CHARLIE CHAPLIN (1889 – 1977)
FILM ::: SILENT :::

One of the 20th century's most recognizable figures was the silent film pioneer's character, The Tramp with the bowler hat and cane, the squared-off, sawed-off moustache and trademark waddle. When he finally found his voice, there many who were not very pleased with what he had to say. He was criminally dogged by the powers-that-be for his left-leaning sympathy's and was informed by the US Government that he was no longer welcome. He opted to return to Europe with his fourth wife, Oona, the daughter of playwright Eugene O'Neill. Twenty years after the McCarthy witch hunt was over, Chaplin returned to the states for a twelve-minute standing-O at the 1972 Academy Awards ceremony.