Born into a theatrical family, Chaplin's father died of drink while his mother, unable to bear the poverty, suffered from bouts of insanity, Chaplin embarked on a film-making career which won him immeasurable success, as well as intense controversy. His extraordinary autobiography was first published in 1964 and was written almost entirely without reference to documentation - simply as an astonishing feat of memory by a 75 year old man. It is an incomparably vivid reconstruction of a poor London childhood, the music hall and then his prodigious life in the movies.

查尔斯•卓别林（Charlie Chaplin 1889-1977）,英国电影演员、导演、制片人。20世纪最伟大的批判现实主义电影艺术家、世界喜剧电影大师。卓别林奠定了现代喜剧电影的基础，他头戴圆顶礼帽、手持竹手杖、足登大皮靴、走路像鸭子的流浪汉形象，已成为喜剧电影的标志，也使他成为风靡世界的文化偶像。

卓别林一生共拍摄了八十余部电影，其代表作《淘金记》、《城市之光》、《摩登时代》、《大独裁者》、《凡尔杜先生》、《舞台生涯》等，都是荣耀影史的经典之作，共同反映出卓别林从普通的人道主义者转变为伟大的批判现实主义艺术家的人生旅程。

卓别林以其精湛的表演技艺，在影片中对下层劳动者寄予深切的同情，对资本主义社会的种种弊端进行辛辣的讽刺。1952年因受到麦卡锡主义的迫害被迫离开美国，从此定居瑞士。1972年好莱坞隆重邀请卓别林重返美国，受到影迷的空前欢迎，并领取奥斯卡终身成就奖，赞誉他“在本世纪为电影艺术作出不可估量的贡献”。