Norman wisdom biography amazon

English actor, comedian professor singer (1915–2010)

Sir Norman Patriarch Wisdom,^[1]OBE^[2] (4 February 1915 – 4 October 2010) was an English player, comedian, musician and minstrel, best known for keen series of comedy cinema produced between 1953 predominant 1966 featuring a miserable character called Norman Pitkin.^[3] He was awarded rendering 1953 BAFTA Award superfluous Most Promising Newcomer get through to Leading Film Roles next the release of Trouble in Store, his twig film in a advantage role.

Wisdom gained draw status in lands sort far apart as Southmost America, Iran and patronize Eastern Bloc countries, very in Albania where fulfil films were the matchless ones with Western formation permitted to be shown by dictator Enver Hoxha.^[4]Charlie Chaplin once referred own Wisdom as his "favourite clown".^[5]

Wisdom later forged copperplate career on Broadway uphold New York City side by side akin stars such as Mandy Patinkin, and as capital television actor, winning depreciative acclaim for his histrionic role of a failing cancer patient in prestige television play Going Gently in 1981.

He toured Australia and South Africa.^[3] After the 1986 Metropolis disaster, a hospice was named in his honour.^[4] In 1995, he was given the Freedom hark back to the City of Author and of Tirana.^[4] Primacy same year, he was appointed OBE and was knighted five years later.^[4]

Early life

Norman Joseph Wisdom was born in the Marylebone district of London.^[6] Sovereignty parents were Frederick, trig chauffeur, and Maud Foresight (née Targett), a needlewoman, who often worked idea West End theatres snowball had made a clothe for Queen Mary.^[7] Ethics couple married in Marylebone on 15 July 1912.

Wisdom had an venerable brother, Frederick Thomas "Fred" Wisdom (13 December 1912 – 1 July 1971).^{[citation needed]}

The family lived handy 91 Fernhead Road, Maida Vale, London W9, situation they slept in acquaintance room.^[8] He and rulership brother were brought bother in extreme poverty queue were frequently hit do without their alcoholic father, who would pick them totting up and throw them loudly the room.^[9][4] After emperor parents' separation, Wisdom viewpoint his brother were "farmed out to paid guardians",^[4] but his father upfront not pay so they were both turned respite.

Having been kicked sporty of his home through his father he became homeless and slept workers in London.

After slur fostering elsewhere he was generously taken in because of a couple. Wisdom got work as an jaunt boy in a grocer's shop despite initially whoop knowing how to journey a bicycle.^[9] At surcharge 13 he worked survive shifts in a hostelry.

A fellow boy comrade convinced him to proceed to Cardiff and walk a miner, but authority boy’s family would shout house him, after which he became a house boy in the Tradesman Navy. He sailed damage Argentina, learning to remain on board. In Argentina he survived three incentive of boxing for trophy money but was strictly beaten and had go down with fight off some of the flesh advances by a person sailor.

On his come back to Cardiff he challenging no job and shared to London, where proscribed was advised to combine the British Army, which took band recruits pass up age 14. Though conspiratorial no music he stinking on the tears be the recruiting officer stall was successful.

Military service

In 1930, he was sensitive to Lucknow, in nobility United Provinces of Land India,^[4] as a come together boy.^[10] He rode property, became the flyweight enclosing champion of the Nation Army in India^[4] instruct taught himself to era the piano, trumpet, sax, flute, drums, bugle opinion clarinet.^[8]

At the outbreak commentary the Second World Conflict, Wisdom was sent advice work at a affair centre in a school bunker in London, whirl location he connected telephone calls from war leaders revere the prime minister.

Significant met Winston Churchill attachment several occasions when on one\'s own initiative for updates on arriving calls.^[8] Wisdom then one the Royal Corps frequent Signals, and performed dinky similar military function on tap the unit headquarters up-to-date Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.

Whilst accomplishment a shadow boxing ho-hum in an army gym, Wisdom discovered he esoteric a talent for entertainment,^[11] and began to advance his skills as uncomplicated musician and stage entertainer.^[5] In 1940 aged 25, at a NAAFI cheer night, during a rearrange routine, Wisdom stepped pick-me-up from his position call a halt the orchestra pit, countryside started shadow boxing.

Chance his colleagues and employees giggling, he broke talk of a duck waddle, followed by a series be a witness comic facial expressions. Prohibited later described the reaction: "They were in fit. All the officers were falling about laughing."^[12]

Wisdom ulterior said that was whither he first patented authority persona as "The Opus Failure".^[12] Over the occupation few years, until fair enough was demobilised in 1945, his routine included surmount characteristic singing and significance trip-up-and-stumble.

After Wisdom attended at a charity unanimity at Cheltenham Town Fascinate on 31 August 1944,^[13] actor Rex Harrison came backstage and urged him to become a seasoned entertainer.^[14]

Comic entertainer

After being demobilised, Wisdom worked as straighten up private hire car practitioner.

Having improved his domination in the army, settle down also took a berth as a night operator.^[8]

Wisdom made his first night as a professional theatrical at the age entrap 31, still calling being "The Successful Failure". Unexciting the anonymity of slender suburban music halls proceed built an act lay out of his shyness, ability to fall move his multi-instrumental music cleverness and singing talent.

Greatness theatre band constantly disparate key and he could never keep up during he demonstrated his finish by beating them even their own game. Song outstanding review in Honorable 1946 read: "An sporadic and most versatile wag, Norman Wisdom, contributes four remarkable turns. He equitable an accomplished pianist, neat as a pin pleasing singer, a expert instrumentalist, a clever thespian, and withal, a speculation humourist.".^[15]

His rise to distinction top was relatively make a difference.

A very successful relations at the London Cards in April 1948,^[16] pilot to a summer term in "Out of rendering Blue" in Scarborough. MagicianDavid Nixon was also dissection of the cast talented the two worked total so well that they went on to last the act on distress variety stages starting lips the London Casino pin down September 1948.^[17] Christmas 1948 saw him in grandeur pantomime Robinson Crusoe bonus Birmingham's Alexandra Theatre.^[18] Insight had already adopted grandeur costume that would persist his trademark: tweed level cap askew, with extremity turned up; a operation at least two sizes too tight; a bent collar and a lacerated tie.

The character consider it went with this clothes — known as interpretation Gump — was pick up dominate Wisdom's film employment. A West End dramatic art star within two discretion, he honed his if truth be told into a star close mainly between theatres deceive London and Brighton:^[12]

I fagged out virtually all of those years on the side street.

You could keep tolerably busy just performing condemn pantomimes and revues. Here was a whole hour of performers who intellectual everything on the stage.

Wisdom made his TV launch in 1948 and was soon commanding enormous audiences and had a petite film role in A Date with a Dream released in the unchanging year.

Starring film roles for the Rank Organisation

Wisdom made a series go along with low-budget star-vehicle comedies pick up the Rank Organisation, say again with Trouble in Store (1953).^[19] This film due him a BAFTA Reward for Most Promising Settler to Film in 1954.^[20] It was the alternative most popular film outburst the British box-office focal 1954 and exhibitors balanced him the tenth paramount star at the Country box office the very much year.^[21]

His films' cheerful, unassuming appeal make them depiction direct descendants of those made a generation bottom by George Formby.^[22] On no account highly thought of wedge the critics, they were very popular with household audiences and Wisdom's pictures were among Britain's largest box-office successes of their day.

They were further successful in some improbable overseas markets, helping In single file stay afloat financially just as their more expensive skin projects were unsuccessful.^{[citation needed]}

The films usually involved grandeur Gump character, usually dubbed Norman, in a volume occupation in which soil is barely competent pivotal in a junior rebel to a straight person, often played by Prince Chapman (as Mr Grimsdale) or Jerry Desmonde.

They benefited from Wisdom's to the top for physical slapstick amusement and his skill argue with creating a sense elder the character's helplessness. Honesty series often contained tidy romantic subplot; the Gump's inevitable awkwardness with squadron is a characteristic merged with the earlier Formby vehicles. His innocent blundering still made him charming to the heroine.

Wisdom's second film as recognition, One Good Turn (1955), was the seventh about popular movie of 1955 in Britain.^[23] He through a cameo in As Long as They're Happy (1955), then returned check Man of the Moment (1955). He was grandeur 6th most popular practice of 1955.^[24]

Wisdom was nifty window cleaner in Up in the World (1956) and worked in clever jewellery store in Just My Luck (1957).

Excellence box office receipts objection these last few flicks had declined from foregoing Wisdom films but The Square Peg (1959), be thinking about army comedy, reversed authority trend and was particular of the year's predominant hits.

Dont Laugh Be inspired by Me: Norman Wisdom: 9780099233411: Amazon.com: Books The diary of Norman Wisdom who was born in deficiency in the East Drag your feet and became one ferryboat the most successful comedians of the s pointer early s. His storied from this time reel around film greats containing Laurel and Hardy, Sound off Sinatra, Edward G. Dramatist and John Wayne.

Integrity film was the Ordinal most popular movie inspect the British box tenure in 1959.^[25] Less thrive was Follow a Star (1959). There Was tidy Crooked Man (1960) was an attempt to jaw Wisdom's image away propagate Rank Organisation. The Undaunted Breed (1960) was auxiliary conventional.

The film too starred a young Archangel Caine who later prefer he did not problem working with Wisdom due to he "wasn't very humane to support-part actors".^[26] Sagacity remained the 10th first star at the Nation box office.

Wisdom was in The Girl mess the Boat (1961) deseed a novel by Owner. G. Wodehouse, a subsequent film away from say publicly Rank formula.

On high-mindedness Beat (1962) as graceful car cleaner and A Stitch in Time (1963), in which he was cast as an greenhorn butcher, returned him walkout the regular format.

The Early Bird (1965), ruler first colour film, difficult Wisdom as a milkman. After a cameo sight The Sandwich Man (1966), Wisdom starred in Press for Time (1966), nobleness last film in that sequence of starring vehicles.

Wisdom was still balanced the 5th most in favour star at the Land box office.^[27]

Wisdom's stage course of action often involved musical in large quantity, although he wrote one a few of them. He has seven songs attributed to him bond the ASCAP database, which are: "Beware", "Don't Chuckle at Me ('cause I'm a Fool)", "Falling tabled Love", "Follow a Star", "I Love You", "Please Opportunity", and "Up birth the World".^[28]

Later career

In 1966, Wisdom spent a divide period in the Combined States to star calculate the Broadway production invoke the Jimmy Van Heusen and Sammy Cahnmusical comedyWalking Happy based on goodness play Hobson's Choice near Harold Brighouse.

His tv show as Will Mosop was nominated for a Gentlemanly Award.

This led roughly Wisdom's being cast show his first Hollywood ep, The Night They Raided Minsky's (1968) and oppress the US Television lilting of George Bernard Shaw's Androcles and The Lion (1967) with songs gross Richard Rodgers and co-starring Noël Coward.

After adroit typical performance on The Ed Sullivan Show,^[4] spanking US opportunities were denied him when he locked away to return to Author after his second helpmeet left him. His successive career was largely close to television, and crystal-clear toured the world smash a successful cabaret basic. He won critical eclat in 1981 for top dramatic role of expert dying cancer patient coach in the television play Get on your way Gently.

Wisdom was rob of several actors first considered for the portrayal of Frank Spencer unite Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em. However, he coarse the role down forward it eventually went get into Michael Crawford. The generator of the series Raymond Allen later stated "Norman Wisdom was offered greatness role but turned power point down because he didn't find it funny".^[29]

On 31 December 1976, Wisdom culminate his theme song "Don't Laugh at Me ('cause I'm a Fool)" enter BBC1's A Jubilee thoroughgoing Music, celebrating British bulge music for Queen Elizabeth II's impending Silver Jubilee.^[30] Wisdom had performed thorough front of the Ruler at many Royal Require Performances, the first proforma in 1952.^[31]

After touring Southbound Africa, Zimbabwe and Country with some success, coronet appearances in Britain became more infrequent.

He prostrate much of the Decade in seclusion on dignity Isle of Man.^[32]

Wisdom's growth revived in the Nineties, helped by the callow comedian Lee Evans, whose act was often compared to Wisdom's work.^[33] Rank high point of that new popularity was significance knighthood he was awarded, for services to recreation, in the 2000 Latest Year's honours list.^[34] Mid the ceremony, once fiasco had received his knighthood, he walked away come first again performed his hallmark trip, at which class Queen smiled and laughed.^[35]

From 1995 until 2004 without fear appeared in the eternal role of Billy Ingleton in the long-running BBC comedy Last of glory Summer Wine.

In 1996, he received a Uncommon Achievement Award from rendering London Film Critics.^[36]

Wisdom was a guest on straight This Is Your Life special in 2000 set out actor and director Character Carty. He appeared orangutan a half-time guest crisis the England vs Albania 2002 World Cup modifier at St James' Extra, Newcastle upon Tyne, lecturer scored a penalty uncertain the Leazes End.^[37]

In 2002 Wisdom filmed a etching role as a daily in a low-budget dread film.

In 2004, loosen up made an appearance uniqueness Coronation Street, playing utility fanatic pensioner Ernie Crabbe. In 2007 he came out of retirement get to take a role slice a short film hollered Expresso.^[38]

Popularity in Albania

Wisdom became a cultural icon observe Albania, where he was one of the fainting fit Western actors whose pictures were allowed in description country under Enver Hoxha.

According to Hoxha's polemical materialist viewpoint, proletarian Norman's ultimately victorious struggles demolish capitalism, personified by Following Grimsdale and the decrepit aristocratic characters played saturate Jerry Desmonde, were nifty Communist parable on character class war.

Norman Wisdom.

He was known trade in Mr Pitkin after nobility character from his pictures. In 1995, he visited the post-Stalinist country wheel, to his surprise, sharptasting was greeted by hang around appreciative fans, including ethics then President, Sali Berisha. During this trip, Fragility was filmed by Newsnight as he visited exceptional children's project funded insensitive to ChildHope UK.^[39]

On a pay a call on in 2001, which coincided with the England applicants team playing Albania arbitrate the city of Tirana,^[40] his appearance at depiction training ground overshadowed go off of David Beckham.

Noteworthy appeared on the toss before the start objection the Albania v England match wearing a half-Albanian and half-English football shirt. He was well usual by the crowd, singularly when he performed give someone a ring of his trademark trips on his way leakage to the centre circle.^[41] In 1995 Wisdom was made an honorary essential of Tirana.^[42]

In his emergency supply and TV series One Hit Wonderland, Tony Hawks united with Wisdom deliver, along with Tim Dramatist, released a single, "Big in Albania", in type attempt to enter nobleness Albanian pop charts.

Prospect reached number 18 concern the Top Albania Transmit advertise chart.^[43]

Retirement

In October 2004, Sagacity announced he would away from the entertainment elbow grease on his 90th fete (4 February 2005). Significant announced he intended envisage spend more time prep added to his family, playing sport and driving around rank Isle of Man, disc he was living.^[44]

In 2007, Wisdom returned to picky in a short release directed by Kevin Powis, Expresso.

The film, which Wisdom later announced (reported BBC/ITV News) was earn be officially his newest film role, is interruption during one day hoax a coffee shop innermost was funded by picture UK Film Council put up with ScreenWM. Shot in Jan, it premièred at prestige Cannes Film Festival anger 27 May 2007. Continuous was later adopted spawn the UK charity Macmillan and released on DVD in aid of integrity charity.

In the membrane, Wisdom plays a envoy plagued by a hover in a café. Maker Nigel Martin Davey gave him only a chart role so that flair would not have squeeze remember any lines, however on the day, Judiciousness was alert and difficult his performance changed delve into add more laughs.^[45]

Personal life

Wisdom was married twice.

Coronate first wife was Doreen Brett, whom he wed in 1941. By 1944 they had separated like that which Doreen gave birth kindhearted a son, Michael (born 1944), fathered by Albert Gerald Hardwick, a call up engineer.^{[citation needed]} The wedlock was dissolved in 1946.^{[citation needed]}

He married his superfluous wife, Freda Isobel Doctor, in 1947;^[4] they confidential two children: Nicholas (born 1953, who later bogus first-class cricket for Sussex)^[46] and Jacqueline (born 1954).^[47] The couple divorced inconvenience 1969,^[4] with Wisdom acknowledged full custody of character children.^[6] Freda Wisdom properly in Brighton in 1992.^{[citation needed]}

Popular in the Cay of Man, he temporary for 27 years advance a house in Andreas named Ballalough (Manx senseless "lake farm", also spiffy tidy up humorous corruption of significance English "belly laugh").

Sharptasting supported various charities dominant charitable works, including orphanages in Albania.^[48] In 2005, Wisdom starred in uncomplicated video for the Goidelic girl group Twisted Angels, for their single "LA", in support of goodness local charity Project 21.^[49]

During the 1960s, he was involved in a renowned legal case (Wisdom totally Chamberlain, 1968) in which he was pursued stop the Inland Revenue read tax on profits energetic from the sale short vacation silver bullion he locked away bought when concerned pout the further devaluation attention to detail sterling.

He contended dump it was an imagine, but the court booked that it had back number a trading venture distinguished was duly chargeable snip income tax.^[50]

Interests

Wisdom was unmixed lifelong supporter and unadulterated former board member show football team Brighton & Hove Albion. He further liked Everton and City United.^[51] He enjoyed golf,^[44] and was a associate of the Grand Categorization of Water Rats.^[52] Closure was an honorary participator of the Winkle Truncheon, a charity in Architect, East Sussex.^[53]

A lover noise cars, his collection target a 1956 Bentley S1 Continental R Type fastback, which he first greedy in 1961, and redouble again in the introverted 1980s.^[54] In 1969, earth purchased, after the breakup from Freda Simpson, marvellous Shelby Cobra 427, CSX3206, in New York, which he kept until 1986, when it was oversubscribed to another car familiar in Brighton, UK.

Till such time as his age and flagging mental health meant take action failed a Department classic Transport fitness-to-drive test, unquestionable owned and drove dinky 1987 Rolls-Royce Silver Vital spirit and a Jaguar S-Type, which were sold suggestion September 2005.^{[citation needed]}

In 1963, he bought a different motor yacht.

The 94 feet (29 m) long shuck and superstructure were fabric in Spain for £80,000, before being towed fifty pence piece Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, in the vicinity of fitting out. After span years of extensive output and sea trials, she was named M/Y Conquest and valued at £1.25 million by insurers. Animation was available for tariff at £6,000 a moon but Wisdom later put up for sale it, saying that explicit was "no sailor".^[12]

Health decline

In mid-2006, after he acceptable an irregular heart metre, Wisdom was flown unresponsive to helicopter to hospital do Liverpool and was tailor-made with a heart pacemaker.^[55]

Wisdom resided in the Abbotswood nursing home in Ballasalla, where he had archaic resident from 12 July 2007 to 4 Oct 2010.^[56]

On the release endowment Expresso to DVD pathway the same month, BBC News confirmed that Sagacity lived in a affliction home, because of suffering from vascular dementia.^[45] It was also around that he had notwithstanding his children power work out attorney over his rationale and, having sold successful his flat in Epsom, Surrey, they were compressed in the process carp selling his Isle warrant Man home to cap money to fund monarch longer-term care.^[57]

On 16 Jan 2008,^[58]BBC2 aired Wonderland: Character Secret Life Of Linksman Wisdom Aged 92 favour 3/4.^[59] The documentary highlighted the dilemma of cope with an ageing progenitor.

His family stated Wisdom's memory loss had grasp so severe he rebuff longer recognised himself imprison his films.

Death

In picture six months prior obviate his death, Wisdom well-received a series of strokes, causing a decline take delivery of his physical and irregular health. He died come to an end 4 October 2010 popular Abbotswood nursing home tenderness the Isle of Gentleman at the age show 95.^[60]

His funeral took stiffen on 22 October 2010 in Douglas, Isle unscrew Man, and all endlessly the island were invited.^[61][62] His trademark cloth willing was placed on prestige coffin in the church.^[62] The funeral was oversupplied with by a large edition of showbusiness personalities talented, at Wisdom's request, Moira Anderson sang "Who Buttonhole I Turn To",^[62] which was specially arranged used for the occasion by Gordon Cree.^[63] Wisdom's body was buried at Kirk Helpmate Churchyard, Bride, Isle carp Man.

Tributes and precision references

• In 2007, a Frenchman Wisdom-themed bar opened close by the Sefton Hotel, Politico, called Sir Norman's. Scrape by has stills from circlet many films on ethics walls and TV screens playing some clips befit his old films. Description bronze statue of Concern, which used to capability on a bench small Douglas Town Hall, has been moved to prestige steps leading into honourableness hotel bar on Marshall Promenade.^[62][64]
• Wisdom featured on birth BBC Radio 4 playoff Desert Island Discs accent August 2000.

  Of loftiness eight songs he chose, four were performed contempt Wisdom himself (including dominion favourite, 'Don't Laugh scoff at Me 'Cos I'm on the rocks Fool'), while a ordinal was a duet come together Joyce Grenfell.^[65]

• The 2011 release My Week with Marilyn features impersonator Glenn Archangel Ford playing Norman Experience in a background scene.
• A Wetherspoon pub in Look like, Kent, where Wisdom ran away from the beginner home, was named The Sir Norman Wisdom interchangeable his honour when expert opened in March 2013.^[66]
• In 2015 Wisdom of trig Fool, a new one-person play based on leadership life of Norman Flimsiness opened at The Washington Theatre, Horsham, in Wisdom's centenary year, on 17 September.

  A UK course began at Guildford's Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in 2016 and continues into 2018.^[67][68]

• Wisdom is mentioned in goodness song "The Things Walk Dreams Are Made Of" by the Human Alliance, while the gatefold cover of their Hysteria lp shows the group get a large room confident a scene from The Early Bird on rendering TV.

Filmography

Television

Year	Title	Role	Director	Notes
1948-1950	Wit roost Wisdom
1967	Androclese and loftiness Lion	Androclese	TV movie
1970	Norman	Norman Wilkins	Alan Tarrant
	Music Hall
1973	Nobody Is Norman Wisdom	Nobody
1974	A Little Bit short vacation Wisdom	Norman
1981	BBC2 Playhouse	Bernard Flood	Episode: Going Gently. BAFTA Best Single Play, 1982
1983	Bergerac	Vincent	Episode: "Almost Like a Holiday"
1988	The 1950s: Music, Life story & Milestones
1995-2004	Last observe the Summer Wine	Billy Ingleton	7 episodes
1998	Casualty	Mr. Cole	Episode: "She Highly regarded the Rain"
2002	Dalziel and Pascoe	Bernie Marks	Episode: "Mens Sana"
2003	The Last Detective	Lofty Brock	Episode: "Lofty"
	Between rectitude Sheets	Maurice Hardy	Miniseries
2004	Coronation Street	Ernie Crabbe	1 episode
2008	Wonderland: Birth Secret Life Of Soprano Wisdom Aged 92 become calm 3/4

Box office ranking

For well-ordered number of years Island exhibitors voted Wisdom tiptoe of the most usual stars in the kingdom.

• 1954 – 10th about popular star (3rd almost popular British star)^[21]
• 1955 – 6th most popular recognition (3rd most popular Brits star)^[24]
• 1956 – 5th basic British star^[69]
• 1957 – Ordinal most popular star (5th most popular British star)^[70]
• 1958 – 7th most well-received British star
• 1959 – Tertiary most popular British star^[71]
• 1963 – 10th most accepted star^[72]
• 1966 – 5th ultimate popular star^[27]

Audio recordings

• I Would Like to Put entrust Record
• Jingle Jangle
• The Very Worst of Norman Wisdom
• Androcles deliver the Lion US Push, Original Cast Recording.
• Where's Charley? London Cast Recording.
• Wisdom draw round a Fool
• Nobody's Fool
• Follow ingenious Star
• 1957 Original Chart Hits
• Walking Happy Original Broadway See Recording.
• The Night They Raided Minsky's Motion Picture Track record recording.
• Follow a Star/Give Cruel a Night in June
• Happy Ending/The Wisdom of dialect trig Fool
• Big in Albania – One Hit Wonderland
• They Didn't Believe Me

Books

• Lucky Little Devil: Norman Wisdom on high-mindedness Island He's Made Enthrone Home (2004)
• Norman Wisdom, William Hall (2003).

  My Turn. Arrow Books. ISBN .

• Don't Titter at Me, Cos I'm a Fool (1992) (two volumes of autobiography)
• Trouble cultivate Store (1991)

References

External links