The Sad Story of Charlie Chaplin

We always hear about the happy life of someone who is always seen as being happy and full of laughter. But what do not know is the story behind that success on how they struggle to meet ends meet. Despite making other people laugh, there is something hidden deep inside the person's heart full of despair.

This can also be said regarding the famous actor, Charlie Chaplin the legend who makes the world laugh. Not many will know about his tragic childhood stories before starting out as a comedian.

ADVERT

Compared to the current comedy show with funny dialog, Charlie Chaplin is more known for miming his own act without any dialogue.

Started His Career As An Assistant Actor

He was born into a family of actors as both his parents were part of the entertainment industry and ultimately it seems as if he inherits the talent from his mom and dad. However, this does not mean that he was used to an easy life like most sons and daughters of actors nowadays.

He did many types of jobs with his parents to help out the family. When he was 12 years old, he got his first chance to perform on stage and he was offered to be an assistant actor in the film Sherlock Holmes. His career started to progress even further as he started to play the role of a drunker in the film A Night in an English Music Hall.

This offer made him famous across the whole United States of America in 1910 and he was invited to give a show there making his popularity skyrocket. This just shows that the character brought by Charlie Chaplin is highly favored in the US.

In 1912, the production company return to the US to make another show there. At this moment, Charlie was offered a professional contract in the film industry. His salary at the time was a mere $150 per week. But because of his amazing talent, a lot of producers are very keen to offer him more than what he was paid.

Father Was an Alcoholic and Lives in Poverty

Not similar to other artists out there who were born on a silver spoon, Charlie was born in a rather poor family. To make matters worst, his father was also an alcoholic who always avoid his responsibility toward his family.

The father, Charles Chaplin was a singer who had big talent in Great Britain at the time. In the 1980s, alcohol abuse is considered a normal thing among celebrities and Charlie Chaplin's father is no exception.

ADVERT

His father passed away when he was only 12 years old due to his alcoholic habits and his father was only 38 years old. His father and mother were separated when Charlie Chaplin was 1 year old as his mother cannot bear him being an alcoholic.

Before both of his parents were separated, his father was once caught due to neglecting the responsibility towards the family. Charlie Chaplin and his brother were raised by a single mother, Hannah afterward. Even though Charlie was only 4 years apart from his brother, Sydney, they are more than willing to do whatever it takes to help their poor mother.

Mother Became Depressed and Had Mental Problems

Charlie Chaplin always states his gratitude towards his beloved mother as an inspiration for his works as well as going through all the obstacles in his challenging life. His mother, Hannah Chaplin was also a singer and has the nickname, Lily Harley.

Unfortunately, her career started to go down drastically as she was having health issues. During one show, she suddenly stop singing and could not continue any further. It was at this time, Charlie Chaplin who was still little at the time and accompanying her went up to the stage to replace his mother.

This historic event was the first time that Charlie Chaplin ever got involved in the entertainment industry. The downside is that it was also the worst moment for his mother. Because his mother was not stable, she was no longer invited to any part of the show.

ADVERT

This situation has made his mother even more depressed not to mention that she got two sons to raise on her own. She then had a mental breakdown and was forced to be treated at the mental hospital.

Failed in Marriage and Hit by Many Controversies

Even though Charlie Chaplin was considered very successful then, this does not stop him from being hit by many controversies in his marriage. In 1918, he had his own production company named First National. However, the success that has been held by him changed him to cheat on his wife.

One of his victims is Mildred Harris who was only 16 years of age when Charlie seduced her and suspected that she was pregnant which was forcing him to marry her to close the story.

After finding out that was not the case, Charlie really made her pregnant and filed for a divorce as a way to seek revenge on her. This might be happening due to the bad influence that he had ever since he was little due to his father.

The case did not stop as Charlie did the same thing to his second wife, Lita Grey. They both met when his wife was only 12 years old. When she reaches 15, Charlie got married to her and his wife became pregnant. He repeated the same mistake again as he filed for divorce in 1927.

Source: