Charlie Chaplin is one of the most well-known names and faces from the earliest days of motion pictures. He was one of the first and most notable screen performers and brought a lot talent and action to the movie screen. Here are some interesting facts about Charlie Chaplin.
1. Very few people know that Charlie Chaplin tried to avoid seeing his mother, but even fewer people know why he didn’t want to see her. The truth is, he avoided seeing her because she was mentally ill. He didn’t want to disturb her nor did he want her interfere with his life and career.
2. Charlie Chaplin was, of course, known for his cane and bowler hat that he used in his silent films. But what was done with them after his death? They were auctioned off to the highest bidder by the famous Christie’s auction house on December 11, 1987. They fetched the astounding price of 82,500 pounds, which is the equivalent of $151,246. Many people were surprised that they received so much at auction, but there were also some very avid collectors at the auction.
3. While many people considered Charlie Chaplin an innovator and one of the most amazing actors of his time, he wasn’t without competition. Mary Pickford, often refered to as America’s Sweetheart, was Charlie’s rival at the box office and also became a co-founder, along with Charlie Chaplin, of United Artists.
4. A film commemorating the work of Charlie Chaplin and his contributions to the film industry and America was created in 1992. The role of Charlie was played by Robert Downey Jr. who received an academy award nomination for his performance in the film.
5. Chaplin Avenue is a famous street named after Charlie Chaplin. It is located in Encino, CA which is located in the San Fernando Valley, close to Tara Drive and just off of Ashley Oak near the site where Clark Gable’s old ranch is located.
6. Like many of the most famous actors in Hollywood, Charlie Chaplin has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Hollywood Blvd. His star is located at 6751 Hollywood Blvd. between the stars of Ella Fitzgerald and Ozzy Osbourne. Diana Ross’s star is also nearby at 6712 Hollywood Blvd.
7. The home of Charlie Chaplin was unique in many different ways. The house was actually designed by Charlie himself and was built by the carpenters from his studio crew. Located at 1085 Summit Drive in Beverly Hills, California, it is called the Breakaway house because it has been falling apart over the years.
8. Charlie Chaplin was welcomed by many Americans and recognized as an American icon, but wasn’t an American citizen. He was exiled from the U.S. and spent the remainder of his life in Switzerland after refusing U.S. citizenship in 1953.
9. Charlie received many awards over the course of his life, being knighted by Queen Elizabeth II being one of the more significant ones. He was knighted on March 4th , 1975, just prior to his 86th birthday. Charlie, as well as onlookers who observed his being knighted, considered knighthood, an award given to very few people, a great honor.
10. Charlie Chaplin became a household name and his face was instantly recognizable to most people. His first appearance on the cover of TIME magazine was in 1925. He was the first actor to ever be featured on the cover of TIME magazine.