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Norman Wisdom

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Template:Short description Template:Use British English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox comedian

Sir Norman Joseph Wisdom,<ref name=freebmd /> Template:Post-nominals<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref> (4 February 1915 – 4 October 2010), was an English actor, comedian, musician, and singer, best known for his series of comedy films produced between 1953 and 1966, in which he portrayed the endearingly inept character Norman Pitkin.<ref name="GuardianObit">Template:Cite news</ref> He rose to prominence with his first leading film role in Trouble in Store (1953), which earned him the BAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles.

Wisdom’s appeal extended far beyond the UK, gaining popularity in countries as diverse as South America, Iran, and many nations within the former Eastern Bloc. He enjoyed particular fame in Albania, where under dictator Enver Hoxha, his films were among the few Western productions allowed to be shown.<ref name="TelegraphObit">Template:Cite news</ref> He was once described by Charlie Chaplin as his "favourite clown".<ref name="BBCFool" />

In later years, Wisdom broadened his career to include stage and television. He performed on Broadway in New York City alongside stars such as Mandy Patinkin, and won critical acclaim for his dramatic performance as a terminally ill cancer patient in the 1981 television play Going Gently. He also toured internationally, including performances in Australia and South Africa.<ref name="GuardianObit"/>

Following the Chernobyl disaster in 1986, a hospice was named in his honour.<ref name="TelegraphObit"/> In recognition of his contributions to entertainment, Wisdom was awarded the Freedom of the City of both London and Tirana in 1995,<ref name="TelegraphObit"/> the same year he was appointed an OBE. He was knighted in 2000.<ref name="TelegraphObit" />

Early lifeEdit

Norman Joseph Wisdom was born in the Marylebone district of London.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite ODNB</ref> His parents were Frederick, a chauffeur, and Maud Wisdom (née Targett), a dressmaker who often worked for West End theatres and once made a dress for Queen Mary.<ref>Don't Laugh at Me, p. 1</ref> The couple married in Marylebone on 15 July 1912. Norman had an elder brother, Frederick Thomas "Fred" Wisdom (13 December 1912 – 1 July 1971).Template:Citation needed

The family lived at 91 Fernhead Road, Maida Vale, London W9, where all four shared a single room.<ref name="MyTurn">Template:Cite book</ref> Norman and his brother grew up in extreme poverty and were frequently subjected to violence by their alcoholic father, who would sometimes pick them up and throw them across the room.<ref name="Story" /><ref name="TelegraphObit" />

Following the separation of their parents, the boys were "farmed out to paid guardians",<ref name="TelegraphObit"/> but their father failed to pay for their care, and they were eventually turned out. After being expelled from the home entirely by their father, Norman became homeless and was forced to sleep rough on the streets of London.

After a series of unsuccessful foster placements, he was eventually taken in by a generous couple. He soon found work as an errand boy in a grocer's shop, despite not initially knowing how to ride a bicycle.<ref name="Story">Norman Wisdom: My Story, BBC Two, 15 October 2010</ref> By the age of 13, he was working long shifts in a hotel. One of his fellow boy workers persuaded him to walk to Cardiff with hopes of becoming a miner. However, the boy’s family was unable to house him, and Norman found himself homeless again.

He later joined the Merchant Navy as a cabin boy, sailing to Argentina. During the voyage, he learned to box. In Argentina, he entered a prize fight, managing to last three rounds before being badly beaten. During his time in the Merchant Navy, he also had to fend off unwanted sexual advances from a fellow sailor.

Returning to Cardiff and once again out of work, Wisdom made his way back to London. There, he was advised to join the British Army, which accepted band recruits from the age of 14. Though he had no musical training, he tearfully persuaded the recruiting officer to let him join—and was accepted.

Military serviceEdit

In 1930, Wisdom was posted to Lucknow, in the United Provinces of British India,<ref name="TelegraphObit" /> where he served as a band boy.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> During his time there, he learned to ride horses, became the flyweight boxing champion of the British Army in India,<ref name="TelegraphObit" /> and taught himself to play a wide range of instruments, including the piano, trumpet, saxophone, flute, drums, bugle, and clarinet.<ref name="MyTurn" />

At the outbreak of the Second World War, Wisdom was assigned to a communications centre in a command bunker in London. There, he handled telephone connections between war leaders and the prime minister. He met Winston Churchill on several occasions while delivering updates on incoming calls.<ref name="MyTurn" /> He later joined the Royal Corps of Signals, performing similar duties at unit headquarters in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.

While shadow boxing in an army gym, Wisdom discovered his gift for entertaining.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He began honing his skills as a musician and stage entertainer.<ref name="BBCFool">Template:Cite news</ref> In 1940, at the age of 25, during a NAAFI entertainment night, he spontaneously stepped out of the orchestra pit during a dance routine to perform shadow boxing. Hearing laughter from his fellow soldiers and officers, he added a duck waddle and a series of comic facial expressions. Reflecting on the moment, he recalled: "They were in hysterics. All the officers were falling about laughing."<ref name=GuardWordsWis>Template:Cite news</ref>

Wisdom would later say that this was where he first developed his trademark persona as "The Successful Failure".<ref name=GuardWordsWis /> Over the next few years, until his demobilisation in 1945, his act grew to include his now-famous singing, pratfalls, and stumbling routines. After a performance at a charity concert at Cheltenham Town Hall on 31 August 1944,<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> actor Rex Harrison came backstage and encouraged him to pursue a career as a professional entertainer.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Comic entertainerEdit

After being demobilised, Wisdom worked as a private hire car driver. Having improved his diction during his army service, he also took a job as a night telephone operator.<ref name="MyTurn" />

At the age of 31, Wisdom made his debut as a professional entertainer, still referring to himself as "The Successful Failure". Performing in small suburban music halls, he crafted a unique act that drew on his natural shyness, his talent for slapstick falls, his musical versatility, and his singing ability. A recurring part of his routine involved struggling to keep up with a theatre band that frequently changed key—until he would outplay them, showcasing his virtuosity. A review from August 1946 praised his performance: "An unusual and most versatile comedian, Norman Wisdom, contributes two remarkable turns. He is an accomplished pianist, a pleasing singer, a talented instrumentalist, a clever mimer, and withal, a true humourist."<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Wisdom's ascent in the entertainment world was relatively swift. A highly successful run at the London Casino in April 1948<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> led to a summer season in Out of the Blue in Scarborough. He shared the stage with magician David Nixon, and their onstage chemistry resulted in further variety performances together, beginning again at the London Casino in September 1948.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> That Christmas, he appeared in the pantomime Robinson Crusoe at Birmingham's Alexandra Theatre.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

By this point, Wisdom had fully adopted the costume that would become his trademark: an askew tweed flat cap with the peak turned up, a suit at least two sizes too small, a crumpled collar, and a mangled tie. The comic persona that came with it—known as "the Gump"—would come to define his film career. Within two years, he had become a star of the West End theatre circuit, refining his act primarily between venues in London and Brighton:<ref name=GuardWordsWis />

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I spent virtually all of those years on the road. You could keep incredibly busy just performing in pantomimes and revues. There was a whole generation of performers who learned everything on the stage.{{#if:|{{#if:|}}

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In 1948, Wisdom made his television debut and quickly gained a large following. That same year, he appeared in a small film role in A Date with a Dream.

Starring film roles for the Rank OrganisationEdit

Wisdom starred in a series of low-budget comedies produced by the Rank Organisation, beginning with Trouble in Store (1953).<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The film earned him a BAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer to Film in 1954,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and became the second most popular film at the British box office that year. Exhibitors also ranked him as the tenth biggest box-office star in Britain in 1954.<ref name="Wayne">Template:Cite news</ref>

His cheerful, unpretentious screen persona—lighthearted and physical—made his films natural successors to those of George Formby a generation earlier.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> While never critically acclaimed, Wisdom’s comedies were hugely popular with domestic audiences and represented some of Britain’s most successful box-office draws of the era. They even found unexpected success in overseas markets, helping to financially sustain Rank at a time when its costlier productions faltered.Template:Citation needed

Most of these films featured his well-known Gump character—usually named Norman—who found himself in various manual jobs, frequently incompetent and always subordinate to a straight man, typically portrayed by Edward Chapman (as Mr Grimsdale) or Jerry Desmonde. The films highlighted Wisdom’s flair for physical slapstick comedy and his ability to evoke sympathy through the character’s naïveté and helplessness. Romantic subplots were a regular feature, often revolving around the Gump’s awkwardness with women, echoing the innocence found in Formby’s earlier roles.

Wisdom’s second starring film, One Good Turn (1955), ranked as the seventh most popular British film of that year.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He also appeared in As Long as They're Happy (1955), followed by a return to leading roles in Man of the Moment (1955), which further cemented his popularity—he was named the sixth most popular British film star of 1955.<ref name="ReferenceA">Template:Cite newspaper The Times</ref>

His subsequent films saw him in a variety of jobs: a window cleaner in Up in the World (1956), and a jewellery store worker in Just My Luck (1957). Although these titles saw a dip in box-office returns, The Square Peg (1959), an army-themed comedy, reversed the trend, becoming one of the top-grossing films of the year and finishing seventh at the British box office.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> By contrast, Follow a Star (1959) was less successful.

Seeking to break from the Rank formula, There Was a Crooked Man (1960) marked an attempt to rebrand Wisdom’s screen image, though The Bulldog Breed (1960) saw a return to more familiar territory. A young Michael Caine co-starred in the latter and later recounted that he did not enjoy working with Wisdom, saying he "wasn't very nice to support-part actors".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Nevertheless, Wisdom retained his position as the tenth most popular star at the British box office.

Departing again from the typical format, Wisdom starred in The Girl on the Boat (1961), based on a novel by P. G. Wodehouse. He returned to more familiar comedic roles in On the Beat (1962), where he played a car cleaner, and in A Stitch in Time (1963), as an apprentice butcher.

His first colour film, The Early Bird (1965), cast him as a milkman. This was followed by a cameo in The Sandwich Man (1966) and a starring role in Press for Time (1966), his final film in the series of Rank Organisation comedies. Despite this being the end of that era, Wisdom was still voted the fifth most popular star at the British box office.<ref name="ReferenceB">Template:Cite newspaper The Times</ref>

In addition to acting, Wisdom’s stage performances often included musical numbers, although he composed only a handful himself. He is credited with seven songs in the ASCAP database: "Beware", "Don't Laugh at Me ('cause I'm a Fool)", "Falling in Love", "Follow a Star", "I Love You", "Please Opportunity", and "Up in the World".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Later careerEdit

File:Norman Wisdom 2 (1965).jpg
Norman Wisdom demonstrating a typical expression (1965)

In 1966, Norman Wisdom spent a brief period in the United States to star in the Broadway production of the Jimmy Van Heusen and Sammy Cahn musical comedy Walking Happy, based on Harold Brighouse’s play Hobson's Choice. His performance as Will Mosop earned him a nomination at the Tony Awards.

This success led to his first Hollywood film role in The Night They Raided Minsky's (1968), as well as a part in the 1967 U.S. television musical adaptation of George Bernard Shaw’s Androcles and The Lion, with music by Richard Rodgers and co-starring Noël Coward.

Following a typically well-received appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show,<ref name="TelegraphObit" /> further opportunities in the United States were cut short when he was forced to return to London after the breakdown of his second marriage. From then on, his career focused more on television, and he toured internationally with a successful cabaret act. In 1981, he received critical acclaim for his dramatic portrayal of a terminally ill cancer patient in the television play Going Gently.

Wisdom was among the actors initially considered for the lead role of Frank Spencer in Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em. He declined the offer, reportedly because he "didn't find it funny", and the role was eventually played by Michael Crawford. Series creator Raymond Allen later confirmed this decision.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

On 31 December 1976, Wisdom performed his theme song "Don't Laugh at Me ('cause I'm a Fool)" during BBC1’s A Jubilee of Music, held to celebrate British pop music in honour of Queen Elizabeth II’s forthcoming Silver Jubilee.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He had previously performed for the Queen at many Royal Command Performances, beginning in 1952.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

After touring South Africa, Zimbabwe and Australia with modest success, Wisdom's appearances in Britain became increasingly rare, and he spent much of the 1980s living in seclusion on the Isle of Man.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In the 1990s, his career experienced a revival, aided by the support of younger comedians such as Lee Evans, whose energetic performances were frequently compared to Wisdom’s.<ref name="telegraph">Template:Cite news</ref> This resurgence culminated in his being made a knight for services to entertainment in the 2000 New Year's Honours List.<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref> At the knighthood ceremony, he famously performed his trademark trip as he walked away from the Queen, prompting her to laugh warmly.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

From 1995 to 2004, he played the recurring role of Billy Ingleton in the long-running BBC comedy series Last of the Summer Wine. In 1996, he was honoured with a Special Achievement Award from the London Film Critics.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Wisdom appeared on a special edition of This Is Your Life in 2000, dedicated to actor-director Todd Carty. In 2001, during an England World Cup qualifier against Albania, he made a memorable half-time appearance at St James' Park, scoring a penalty at the Leazes End.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2002, he filmed a cameo as a butler in a low-budget horror film, and in 2004 appeared in Coronation Street as fitness enthusiast Ernie Crabbe. In 2007, he came out of retirement to take a role in the short film Expresso.<ref name="newfilm-bbc">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Popularity in AlbaniaEdit

Wisdom became a beloved cultural icon in Albania, where his films were among the few Western imports permitted under the regime of Enver Hoxha. From the viewpoint of dialectical materialism, Wisdom’s recurring screen persona—a proletarian underdog triumphing over the capitalist elite—was interpreted as a symbolic victory for the working class. His character, often referred to as Mr Pitkin, struck a chord with Albanian audiences.

When he visited the country in 1995, he was astonished to find himself mobbed by fans, including then-president Sali Berisha. During the trip, he was filmed by Newsnight visiting a children’s project supported by ChildHope UK.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

He returned in 2001, coinciding with the England vs Albania match in Tirana.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> At the training ground, he drew more attention than David Beckham and delighted the stadium crowd by wearing a half-English, half-Albanian shirt and performing one of his signature trips before kick-off.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In recognition of his enduring popularity, Wisdom was made an honorary citizen of Tirana in 1995.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

His affection for Albania culminated in a collaboration with Tony Hawks and Tim Rice on the novelty single "Big in Albania", featured in Hawks’ book and TV series One Hit Wonderland. The song reached number 18 on the Top Albania Radio chart.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

RetirementEdit

File:Norman Wisdom Peel IoM 2005 -CCR27366-.jpg
Wisdom in Peel, Isle of Man, in 2005

In October 2004, Norman Wisdom announced that he would retire from the entertainment industry on his 90th birthday, 4 February 2005. He stated that he intended to spend more time with his family, play golf, and enjoy driving around the Isle of Man, where he was living at the time.<ref name="BBC retires">Template:Cite news</ref>

Despite his retirement, Wisdom returned to acting in 2007 with a role in the short film Expresso, directed by Kevin Powis. Set over the course of a single day in a coffee shop, the film was funded by the UK Film Council and ScreenWM. It was shot in January and premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on 27 May 2007. Wisdom later announced (as reported by BBC and ITV News) that this would be his final film role.

Expresso was subsequently adopted by the UK charity Macmillan and released on DVD to raise funds. In the film, Wisdom portrayed a vicar irritated by a fly in a café. Producer Nigel Martin Davey initially gave him a silent, visual role so he wouldn't need to memorise any lines. However, on the day of filming, Wisdom was so engaged that his performance was expanded to include more comedic moments.<ref name="BBCEspres">Template:Cite news</ref>

Personal lifeEdit

Wisdom was married twice. His first marriage was to Doreen Brett in 1941. By 1944, they had separated when Doreen gave birth to a son, Michael (born 1944), fathered by Albert Gerald Hardwick, a telephone engineer.Template:Citation needed The marriage was formally dissolved in 1946.Template:Citation needed

In 1947, he married his second wife, Freda Isobel Simpson;<ref name="TelegraphObit" /> together they had two children: Nicholas (born 1953), who later played first-class cricket for Sussex,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and Jacqueline (born 1954).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The couple divorced in 1969,<ref name="TelegraphObit" /> with Wisdom being granted full custody of their children.<ref name=":0" /> Freda later died in Brighton in 1992.Template:Citation needed

A well-known and well-loved resident of the Isle of Man, Wisdom lived for 27 years in a house in Andreas called Ballalough (Manx for "lake farm", and also a playful pun on the English phrase "belly laugh"). He was active in charitable causes, including support for orphanages in Albania.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2005, he appeared in a music video for the Manx girl group Twisted Angels, for their single "LA", in support of the local charity Project 21.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In the 1960s, he was involved in a high-profile legal case, Wisdom v Chamberlain (1968), when the Inland Revenue pursued him for tax on profits from the sale of silver bullion, which he had bought out of concern over the devaluation of the pound. Wisdom argued that it was a personal investment, but the court ruled it was a trading venture, and therefore subject to income tax.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

InterestsEdit

Wisdom was a lifelong supporter and former board member of Brighton & Hove Albion. He also had a fondness for Everton and Newcastle United.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He enjoyed golf,<ref name="BBC retires" /> and was a member of the Grand Order of Water Rats.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He also held honorary membership in the Winkle Club, a charitable organization in Hastings, East Sussex.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

An enthusiast of classic cars, Wisdom’s collection included a 1956 Bentley S1 Continental R Type fastback, which he first acquired in 1961 and repurchased in the late 1980s.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Following his divorce in 1969, he bought a Shelby Cobra 427, CSX3206, while in New York, and kept it until 1986, when he sold it to another car collector in Brighton. Until he failed a Department of Transport fitness-to-drive test due to age and mental health decline, he also drove a 1987 Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit and a Jaguar S-Type, both of which were sold in September 2005.Template:Citation needed

In 1963, he commissioned a new motor yacht. The Template:Convert hull and superstructure were constructed in Spain for £80,000, then brought to Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, for fitting out. After three years of customisation and sea trials, the vessel—named M/Y Conquest—was valued at £1.25 million and made available for charter at £6,000 per month. Wisdom later sold it, admitting he was "no sailor".<ref name=GuardWordsWis />

Health declineEdit

In mid-2006, after experiencing an irregular heart rhythm, Wisdom was flown by helicopter to a hospital in Liverpool, where he was fitted with a heart pacemaker.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

He moved into the Abbotswood nursing home in Ballasalla on 12 July 2007, where he remained until 4 October 2010.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

That same month, following the DVD release of Expresso, the BBC reported that Wisdom was living in a care home due to vascular dementia.<ref name="BBCEspres" /> It was also revealed that he had granted power of attorney to his children and, after selling his flat in Epsom, Surrey, they were in the process of selling his Isle of Man home to help cover the costs of his long-term care.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

On 16 January 2008,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> BBC2 aired a documentary titled Wonderland: The Secret Life Of Norman Wisdom Aged 92 and 3/4..<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The programme explored the challenges of caring for an elderly parent and showed that Wisdom’s memory loss had progressed to the point where he no longer recognised himself in his own films.

DeathEdit

In the final six months of his life, Wisdom suffered a series of strokes that further deteriorated his physical and mental condition. He died on 4 October 2010 at Abbotswood nursing home on the Isle of Man, aged 95.<ref name="BBC">Template:Cite news</ref>

His funeral was held on 22 October 2010 in Douglas, Isle of Man, with an open invitation extended to all island residents.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Funeral">Template:Cite news</ref> His trademark cloth cap was placed on the coffin during the church service.<ref name="Funeral" />

The funeral was attended by many figures from the entertainment industry. At Wisdom’s request, Moira Anderson performed "Who Can I Turn To",<ref name="Funeral" /> specially arranged for the occasion by Gordon Cree.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He was buried at Kirk Bride Churchyard in Bride, Isle of Man.


Tributes and other referencesEdit

  • In 2007, a Norman Wisdom-themed bar opened at the Sefton Hotel, Douglas, called Sir Norman's. It has stills from his many films on the walls and TV screens playing some clips of his old films. The bronze statue of Wisdom, which used to be on a bench outside Douglas Town Hall, has been moved to the steps leading into the hotel bar on Harris Promenade.<ref name="Funeral" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

  • Wisdom featured on the BBC Radio 4 series Desert Island Discs in August 2000. Of the eight songs he chose, four were performed by Wisdom himself (including his favourite, 'Don't Laugh at Me 'Cos I'm a Fool'), while a fifth was a duet with Joyce Grenfell.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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FilmographyEdit

Year Film Role Director Notes
1948 A Date with a Dream Shadow Boxer Dicky Leeman
1953 Trouble in Store Norman John Paddy Carstairs
1955 One Good Turn
As Long as They're Happy Norman – Cameo Appearance uncredited
Man of the Moment Norman
1956 Up in the World
1957 Just My Luck Norman Hackett
1958 The Square Peg Norman Pitkin / General Schreiber
1959 Follow a Star Norman Truscott Robert Asher
1960 There Was a Crooked Man Davy Cooper Stuart Burge
1960 The Bulldog Breed Norman Puckle Robert Asher
1961 The Girl on the Boat Sam Marlowe Henry Kaplan
1962 On the Beat Norman Pitkin / Giulio Napolitani Robert Asher
1963 A Stitch in Time Norman Pitkin
1965 The Early Bird
1966 The Sandwich Man Boxing Vicar Robert Hartford-Davis
Press for Time Norman Shields / Emily, his mother / Wilfred, his grandfather Robert Asher
1968 The Night They Raided Minsky's Chick Williams William Friedkin USA
1969 What's Good for the Goose Timothy Bartlett Menahem Golan
1992 Double X: The Name of the Game Arthur Clutten
1998 Where on Earth Is ... Katy Manning Self documentary
2001 Junfans Attic Template:Citation needed
2004 Five Children and It Nesbitt John Stephenson
2007 Expresso The Vicar Kevin Powis Short; Buzz

TelevisionEdit

Year Title Role Director Notes
1948-1950 Wit and 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 Play, 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 the 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 Norman Wisdom Aged 92 and 3/4

Box office rankingEdit

For a number of years British exhibitors voted Wisdom one of the most popular stars in the country.

  • 1954 – 10th most popular star (3rd most popular British star)<ref name="Wayne" />
  • 1955 – 6th most popular star (3rd most popular British star)<ref name="ReferenceA" />
  • 1956 – 5th biggest British star<ref>Template:Cite newspaper The Times</ref>
  • 1957 – 9th most popular star (5th most popular British star)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
  • 1958 – 7th most popular British star
  • 1959 – 3rd most popular British star<ref>Template:Cite newspaper The Times</ref>
  • 1963 – 10th most popular star<ref>Template:Cite newspaper The Times</ref>
  • 1966 – 5th most popular star<ref name="ReferenceB" />

Audio recordingsEdit

  • I Would Like to Put on Record
  • Jingle Jangle
  • The Very Best 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 Night They Raided Minsky's Motion Picture Soundtrack recording.
  • Follow a Star/Give Me a Night in June
  • Happy Ending/The Wisdom of a Fool
  • Big in Albania – One Hit Wonderland
  • They Didn't Believe Me

BooksEdit

  • Lucky Little Devil: Norman Wisdom on the Island He's Made His Home (2004)
  • Template:Cite book
  • Don't Laugh at Me, Cos I'm a Fool (1992) (two volumes of autobiography)
  • Trouble in Store (1991)

ReferencesEdit

Template:Reflist

External linksEdit

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