Childhood - Charlie Chaplin was born on the 15th of April 1889, in London.

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Childhood

Charlie Chaplin was born on the 15th of April 1889, in London. He was taught to sing before he could speak and could dance as soon as he could walk. From an extremely young age, he was told that he was going to be 'the most famous person who ever lived'. That was his life ambition and he would do anything to achieve it.

When he was five years old he sang on stage for his mother who had been taken ill. At the age of eight, he appeared in a dancing act, called 'Eight Lancashire Lads'. On both occasions, he was loved by everyone in the audience and was excited by the attention he received. His half-brother, Sidney, acted as his agent when he was ten, and within a few years Charlie was one of the most popular child actors in England.

He was only twelve when his father died at the age of thirty-seven, of alcoholism. Charlie's mother, as a result of her husband's death, became a psychotic woman who was often taken away to mental institutions. Charlie and Sidney were soon placed in a charity home, where he attended two years of school at Hern Boy's College. This was the only formal education he ever received. He was at school when his mother suffered a mental breakdown and was taken away to an institution. This left Charlie alone to live on the streets.

However his mother did make a recovery and managed to support him financially by sewing. However they were still poor and he needed to work. From the age of twelve to the age of fourteen, he worked in a barbershop, a stationary store, a doctor's office, a glass factory, Chandler's shop and a printing plant. In 1903, Charlie performed in 'Sherlock Holmes' as the paperboy, Billy. Then in 1906, he moved on to join the 'Casey Circus' as a mime act. However after a year, he found that his voice was changing and he could not remain a child actor the legitimate theatre, and was forced back into Vaudeville. Although it was here that he discovered the gift for comic pantomime. After remaining in Vaudeville for a few years, Charlie, not quite twenty, travelled to the United States as a top comedian. This was where he really started his attempt to become 'the most famous person who ever lived'.

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Career of film producing

In 1907, Charlie joined the Kamo Pantomime Troupe, where he made his first tour of the United States and Canada, three years later. He stayed with the Kamo Troupe until 1913, before signing a contract with Adam Kessel, who had an interest in the Keystone Film Company, for $125 a week. Later that year, Charlie signed with Keystone Films for $150 a week. He remained here all through 1914 until November, when he was offered $1,250 a week with Essanay Films. He made a total of fourteen films during the year of 1915, including ...

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