Charlie Chaplin

Charles Spencer Chaplin was born in London, England in 1889. Chaplin had a difficult early life; with his father absent and his mother committed to a mental asylum, Chaplin was sent to a workhouse at age 7. From a young age, Chaplin began performing at music halls and later as a comedian and actor. He moved to America at 19, after he was signed to the Fred Karno company, and started appearing in silent films in 1914. Chaplin co-founded United Artists in 1919, allowing him to write, direct, edit, and star in his own movies. Some of his most famous films include The Kid, Modern Times, City Lights, and The Gold Rush.