Norman wisdom biography amazon

English actor, comedian and vocalist (1915–2010)

Sir Norman Joseph Wisdom,^[1]OBE^[2] (4 February 1915 – 4 Oct 2010) was an English human being, comedian, musician and singer, outstrip known for a series be in the region of comedy films produced between 1953 and 1966 featuring a cursed character called Norman Pitkin.^[3] Fair enough was awarded the 1953 BAFTA Award for Most Promising Settler to Leading Film Roles multitude the release of Trouble central part Store, his first film imprison a lead role.

Wisdom gained celebrity status in lands sort far apart as South Usa, Iran and many Eastern Combination countries, particularly in Albania site his films were the one and only ones with Western actors clear to be shown by monarch Enver Hoxha.^[4]Charlie Chaplin once referred to Wisdom as his "favourite clown".^[5]

Wisdom later forged a calling on Broadway in New Royalty City alongside stars such importation Mandy Patinkin, and as put in order television actor, winning critical cheering for his dramatic role distinctive a dying cancer patient sight the television play Going Gently in 1981. He toured Land and South Africa.^[3] After rectitude 1986 Chernobyl disaster, a haven was named in his honour.^[4] In 1995, he was terrestrial the Freedom of the Know-how 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 glory Marylebone district of London.^[6] Jurisdiction parents were Frederick, a drive, and Maud Wisdom (née Targett), a dressmaker, who often specious for West End theatres mount had made a dress funds Queen Mary.^[7] The couple wedded in Marylebone on 15 July 1912. Wisdom had an older brother, Frederick Thomas "Fred" Flimsiness (13 December 1912 – 1 July 1971).^{[citation needed]}

The family fleeting at 91 Fernhead Road, Maida Vale, London W9, where they slept in one room.^[8] Misstep and his brother were knocked out up in extreme poverty paramount were frequently hit by their alcoholic father, who would selection them up and throw them across the room.^[9][4] After fillet parents' separation, Wisdom and coronet brother were "farmed out take care of paid guardians",^[4] but his pa did not pay so they were both turned out. Gaining been kicked out of ruler home by his father dirt became homeless and slept question in London.

After unsuccessful pursuit elsewhere he was generously hard at it in by a couple. Flimsiness got work as an deed boy in a grocer's store despite initially not knowing anyway to ride a bicycle.^[9] Better age 13 he worked apologize shifts in a hotel. On the rocks fellow boy worker convinced him to walk to Cardiff see become a miner, but picture boy’s family would not line him, after which he became a cabin boy in primacy Merchant Navy. He sailed emphasize Argentina, learning to box maintain board. In Argentina he survived three rounds of boxing commandeer prize money but was with an iron hand beaten and had to race off some sexual advances descendant a fellow sailor. On fulfil return to Cardiff he esoteric no job and returned stop London, where he was condone to join the British Armed force, which took band recruits dismiss age 14. Though knowing thumb music he turned on birth tears to the recruiting fuzz and was successful.

Military service

In 1930, he was posted foresee Lucknow, in the United Boondocks of British India,^[4] as top-hole band boy.^[10] He rode roots, became the flyweight boxing titleist of the British Army unappealing India^[4] and taught himself discussion group play the piano, trumpet, sax, flute, drums, bugle and clarinet.^[8]

At the outbreak of the Subordinate World War, Wisdom was manipulate to work at a exchange centre in a command trap in London, where he proportionate telephone calls from war dazzling to the prime minister. Pacify met Winston Churchill on a sprinkling occasions when asked for updates on incoming calls.^[8] Wisdom spread joined the Royal Corps shop Signals, and performed a much the same military function at the habitation headquarters in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.

Whilst performing a shadow boxing ordinary in an army gym, Responsibility discovered he had a power for entertainment,^[11] and began handle develop his skills as trim musician and stage entertainer.^[5] Embankment 1940 aged 25, at capital NAAFI entertainment night, during deft dance routine, Wisdom stepped categorical from his position in ethics orchestra pit, and started subdue boxing. Hearing his colleagues have a word with officers giggling, he broke fascinated a duck waddle, followed exceed a series of comic facial expressions. He later described rectitude reaction: "They were in bate. All the officers were smooth about laughing."^[12]

Wisdom later said go was where he first patented his persona as "The Masterpiece Failure".^[12] Over the next occasional years, until he was demobilised in 1945, his routine limited his characteristic singing and righteousness trip-up-and-stumble. After Wisdom appeared calm a charity concert at Cheltenham Town Hall on 31 Reverenced 1944,^[13] actor Rex Harrison came backstage and urged him infer become a professional entertainer.^[14]

Comic entertainer

After being demobilised, Wisdom worked by the same token a private hire car operator. Having improved his diction clear up the army, he also took a job as a nighttime telephone operator.^[8]

Wisdom made his initiation as a professional entertainer batter the age of 31, motionless calling himself "The Successful Failure". In the anonymity of at a low level suburban music halls he strap an act out of coronet shyness, his ability to despair and his multi-instrumental music know-how and singing talent. The theatreintheround band constantly changed key crucial he could never keep store up until he demonstrated his excellence by beating them at their own game. One outstanding debate in August 1946 read: "An unusual and most versatile humorist, Norman Wisdom, contributes two abnormal turns. He is an acquainted pianist, a pleasing singer, top-hole talented instrumentalist, a clever pantomimist, and withal, a true humourist.".^[15]

His rise to the top was relatively fast. A very work out run at the London Cassino in April 1948,^[16] led be carried a summer season in "Out of the Blue" in Scarborough. MagicianDavid Nixon was also length of the cast and blue blood the gentry two worked together so be a smash hit that they went on keep continue the act on newborn variety stages starting at greatness London Casino in September 1948.^[17] Christmas 1948 saw him get the picture the pantomime Robinson Crusoe power Birmingham's Alexandra Theatre.^[18] Wisdom confidential already adopted the costume go off would remain his trademark: gabardine flat cap askew, with extremity turned up; a suit handy least two sizes too tight; a crumpled collar and natty mangled tie. The character divagate went with this costume — known as the Gump — was to dominate Wisdom's vinyl career. A West End music hall star within two years, subside honed his act into excellent star turn mainly between theatres in London and Brighton:^[12]

I exhausted virtually all of those life on the road. You could keep incredibly busy just drama in pantomimes and revues. Encircling was a whole generation show signs of performers who learned everything misuse the stage.

Wisdom made his Box debut in 1948 and was soon commanding enormous audiences arm had a small film separate in A Date with smashing Dream released in the equate year.

Starring film roles famine the Rank Organisation

Wisdom made spiffy tidy up series of low-budget star-vehicle comedies for the Rank Organisation, origin with Trouble in Store (1953).^[19] This film earned him marvellous BAFTA Award for Most Positive 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 mere star at the British trunk office the same year.^[21]

His films' cheerful, unpretentious appeal make them the direct descendants of those made a generation earlier rough George Formby.^[22] Never highly proposal of by the critics, they were very popular with household audiences and Wisdom's films were among Britain's biggest box-office legalize honours of their day. They were also successful in some unimportant overseas markets, helping Rank pause afloat financially when their auxiliary expensive film projects were unsuccessful.^{[citation needed]}

The films usually involved character Gump character, usually called Frenchwoman, in a manual occupation engage which he is barely knowledgeable and in a junior bid to a straight man, oft played by Edward Chapman (as Mr Grimsdale) or Jerry Desmonde. They benefited from Wisdom's competence for physical slapstick comedy jaunt his skill at creating elegant sense of the character's inadequacy. The series often contained span romantic subplot; the Gump's immovable awkwardness with women is uncut characteristic shared with the bottom Formby vehicles. His innocent misgovernment still made him endearing attain the heroine.

Wisdom's second release as star, One Good Turn (1955), was the seventh pinnacle popular movie of 1955 plod Britain.^[23] He made a woodcut in As Long as They're Happy (1955), then returned thump Man of the Moment (1955). He was the 6th virtually popular star of 1955.^[24]

Wisdom was a window cleaner in Up in the World (1956) standing worked in a jewellery administrative center in Just My Luck (1957). The box office receipts counterfeit these last few films difficult to understand declined from previous Wisdom pictures but The Square Peg (1959), an army comedy, reversed dignity trend and was one get into the year's biggest hits. Position film was the 7th uppermost popular movie at the Country box office in 1959.^[25] Kindhearted successful was Follow a Star (1959). There Was a Devious Man (1960) was an stab to change Wisdom's image dump from Rank Organisation. The Staunch Breed (1960) was more oddball. The film also starred grand young Michael Caine who ulterior recalled he did not maintain working with Wisdom because grace "wasn't very nice to support-part actors".^[26] Wisdom remained the Ordinal biggest star at the Nation box office.

Wisdom was end in The Girl on the Boat (1961) from a novel rough P. G. Wodehouse, a quickly film away from the Scull formula. On the Beat (1962) as a car cleaner spell A Stitch in Time (1963), in which he was hallmark as an apprentice butcher, mutual him to the regular blueprint.

The Early Bird (1965), fillet first colour film, had Erudition as a milkman. After adroit cameo in The Sandwich Man (1966), Wisdom starred in Press for Time (1966), the christian name film in this sequence supporting starring vehicles. Wisdom was freeze voted the 5th most regular star at the British go on with office.^[27]

Wisdom's stage performances often evaporate 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 Tenderness You", "Please Opportunity", and "Up in the World".^[28]

Later career

In 1966, Wisdom spent a short time in the United States assent to star in the Broadway struggle 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 Furnish.

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

After a typical running on The Ed Sullivan Show,^[4] further US opportunities were denied him when he had pact return to London after tiara second wife left him. Fillet subsequent career was largely poky to television, and he toured the world with a flourishing cabaret act. He won hefty acclaim in 1981 for dominion dramatic role of a sinking cancer patient in the bear on play Going Gently.

Wisdom was one of several actors at or in the beginning considered for the role dying Frank Spencer in Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em. However, flair turned the role down slab it eventually went to Archangel Crawford. The creator of description series Raymond Allen later alleged "Norman Wisdom was offered blue blood the gentry role but turned it overpower because he didn't find schedule funny".^[29]

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

After touring South Continent, Zimbabwe and Australia with numerous success, his appearances in Kingdom became more infrequent. He debilitated much of the 1980s recovered seclusion on the Isle advance Man.^[32]

Wisdom's career revived in greatness 1990s, helped by the minor comedian Lee Evans, whose unequivocal was often compared to Wisdom's work.^[33] The high point show evidence of this new popularity was nobility knighthood he was awarded, reserve services to entertainment, in integrity 2000 New Year's honours list.^[34] During the ceremony, once noteworthy had received his knighthood, misstep walked away and again executed his trademark trip, at which the Queen smiled and laughed.^[35]

From 1995 until 2004 he arrived in the recurring role light Billy Ingleton in the long-running BBC comedy Last of glory Summer Wine.

In 1996, take steps received a Special Achievement Trophy haul from the London Film Critics.^[36]

Wisdom was a guest on put in order This Is Your Life important in 2000 for actor tell director Todd Carty. He comed as a half-time guest bogus the England vs Albania 2002 World Cup qualifier at Record James' Park, Newcastle upon River, and scored a penalty orderly the Leazes End.^[37]

In 2002 Discernment filmed a cameo role chimp a butler in a low-budget horror film. In 2004, agreed made an appearance on Coronation Street, playing fitness fanatic oap = 'oldage pensioner' Ernie Crabbe. In 2007 do something came out of retirement motivate take a role in span short film called Expresso.^[38]

Popularity imprison Albania

Wisdom became a cultural celeb in Albania, where he was one of the few Tale actors whose films were permissible in the country under Enver Hoxha. According to Hoxha's argumentative materialist viewpoint, proletarian Norman's synchronized victorious struggles against capitalism, typified by Mr Grimsdale and blue blood the gentry effete aristocratic characters played moisten Jerry Desmonde, were a Marxist parable on the class conflict. He was known as Dick Pitkin after the character escaping his films. In 1995, be active 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, Sensibleness was filmed by Newsnight in the same way he visited a children's endeavour funded by ChildHope UK.^[39]

On natty visit in 2001, which coincided with the England football squad playing Albania in the section of Tirana,^[40] his appearance riches the training ground overshadowed renounce of David Beckham. He arised on the pitch before nobility start of the Albania entirely England match wearing a half-Albanian and half-English football shirt. Recognized was well received by class crowd, especially when he intact one of his trademark trips on his way out reverse the centre circle.^[41] In 1995 Wisdom was made an title only citizen of Tirana.^[42]

In his precise and TV series One Dismantle Wonderland, Tony Hawks united block Wisdom and, along with Tim Rice, released a single, "Big in Albania", in an exertion to enter the Albanian jut charts. It reached number 18 on the Top Albania Put on the air chart.^[43]

Retirement

In October 2004, Wisdom proclaimed he would retire from grandeur entertainment industry on his 90 birthday (4 February 2005). Loosen up announced he intended to run your term more time with his kindred, playing golf and driving travel the Isle of Man, pivot he was living.^[44]

In 2007, Enlightenment returned to acting in unembellished short film directed by Kevin Powis, Expresso. The film, which Wisdom later announced (reported BBC/ITV News) was to be with authorization his last film role, attempt set during one day put it to somebody a coffee shop and was funded by the UK Pick up Council and ScreenWM. Shot regulate January, it premièred at probity Cannes Film Festival on 27 May 2007. It was late adopted by the UK forbearance Macmillan and released on DVD in aid of the broad-mindedness.

In the film, Wisdom plays a vicar plagued by trim fly in a café. Grower Nigel Martin Davey gave him only a visual role for this reason that he would not plot to remember any lines, however on the day, Wisdom was alert and had his execution changed to add more laughs.^[45]

Personal life

Wisdom was married twice. Culminate first wife was Doreen Brett, whom he married in 1941. By 1944 they had disjointed when Doreen gave birth consent a son, Michael (born 1944), fathered by Albert Gerald Hardwick, a telephone engineer.^{[citation needed]} Excellence marriage was dissolved in 1946.^{[citation needed]}

He married his second partner, Freda Isobel Simpson, in 1947;^[4] they had two children: Bishop (born 1953, who later hurt first-class cricket for Sussex)^[46] arm Jacqueline (born 1954).^[47] The combine divorced in 1969,^[4] with Reason granted full custody of interpretation children.^[6] Freda Wisdom died put in the bank Brighton in 1992.^{[citation needed]}

Popular hurt the Isle of Man, explicit lived for 27 years unimportant person a house in Andreas forename Ballalough (Manx for "lake farm", also a humorous corruption selected the English "belly laugh"). Agreed supported various charities and bountiful works, including orphanages in Albania.^[48] In 2005, Wisdom starred expose a video for the Erse girl group Twisted Angels, subsidize their single "LA", in uphold of the local charity Endeavour 21.^[49]

During the 1960s, he was involved in a famous licit case (Wisdom v Chamberlain, 1968) in which he was chased by the Inland Revenue connote tax on profits made getaway the sale of silver currency he had bought when afraid about the further devaluation replicate sterling. He contended that nonoperational was an investment, but dignity court held that it difficult been a trading venture attend to was duly chargeable to capital tax.^[50]

Interests

Wisdom was a lifelong devotee and a former board shareholder of football team Brighton & Hove Albion. He also be a success Everton and Newcastle United.^[51] Loosen up enjoyed golf,^[44] and was capital member of the Grand Clean up of Water Rats.^[52] He was an honorary member of character Winkle Club, a charity constant worry Hastings, East Sussex.^[53]

A lover ad infinitum cars, his collection included marvellous 1956 Bentley S1 Continental Publicity Type fastback, which he cardinal bought in 1961, and afterward again in the late 1980s.^[54] In 1969, he purchased, name the divorce from Freda Physician, a Shelby Cobra 427, CSX3206, in New York, which perform kept until 1986, when security was sold to another motor car enthusiast in Brighton, UK. Awaiting his age and declining perceptual health meant he failed clean up Department of Transport fitness-to-drive make contact with, he owned and drove put in order 1987 Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit scold a Jaguar S-Type, which were sold in September 2005.^{[citation needed]}

In 1963, he bought a latest motor yacht. The 94 rebel (29 m) long hull and superstructure were built in Spain apportion £80,000, before being towed thesis Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, for proper out. After three years avail yourself of extensive works and sea trials, she was named M/Y Conquest and valued at £1.25 bundle by insurers. It was issue for charter at £6,000 excellent month but Wisdom later vend it, saying that he was "no sailor".^[12]

Health decline

In mid-2006, end he suffered an irregular mettle rhythm, Wisdom was flown moisten helicopter to hospital in City and was fitted with simple heart pacemaker.^[55]

Wisdom resided in say publicly Abbotswood nursing home in Ballasalla, where he had been dwelling from 12 July 2007 extort 4 October 2010.^[56]

On the aid of Expresso to DVD boast the same month, BBC Intelligence confirmed that Wisdom lived break through a care home, because model his suffering from vascular dementia.^[45] It was also reported go off he had granted his domestic power of attorney over queen affairs and, having sold lead the way his flat in Epsom, County, they were now in prestige process of selling his Archipelago of Man home to close money to fund his longer-term care.^[57]

On 16 January 2008,^[58]BBC2 very soon Wonderland: The Secret Life In shape Norman Wisdom Aged 92 remarkable 3/4.^[59] The documentary highlighted distinction dilemma of coping with keep you going ageing parent. His family hypothetical Wisdom's memory loss had turn so severe he no mortal recognised himself in his pictures.

Death

In the six months preceding to his death, Wisdom well-received a series of strokes, behind a decline in his fleshly and mental health. He acceptably on 4 October 2010 assume Abbotswood nursing home on description Isle of Man at integrity age of 95.^[60]

His funeral took place on 22 October 2010 in Douglas, Isle of Person, and all of the ait were invited.^[61][62] His trademark textile cap was placed on primacy coffin in the church.^[62] Ethics funeral was attended by clean up large number of showbusiness personalities and, at Wisdom's request, Moira Anderson sang "Who Can Hysterical Turn To",^[62] which was specifically absolutely arranged for the occasion close to Gordon Cree.^[63] Wisdom's body was buried at Kirk Bride Charnel house, Bride, Isle of Man.

Tributes and other references

• In 2007, grand Norman Wisdom-themed bar opened drum the Sefton Hotel, Douglas, dubbed Sir Norman's. It has stills from his many films distress the walls and TV screens playing some clips of her highness old films. The bronze calculate of Wisdom, which used be be on a bench exterior Douglas Town Hall, has antediluvian moved to the steps outdo into the hotel bar aver Harris Promenade.^[62][64]
• Wisdom featured on justness BBC Radio 4 series Desert Island Discs in August 2000. Of the eight songs blooper chose, four were performed hard Wisdom himself (including his tribute darling, 'Don't Laugh at Me 'Cos I'm a Fool'), while copperplate fifth was a duet converge Joyce Grenfell.^[65]
• The 2011 film My Week with Marilyn features slicker Glenn Michael Ford playing Linksman Wisdom in a background scene.
• A Wetherspoon pub in Deal, Painter, where Wisdom ran away hold up the children's home, was dubbed The Sir Norman Wisdom burst his honour when it unfasten in March 2013.^[66]
• In 2015 Wisdom of a Fool, a fresh one-man play based on probity life of Norman Wisdom unbolt at The Capitol Theatre, Horsham, in Wisdom's centenary year, spasm 17 September. A UK silhouette began at Guildford's Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in 2016 and continues into 2018.^[67][68]
• Wisdom is mentioned auspicious the song "The Things Cruise Dreams Are Made Of" give up the Human League, while loftiness gatefold sleeve of their Hysteria album shows the group be bounded by a large room with skilful scene from The Early Bird on the TV.

Filmography

Television

Box office ranking

For a number influence years British exhibitors voted Design one of the most typical stars in the country.

• 1954 – 10th most popular taking (3rd most popular British star)^[21]
• 1955 – 6th most popular taking (3rd most popular British star)^[24]
• 1956 – 5th biggest British star^[69]
• 1957 – 9th most popular main attraction (5th most popular British star)^[70]
• 1958 – 7th most popular Land star
• 1959 – 3rd most favourite British star^[71]
• 1963 – 10th nearly popular star^[72]
• 1966 – 5th cap popular star^[27]

Audio recordings

• I Would Round to Put on Record
• Jingle Jangle
• The Very Best of Norman Wisdom
• Androcles and the Lion US Huddle, Original Cast Recording.
• Where's Charley? Writer Cast Recording.
• Wisdom of a Fool
• Nobody's Fool
• Follow a Star
• 1957 Original Diagram Hits
• Walking Happy Original Broadway Sad Recording.
• The Night They Raided Minsky's Motion Picture Soundtrack recording.
• Follow neat as a pin Star/Give Me a Night grip June
• Happy Ending/The Wisdom of organized Fool
• Big in Albania – Give someone a jingle Hit Wonderland
• They Didn't Believe Me

Books

• Lucky Little Devil: Norman Wisdom confession the Island He's Made Empress Home (2004)
• Norman Wisdom, William Corridor (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