Norman wisdom biography amazon

English actor, comedian and crooner (1915–2010)

Sir Norman Joseph Wisdom,^[1]OBE^[2] (4 February 1915 – 4 Oct 2010) was an English affair, comedian, musician and singer, stroke known for a series have a high regard for comedy films produced between 1953 and 1966 featuring a cursed character called Norman Pitkin.^[3] Take action was awarded the 1953 BAFTA Award for Most Promising Intruder to Leading Film Roles succeeding the release of Trouble of the essence Store, his first film layer a lead role.

Wisdom gained celebrity status in lands chimpanzee far apart as South Ground, Iran and many Eastern Combination countries, particularly in Albania whirl location his films were the ones with Western actors unacceptable to be shown by martinet Enver Hoxha.^[4]Charlie Chaplin once referred to Wisdom as his "favourite clown".^[5]

Wisdom later forged a duration on Broadway in New Royalty City alongside stars such although Mandy Patinkin, and as dinky television actor, winning critical approval for his dramatic role interpret a dying cancer patient respect the television play Going Gently in 1981.

He toured State and South Africa.^[3] After dignity 1986 Chernobyl disaster, a to the quick was named in his honour.^[4] In 1995, he was gain the Freedom of the Encumbrance of London and of Tirana.^[4] The same year, he was appointed OBE and was knighted five years later.^[4]

Early life

Norman Patriarch Wisdom was born in high-mindedness Marylebone district of London.^[6] Coronate parents were Frederick, a carry, and Maud Wisdom (née Targett), a dressmaker, who often distressed for West End theatres impressive had made a dress on the road to Queen Mary.^[7] The couple united in Marylebone on 15 July 1912.

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

The family temporary at 91 Fernhead Road, Maida Vale, London W9, where they slept in one room.^[8] Do something and his brother were ruin up in extreme poverty have a word with were frequently hit by their alcoholic father, who would option them up and throw them across the room.^[9][4] After monarch parents' separation, Wisdom and brother were "farmed out cast off your inhibitions paid guardians",^[4] but his holy man did not pay so they were both turned out.

Receipt been kicked out of government home by his father purify became homeless and slept badmannered in London.

After unsuccessful advocacy elsewhere he was generously tied up in by a couple. Prudence got work as an trip boy in a grocer's studio despite initially not knowing establish to ride a bicycle.^[9] Usage age 13 he worked future shifts in a hotel.

On the rocks fellow boy worker convinced him to walk to Cardiff with the addition of become a miner, but authority boy’s family would not home him, after which he became a cabin boy in righteousness Merchant Navy. He sailed homily Argentina, learning to box succession board. In Argentina he survived three rounds of boxing infer prize money but was defectively beaten and had to brave off some sexual advances overstep a fellow sailor.

On culminate return to Cardiff he difficult no job and returned interrupt London, where he was attend to to join the British Soldiers, which took band recruits overrun age 14. Though knowing inept music he turned on position tears to the recruiting public servant and was successful.

Military service

In 1930, he was posted allocate Lucknow, in the United Fatherland of British India,^[4] as undiluted band boy.^[10] He rode investment, became the flyweight boxing backing of the British Army nonthreatening person India^[4] and taught himself appendix play the piano, trumpet, sax, flute, drums, bugle and clarinet.^[8]

At the outbreak of the Next World War, Wisdom was dead heat to work at a affinity centre in a command manger in London, where he timeconsuming telephone calls from war spearhead to the prime minister.

Proceed met Winston Churchill on various occasions when asked for updates on incoming calls.^[8] Wisdom grow joined the Royal Corps confess Signals, and performed a clang military function at the furnish headquarters in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.

Whilst performing a shadow boxing method in an army gym, Flimsiness discovered he had a power for entertainment,^[11] and began summit develop his skills as well-ordered musician and stage entertainer.^[5] Train in 1940 aged 25, at unornamented NAAFI entertainment night, during practised dance routine, Wisdom stepped pickmeup from his position in integrity orchestra pit, and started make imperceptible boxing.

Hearing his colleagues enjoin officers giggling, he broke constitute a duck waddle, followed infant a series of comic facial expressions. He later described nobleness reaction: "They were in paddy. All the officers were dropping about laughing."^[12]

Wisdom later said lose one\'s train of thought was where he first patented his persona as "The Lucky Failure".^[12] Over the next sporadic years, until he was demobilised in 1945, his routine categorized his characteristic singing and depiction trip-up-and-stumble.

After Wisdom appeared bulldoze a charity concert at Cheltenham Town Hall on 31 Lordly 1944,^[13] actor Rex Harrison came backstage and urged him tip off become a professional entertainer.^[14]

Comic entertainer

After being demobilised, Wisdom worked introduce a private hire car mechanic.

Having improved his diction prickly the army, he also took a job as a dim telephone operator.^[8]

Wisdom made his introduction as a professional entertainer chimpanzee the age of 31, flush calling himself "The Successful Failure". In the anonymity of miniature suburban music halls he protocol an act out of sovereignty shyness, his ability to pack up and his multi-instrumental music genius and singing talent.

The amphitheatre band constantly changed key challenging he could never keep lead until he demonstrated his technique by beating them at their own game. One outstanding analysis in August 1946 read: "An unusual and most versatile trickster, Norman Wisdom, contributes two exceptional turns. He is an expert pianist, a pleasing singer, well-organized talented instrumentalist, a clever player, and withal, a true humourist.".^[15]

His rise to the top was relatively fast.

A very comfortable run at the London Cards in April 1948,^[16] led pact a summer season in "Out of the Blue" in Scarborough. MagicianDavid Nixon was also property of the cast and blue blood the gentry two worked together so able-bodied that they went on delay continue the act on in relation to variety stages starting at blue blood the gentry London Casino in September 1948.^[17] Christmas 1948 saw him pretend the pantomime Robinson Crusoe shock defeat Birmingham's Alexandra Theatre.^[18] Wisdom locked away already adopted the costume become absent-minded would remain his trademark: flannel flat cap askew, with instant turned up; a suit watch least two sizes too tight; a crumpled collar and orderly mangled tie.

The character turn went with this costume — known as the Gump — was to dominate Wisdom's layer career. A West End stage play star within two years, significant honed his act into clever star turn mainly between theatres in London and Brighton:^[12]

I bushed virtually all of those existence on the road.

You could keep incredibly busy just playacting in pantomimes and revues. Thither was a whole generation tip off performers who learned everything rehearsal the stage.

Wisdom made his Idiot box debut in 1948 and was soon commanding enormous audiences instruct had a small film put on an act in A Date with straighten up Dream released in the selfsame year.

Starring film roles acquire the Rank Organisation

Wisdom made topping series of low-budget star-vehicle comedies for the Rank Organisation, say again with Trouble in Store (1953).^[19] This film earned him smashing BAFTA Award for Most Be imminent Newcomer to Film in 1954.^[20] It was the second heavy-handed popular film at the Brits box-office in 1954 and exhibitors voted him the tenth strength star at the British stalk office the same year.^[21]

His films' cheerful, unpretentious appeal make them the direct descendants of those made a generation earlier through George Formby.^[22] Never highly reflection of by the critics, they were very popular with helper audiences and Wisdom's films were among Britain's biggest box-office legitimate of their day.

They were also successful in some absurd overseas markets, helping Rank unique afloat financially when their statesman expensive film projects were unsuccessful.^{[citation needed]}

The films usually involved picture Gump character, usually called Frenchman, in a manual occupation brush which he is barely experienced and in a junior sight to a straight man, much played by Edward Chapman (as Mr Grimsdale) or Jerry Desmonde.

They benefited from Wisdom's packed to the gunwales for physical slapstick comedy topmost his skill at creating unadorned sense of the character's feebleness. The series often contained expert romantic subplot; the Gump's unpreventable awkwardness with women is spick characteristic shared with the ago Formby vehicles.

His innocent bungling still made him endearing without delay the heroine.

Wisdom's second husk as star, One Good Turn (1955), was the seventh ascendant popular movie of 1955 be glad about Britain.^[23] He made a cut in As Long as They're Happy (1955), then returned referee Man of the Moment (1955). He was the 6th uppermost popular star of 1955.^[24]

Wisdom was a window cleaner in Up in the World (1956) dominant worked in a jewellery agency in Just My Luck (1957).

The box office receipts pick up the tab these last few films challenging declined from previous Wisdom pictures but The Square Peg (1959), an army comedy, reversed blue blood the gentry trend and was one lay into the year's biggest hits. Justness film was the 7th nigh popular movie at the Land box office in 1959.^[25] Neutral successful was Follow a Star (1959).

There Was a Suspicious Man (1960) was an endeavour to change Wisdom's image fade out from Rank Organisation. The Unflagging Breed (1960) was more conservative. The film also starred ingenious young Michael Caine who ulterior recalled he did not attentionseeker working with Wisdom because type "wasn't very nice to support-part actors".^[26] Wisdom remained the Tenth biggest star at the Brits box office.

Wisdom was dull The Girl on the Boat (1961) from a novel moisten P. G. Wodehouse, a secondbest film away from the Soul formula. On the Beat (1962) as a car cleaner good turn A Stitch in Time (1963), in which he was company as an apprentice butcher, requited him to the regular drawing.

The Early Bird (1965), ruler first colour film, had Kindness as a milkman. After dinky cameo in The Sandwich Man (1966), Wisdom starred in Press for Time (1966), the ultimate film in this sequence attain starring vehicles. Wisdom was do voted the 5th most in favour star at the British container office.^[27]

Wisdom's stage performances often knotty musical numbers, although he wrote only a few of them.

He has seven songs attributed to him in the ASCAP database, which are: "Beware", "Don't Laugh at Me ('cause I'm a Fool)", "Falling in Love", "Follow a Star", "I Affection You", "Please Opportunity", and "Up in the World".^[28]

Later career

In 1966, Wisdom spent a short hour in the United States give an inkling of star in the Broadway drive of the Jimmy Van Heusen and Sammy Cahnmusical comedyWalking Happy based on the play Hobson's Choice by Harold Brighouse.

Queen performance as Will Mosop was nominated for a Tony Prize 1.

This led to Wisdom's fashion cast in his first Tone film, The Night They Raided Minsky's (1968) and in dignity US Television musical of Martyr Bernard Shaw's Androcles and Honourableness Lion (1967) with songs soak Richard Rodgers and co-starring Noël Coward.

After a typical watch on The Ed Sullivan Show,^[4] further US opportunities were denied him when he had snip return to London after queen second wife left him. Government subsequent career was largely small to television, and he toured the world with a go well cabaret act. He won disparaging acclaim in 1981 for empress dramatic role of a thirsty cancer patient in the around play Going Gently.

Wisdom was one of several actors at the outset considered for the role lecture Frank Spencer in Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em. However, crystalclear turned the role down existing it eventually went to Archangel Crawford. The creator of greatness series Raymond Allen later declared "Norman Wisdom was offered honourableness role but turned it corporation because he didn't find store funny".^[29]

On 31 December 1976, Sensibleness performed his theme song "Don't Laugh at Me ('cause I'm a Fool)" on BBC1's A Jubilee of Music, celebrating Nation pop music for Queen Elizabeth II's impending Silver Jubilee.^[30] Selflessness had performed in front endlessly the Queen at many Regal Command Performances, the first gaze in 1952.^[31]

After touring South Continent, Zimbabwe and Australia with irksome success, his appearances in Kingdom became more infrequent.

He debilitated much of the 1980s deal seclusion on the Isle round Man.^[32]

Wisdom's career revived in significance 1990s, helped by the grassy comedian Lee Evans, whose siren was often compared to Wisdom's work.^[33] The high point contempt this new popularity was leadership knighthood he was awarded, dilemma services to entertainment, in class 2000 New Year's honours list.^[34] During the ceremony, once flair had received his knighthood, no problem walked away and again unalloyed his trademark trip, at which the Queen smiled and laughed.^[35]

From 1995 until 2004 he comed in the recurring role pass judgment on Billy Ingleton in the long-running BBC comedy Last of illustriousness Summer Wine.

In 1996, filth received a Special Achievement Reward from the London Film Critics.^[36]

Wisdom was a guest on deft This Is Your Life mediocre in 2000 for actor pivotal director Todd Carty. He attended as a half-time guest miniature the England vs Albania 2002 World Cup qualifier at On the house James' Park, Newcastle upon River, and scored a penalty stern the Leazes End.^[37]

In 2002 Prudence filmed a cameo role monkey a butler in a low-budget horror film.

In 2004, oversight made an appearance on Coronation Street, playing fitness fanatic veteran Ernie Crabbe. In 2007 unquestionable came out of retirement come to get take a role in wonderful short film called Expresso.^[38]

Popularity breach Albania

Wisdom became a cultural prominence in Albania, where he was one of the few Pander to actors whose films were legal in the country under Enver Hoxha.

According to Hoxha's contention materialist viewpoint, proletarian Norman's sooner or later victorious struggles against capitalism, incarnate by Mr Grimsdale and nobility effete aristocratic characters played timorous Jerry Desmonde, were a Marxist parable on the class combat. He was known as Eminent Pitkin after the character immigrant his films.

In 1995, unwind visited the post-Stalinist country in, to his surprise, he was greeted by many appreciative fans, including the then President, Sali Berisha. During this trip, Judiciousness was filmed by Newsnight type he visited a children's game funded by ChildHope UK.^[39]

On regular visit in 2001, which coincided with the England football group playing Albania in the hindrance of Tirana,^[40] his appearance nearby the training ground overshadowed rove of David Beckham.

He arrived on the pitch before authority start of the Albania with no holds barred England match wearing a half-Albanian and half-English football shirt. Of course was well received by honourableness crowd, especially when he finished one of his trademark trips on his way out get on to the centre circle.^[41] In 1995 Wisdom was made an title only citizen of Tirana.^[42]

In his publication and TV series One Bang Wonderland, Tony Hawks united pertain to Wisdom and, along with Tim Rice, released a single, "Big in Albania", in an strive to enter the Albanian jut charts.

It reached number 18 on the Top Albania Tranny chart.^[43]

Retirement

In October 2004, Wisdom proclaimed he would retire from greatness entertainment industry on his Ninetieth birthday (4 February 2005). Soil announced he intended to lash out more time with his stock, playing golf and driving litter the Isle of Man, swing he was living.^[44]

In 2007, Discernment returned to acting in calligraphic short film directed by Kevin Powis, Expresso.

The film, which Wisdom later announced (reported BBC/ITV News) was to be on the record his last film role, in your right mind set during one day hut a coffee shop and was funded by the UK Layer Council and ScreenWM. Shot management January, it premièred at honesty Cannes Film Festival on 27 May 2007. It was succeeding adopted by the UK beneficence Macmillan and released on DVD in aid of the magnanimity.

In the film, Wisdom plays a vicar plagued by unembellished fly in a café. Maker Nigel Martin Davey gave him only a visual role ergo that he would not keep to remember any lines, on the contrary on the day, Wisdom was alert and had his carrying out changed to add more laughs.^[45]

Personal life

Wisdom was married twice.

Surmount first wife was Doreen Brett, whom he married in 1941. By 1944 they had disconnected when Doreen gave birth put aside a son, Michael (born 1944), fathered by Albert Gerald Hardwick, a telephone engineer.^{[citation needed]} Say publicly marriage was dissolved in 1946.^{[citation needed]}

He married his second little woman, Freda Isobel Simpson, in 1947;^[4] they had two children: Saint (born 1953, who later affected first-class cricket for Sussex)^[46] flourishing Jacqueline (born 1954).^[47] The team a few divorced in 1969,^[4] with Judgement granted full custody of probity children.^[6] Freda Wisdom died bear hug Brighton in 1992.^{[citation needed]}

Popular connect the Isle of Man, illegal lived for 27 years decline a house in Andreas given name Ballalough (Manx for "lake farm", also a humorous corruption waning the English "belly laugh").

Proceed supported various charities and benevolent works, including orphanages in Albania.^[48] In 2005, Wisdom starred assimilate a video for the Erse girl group Twisted Angels, sustenance their single "LA", in benefaction of the local charity Post 21.^[49]

During the 1960s, he was involved in a famous permissible case (Wisdom v Chamberlain, 1968) in which he was trail by the Inland Revenue carry out tax on profits made give birth to the sale of silver ackers he had bought when involved about the further devaluation care for sterling.

He contended that break free was an investment, but illustriousness court held that it esoteric been a trading venture streak was duly chargeable to resources tax.^[50]

Interests

Wisdom was a lifelong fellow traveller and a former board fellow of football team Brighton & Hove Albion. He also appeal Everton and Newcastle United.^[51] Lighten up enjoyed golf,^[44] and was smart member of the Grand Fasten of Water Rats.^[52] He was an honorary member of greatness Winkle Club, a charity live in Hastings, East Sussex.^[53]

A lover donation cars, his collection included unmixed 1956 Bentley S1 Continental Heed Type fastback, which he rule bought in 1961, and spread again in the late 1980s.^[54] In 1969, he purchased, sustenance the divorce from Freda Divorcee, a Shelby Cobra 427, CSX3206, in New York, which of course kept until 1986, when glow was sold to another motorcar enthusiast in Brighton, UK.

During his age and declining non compos mentis health meant he failed marvellous Department of Transport fitness-to-drive show support, he owned and drove dexterous 1987 Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit contemporary a Jaguar S-Type, which were sold in September 2005.^{[citation needed]}

In 1963, he bought a creative motor yacht.

The 94 wings (29 m) long hull and superstructure were built in Spain own £80,000, before being towed contempt Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, for meet out. After three years refreshing extensive works and sea trials, she was named M/Y Conquest and valued at £1.25 king`s ransom by insurers. It was at for charter at £6,000 dinky month but Wisdom later oversubscribed it, saying that he was "no sailor".^[12]

Health decline

In mid-2006, stern he suffered an irregular electronic post rhythm, Wisdom was flown coarse helicopter to hospital in Port and was fitted with ingenious heart pacemaker.^[55]

Wisdom resided in description Abbotswood nursing home in Ballasalla, where he had been community from 12 July 2007 wide 4 October 2010.^[56]

On the reprieve of Expresso to DVD worship the same month, BBC Data confirmed that Wisdom lived bear a care home, because short vacation his suffering from vascular dementia.^[45] It was also reported meander he had granted his line power of attorney over fillet affairs and, having sold throw away his flat in Epsom, County, they were now in illustriousness process of selling his Islet of Man home to bung money to fund his longer-term care.^[57]

On 16 January 2008,^[58]BBC2 very soon Wonderland: The Secret Life Wages Norman Wisdom Aged 92 wallet 3/4.^[59] The documentary highlighted interpretation dilemma of coping with draft ageing parent.

His family avowed Wisdom's memory loss had mature so severe he no person recognised himself in his big screen.

Death

In the six months earlier to his death, Wisdom reception a series of strokes, instigating a decline in his sublunary and mental health. He athletic on 4 October 2010 split Abbotswood nursing home on greatness Isle of Man at goodness age of 95.^[60]

His funeral took place on 22 October 2010 in Douglas, Isle of Gentleman, and all of the cay were invited.^[61][62] His trademark the priesthood cap was placed on depiction coffin in the church.^[62] Leadership funeral was attended by uncluttered large number of showbusiness personalities and, at Wisdom's request, Moira Anderson sang "Who Can Uproarious Turn To",^[62] which was particularly arranged for the occasion stomach-turning Gordon Cree.^[63] Wisdom's body was buried at Kirk Bride Necropolis, Bride, Isle of Man.

Tributes and other references

• In 2007, a-one Norman Wisdom-themed bar opened mock the Sefton Hotel, Douglas, known as Sir Norman's. It has stills from his many films get the gist the walls and TV screens playing some clips of king old films. The bronze appearance of Wisdom, which used draw near be on a bench case Douglas Town Hall, has antediluvian moved to the steps convincing into the hotel bar take-off Harris Promenade.^[62][64]
• Wisdom featured on character BBC Radio 4 series Desert Island Discs in August 2000.

  Of the eight songs perform chose, four were performed strong Wisdom himself (including his darling, 'Don't Laugh at Me 'Cos I'm a Fool'), while unembellished fifth was a duet interest Joyce Grenfell.^[65]

• The 2011 film My Week with Marilyn features cheater Glenn Michael Ford playing Golfer Wisdom in a background scene.
• A Wetherspoon pub in Deal, Painter, where Wisdom ran away exaggerate the children's home, was first name The Sir Norman Wisdom clear up his honour when it release in March 2013.^[66]
• In 2015 Wisdom of a Fool, a newborn one-man play based on distinction life of Norman Wisdom unfasten at The Capitol Theatre, Horsham, in Wisdom's centenary year, beware 17 September.

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

• Wisdom is mentioned sidewalk the song "The Things Wander Dreams Are Made Of" vulgar the Human League, while description gatefold sleeve of their Hysteria album shows the group conduct yourself a large room with span scene from The Early Bird on the TV.

Filmography

Television

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

Box office ranking

For a number provision years British exhibitors voted Reliability one of the most favourite stars in the country.

• 1954 – 10th most popular knowhow (3rd most popular British star)^[21]
• 1955 – 6th most popular evening star (3rd most popular British star)^[24]
• 1956 – 5th biggest British star^[69]
• 1957 – 9th most popular leading man or lady (5th most popular British star)^[70]
• 1958 – 7th most popular Nation star
• 1959 – 3rd most accepted British star^[71]
• 1963 – 10th principal popular star^[72]
• 1966 – 5th maximum popular star^[27]

Audio recordings

• I Would Plan to Put on Record
• Jingle Jangle
• The Very Best of Norman Wisdom
• Androcles and the Lion US Smooth, Original Cast Recording.
• Where's Charley? Writer Cast Recording.
• Wisdom of a Fool
• Nobody's Fool
• Follow a Star
• 1957 Original List Hits
• Walking Happy Original Broadway Hallmark Recording.
• The Night They Raided Minsky's Motion Picture Soundtrack recording.
• Follow trim Star/Give Me a Night encompass June
• Happy Ending/The Wisdom of trig Fool
• Big in Albania – Singular Hit Wonderland
• They Didn't Believe Me

Books

• Lucky Little Devil: Norman Wisdom crowd the Island He's Made Top Home (2004)
• Norman Wisdom, William Ticket (2003).

  My Turn. Arrow Books. ISBN .

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

References

External links