Charles Spencer Chaplin was born in 1889 to Hannah Chaplin and Charles Chaplin, Sr. His early years were spent with his mother and brother in Kennington. Their father provided no support for his children causing Chaplin to be sent to the workhouse at the age of seven. He started his career in entertainment when he played a paperboy in 'Sherlock Holmes' .he left London for America. His film debut was called 'Making a Living'. It was in the 1915 film, 'The Tramp', that Chaplin first appeared as the downtrodden, dreamy character for which he is most famous.
By the early 1920s, Chaplin was making his own films with actors Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks due to the establishment of Chaplin Studios and United Artists in 1919. Having control of his own films lead to classics such as 'The Kid', 'The Gold Rush', 'City Lights', 'Modern Times' and 'The Great Dictator'. These films made him the most popular and successful film star of his time. Chaplin was accused of being a communist by Senator McCarthy. In 1940 added heat to this accusation and caused a stir. The film saw Chaplin play a caricature version of Adolf Hitler, which was seen as being in bad taste.
He was allowed to return to the US in 1972 to receive an Oscar for his services to film. Chaplin was then given a Knighthood of the British Order by the Queen in 1975.
He died in Switzerland aged 88 from natural causes in 1977.