Alfred Eric Campbell (26 April 1880 â€" 20 December 1917), was a
British actor. He was a key member of Charlie Chaplin's film ensemble,
invariably playing an intimidating bully, and appeared in eleven of
Chaplin's films before he was killed in a car crash at the age of 37.
He is the subject of a documentary by filmmaker Kevin
Macdonald.Campbell was previously believed to have been born in
Scotland in Dunoon, traditional Clan Campbell country, but he is now
thought to have been born in Cheshire. Most sources give his year of
birth as 1879, but online birth records show that the birth of an
Alfred Eric Campbell was registered in Altrincham in Aprilâ€"June
1880; no birth with this name was registered in Cheshire in
1879.Campbell began acting in "fit-ups" (local theatres) in Scotland
and Wales, playing melodramatic roles. In this setting he was
discovered by Fred Karno, the English impresario who was impressed by
Campbell's size and baritone voice and took him to London to act in
the slapstick comedy style.
British actor. He was a key member of Charlie Chaplin's film ensemble,
invariably playing an intimidating bully, and appeared in eleven of
Chaplin's films before he was killed in a car crash at the age of 37.
He is the subject of a documentary by filmmaker Kevin
Macdonald.Campbell was previously believed to have been born in
Scotland in Dunoon, traditional Clan Campbell country, but he is now
thought to have been born in Cheshire. Most sources give his year of
birth as 1879, but online birth records show that the birth of an
Alfred Eric Campbell was registered in Altrincham in Aprilâ€"June
1880; no birth with this name was registered in Cheshire in
1879.Campbell began acting in "fit-ups" (local theatres) in Scotland
and Wales, playing melodramatic roles. In this setting he was
discovered by Fred Karno, the English impresario who was impressed by
Campbell's size and baritone voice and took him to London to act in
the slapstick comedy style.
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