Charlie Chaplin
Charlie Chaplin was a British actor and filmmaker who became the most famous figure of silent cinema.
His signature character, the Little Tramp—bowler hat, cane, mustache, waddle—remains an icon of comedy.
Chaplin wrote, directed, produced, and starred in his films, maintaining creative control rare for his era.
His name evokes both physical comedy and the golden age of Hollywood: doing a Charlie Chaplin impression, a Chaplin-esque gag.
Stiff felt dome cap
- caneStick for support
- mustacheUpper lip hair
- baggy trousersOversized, relaxed-fit legwear
- oversized shoesFootwear larger than needed
waddle · silhouette · vagrant · underdog · hobo · everyman · dignity · pathos
One who portrays characters
- comedianProfessional humor performer
- entertainerOne who amuses others
- mimeWordless expressive performer
- starLuminous astronomical object
leading man · vaudeville · pantomimist · clown · physical comedian · screen presence · characterization · timing
Exaggerated physical humor
- physical humorComedy using the body
- gagMouth restraint or jest
- pratfallComedic fall on buttocks
- timingArt of choosing moments
farce · satire · wit · sight gag · comic timing · pie fight · chase scene · absurdity
One who leads
- auteurDirector with total control
- producerOne who makes things
- screenwriterAuthor of film scripts
- editorOne who revises text
composer · innovator · pioneer · visionary · storyteller · United Artists · studio · feature film
Soundless motion picture
- intertitleSilent film text
- black and whiteWithout middle ground
- film reelCylinder holding movie footage
- projectorLight-casting display device
flicker · nickelodeon · motion picture · title card · piano accompaniment · Keystone · talkies · transition
Famous beyond ordinary measure
- iconicWidely recognized, enduring
- influentialHaving considerable effect
- timelessUnaffected by eras
- classicOf lasting excellence
genius · masterpiece · groundbreaking · cinema history · cultural icon · Hollywood Walk of Fame · Oscar · AFI
bowler hat
Stiff felt dome cap
- caneStick for support
- mustacheUpper lip hair
- baggy trousersOversized, relaxed-fit legwear
oversized shoes · waddle · silhouette · vagrant · underdog · hobo · everyman · dignity · pathos · resilience
actor
One who portrays characters
- comedianProfessional humor performer
- entertainerOne who amuses others
- mimeWordless expressive performer
star · leading man · vaudeville · pantomimist · clown · physical comedian · screen presence · characterization · timing · expression
slapstick
Exaggerated physical humor
- physical humorComedy using the body
- gagMouth restraint or jest
- pratfallComedic fall on buttocks
timing · farce · satire · wit · sight gag · comic timing · pie fight · chase scene · absurdity · social commentary
director
One who leads
- auteurDirector with total control
- producerOne who makes things
- screenwriterAuthor of film scripts
editor · composer · innovator · pioneer · visionary · storyteller · United Artists · studio · feature film · artistic control
silent film
Soundless motion picture
- intertitleSilent film text
- black and whiteWithout middle ground
- film reelCylinder holding movie footage
projector · flicker · nickelodeon · motion picture · title card · piano accompaniment · Keystone · talkies · transition · Modern Times
legendary
Famous beyond ordinary measure
- iconicWidely recognized, enduring
- influentialHaving considerable effect
- timelessUnaffected by eras
classic · genius · masterpiece · groundbreaking · cinema history · cultural icon · Hollywood Walk of Fame · Oscar · AFI · retrospective
- Silent Filmsilent films, silent era, silent comedy, Buster Keaton, intertitle
- 1920s IconsBabe Ruth, Al Capone, Duke Ellington, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Josephine Baker
- Screen LegendsHumphrey Bogart, Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn
- Silent EraBuster Keaton, Mary Pickford, Rudolph Valentino, Lon Chaney, Anna May Wong
- Alliterative NamesMickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Peter Parker, Bruce Banner, Bugs Bunny
- comedianscomedian, stand-up, comic, stand-up comic, standup comic
Charlie ChaplinDon Rickles
Famous insult comedian
Howard Stern · Groucho Marx · Bob Hope · stand-up comedian · insult comic
Charlie ChaplinJames Cameron
Steven Spielberg · George Lucas · Michael Bay · talkies · sound film
Charlie Chaplinvillain
Wicked story antagonist
antagonist · tyrant · tycoon · aristocrat · bully