Hannah Chaplin
Encyclopedia
Hannah Chaplin was the founding matriarch of the Chaplin family
of actors as the mother of Sir Charlie Chaplin
.
She was born Hannah Harriet Pedlingham Hill in Camden Street, Walworth
, London
, the daughter of Mary Ann (née Terry) and Charles Frederick Hill. She became a Music Hall
entertainer and used the stage name 'Lily Harley'.
On March 16, 1885, she gave birth to Sydney John Hill, later Sydney Chaplin
. Later that year, on June 22, she married Charles Spencer Chaplin, a fellow Music Hall entertainer. Their son Charles was born in 1889.
She gave birth to George Wheeler Dryden
on August 31, 1892 in London, son of music hall entertainer Leo Dryden
. George was therefore the half brother of Charles and Sydney Chaplin. As a result of her adulterous
relationship with Dryden, Hannah and Charles Chaplin, Sr. separated soon after George's birth. Hannah became responsible for taking care of Charlie and his older brother Sydney, as George went to live with his father.
It was when Hannah's voice failed during a performance at 'The Canteen', an Army
theatre at Aldershot
in Hampshire
in January 1894, that the young Charlie Chaplin, at the age of four, got his first taste of performing, when he went on as an unplanned replacement for his mother. This event was portrayed in the 1992 film Chaplin.
She became increasingly mentally ill and had a breakdown in 1895. In June 1896, Hannah, with her two sons Charles and Sydney, entered Lambeth
Workhouse
. Within a few weeks the boys were sent to Hanwell School for Orphans and Destitute Children.
In 1898, Hannah had a mental breakdown, and Charles and Sydney went to live for a time with Charles Sr. and his mistress. Young Charles first appeared at this time with the Lancashire Lads
. From May 1903 to September 1912, Hannah was in the Cane Hill Lunatic Asylum
in Surrey
. Charlie later wrote about a visit to see her in 1912:
The brothers took Hannah out of Cane Hill and put her into Peckham House, a private asylum, but she was returned to Cane Hill Asylum in May 1915 when they defaulted on the 30 shillings a week payment. The Chaplin brothers brought her to California
in 1921 where she was cared for until her death, in 1928. The Chaplin family held her funeral in the heart of Hollywood, at Hollywood's Memorial Cemetery, where Hannah Chaplin rests today, in a modest grave by the lake.
Her granddaughter, Geraldine Chaplin
, portrayed her in the 1992 film Chaplin.
Chaplin family
The Chaplin family is an English/American/Swiss acting family. There are the descendants of Hannah Chaplin, chiefly known as the mother of Charlie Chaplin, the Academy Award-winning English comedic actor and filmmaker. Hannah Chaplin's mother was half-Roma...
of actors as the mother of Sir Charlie Chaplin
Charlie Chaplin
Sir Charles Spencer "Charlie" Chaplin, KBE was an English comic actor, film director and composer best known for his work during the silent film era. He became the most famous film star in the world before the end of World War I...
.
She was born Hannah Harriet Pedlingham Hill in Camden Street, Walworth
Walworth
-Places:United Kingdom* Walworth, County DurhamUnited States* Walworth County, South Dakota* Walworth County, Wisconsin* Walworth, New York* Walworth, Wisconsin, a village* Walworth , Wisconsin, a town...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, the daughter of Mary Ann (née Terry) and Charles Frederick Hill. She became a Music Hall
Music hall
Music Hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment which was popular between 1850 and 1960. The term can refer to:# A particular form of variety entertainment involving a mixture of popular song, comedy and speciality acts...
entertainer and used the stage name 'Lily Harley'.
On March 16, 1885, she gave birth to Sydney John Hill, later Sydney Chaplin
Sydney Chaplin
Sydney Chaplin was an English actor. He was the elder half-brother of Sir Charlie Chaplin and served as his business manager, and the half-uncle of the actor Sydney Chaplin , who was named after him.-Early life:...
. Later that year, on June 22, she married Charles Spencer Chaplin, a fellow Music Hall entertainer. Their son Charles was born in 1889.
She gave birth to George Wheeler Dryden
Wheeler Dryden
George Dryden WHEELER was an English actor and film director, the son of Hannah Chaplin and music hall entertainer Leo Dryden and thus the half brother of Charles and Sydney Chaplin...
on August 31, 1892 in London, son of music hall entertainer Leo Dryden
Leo Dryden
George Dryden Wheeler , was an English music hall 'vocal comic'. In 1892, he met Hannah Chaplin , mother of Charlie, and also a music hall performer. They had an affair, and a son, George Dryden Wheeler , leading to the breakdown of her marriage to Charles Chaplin, Sr...
. George was therefore the half brother of Charles and Sydney Chaplin. As a result of her adulterous
Adultery
Adultery is sexual infidelity to one's spouse, and is a form of extramarital sex. It originally referred only to sex between a woman who was married and a person other than her spouse. Even in cases of separation from one's spouse, an extramarital affair is still considered adultery.Adultery is...
relationship with Dryden, Hannah and Charles Chaplin, Sr. separated soon after George's birth. Hannah became responsible for taking care of Charlie and his older brother Sydney, as George went to live with his father.
It was when Hannah's voice failed during a performance at 'The Canteen', an Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
theatre at Aldershot
Aldershot
Aldershot is a town in the English county of Hampshire, located on heathland about southwest of London. The town is administered by Rushmoor Borough Council...
in Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
in January 1894, that the young Charlie Chaplin, at the age of four, got his first taste of performing, when he went on as an unplanned replacement for his mother. This event was portrayed in the 1992 film Chaplin.
She became increasingly mentally ill and had a breakdown in 1895. In June 1896, Hannah, with her two sons Charles and Sydney, entered Lambeth
Lambeth
Lambeth is a district of south London, England, and part of the London Borough of Lambeth. It is situated southeast of Charing Cross.-Toponymy:...
Workhouse
Workhouse
In England and Wales a workhouse, colloquially known as a spike, was a place where those unable to support themselves were offered accommodation and employment...
. Within a few weeks the boys were sent to Hanwell School for Orphans and Destitute Children.
In 1898, Hannah had a mental breakdown, and Charles and Sydney went to live for a time with Charles Sr. and his mistress. Young Charles first appeared at this time with the Lancashire Lads
The Eight Lancashire Lads
The Eight Lancashire Lads was a troupe of young male dancers who toured the music halls of Great Britain in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.They were founded by Bill Cawley and J.W. Jackson of Wigan, Lancashire...
. From May 1903 to September 1912, Hannah was in the Cane Hill Lunatic Asylum
Cane Hill
Cane Hill was a psychiatric hospital in Coulsdon in the London Borough of Croydon. Built to care for patients in the eastern part of Surrey, remote from the Springfield and Brookwood Asylums, it opened in 1882 as the Third Surrey County Lunatic Asylum. Following a gradual winding down of...
in Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
. Charlie later wrote about a visit to see her in 1912:
"It was a depressing day, for she was not well. She had just got over an obstreperous phase of singing hymns, and had been confined to a padded room. The nurse had warned us of this beforehand. Sydney saw her, but I had not the courage, so I waited. He came back upset, and said that she had been given shock treatment of icy cold showers and that her face was quite blue. That made us decide to put her into a private institution - we could afford it now."
The brothers took Hannah out of Cane Hill and put her into Peckham House, a private asylum, but she was returned to Cane Hill Asylum in May 1915 when they defaulted on the 30 shillings a week payment. The Chaplin brothers brought her to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in 1921 where she was cared for until her death, in 1928. The Chaplin family held her funeral in the heart of Hollywood, at Hollywood's Memorial Cemetery, where Hannah Chaplin rests today, in a modest grave by the lake.
Her granddaughter, Geraldine Chaplin
Geraldine Chaplin
Geraldine Leigh Chaplin is an English-American actress and the daughter of Charlie Chaplin.Chaplin first came to prominence for her Golden Globe-nominated role of Tonya in David Lean's Doctor Zhivago . She received her second Golden Globe nomination for Robert Altman's Nashville...
, portrayed her in the 1992 film Chaplin.