Sydney Chaplin
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- For Sydney Chaplin's nephew, son of Charlie Chaplin, see Sydney Earle Chaplin
Sydney Chaplin, born as Sidney John Hill (March 16, 1885 - April 16, 1965), was the elder half-brother of Sir Charlie Chaplin and the half-uncle of the actor Sydney Chaplin (1926- ), who was born as Sydney Earle Chaplin. It is not known who Sydney's father was, although it has been said that it was a man called Hawkes, who never was married to Sydney's mother, Hannah Hill. After her marriage to Charles Chaplin Sr on June 22nd, 1885, Sydney became Sydney John Chaplin.
Charlie and Sydney Chaplin were very close and looked out for each other from their young days. Though younger, it was Charlie that got onto the stage first, in a play, Sherlock Holmes, but it wasn't long before Syd joined the tour. Fred Karno then signed up Sydney, and he then recommended Charlie, giving him his biggest break. After Charlie left Keystone, he suggested Sydney as his replacement, and he made a few comedies there, most notably A Submarine Pirate in 1915.
Soon, he was handling the majority of Charlie's business affairs, negotiating most of his big contracts and appearing in a few films during the First National era. Later films include The Perfect Flapper (1924) with Colleen Moore, Charley's Aunt (1925) and The Better 'Ole (1927).
Sydney Chaplin died on April 16, 1965, in Nice, France. He married twice and had no children. His first wife, Minnie, died in France in April 1935. His second wife, Henriette (called Gypsy) died after Sydney's death.
Sydney and Charlie shared another half-brother through their mother, British actor Wheeler Dryden, whom they did not meet until the 1920's.
Sydney Chaplin also stated he was three-quarters Jewish.
