George Dryden Wheeler Jr. (31 August 1892 â€" 30 September 1957),
known better as Wheeler Dryden, was an English-born American actor and
film director. He was the son of Hannah Chaplin and music hall
entertainer Leo Dryden, and younger half-brother of actors Sir Charlie
and Sydney Chaplin.He moved to the United States in 1918, joining his
mother and two half-brothers. He worked as an actor and director,
sometimes assisting Charlie Chaplin. He was married for a time and was
the father of Spencer Dryden, who became a rock musician with
prominent American bands and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall
of Fame.He was born as George Dryden Wheeler, Jr., in London, the
youngest of three boys born to Hannah Hill Chaplin, and the son of Leo
Dryden, a music hall entertainer. While George was an infant, his
father removed him from his mentally troubled mother, who was
committed to a mental asylum for a time. He grew up estranged from her
and his two older brothers. Known as Wheeler, Dryden became an
entertainer like his father. In 1915 he was touring India and the Far
East as a Vaudeville comedian when his father first told him that the
newly famous actor Charlie Chaplin was his half-brother.At this point,
Dryden (who adopted use of this as his surname) wrote several letters
to Chaplin and his half-brother Sydney, but received no response from
either of them. In 1917, he got in touch with Chaplin's lead actress,
Edna Purviance, who is thought to have convinced Chaplin to recognise
Dryden as his half-brother.
known better as Wheeler Dryden, was an English-born American actor and
film director. He was the son of Hannah Chaplin and music hall
entertainer Leo Dryden, and younger half-brother of actors Sir Charlie
and Sydney Chaplin.He moved to the United States in 1918, joining his
mother and two half-brothers. He worked as an actor and director,
sometimes assisting Charlie Chaplin. He was married for a time and was
the father of Spencer Dryden, who became a rock musician with
prominent American bands and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall
of Fame.He was born as George Dryden Wheeler, Jr., in London, the
youngest of three boys born to Hannah Hill Chaplin, and the son of Leo
Dryden, a music hall entertainer. While George was an infant, his
father removed him from his mentally troubled mother, who was
committed to a mental asylum for a time. He grew up estranged from her
and his two older brothers. Known as Wheeler, Dryden became an
entertainer like his father. In 1915 he was touring India and the Far
East as a Vaudeville comedian when his father first told him that the
newly famous actor Charlie Chaplin was his half-brother.At this point,
Dryden (who adopted use of this as his surname) wrote several letters
to Chaplin and his half-brother Sydney, but received no response from
either of them. In 1917, he got in touch with Chaplin's lead actress,
Edna Purviance, who is thought to have convinced Chaplin to recognise
Dryden as his half-brother.
Share this
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
Join us for free and get valuable content delivered right through your inbox.