Richard A. Bermann died on September 5, 1939. Soon after his niece Clementine Bern received a telegram of condolence from Charlie Chaplin.

How did the relationship between the German author and the Hollywood Star begin?
Richard A. Bermann (alias Arnold Höllriegel) had been enthusiastic about film for many years. He was pivotal in creating the "Film Novel" literary genre in Germany through his book Die Films der Prinzessin Fantoche published in 1913. Over the years, he wrote several novels and countless newspaper articles about the film industry and Hollywood.

Bermann and Chaplin first met in Chaplin's garden in a somewhat impromptu private audience: "As we ate, our conversation was long and very intense. He received me without reservation and with great warmth and I reciprocated. We sat there a full three hours." (Der wahre Charlie, 1928)  The two met several times after that first meeting.

Before his death, Bermann had intended to include a glowing memorial to his idol in his autobiography, but it was not to be. However, a piece was found among his writings that expressed his fondness for Chaplin. In it he described a performance of City Lights, after which Chaplin had to give a speech, which was the first time that his voice rang out publicly in London. He went on to write that the audience was taken aback to hear the voice of a cultured and refined man - an especially likeable voice. He also expressed wonder about why a man with such a voice should struggle so long and unyieldingly against the rise of talking films. (City Lights (1930), quote not dated)