Norman Wisdom

Actor · 1915–2010 · Marylebone, London, England

Biography

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.

Acted in 38

2000s

2008
The Legend of Harrow Woods
Winston
2007
Expresso
The Vicar (as Sir Norman Wisdom)
2004
Five Children and It
Movie
2003
Between The Sheets
Maurice Hardy · 6 episodes
The Last Detective
Lofty Brock · 1 episode

1990s

1998
Where on Earth Is Katy Manning?
Movie
1997
An Audience with Bruce Forsyth
Movie
1996
Dalziel and Pascoe
Bernie Marks · 1 episode
72
1992
Double X: The Name of the Game
Arthur Clutton/Maurice Rigby

1980s

1986
Casualty
Mr. Cole · 1 episode
62
1981
Bergerac
Vincent · 1 episode
69
Going Gently
Bernard Flood

1970s

1978
The South Bank Show
TV · 45 Seasons · Documentary · Talk
1977
To See Such Fun
Movie
1974
A Little Bit of Wisdom
Norman Wisdom · 20 episodes
Playhouse
Bernard Flood · 1 episode
1973
Last of the Summer Wine
Man Carrying Gnome (uncredited), Billy Ingleton · 1 episode
71

1960s

1969
What's Good for the Goose
Timothy Bartlett
1968
The Night They Raided Minsky's
Chick Williams
1967
Androcles and the Lion
Androcles
1966
Press for Time
Norman Shields / Emily Shields / Wilfred, the Prime Minister
The Sandwich Man
Boxing Vicar
1965
The Early Bird
Norman Pitkin
1963
A Stitch in Time
Norman Pitkin
70
1962
On the Beat
Norman Pitkin / Giulio Napolitani
The Girl on the Boat
Sam Marlowe
1960
The Bulldog Breed
Ordinary Seaman Norman Puckle
There Was a Crooked Man
Davy Cooper