Limelight was the first feature film in which  Chaplin and Buster Keaton appeared onscreen together. This is often wrongly cited as their first onscreen meeting, but both appeared in a short publicity film in 1922 entitled Seeing Stars (1922).The flea circus act in the film was a comedy idea that Chaplin had conceived of in 1919. Originally, he used it in the one completed scene of an aborted film project called The Professor (1919). Later he attempted to use the idea for The Circus (1928) and The Great Dictator (1940), but could not justify in either plot. Finally, in this film he was finally able to use the act. Final film of Edna Purviance. NOTE: She was Charles Chaplin's favorite co-star from the silent era, and remained close to Chaplin throughout her life. She rarely worked in films after the 1920s. Chaplin kept her on his payroll until her death in 1958.

When some scenes were re-shot, Claire Bloom was unavailable, so Chaplin's wife, Oona Chaplin, stood in for her. She can be seen lying in the bed through the doorway after the housemaid has told Chaplin's character that his "wife" isn't eating. Charles Chaplin sailed to London for the October 16, 1952 world premiere, but his re-entry permit was revoked after he left because of accusations that he was tied to the Communist party--a common charge in the "Red Scare" era in the US in the 1950s made against those--especially in the arts--who raised questions or objections to American foreign or domestic policies. After showings of Limelight in New York and other East Coast cities, an anti-Chaplin frenzy whipped up by ultra-conservative politicians and organizations caused cancellation of showings in other cities.