Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin is an icon. Go to any corner of the world, and the name is known. From poverty and hardships to become a world icon, Charlie Chaplin is an inspiration.
He once famously said, “Comedy really is a serious study, although it must not be taken seriously. That sounds like a paradox, but it is not. It is a serious study to learn characters; it is a hard study. But to make comedy a success there must be an ease, a spontaneity in the acting that cannot be associated with seriousness.”
Today marks Charlie Chaplin’s 131st birth anniversary. The legendary actor left behind a legacy and a style that’s even relevant in the film world even today.
Here are some of the lesser-known facts of the actor who conquered challenges and became a global icon.
A DIFFICULT CHILDHOOD
After Charlie Chaplin’s mother was sent to a mental asylum, he along his brother went to live with his alcoholic father. The two brothers were abused by the father but were rescued by the ‘National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children’.
AN ASTEROID IS NAMED AFTER CHAPLIN
A Russian astronomer Lyudmila Karachkina discovered an asteroid in October 1981, four years after the death Charlie Chaplin and decided to name the asteroid’ 3623 Chaplin’.
BLUE-EYED CHAPLIN
The people had always believed that Charlie Chaplin had brown eyes. This is due to the black and white cinema age; most people were not able to recognise that the legendary actor had beautiful blue eyes.
NO SOUND, PLEASE
Charlie Chaplin strongly opposed to using sound and dialogue in his films. As most of his comedy was a pantomime, he felt it was needless. He also regretted its technical limits.
CHAPLIN WAS MUSIC DIRECTOR TOO
The world knows about Chaplin’s versatility. But do you know that he was a music director? Chaplin composed the music for many of his own films. He composed music for his films such as Limelight and City Lights.
A SERIOUS ACTOR
Though called as one of the funniest actors of his group, Charlie Chaplin was a very serious person in real life and was different from his on-screen persona.
HIS HOME IS CONVERTED INTO A MUSEUM
In April 2016, his home in Switzerland was turned into a museum named Chaplin’s World. The museum houses wax figures, the film-set pieces and a studio where his movies are screened.
