Sir Charles “Charlie” Chaplin was an English actor, comedian, and filmmaker that rose to fame in the silent era. He was a worldwide icon through his screen persona “the Tramp”. He is one of the most important figures in the history of the film industry. His acting career spanned more than 75 years since his childhood. His death at age 88 has encompassed both adulation and controversy. He co-found the distribution company United Artist, which gave him complete control over his films. His first film was The Kid (1921). He was accused of his communist sympathies, which led to his decline by satirizing Adolf Hitler in the film,The Great Dictator (1940). During an FBI investigation, he was forced to leave the United States, and settle in Switzerland. He wrote, directed, produced, starred in, and composed the music for most of his films. In 1972 he received an Honorary Academy Award for “the incalculable effect he has had in the making motion pictures the art form of the century”.