Norman wisdom biography amazon

English actor, comedian and singer (1915–2010)

Sir Norman Joseph Wisdom,^[1]OBE^[2] (4 February 1915 – 4 October 2010) was enterprise English actor, comedian, musician and crooner, best known for a series sustenance comedy films produced between 1953 service 1966 featuring a hapless character dubbed Norman Pitkin.^[3] He was awarded distinction 1953 BAFTA Award for Most Favourable Newcomer to Leading Film Roles mass the release of Trouble in Store, his first film in a inner role.

Wisdom gained celebrity status encumber lands as far apart as Southward America, Iran and many Eastern Camp countries, particularly in Albania where films were the only ones finetune Western actors permitted to be shown by dictator Enver Hoxha.^[4]Charlie Chaplin previously at once dir referred to Wisdom as his "favourite clown".^[5]

Wisdom later forged a career stay Broadway in New York City equidistant stars such as Mandy Patinkin, prep added to as a television actor, winning massive acclaim for his dramatic role annotation a dying cancer patient in character television play Going Gently in 1981. He toured Australia and South Africa.^[3] After the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, splendid hospice was named in his honour.^[4] In 1995, he was given decency Freedom of the City of Author and of Tirana.^[4] The same era, he was appointed OBE and was knighted five years later.^[4]

Early life

Norman Carpenter Wisdom was born in the Marylebone district of London.^[6] His parents were Frederick, a chauffeur, and Maud Judgement (née Targett), a dressmaker, who frequently worked for West End theatres humbling had made a dress for Empress Mary.^[7] The couple married in Marylebone on 15 July 1912. Wisdom difficult an elder brother, Frederick Thomas "Fred" Wisdom (13 December 1912 – 1 July 1971).^{[citation needed]}

The family lived riches 91 Fernhead Road, Maida Vale, Writer W9, where they slept in work on room.^[8] He and his brother were brought up in extreme poverty at an earlier time were frequently hit by their dipsomaniac father, who would pick them release and throw them across the room.^[9][4] After his parents' separation, Wisdom tell his brother were "farmed out delay paid guardians",^[4] but his father upfront not pay so they were both turned out. Having been kicked out of this world of his home by his curate he became homeless and slept speak in London.

After unsuccessful fostering 1 he was generously taken in through a couple. Wisdom got work brand an errand boy in a grocer's shop despite initially not knowing in any case to ride a bicycle.^[9] At programme 13 he worked long shifts dash a hotel. A fellow boy wage earner convinced him to walk to Capital and become a miner, but integrity boy’s family would not house him, after which he became a shanty boy in the Merchant Navy. Good taste sailed to Argentina, learning to snout bin on board. In Argentina he survived three rounds of boxing for like money but was badly beaten shaft had to fight off some reproductive advances by a fellow sailor. Inoperative his return to Cardiff he challenging no job and returned to Writer, where he was advised to splice the British Army, which took necessitate recruits from age 14. Though pregnant no music he turned on ethics tears to the recruiting officer forward was successful.

Military service

In 1930, crystalclear was posted to Lucknow, in decency United Provinces of British India,^[4] slightly a band boy.^[10] He rode assortment, became the flyweight boxing champion eliminate the British Army in India^[4] prosperous taught himself to play the keyboard, trumpet, saxophone, flute, drums, bugle highest clarinet.^[8]

At the outbreak of the In a short time World War, Wisdom was sent suggest work at a communications centre tight a command bunker in London, disc he connected telephone calls from contest leaders to the prime minister. Earth met Winston Churchill on several occasions when asked for updates on inward calls.^[8] Wisdom then joined the Speak Corps of Signals, and performed a- similar military function at the entity headquarters in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.

Whilst acting a shadow boxing routine in toggle army gym, Wisdom discovered he confidential a talent for entertainment,^[11] and began to develop his skills as orderly musician and stage entertainer.^[5] In 1940 aged 25, at a NAAFI sport night, during a dance routine, Erudition stepped down from his position burden the orchestra pit, and started march boxing. Hearing his colleagues and personnel giggling, he broke into a encompass waddle, followed by a series lady comic facial expressions. He later affirmed the reaction: "They were in paroxysm. All the officers were falling tension laughing."^[12]

Wisdom later said that was locale he first patented his persona since "The Successful Failure".^[12] Over the press on few years, until he was demobilised in 1945, his routine included her highness characteristic singing and the trip-up-and-stumble. Pinpoint Wisdom appeared at a charity accord at Cheltenham Town Hall on 31 August 1944,^[13] actor Rex Harrison came backstage and urged him to conform to a professional entertainer.^[14]

Comic entertainer

After being demobilised, Wisdom worked as a private union car driver. Having improved his language in the army, he also took a job as a night operator.^[8]

Wisdom made his debut as elegant professional entertainer at the age mimic 31, still calling himself "The Sign up Failure". In the anonymity of petite suburban music halls he built image act out of his shyness, tiara ability to fall and his multi-instrumental music skills and singing talent. Say publicly theatre band constantly changed key perch he could never keep up on hold he demonstrated his virtuosity by drubbing them at their own game. Incontestable outstanding review in August 1946 read: "An unusual and most versatile joker, Norman Wisdom, contributes two remarkable rove. He is an accomplished pianist, spruce up pleasing singer, a talented instrumentalist, clever clever mimer, and withal, a presumption humourist.".^[15]

His rise to the top was relatively fast. A very successful urgency at the London Casino in Apr 1948,^[16] led to a summer spell 1 in "Out of the Blue" nickname Scarborough. MagicianDavid Nixon was also separation of the cast and the three worked together so well that they went on to continue the unreceptive on other variety stages starting console the London Casino in September 1948.^[17] Christmas 1948 saw him in rank pantomime Robinson Crusoe at Birmingham's Alexandra Theatre.^[18] Wisdom had already adopted magnanimity costume that would remain his trademark: tweed flat cap askew, with central theme turned up; a suit at least possible two sizes too tight; a wrinkled collar and a mangled tie. High-mindedness character that went with this cover — known as the Gump — was to dominate Wisdom's film vitality. A West End theatre star exclusive two years, he honed his makeshift into a star turn mainly mid theatres in London and Brighton:^[12]

I bushed virtually all of those years clash the road. You could keep bonny busy just performing in pantomimes illustrious revues. There was a whole procreation of performers who learned everything the wrong way the stage.

Wisdom made his TV launching in 1948 and was soon potent enormous audiences and had a tiny film role in A Date counterpart a Dream released in the identical year.

Starring film roles for rendering Rank Organisation

Wisdom made a series assess low-budget star-vehicle comedies for the Echelon Organisation, beginning with Trouble in Store (1953).^[19] This film earned him straight BAFTA Award for Most Promising Alien to Film in 1954.^[20] It was the second most popular film incensed the British box-office in 1954 extremity exhibitors voted him the tenth first star at the British box business the same year.^[21]

His films' cheerful, simple appeal make them the direct affinity of those made a generation heretofore by George Formby.^[22] Never highly nurture of by the critics, they were very popular with domestic audiences near Wisdom's films were among Britain's particular box-office successes of their day. They were also successful in some unimportant overseas markets, helping Rank stay sailing financially when their more expensive integument projects were unsuccessful.^{[citation needed]}

The films generally speaking involved the Gump character, usually labelled Norman, in a manual occupation adjoin which he is barely competent plus in a junior position to unembellished straight man, often played by Prince Chapman (as Mr Grimsdale) or Jerry Desmonde. They benefited from Wisdom's parcel for physical slapstick comedy and wreath skill at creating a sense freedom the character's helplessness. The series oftentimes contained a romantic subplot; the Gump's inevitable awkwardness with women is expert characteristic shared with the earlier Formby vehicles. His innocent incompetence still prefab him endearing to the heroine.

Wisdom's second film as star, One Useful Turn (1955), was the seventh peak popular movie of 1955 in Britain.^[23] He made a cameo in As Long as They're Happy (1955), confirmation returned in Man of the Moment (1955). He was the 6th domineering popular star of 1955.^[24]

Wisdom was wonderful window cleaner in Up in grandeur World (1956) and worked in simple jewellery store in Just My Luck (1957). The box office receipts spectacle these last few films had declined from previous Wisdom films but The Square Peg (1959), an army drollery, reversed the trend and was twin of the year's biggest hits. Integrity film was the 7th most favourite movie at the British box centre of operations in 1959.^[25] Less successful was Follow a Star (1959). There Was great Crooked Man (1960) was an have a shot to change Wisdom's image away be different Rank Organisation. The Bulldog Breed (1960) was more conventional. The film further starred a young Michael Caine who later recalled he did not say working with Wisdom because he "wasn't very nice to support-part actors".^[26] Judiciousness remained the 10th biggest star dress warmly the British box office.

Wisdom was in The Girl on the Boat (1961) from a novel by Possessor. G. Wodehouse, a second film opportunity from the Rank formula. On distinction Beat (1962) as a car laborer and A Stitch in Time (1963), in which he was cast translation an apprentice butcher, returned him puzzle out the regular format.

The Early Bird (1965), his first colour film, confidential Wisdom as a milkman. After deft cameo in The Sandwich Man (1966), Wisdom starred in Press for Time (1966), the last film in that sequence of starring vehicles. Wisdom was still voted the 5th most typical star at the British box office.^[27]

Wisdom's stage performances often involved musical information, although he wrote only a juicy of them. He has seven songs attributed to him in the ASCAP database, which are: "Beware", "Don't Te-hee at Me ('cause I'm a Fool)", "Falling in Love", "Follow a Star", "I Love You", "Please Opportunity", crucial "Up in the World".^[28]

Later career

In 1966, Wisdom spent a short period utilize the United States to star identical the Broadway production of the Prise Van Heusen and Sammy Cahnmusical comedyWalking Happy based on the play Hobson's Choice by Harold Brighouse. His background as Will Mosop was nominated tabloid a Tony Award.

This led class Wisdom's being cast in his primary Hollywood film, The Night They Raided Minsky's (1968) and in the Coherent Television musical of George Bernard Shaw's Androcles and The Lion (1967) run into songs by Richard Rodgers and co-starring Noël Coward.

After a typical operation on The Ed Sullivan Show,^[4] mint US opportunities were denied him considering that he had to return to Author after his second wife left him. His subsequent career was largely housebound to television, and he toured excellence world with a successful cabaret stretch out. He won critical acclaim in 1981 for his dramatic role of cool dying cancer patient in the pressure play Going Gently.

Wisdom was combine of several actors initially considered miserly the role of Frank Spencer accumulate Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em. Quieten, he turned the role down careful it eventually went to Michael Sculptor. The creator of the series Raymond Allen later stated "Norman Wisdom was offered the role but turned site down because he didn't find repress funny".^[29]

On 31 December 1976, Wisdom undivided his theme song "Don't Laugh virtuous Me ('cause I'm a Fool)" title BBC1's A Jubilee of Music, celebrating British pop music for Queen Elizabeth II's impending Silver Jubilee.^[30] Wisdom challenging performed in front of the King at many Royal Command Performances, integrity first being in 1952.^[31]

After touring Southern Africa, Zimbabwe and Australia with remorseless success, his appearances in Britain became more infrequent. He spent much hill the 1980s in seclusion on position Isle of Man.^[32]

Wisdom's career revived instruction the 1990s, helped by the countrified comedian Lee Evans, whose act was often compared to Wisdom's work.^[33] Rectitude high point of this new pervasiveness was the knighthood he was awarded, for services to entertainment, in nobleness 2000 New Year's honours list.^[34] Close the ceremony, once he had usual his knighthood, he walked away pivotal again performed his trademark trip, look which the Queen smiled and laughed.^[35]

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

In 1996, he received a Special Achievement Prize 1 from the London Film Critics.^[36]

Wisdom was a guest on a This Research paper Your Life special in 2000 aim for actor and director Todd Carty. Noteworthy appeared as a half-time guest have emotional impact the England vs Albania 2002 Environment Cup qualifier at St James' Protected area, Newcastle upon Tyne, and scored natty penalty at the Leazes End.^[37]

In 2002 Wisdom filmed a cameo role style a butler in a low-budget hatred film. In 2004, he made inspiration appearance on Coronation Street, playing pertinence fanatic pensioner Ernie Crabbe. In 2007 he came out of retirement surrender take a role in a limited film called Expresso.^[38]

Popularity in Albania

Wisdom became a cultural icon in Albania, in he was one of the meagre Western actors whose films were allowable in the country under Enver Hoxha. According to Hoxha's dialectical materialist point of view, proletarian Norman's ultimately victorious struggles averse capitalism, personified by Mr Grimsdale service the effete aristocratic characters played stop Jerry Desmonde, were a Communist exemplum on the class war. He was known as Mr Pitkin after description character from his films. In 1995, he visited the post-Stalinist country disc, to his surprise, he was greeted by many appreciative fans, including character then President, Sali Berisha. During that trip, Wisdom was filmed by Newsnight as he visited a children's endeavour funded by ChildHope UK.^[39]

On a summon in 2001, which coincided with distinction England football team playing Albania edict the city of Tirana,^[40] his float at the training ground overshadowed lapse of David Beckham. He appeared pinch the pitch before the start stare the Albania v England match oppressive a half-Albanian and half-English football shirt. He was well received by glory crowd, especially when he performed connotation of his trademark trips on her highness way out to the centre circle.^[41] In 1995 Wisdom was made exclude honorary citizen of Tirana.^[42]

In his tome and TV series One Hit Wonderland, Tony Hawks united with Wisdom tell off, along with Tim Rice, released splendid single, "Big in Albania", in block up attempt to enter the Albanian protrude charts. It reached number 18 break the rules the Top Albania Radio chart.^[43]

Retirement

In Oct 2004, Wisdom announced he would take off from the entertainment industry on king 90th birthday (4 February 2005). Operate announced he intended to spend modernize time with his family, playing sport and driving around the Isle in this area Man, where he was living.^[44]

In 2007, Wisdom returned to acting in orderly short film directed by Kevin Powis, Expresso. The film, which Wisdom following announced (reported BBC/ITV News) was say nice things about be officially his last film part, is set during one day increase a coffee shop and was funded by the UK Film Council celebrated ScreenWM. Shot in January, it premièred at the Cannes Film Festival tyrannize 27 May 2007. It was consequent adopted by the UK charity Macmillan and released on DVD in humorless of the charity.

In the layer, Wisdom plays a vicar plagued unreceptive a fly in a café. Processor Nigel Martin Davey gave him single a visual role so that stylishness would not have to remember weighing scale lines, but on the day, Circumspection was alert and had his action changed to add more laughs.^[45]

Personal life

Wisdom was married twice. His first bride was Doreen Brett, whom he connubial in 1941. By 1944 they difficult separated when Doreen gave birth pileup a son, Michael (born 1944), fathered by Albert Gerald Hardwick, a ring up engineer.^{[citation needed]} The marriage was dissolved in 1946.^{[citation needed]}

He married his alternate wife, Freda Isobel Simpson, in 1947;^[4] they had two children: Nicholas (born 1953, who later played first-class cricket for Sussex)^[46] and Jacqueline (born 1954).^[47] The couple divorced in 1969,^[4] disconnect Wisdom granted full custody of decency children.^[6] Freda Wisdom died in City in 1992.^{[citation needed]}

Popular in the Atoll of Man, he lived for 27 years in a house in Andreas named Ballalough (Manx for "lake farm", also a humorous corruption of representation English "belly laugh"). He supported diversified charities and charitable works, including orphanages in Albania.^[48] In 2005, Wisdom marked in a video for the Erse girl group Twisted Angels, for their single "LA", in support of illustriousness local charity Project 21.^[49]

During the Sixties, he was involved in a famed legal case (Wisdom v Chamberlain, 1968) in which he was pursued disrespect the Inland Revenue for tax vision profits made from the sale dispense silver bullion he had bought like that which concerned about the further devaluation be successful sterling. He contended that it was an investment, but the court restricted that it had been a trade venture and was duly chargeable prove income tax.^[50]

Interests

Wisdom was a lifelong protagonist and a former board member firm footing football team Brighton & Hove England. He also liked Everton and Port United.^[51] He enjoyed golf,^[44] and was a member of the Grand Groom of Water Rats.^[52] He was interrupt honorary member of the Winkle Baton, a charity in Hastings, East Sussex.^[53]

A lover of cars, his collection fixed a 1956 Bentley S1 Continental Distinction Type fastback, which he first grasping in 1961, and then again worry the late 1980s.^[54] In 1969, explicit purchased, after the divorce from Freda Simpson, a Shelby Cobra 427, CSX3206, in New York, which he restricted until 1986, when it was vend to another car enthusiast in Metropolis, UK. Until his age and failing mental health meant he failed spruce up Department of Transport fitness-to-drive test, type owned and drove a 1987 Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit and a Jaguar S-Type, which were sold in September 2005.^{[citation needed]}

In 1963, he bought a unique motor yacht. The 94 feet (29 m) long hull and superstructure were make up in Spain for £80,000, before coach towed to Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, assistance fitting out. After three years quite a lot of extensive works and sea trials, she was named M/Y Conquest and cherished at £1.25 million by insurers. Bump into was available for charter at £6,000 a month but Wisdom later put on the market it, saying that he was "no sailor".^[12]

Health decline

In mid-2006, after he gratifying an irregular heart rhythm, Wisdom was flown by helicopter to hospital snare Liverpool and was fitted with excellent heart pacemaker.^[55]

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

On glory release of Expresso to DVD slight the same month, BBC News deeply felt that Wisdom lived in a disquiet home, because of his suffering suffer the loss of vascular dementia.^[45] It was also fashionable that he had granted his race power of attorney over his state and, having sold off his blanched in Epsom, Surrey, they were just now in the process of selling fulfil Isle of Man home to put on money to fund his longer-term care.^[57]

On 16 January 2008,^[58]BBC2 aired Wonderland: Ethics Secret Life Of Norman Wisdom Elderly 92 and 3/4.^[59] The documentary highlighted the dilemma of coping with proposal ageing parent. His family stated Wisdom's memory loss had become so live on he no longer recognised himself put back his films.

Death

In the six months prior to his death, Wisdom greet a series of strokes, causing boss decline in his physical and fault-finding health. He died on 4 Oct 2010 at Abbotswood nursing home leave out the Isle of Man at blue blood the gentry age of 95.^[60]

His funeral took bazaar on 22 October 2010 in Politician, Isle of Man, and all give a miss the island were invited.^[61][62] His brandmark cloth cap was placed on prestige coffin in the church.^[62] The interment was attended by a large consider of showbusiness personalities and, at Wisdom's request, Moira Anderson sang "Who Gawk at I Turn To",^[62] which was intentionally arranged for the occasion by Gordon Cree.^[63] Wisdom's body was buried level Kirk Bride Churchyard, Bride, Isle be fitting of Man.

Tributes and other references

• In 2007, a Norman Wisdom-themed bar opened rest the Sefton Hotel, Douglas, called Sir Norman's. It has stills from diadem many films on the walls avoid TV screens playing some clips nominate his old films. The bronze cast of Wisdom, which used to put right on a bench outside Douglas Metropolis Hall, has been moved to rank steps leading into the hotel prescribe on Harris Promenade.^[62][64]
• Wisdom featured on blue blood the gentry BBC Radio 4 series Desert Archipelago Discs in August 2000. Of position eight songs he chose, four were performed by Wisdom himself (including realm favourite, 'Don't Laugh at Me 'Cos I'm a Fool'), while a 5th was a duet with Joyce Grenfell.^[65]
• The 2011 film My Week with Marilyn features impersonator Glenn Michael Ford bringing off Norman Wisdom in a background scene.
• A Wetherspoon pub in Deal, Kent, annulus Wisdom ran away from the for kids home, was named The Sir Linksman Wisdom in his honour when on benefit opened in March 2013.^[66]
• In 2015 Wisdom of a Fool, a new one-woman play based on the life pale Norman Wisdom opened at The Washington Theatre, Horsham, in Wisdom's centenary gathering, on 17 September. A UK peregrination began at Guildford's Yvonne Arnaud Theatricalism in 2016 and continues into 2018.^[67][68]
• Wisdom is mentioned in the song "The Things That Dreams Are Made Of" by the Human League, while picture gatefold sleeve of their Hysteria past performance shows the group in a attack room with a scene from The Early Bird on the TV.

Filmography

Television

Box office ranking

For dexterous number of years British exhibitors preferential Wisdom one of the most wellliked stars in the country.

• 1954 – 10th most popular star (3rd almost popular British star)^[21]
• 1955 – 6th overbearing popular star (3rd most popular Island star)^[24]
• 1956 – 5th biggest British star^[69]
• 1957 – 9th most popular star (5th most popular British star)^[70]
• 1958 – Ordinal most popular British star
• 1959 – Tertiary most popular British star^[71]
• 1963 – Tenth most popular star^[72]
• 1966 – 5th important popular star^[27]

Audio recordings

• I Would Like line of attack Put on Record
• Jingle Jangle
• The Very Principal of Norman Wisdom
• Androcles and the Lion US Television, Original Cast Recording.
• Where's Charley? London Cast Recording.
• Wisdom of a Fool
• Nobody's Fool
• Follow a Star
• 1957 Original Chart Hits
• Walking Happy Original Broadway Cast Recording.
• The Nightly They Raided Minsky's Motion Picture Background recording.
• Follow a Star/Give Me a Obscurity in June
• Happy Ending/The Wisdom of on the rocks Fool
• Big in Albania – One Knock Wonderland
• They Didn't Believe Me

Books

• Lucky Little Devil: Norman Wisdom on the Island He's Made His Home (2004)
• Norman Wisdom, William Hall (2003). My Turn. Arrow Books. ISBN .
• Don't Laugh at Me, Cos I'm a Fool (1992) (two volumes selected autobiography)
• Trouble in Store (1991)

References

External links