charlie chaplin
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Biography: Charlie Chaplin
(April 16, 1889 December 25, 1977)
Charlie Chaplin, who brought laughter to millions worldwide as the silent "Little
Tramp" clown, had the type of deprived childhood that one would expect to find in a Dickens novel. Born in East Street, Walworth, London on 16 April, 1889,
Charles Spencer Chaplin was the son of a music hall singer and his wife. Charlie
Chaplin's parents divorced early in his life, with his father providing little to no support, either financial or otherwise, leaving his mother to support them as best she could. Chaplin's mother Hannah was the brightest spot in Charlie's childhood; formerly an actor on stage, she had lost her ability to perform, and managed to earn a subsistence living for herself, Charlie, and Charlie's older halfbrother Sidney by sewing. She was an integral part of Charlie's young life, and he credited her with much of his success. Sadly, she slowly succumbed to mental illness, and by the time that Charlie was 7 years old, she was confined to an asylum; Charlie and Sidney were relegated to a workhouse (a government facility for orphaned and abandoned children) not for the last time. After 2 months, she was released, and the family was happily reunited, for a time. In later years, she was readmitted for an 8month stretch later, during which time
Charlie lived with his alcoholic father and stepmother, in a strained environment. Charlie Chaplin's first taste of show business
Sidney left home first, working first on a sailing ship, and later on the stage, opening the door for
Charlie to follow in his footsteps later. Young Charlie felt more alone than ever without the presence of his brother, his closest friend and confidant.
However, there was a bright spot as well in
Chaplin's 9th year he toured with a stage company, the 8 Lancashire Lads, with a kindhearted couple who led the troupe, and gave Chaplin his first taste of
Biography: Charlie Chaplin
(April 16, 1889 December 25, 1977)
Charlie Chaplin, who brought laughter to millions worldwide as the silent "Little
Tramp" clown, had the type of deprived childhood that one would expect to find in a Dickens novel. Born in East Street, Walworth, London on 16 April, 1889,
Charles Spencer Chaplin was the son of a music hall singer and his wife. Charlie
Chaplin's parents divorced early in his life, with his father providing little to no support, either financial or otherwise, leaving his mother to support them as best she could. Chaplin's mother Hannah was the brightest spot in Charlie's childhood; formerly an actor on stage, she had lost her ability to perform, and managed to earn a subsistence living for herself, Charlie, and Charlie's older halfbrother Sidney by sewing. She was an integral part of Charlie's young life, and he credited her with much of his success. Sadly, she slowly succumbed to mental illness, and by the time that Charlie was 7 years old, she was confined to an asylum; Charlie and Sidney were relegated to a workhouse (a government facility for orphaned and abandoned children) not for the last time. After 2 months, she was released, and the family was happily reunited, for a time. In later years, she was readmitted for an 8month stretch later, during which time
Charlie lived with his alcoholic father and stepmother, in a strained environment. Charlie Chaplin's first taste of show business
Sidney left home first, working first on a sailing ship, and later on the stage, opening the door for
Charlie to follow in his footsteps later. Young Charlie felt more alone than ever without the presence of his brother, his closest friend and confidant.
However, there was a bright spot as well in
Chaplin's 9th year he toured with a stage company, the 8 Lancashire Lads, with a kindhearted couple who led the troupe, and gave Chaplin his first taste of