On this day, April 16, 1889, future Hollywood legend Charlie Chaplin, whose full name is Charles Spencer Chaplin, was born in London, England.
Chaplin would become one of the most financially successful stars of early Hollywood, according to History.com.
At the tender age of five, he was introduced to the stage as the son of London music hall performers.
ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY, APRIL 15, 1865, PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN DIED
As a child, he was watching a show starring his own mother, known by the stage name Lily Harley, “when her voice broke,” as History.com recounts.
“He was rushed to the stage to finish the act” for her, the site also says.
Queen Elizabeth II, left, shakes hands with actor Charlie Chaplin at the Empire Theater in London on October 27, 1952, for the Royal Film Show, a benefit performance to aid the Cinematograph Trade Benevolent Fund. (AP, Archive)
His father died when he was very young and his mother ended up suffering “a nervous breakdown.”
It was then that Chaplin, along with his older half-brother, Sydney, took to the streets of London. The children earned a few cents for dancing and were eventually sent to an orphanage.
ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY, APRIL 5, 1908, ACTRESS BETTE DAVIS WAS BORN IN MASSACHUSETTS: 'STRONG-WILLED WOMAN'
They joined Eight Lancashire Lads, a children's dance group, the History Channel says.
Young Charlie Chaplin quickly gained attention as a prominent tap dancer, according to the site CharlieChaplin.com.
His “bowler hat, feet out, mustache and cane” soon became his trademark.
At approximately 12 years old he had his first opportunity to act in a legitimate theater show and appeared as “Billy” the page in different productions of “Sherlock Holmes,” says that same site in a summary of the actor's life.
After that, he began his career as a comedian in vaudeville and eventually traveled to the United States in 1910 as a featured actor with the Fred Karno Company.
The “bowler hat, feet out, mustache and cane” soon became his trademark.
Charlie Chaplin sits wrapped in a blanket in the snow as The Lonely Seeker in his 1925 film, “The Gold Rush.” (Bettmann/Contributor)
He appeared in “Making a Living,” playing a monocle-wearing villain.
“It wasn't long before he was also working on the other side of the camera, helping to direct his twelfth film and directing his thirteenth, 'Caught in the Rain,' on his own,” notes History.com.
Chaplin would continue to perfect and refine the character of Charlie the Tramp (signing in 1915 with the Essanay company for $1,250 a week, plus a $10,000 bonus), “a big leap,” notes History.com, from what he gained. they paid previously. the Keystone company.
FROM KATHERINE HEPBURN TO SHIRLEY TEMPLE: A LOOK BACK AT OLD HOLLYWOOD OSCARS AND LITTLE-KNOWN TRIVIA
Fast forward, and in 1918, he signed a contract with First National for $1 million for eight films, History.com reports.
Chaplin is known for founding United Artists Corporation, with Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks and director DW Griffith, in 1919.
He was known as “a masterful silent film actor and pantomimist who could provoke laughter and tears from his audiences.”
It is not surprising, then, that he resisted the arrival of sound in films. “City Lights” from 1931 was his first film with sound, and in it he only used music.
He composed the entire score, according to CharlieChaplin.com.
Close-up of Charles Chaplin (1889-1977), without a mustache. He achieved great success with the character of “the tramp”, a funny and pathetic character who became world famous. (Bettmann/Contributor)
His first real talkie was “The Great Dictator” from the 1940s, which mocked fascism, says History.com.
Chaplin is also known for founding United Artists Corporation, with Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks and director DW Griffith, in 1919.
OSCAR TEST! HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW THE FACTS ABOUT THE ACADEMY AWARDS?
He ended up living in the United States for more than 40 years but reportedly never became a U.S. citizen.
“I was very nervous working with him,” Sophia Loren said of Charlie Chaplin.
Chaplin was accused of having communist ties, which he denied, says History.com. But in 1952, immigration officials prevented Chaplin and his wife from “re-entering the United States after a foreign tour.”
The couple settled in Switzerland with their eight children.
In 1972, Chaplin returned to the United States to accept a special Academy Award for “the incalculable effect he has had in making cinema the art of this century.”
Charlie Chaplin appears in 1970, when he was in his early 80s. He was knighted in 1975. (Photos/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
A few years ago, actress and icon Sophia Loren, reflecting on her decades-long career in Hollywood for the Actors/Directors/Writers issue of awards magazine The Wrap, looked at a photograph of her from “The Countess of Hong Kong.” 1967.” also known as Charlie Chaplin last movie.
“I was very nervous working with him,” Loren told Chaplin.
“He's a great teacher. But the first day on set, I realized he was just as nervous. If you care and love something, you get nervous. I'm suspicious of people who never get nervous.”
CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER
Chaplin was knighted in 1975.
He died at the age of 88 on Christmas Day 1977.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
He was survived by eight children from his marriage to Oona O'Neill and one son from his brief marriage to Lita Grey.
For more lifestyle articles, visit www.foxnews.com/lifestyle.
