1915-02-04 Marylebone, London, England
Sir Norman Joseph Wisdom, OBE was an English actor, comedian and singer-songwriter best known for a series of comedy films produced between 1953 and 1966 featuring his hapless onscreen character Norman Pitkin. These films initially made more money than the James Bond film series, and secured Wisdom a celebrity status in lands as far apart as South America, Iran and many Eastern Bloc countries, particularly in Albania where his films were permitted by Enver Hoxha – Wisdom was the only Western actor to enjoy this privilege. Charlie Chaplin famously referred to Wisdom as his "favourite clown". Wisdom later forged a career on Broadway and as a television actor, winning critical acclaim for his dramatic role of a dying cancer patient in the television play Going Gently in 1981. It was broadcast on 5 June that year. He toured Australia and South Africa. After the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, a hospice was named in his honour. In 1995 he was given the Freedom of the City of London and of Tirana. The same year he received an OBE. Wisdom was knighted in 2000 and spent much of his later life on the Isle of Man. Some of his later appearances included roles in Last of the Summer Wine and Coronation Street, and he retired from acting at the age of 90 after his health declined.
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The Unforgettable Norman Wisdom | Himself (archive footage) | 2011-11-08 |
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Norman Wisdom: His Story | Himself : Archive footage | 2010-10-14 |
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The Secret Life of Norman Wisdom Aged 92¾ | Self | 2008-01-16 |
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The Legend of Harrow Woods | 2008-02-12 | |
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Norman Wisdom: Trouble On Tour | Self | 2008-04-28 |
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Thora Hird Tribute | Self | 2003-03-30 |
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Where on Earth Is Katy Manning? | 1998-01-01 | |
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An Audience with Bruce Forsyth | 1997-02-01 | |
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Double X: The Name of the Game | Arthur Clutton/Maurice Rigby | 1992-06-05 |
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The Golden Gong: The Story of Rank Films - British Cinema's Legendary Studio | Self | 1985-01-01 |
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Going Gently | Bernard Flood | 1981-06-05 |
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To See Such Fun | 1977-11-01 | |
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What's Good for the Goose | Timothy Bartlett | 1969-03-21 |
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The Night They Raided Minsky's | Chick Williams | 1968-12-22 |
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Androcles and the Lion | Androcles | 1967-11-15 |
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The Sandwich Man | Boxing Vicar | 1966-07-01 |
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Press for Time | Norman Shields / Emily Shields / Wilfred, the Prime Minister | 1966-12-08 |
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The Early Bird | Norman Pitkin | 1965-11-30 |
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A Stitch in Time | Norman Pitkin | 1963-12-01 |
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The Girl on the Boat | Sam Marlowe | 1962-08-05 |
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On the Beat | Norman Pitkin / Giulio Napolitani | 1962-12-11 |
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The Bulldog Breed | Ordinary Seaman Norman Puckle | 1960-12-13 |
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There Was a Crooked Man | Davy Cooper | 1960-08-31 |
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Look at Life: A Dog's Life | Self | 1959-01-01 |
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Follow a Star | Norman Truscott | 1959-01-01 |
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The Square Peg | Private Norman Pitkin / General Otto Schreiber | 1958-12-04 |
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Just My Luck | Norman Hackett / Mr. Hackett | 1957-11-14 |
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Up in the World | Norman | 1956-12-06 |
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One Good Turn | Norman | 1955-01-04 |
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Man of the Moment | Norman | 1955-11-24 |
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As Long as They're Happy | Norman | 1955-03-15 |
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Trouble in Store | Norman | 1953-12-14 |
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Date with a Dream | Shadow Boxer | 1948-11-01 |
