Person
Norman Wisdom
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 on…
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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.
Filmography
Movies and shows, newest first
-
2025
Innes Lloyd: The Producer
Movie Self (archive footage)
-
2011
The Unforgettable Norman Wisdom
Movie Himself (archive footage)
-
2010
Norman Wisdom: His Story
Movie Himself : Archive footage
-
2008
Norman Wisdom: Trouble On Tour
Movie Self
-
2008
The Legend of Harrow Woods
Movie Winston
-
2008
The Secret Life of Norman Wisdom Aged 92¾
Movie Self
-
2007
Expresso
Movie The Vicar (as Sir Norman Wisdom)
-
2004
Five Children and It
Movie
-
2003
Between The Sheets
TV show Maurice Hardy
-
2003
Thora Hird Tribute
Movie Self
-
2003
The Last Detective
TV show Lofty Brock
-
1999
It's Only TV But I Like It
TV show Self
- 1998
- 1997
-
1996
Style Challenge
TV show
-
1996
Dalziel and Pascoe
TV show Bernie Marks
More credits
-
1994
Cue Here for Laughs with John Virgo
Movie Self
-
1992
Double X: The Name of the Game
Movie Arthur Clutton/Maurice Rigby
-
1986
Casualty
TV show Mr. Cole
- 1985
-
1982
Wogan
TV show Self
-
1981
Bergerac
TV show Vincent
-
1981
Going Gently
Movie Bernard Flood
-
1978
An Audience with...
TV show Self
-
1977
To See Such Fun
Movie
-
1974
A Little Bit of Wisdom
TV show Norman Wisdom
-
1974
Playhouse
TV show Bernard Flood
-
1973
Nobody Is Norman Wisdom
TV show Nobody
-
1973
Last of the Summer Wine
TV show Man Carrying Gnome (uncredited)
-
1970
Norman
TV show
-
1969
What's Good for the Goose
Movie Timothy Bartlett
-
1968
The Night They Raided Minsky's
Movie Chick Williams
-
1967
Androcles and the Lion
Movie Androcles
-
1966
Press for Time
Movie Norman Shields / Emily Shields / Wilfred, the Prime Minister
-
1966
The Sandwich Man
Movie Boxing Vicar
-
1965
The Early Bird
Movie Norman Pitkin
-
1963
A Stitch in Time
Movie Norman Pitkin
-
1962
On the Beat
Movie Norman Pitkin / Giulio Napolitani
-
1962
The Merv Griffin Show
TV show Self
-
1962
The Girl on the Boat
Movie Sam Marlowe
