Charles Chaplin

“Laughter is the tonic, the relief, the surcease from pain.” Charlie Chaplin is primarily known as an icon of silent films, especially for his beloved character of the Tramp. The son of music hall performers, he grew up in show business and began acting at the early age of eight. His film career took off when, in 1914, he signed a contract with Keystone Studios, where he created and starred in such timeless classics as "The Kid" (1921) and "The Golden Chimera" (1925). He was renowned for his ability to use humor as a vehicle for social criticism, demonstrated in films such as "Modern Times" (1936), which tackles industrialization and its dehumanizing effects, and "The Great Dictator" (1940), his first "talkie," which bravely satirizes fascism and tyranny. His style was characterized by a mixture of slapstick comedy, social commentary and poignant storytelling, reflecting his keen observations of human nature and societal tensions. Chaplin was a screenwriter, producer, editor, composer and prolific musician for many of his films, and is consistently praised as one of the great figures in film history.