Michael Chaplin (actor)

Michael John Chaplin (born March 7, 1946) is an American actor born in Santa Monica, California.

Michael Chaplin
1965 trade ad for Michael Chaplin
Born	Michael John Chaplin (1946-03-07) March 7, 1946 (age 79) Santa Monica, California, U.S.
Alma mater	Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
Occupations	Actor writer producer
Years active	1952–1966
Spouse(s)	Patrice Johns (m. 1965; div. 19??) Patricia Betaudier (m. 19??)
Children	7, including Carmen Chaplin
Parent(s)	Charlie Chaplin Oona O'Neill
Relatives	See Chaplin family
Website	michaeljchaplin.com

Career

Chaplin's started acting at age six, appearing (uncredited) in his father's 1952 film Limelight, and then co-starring alongside him in 1957's A King in New York.

In the mid-1960s Chaplin signed a book contract with British publisher Leslie Frewin to publish his autobiography I Couldn't Smoke The Grass On My Father's Lawn, which was ghostwritten with Tom Merrin and Charles Hamblett.^[1][2] This was a teenage hippie-memoir of drugs and rebellion against a world-famous father. Before its release his father filed an injunction to prevent publication, arguing that it would have a detrimental effect on himself and his family.^[1][3] The injunction was set aside by judges for the Court of Appeal, who held that Chaplin's contract was binding because he stood to gain from the work's publication, as it launched his writing career.^[4]

In addition, Chaplin is the author of a novel, A Fallen God, a modern version of the story of Tristan and Iseult.^[5] His last part in a film, which was also his first in 48 years, was in the 2014 short film, The Innovators, where he was the voice of the minister.

Personal

He is the second child and eldest son from Charlie Chaplin's fourth and final marriage, to Oona O'Neill.

Michael Chaplin and his girlfriend Patrice Johns before their wedding (1965)

He was first married to the writer Patrice Johns, with whom he has two sons. He later married Patricia Betaudier, a painter and the daughter of Trinidadian painter Patrick Betaudier. He has five children with her, including actresses Carmen Chaplin and Dolores Chaplin.^[6]

Filmography

• Limelight (1952) as Child in Opening Scene (uncredited)
• A King in New York (1957) as Rupert Macabee
• Promise Her Anything (1965) as Heathcliff - Beatnik (uncredited)
• The Sandwich Man (1966) as Pavement Artist
• The Innovators (2014) as the Voice of the Minister (short film)

Books

• A Fallen God