Charlie Chaplin
On April 16, 1889, the legendary funny man, film director, and writer Charlie Chaplin was born in London.
Regarded as one of the greatest entertainers in movie history, Chaplin grew up in a poor home and faced many challenges.
He first took to the stage at the age of 5, substituting for his mother when her voice failed.
At age 10, he joined a children’s dance company.
Then, in the 1910s and 1920s, he became immensely popular through his films.
During this time, he developed a unique style of visual comedy that brought laughter to countless viewers.
In his silent comedy The Gold Rush (1925), an iconic scene shows Chaplin’s character, a hungry pioneer in Alaska, cooking and eating his own boot as a gourmet treat.
In all, he worked on 82 films, and wrote, directed, and produced several Hollywood classics.
Chaplin died in Switzerland on Christmas morning in 1977.
He was 88.