Billy West (silent film actor)

Billy West was a silent film actor, producer, and director. Active during the silent film era, he is best known as the premier Charlie Chaplin impersonator. He was a star in his own right, appearing in more than 100 films for nine different companies. Beyond acting, he also directed short comedies in the 1910s and '20s, and produced films. West retired as an actor in 1935, when he was working in small roles for Columbia Pictures. In 1940 he resumed his career as a director, making three features for Monogram Pictures. He remained in Columbia's employ, behind the scenes, into the 1950s.