CHINATOWN CENTRAL PLAZA, 2016
We first noticed Charlie’s shoes: patterned high-tops he bought from Goodwill.
Charlie immigrated from Vietnam after the war. “I wanted to find Charlie Chaplin,” he said, an obsession that began after seeing him in a short movie. “His face makes you laugh, so I remembered him.”
Committing Chaplin to memory, he described the actor to his boss in the United States, who then told him Chaplin’s name, which Charlie adopted as his American name. To be more like Charlie, he joined a tap-dancing troupe.
He also found inspiration in another performer, Gene Kelly, which is why he has an umbrella strapped to his backpack so he can also dance in the rain on a moment’s whim. “I imitate him,” he said.
A few other fun facts: Charlie’s a card-carrying member of the Democratic Party. He keeps his membership card around his neck.
We commented on his youthfulness. “What’s the secret?” we asked.
“I know how to live so I live long,” he said. He imparted some wisdom: “Don’t smoke. Don’t drink whiskey. And don’t have too many wives.”
