Tribute To Charlie Chaplin

Before Chaplin, Hollywood was in it's infancy and not the dominate international film industry it would become. Charlie Chaplin became the world's first true movie superstar and helped build Hollywood into an entertainment juggernaut. Here is a few of his facts.

Born in London, England.

When Chaplin moved to America he was roommates with Stan Laurel.

Made his film debut in February 1914 and began directing two months later.

Started United Artists Pictures in 1919 with Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford and D.W. Griffith.

Wrote the music to the song "Smile".

Won three Oscars; a special award for "The Circus" (1928), a lifetime achievement award in 1971 and one for best musical score for "Limelight" (1972 - film made in 1952 but not released in the U.S. until twenty years later).

Charlie Chaplin dated many famous women including Tallulah Bankhead, Carole Landis, Paulette Goddard, Hedy Lamarr, Delores Del Rio, Marion Davis, Louise Brooks, Mabel Normand, Mildred Harris and Edna Purviance.

Exiled from the U.S. in 1953 for supposedly being a communist, he would live the rest of his life in Switzerland. He returned to Hollywood in 1972 to receive an honorary Oscar.

Fathered twelve children, including actress Geraldine Chaplin.

Chaplin was knighted in 1975.

Robert Downey Jr. portrayed the famous movie tramp in the 1992 film "Chaplin", directed by Sir Richard Attenborough.