Portrait de femme (1876) by Charles Chaplin

Charles Chaplin (1889–1977), French, With a bowler hat, cane, and signature waddle, the Little Tramp became one of the most iconic figures in cinematic history. Though often remembered for his slapstick brilliance, Chaplin’s work was deeply humanist, blending physical comedy with poignant social commentary. His early years in London’s poverty-stricken Kennington district fueled a lifelong empathy for the marginalized, which permeated films like *The Kid* (1921) and *City Lights* (1931). Even as sound revolutionized cinema, he resisted dialogue in *Modern Times* (1936), proving silent film’s emotional power could transcend language.
Chaplin’s genius lay in his ability to balance absurdity with aching vulnerability. A single raised eyebrow or hesitant shuffle could convey longing, defiance, or heartbreak. His satire was razor-sharp—*The Great Dictator* (1940) mocked Hitler with such precision that it became both a daring political statement and a rallying cry for democracy. Yet, behind the camera, he was a perfectionist, often shooting hundreds of takes to capture the precise flicker of pathos.
Exiled from America during the McCarthy era, his later years in Switzerland were quieter but no less creative. Though his personal life drew scandal, his artistic legacy remains untarnished: a master of blending laughter and tears, whose influence echoes in everyone from Jacques Tati to Wes Anderson. The Tramp’s shuffling gait, it turns out, was a stride into immortality.