On this day in 1978, the coffin of Charlie Chaplin was stolen from a small, unguarded village cemetery in Switzerland. Charlie Chaplin was born on 16th April 1889 and died aged 88. He was a comic actor, film director and composer, although he is most famous for his work involving silent films. He spent much if his younger life in South London and it is believed he was born there too, although no record of his birth in England has been found. His signature look of a hat, baggy trousers and moustache was born from one of his early films, 'The Tramp'.