised Hitler and attacked fascism.

His popularity declined when he was accused of communist and the FBI opened an investigation. Chaplin was forced to leave the US and he settle in Switzerland where he died on 25 December.

The king of the smile died on Christmas Day but his legacy is eternal.

More information: Charles Chaplin Official Website

The misery that is now upon us is but the passing of greed - the bitterness of men who fear the way of human progress. The hate of men will pass, and dictators die, and the power they took from the people will return to the people. And so long as men die, liberty will never perish.

You, the people have the power - the power to create machines. The power to create happiness! You, the people, have the power to make this life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure.

The Great Dictator (1940)