Interesting Facts about Charlie Chaplin3 photos

Chaplin lived in a modest hotel room and kept old receipts in an old suitcase for months at a time. He was left-handed, even playing the violin with his left hand. At the age of 14, he got a permanent job in a theater—before he could even read. Chaplin sympathized with communists, which led to the FBI investigating him in the 1930s after his film "Modern Times." He lived in the U.S. for 40 years but never became a citizen; in fact, he was banned from entering the country in 1952 and faced political and moral accusations when applying for a visa. In 1917, he became the highest-paid actor of his time by signing a contract with First National Studio worth $1 million. Chaplin loved boxing and tango; in his film "City Lights," he combined both. He sold all his stocks in 1928, before the Great Depression began. During World War II, he spoke at a rally supporting Russia, using words like "comrades" that led some to consider him a communist. After filming "The Great Dictator," he was warned that the film would face censorship problems. Despite these warnings, it was released and later used by Nazi propaganda to call Chaplin a Jew. A committee investigated his activities, including his national origin. According to the documentary "The Tramp and the Dictator" (2001), Hitler watched this film. During Chaplin's filmshootings, there was only one accident: he injured himself while shooting "Silent Street." Chaplin had a weakness for young girls; for example, he married Mildred Harris when she was 16 and he was 28. At 35, he married Lita Grey, who was 16; biographer Joyce Milton suggested that their relationship inspired Nabokov's "Lolita." He married Paulette Goddard at 44 and Una O'Neill at 54, having eight children with her. His last child was born when he was 72. Chaplin was also a talented composer, writing music for many of his own films. Once, he anonymously participated in a contest imitating his own style—and won second place. In his later years, he admired British comedian Benny Hill very much.