- Born
- Birth nameGeraldine Leigh Chaplin
- Height5′ 5″ (1.65 m)
- Geraldine Leigh Chaplin was born in Santa Monica, California, to Oona Chaplin (née O'Neill) and legendary entertainer Charles Chaplin (A.K.A. Charlie Chaplin). She is a granddaughter of playwright Eugene O'Neill and a great-granddaughter of stage actor James O'Neill. She attended the Royal Ballet Academy in London. She was discovered by David Lean when she was dancing in Paris, which led to her role in Doctor Zhivago (1965). She has two children, Shane and Oona Chaplin.- IMDb Mini Biography By: Gloria Bond <gbond@erols.com>
- SpousePatricio Castilla(August 18, 2006 - present) (1 child)
- Children
- Parents
- RelativesEugene O'Neill(Grandparent)James O'Neill(Great Grandparent)Michael Chaplin(Sibling)Kiera Chaplin(Niece or Nephew)Laura Chaplin(Niece or Nephew)Carmen Chaplin(Niece or Nephew)Dolores Chaplin(Niece or Nephew)Charlie S. Chaplin(Niece or Nephew)Christopher Chaplin(Sibling)Victoria Chaplin(Sibling)Eugene Chaplin(Sibling)Jane Chaplin(Sibling)Josephine Chaplin(Sibling)Charles Chaplin Jr.(Half Sibling)Sydney Chaplin(Half Sibling)Syd Chaplin(Aunt or Uncle)James Thierrée(Niece or Nephew)Annie Chaplin(Sibling)
- Quite unlike her father, her performances have usually been serious, intense and brooding
- Wears sunglasses, mostly colorful, on her head
- Daughter of Charles Chaplin and Oona Chaplin.
- Portrayed her own grandmother in Chaplin (1992)
- Granddaughter of playwright Eugene O'Neill (1888-1965) and the singer Charles Chaplin Sr. (1864-1901). Oona Chaplin (1926-1991), Eugene O'Neill's daughter, was married to Charlie Chaplin from 1943 until his death in 1977.
- Speaks fluent Spanish and French.
- Geraldine's original ambition was to be a professional ballerina. She decided to eschew college altogether and took ballet for two years in England. She trained at the Royal Ballet School of London, starting in 1961. She eventually was good enough to go "pro" and danced professionally for a year in Paris, France. Though more than a quite capable swan, she believed she had not trained for an early enough age to truly maintain as a professional ballerina. Like many danseuses who left ballet, she felt she could not even go to the ballet or watch anything connected to ballet for quite some time.
- [on Doctor Zhivago (1965)] Although I went all over the world promoting it, I'd never got to see more than the credits before being whisked away. Finally, at Cannes, I was to sit through the whole thing. When I appeared for the first time, I fainted from the shock - and woke up in the ladies room.
- I thought it'd be easy to get into the movies as Charles Chaplin's daughter. And I suppose it was. Except I wasn't much good as an actress - really terrible at the beginning.
- [on Charles Chaplin] Daddy has never seen anything I've done, but he is the best critic I have. He has taught me how to tear down a character. "Slug your guts out" is his philosophy of acting. Never mind the talent, just work hard.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content