Chaplin had a miserable childhood and was raised in poverty. He chose performing as a way to escape the harsh realities of the slum he lived in. With a career of over 50 years and 81 films, Chaplin was a genius at pantomime, a writer , director , composer, choreographer, and producer. Even when I was in the orphanage, when I was roaming the street trying to find enough to eat, even then I thought of myself as the greatest actor in the world.
Laughter IS the surcease for pain.