Charlie Chaplin was born into a family of entertainers; both his parents were music hall performers in London.
He started his career at the age of 10 as a member of a dancing troupe called 'The Eight Lancashire Lads.'
Chaplin's iconic character 'The Tramp' first appeared in the 1914 film 'Kid Auto Races at Venice.'
He was one of the co-founders of United Artists, a film studio created in 1919 along with D.W. Griffith, Mary Pickford, and Douglas Fairbanks.
Chaplin wrote, directed, produced, edited, starred in, and composed the music for most of his films, showcasing his multifaceted talent.
His film 'The Great Dictator' (1940) was his first true talking picture and a satire of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi regime.
Chaplin's 'The Kid' (1921) was one of the first films to combine comedy and drama in a seamless way, influencing the development of the dramedy genre.
Despite being a British citizen, Chaplin lived in the United States for much of his career but was exiled in 1952 during the McCarthy era due to accusations of communist sympathies.
In 1972, Chaplin returned to the United States to receive an Honorary Academy Award, receiving a 12-minute standing ovation, the longest in Oscar history.
Chaplin was married four times and had 11 children, with his last marriage to Oona O'Neill lasting until his death.
He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1975, becoming Sir Charles Chaplin.
Chaplin was known for his perfectionism and often required dozens or even hundreds of takes to get a scene just right.
He had a close friendship with Albert Einstein, and the two often discussed politics, science, and art.
Chaplin composed the music for many of his films, including the famous song 'Smile,' which became a popular standard.
He continued to work in film until the age of 77, with his last film being 'A Countess from Hong Kong' (1967), starring Marlon Brando and Sophia Loren.
