The son of entertainers, Charlie Chaplin {1889-1977} was a music hall comedian in England before coming to America to tour with Fred Karno's vaudeville troupe. He moved to Hollywood in his mid-20s and achieved such star-power playing the title character in The Tramp that he became the first actor to exercise control over his own films. Chaplin's ability to communicate the emotions of his characters won him legions of fans and changed the nature of comic acting. During his unmatched career as an actor, writer, and director, Chaplin appeared in more than 240 movies.
