The silent cinema’s greatest artist was born on April 16, 1889. And whether it was acting, writing, directing, or composing his own soundtracks, Chaplin did it all.
Happy Birthday to the Tramp: The Life and Times of Charlie Chaplin
TIME & LIFE Pictures
Charlie Chaplin's fame rose during WWI, a time when movie-goers needed relief from the violence and devastation that surrounded them. He also became a spokesman for Liberty Bonds. Here, he and Douglas Fairbanks promote the bonds in front of a throng of Manhattan-ites.