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Charlie Chaplin Essay

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Charlie Chaplin

“It is absolutely no exaggeration to say that for the greatest part of this century Charlie Chaplin was the most recognizable human being on the planet,” (Burr, 20). Chaplin did everything in show business; he was an actor, director, screenwriter, producer and composer, (Reader‘s Companion 157). He was the ideal rags to riches role model that every American dreamed of becoming. Charlie Chaplin revolutionized American show business and inspired Americans to follow their dreams because he was proof that even underdogs could make it to the top. Charles Spencer Chaplin had a very eventful life. He was born in London on the 16th of April, 1889, (Douglas np) to two music hall performers; Charles and Hannah Chaplin. (Reader’s …show more content…

His final marriage was to 18 year old Oona O’Neil in 1943. Charles and Oona had eight children together: Geraldine, Michael, Victoria, Josephine, Eugene, Jane, Annette-Emilie and Christopher, (imdb.com). Charles Chaplin died in his sleep on Christmas day 1977, he was 88 years old, (imdb.com). Charles’ not so perfect personal life lead him to have a faulty education. Charles never excelled in school but he had a great talent for the film industry. Chaplin was in spotlight when he was five years old; he was forced on stage to cover for his mother who was hitting the wrong notes while performing, (Reader’s Companion 157).

Charles dropped out of school when he was ten to work as a mime on the British circuit; he could barely read and write. Since his mother was unfit to raise him he was in and out of state poorhouses and orphanages, (Douglas np). With Charles not in school and working throughout his childhood he was influenced by many things. Many factors in Chaplin’s life inspired him to become the great actor that we all know and love today. His mother was the most influential person in his life, she always encouraged Charles to do his best and to reach his goals, (Dic. Of World Bio. 653). When he was 19 he and his brother joined Fred Karno’s touring stage company, (imdb.com). He went to America with Fred Karno’s speechless comedians in 1910, which was when he decided that he belonged in the New York spotlight,

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