MUMBAI: Today is Charlie Chaplin‘s birthday. He would have been 123 today. Best known for his role as The Tramp, Chaplin wrote, directed and starred in a series of silent films that commented on the politics, economy and social structure of the day through slapstick, mime and comedy.
 
Born in Britain in 1889, Chaplin was born in Britain in 1889 and moved to Hollywood in 1910 to make a celluloid career. He became one of the most influential artistes of his time with films such as The Kid, City Lights, Modern Times, The Gold Rush and The Great Dictator, his only ‘talking‘ film.
 
In 1919 he founded United Artists with fellow stars Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks and D. W. Griffith all of whom were seeking to escape the growing power consolidation of film distributors and financiers in Hollywood.
 
Chaplin was a famous ladies‘ man, marrying four times. His fourth wife was Oona, daughter of American playwright Eugene O‘Neill. Of his twelve children, daughter Geraldine is a well known and acclaimed actress in her own right.
 
Chaplin was made a Knight Commander of the British Empire in 1975. He was also given a star at the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1970. He received three Academy Awards in his lifetime: Best Original Score for the movie Limelight, and two Honorary Awards.
 
Charlie Chaplin died in his sleep in Switzerland on 25 December 1977 at the age of 88.