Sydney Earle Chaplin was born on March 31, 1926 in Beverly Hills, California. He was the third son of Sir Charles ‘Charlie’ Chaplin [1889-1977] by his second wife actress Lita Grey [1908-1995] and was named after Charlie’s older brother Sydney Chaplin [1885-1965]. Sydney was the brother of Charles Chaplin, Jr. [1925-1968] and half-brother to Geraldine Chaplin [1944- ], Michael Chaplin [1946- ], Josephine Chaplin [1949- ], Victoria Chaplin [1951- ] , Euguene Chaplin [1953- ], Jane Chaplin [1957- ], Annette Chaplin [1959- ], Christopher Chaplin [1962- ], and Norman Chaplin. A restless child and lacking discipline he was expelled from three boarding schools by the time he was 16. He was drafted into the Army during World War II and served as a bazooka man with General Patton’s Third Army. Sydney turned to acting and was a founding member of the Circle Players at the Circle Theatre which is known today as the El Centro Theatre. In 1957 Sydney won a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical for “Bells are Ringing”. He also received a Tony nomination for “Funny Girl” opposite Barbara Streisand, whom he carried on a love affair during the shows run. Also appearing in Film Chaplin appeared in two of his father’s films “Limelight” (1952) and “A Countess from Hong Kong” (1967). During the late 1960s Sydney moved to Rome to continue his film career and appeared in three Euro-westerns: “One by One”, “If You Meet Sartana Pray for Your Death” and “Tierra Brava” all in 1968. Returning to the U.S.A. he appeared mainly in television roles. Married three times, among them actress Noëlle Adam [1933- ] (1960-1968) and had one child Stephan from his first marriage. he opened a renowned restaurant Chaplins in Palm Springs, California. Chaplin died of a stroke on March 3, 2009 at the age of 82. Today we remember Sydney Chaplin on what would have been his 85th birthday.
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