10 Spookiest Hollywood Stories And Urban Legends
1. Charlie Chaplin's Corpse Was Kidnapped
One of Hollywood's early, influential figures, Charlie Chaplin was eventually barred from returning to America for his "un-American" views. This was the height of Communist paranoia, and the actor had often spoken out against capitalism. Chaplin's political views were hardly surprising for anyone who had been watching his work for the past few decades though.
As a result, Chaplin spent the last few years of his life living in Switzerland, and passed away at the age of 88 on Christmas Day, 1977. Three months later, the local cemetery in Chaplin's village Corsier-sur-Vevey was visited by grave robbers. The two men, Roman Wardas and Gantscho Ganev dug up Chaplin's grave, made off with the coffin, and held the Little Tramp's corpse to ransom.
The thieves demanded $600,000 to return the body. Chaplin's wife Oona had no intention of paying the ransom but remained in contact with the thieves to assist the police in tracking them down. Two months later Wardas and Gantscho were arrested and Chaplin's coffin was reburied. Chapin isn't the only celebrity to have had his grave plundered. His German contemporary F.W. Murnau had his skull stolen whilst four men were arrested for attempting to break into Elvis' mausoleum.
Some fans will try anything to get closer to their heroes!