SirCharlesSpencerChaplin,Jr.KBE(16April1889–25December1977),betterknownasCharlieChaplin,wasanAcademyAward-winningEnglishcomedicactorandfilmmaker.Chaplinbecameoneofthemostfamousactorsaswellasanotablefilmmaker,composerandmusicianintheearlytomid"ClassicalHollywood"eraofAmericancinema.
Chaplinactedin,directed,scripted,producedandeventuallyscoredhisownfilmsasoneofthemostcreativeandinfluentialpersonalitiesofthesilent-filmera.Hisworkinglifeinentertainmentspannedover65years,fromtheVictorianstageandtheMusicHallintheUnitedKingdomasachildperformeralmostuntilhisdeathattheageof88.Hishigh-profilepublicandprivatelifeencompassedbothadulationandcontroversy.WithMaryPickford,DouglasFairbanksandD.W.Griffith,Chaplinco-foundedUnitedArtistsin1919.
InareviewofthebookChaplin:ALife(2008),MartinSieffwrites:"Chaplinwasnotjust'big',hewasgigantic.In1915,heburstontoawar-tornworldbringingitthegiftofcomedy,laughterandreliefwhileitwastearingitselfapartthroughWorldWarI.Overthenext25years,throughtheGreatDepressionandtheriseofHitler,hestayedonthejob.Hewasbiggerthananybody.Itisdoubtfulanyindividualhasevergivenmoreentertainment,pleasureandrelieftosomanyhumanbeingswhentheyneededitthemost."