(1889–1977)
an English film actor and director who did most of his work in the US. Most people consider him the greatest comic actor of the silent cinema. He appeared in many of his films as the best-known character he created, a poor man with a small round hat, a small moustache and trousers and shoes that are too big for him, causing him to walk in a funny way. He made many short comic films, such as The Kid (1921), and several longer films, such as City Lights (1931) and Modern Times (1936), which combined comedy with social and political comments. He was made a knight in 1975.