Post by Sing on Oct 5, 2010 15:10:59 GMT
Sir Norman Wisdom, the beloved comic who spent a lifetime playing the fool, dies at 95
By Emily Sheridan and Paul Bentley
Last updated at 3:11 PM on 5th October 2010
Comments (360) Videos Add to My Stories
Huge star: Sir Norman as 'Pitkin' in the 1955 film One Good Turn. The comedian's movies were more popular than James Bond
Sir Norman Wisdom died last night at the age of 95.
The star, who was one of the country’s best-loved comedians, had been in very ill health in the days before his death at an Isle of Man nursing home.
In a statement, his family said: ‘Over the past six months Norman has sustained a series of strokes causing a general decline in both his physical and mental health.
‘He had maintained a degree of independence until a few days ago. However, over the last few days his condition rapidly declined. He was in no pain or distress and peacefully passed over.’
Sir Norman retired in 1990 after a career that spanned six decades and won him global fame.
He discovered his talent for comedy while serving in the Merchant Navy and later the Army.
After seeing one of his performances, the actor Rex Harrison advised him: ‘If you don’t become a professional comedian when you’re back in civvy street, you’re mad.’
Five-foot tall Sir Norman took the advice to heart and, in December 1945, persuaded the manager of Collins Music Hall in Islington, North London, to give him break as a performer. He was billed as Norman Wisdom, The Successful Failure.
Over the next few years he developed his hallmark character, The Gump – an innocent, enthusiastic, but hapless little man always anxious to help.
‘I began to play it up, laying on the pathos to see how far I could stretch it,’ he once said. ‘I felt I had hit upon a unique image.’
His first film for Rank, Trouble In Store, was an instant hit in 1953 and launched the song that would become his theme tune: Don’t Laugh At Me, which made number one in the charts.
The movie, in which his window-dressing ambitions spark chaos in a department store, set the template for the films that followed.
Comedy classic: Sir Norman in the smash-hit film, The Square Peg, with actor Edward Chapman as Mr Grimsdale, the character who was the subject of his famous catchphrase
Sir Norman always played the 'clown', the clumsy underdog in turned-up cap and ill-fitting suit battling against adversity.
In titles like The Early Bird, The Square Peg and A Stitch In Time, he worked for his nemesis Mr Grimsdale, sparking the catchphrase 'Ooo, Mr Grimsdale!'.
Between 1955 and 1966, Sir Norman beat Sean Connery's James Bond to become Britain's biggest box office draw.
Gump was Sir Norman's own word for his accident-prone fool character, often called Norman Pitkin.
Charlie Chaplin called the diminutive star his favourite clown and Sir Norman was seen as the natural heir to entertainer George Formby.
Sir Norman summed up his appeal: 'My comedy is for children from three to 93. You do need a slightly childish sense of humour and if you haven't got that, it's very sad.'
Sir Norman Wisdom applauds the Queen during her visit to the Isle of Man in 2003. Wisdom broke with Royal protocol by grabbing the arm of the Queen as she walked away from him during the visit. Right, Wisdom with Hollywood star Bob Hope at the Palladium in London's West End in 1954
Sir Norman with his second wife Freda at London Airport in 1955. The couple divorced in 1969
His little man against the world films peaked commercially with A Stitch In Time in 1963, where he unleashes chaos in a hospital.
He also branched out, away from his traditional formula, in films like There Was A Crooked Man (1960) and The Girl On The Boat (1961), based on the PG Wodehouse story.
Sir Norman wowed Broadway in the 1960s and was brought to the attention of Hollywood, where he made The Night They Raided Minsky's (1968), starring Britt Ekland.
In the early 1970s, Sir Norman's star was beginning to wane. He made a number of sitcoms like Norman, Nobody Is Norman Wisdom and A Little Bit Of Wisdom.
Sir Norman won critical acclaim for his non-comic role as a cancer patient in the TV play Going Gently (1981), directed by Stephen Frears.
In later years, Sir Norman's roles were one-off appearances in TV dramas ranging from Coronation Street to Last Of The Summer Wine.
Screen star: Wisdom (right) in 1965 film The Early Bird with Paddie O'Neil and Edward Chapman
Family man: Wisdom, pictured in 1987, brought up his children Nicholas and Jacqueline alone after splitting up from their mother Freda
Sir Norman's last film appearance was in 2007, when the comedy legend came out of retirement to appear in short film Expresso - doing a comic turn as a vicar being plagued by a fly.
He moved to the Isle of Man in 1980 but kept on touring. A dedicated charity worker, he was knighted in 2000.
Moments after receiving the honour from the Queen for his services to comedy, Sir Norman completed one of his trademark stumbles. The Queen threw her head back and laughed.
Bizarrely, he was a big name in Albania. The diminutive actor became a national institution in the European country by accident, during the brutal communist dictatorship of Enver Hoxha.
His films, like A Stitch In Time and Trouble In Store, were the only Western movies allowed to be broadcast at the time.
Stalinist ruler Hoxha deemed that Sir Norman’s films, in which his alter-ego Pitkin got the better of his bosses, were a Communist parable on class war.
Albanians just found Sir Norman’s brand of slapstick comedy hilarious.
Norman Wisdom outside his Isle of Man home with his Rolls-Royce and BMW motorbike in 1983
Sir Norman with some Albanian policemen when England travelled to the former communist country to play a World Cup qualifier
The country’s love affair with the British comic continued long after the fall of Hoxha.
In 1995, the British performer visited the post-Stalinist country and to his immense surprise was greeted by hundreds of fans.
They included the then leader of the country, Sali Berisha.
A more recent visit happened to coincide with a trip to the country by the England football team.
Sir Norman visited the stadium where England were due to play Albania, and found his popularity, at the age of 86, had eclipsed that of David Beckham, who was training at the pitch at the same time.
Sir Norman’s routine, which included his trademark move of tripping himself up, went down a storm with spectators at the stadium.
Sir Norman Wisdom entertains the crowd in Tirana during half time at the World Cup game in March 2001. He wore a strip that was half Albania and half England
Arise Sir Norman: The comedian, who died yesterday, was knighted by the Queen at Buckingham Palace in June 2000. Left, with England star David Beckham
He joked at the time: 'You see, I’m still big over here. Not anywhere else, but over here.
'I don’t know why I’m so popular here. They must be raving mad.'
Wisdom put his appeal in Albania down to an absence of sex, violence and crime in his films.
The country was plunged into mourning when it was announced that the actor would be retiring.
Sir Norman is also well known for his charity work in Albania, which included supporting and visiting orphanages.
Johnny Mans, Sir Norman’s agent for more than 30 years, said: ‘I thought he’d go on until he was at least 100 and get his telegram from the Queen. He loved the public and the public loved him. He was never, ever big-headed.’
His private life never entirely lost the sadness that had haunted it from the start when his Londoner parents abandoned him.
Married as a young bandsman in 1939, his first wife left him after only a few months. Then in 1946 he married chorus girl Freda Simpson, with whom he had a son Nicholas and a daughter Jacqueline.
But in 1968, while he was starring on Broadway, Freda left him for another man - ‘taller, darker and more handsome,’ he bitterly observed. He never remarried but won custody of their children.
'We mourn together with the Wisdom family, friends and fans': Albanian prime minister's tribute to British comedy legend
Tribute: Sir Norman Wisdom, who has died at the age of 95
Albania's Prime Minister Sali Berisha today sent a message of condolence to the bereaved family of the late Sir Norman Wisdom and praised him for his comedy talent.
Mr Berisha wrote: 'I was deeply saddened to hear about the death of one of the greatest actors of the world comedy, but even a particularly favorite actor of the Albanian audiences and one of the dearest friends of our nation, Sir Norman Wisdom.
'The late Sir Norman Wisdom will always be in our memory for his exceptional talent being promoted into a myth of the time he lived; he used to be the darling of the art lovers worldwide who held him in high esteem.
'Sir Norman Wisdom, who was famous among the Albanians as Norman Pitkin, visited twice Albania following the fall of the Iron Curtain.
'He used to be a cult figure in Albania and the Albanian public welcomed him as such. And this happened even because of the fact that his were the only films from the West allowed in the country under the censorship of the harsh dictatorship.
'The Albanians followed his entertaining comedies with great interest. But, on the other hand even the Albanians occupied a special place in the heart of this great actor and he would even dedicate the "Big in Albania" song to them.
'Hence, today the Albanians share in the mourning together with the Wisdom family, the friends and fans of their most beloved entertainer worldwide.
'On behalf of the government of Albania I would like to express heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and his friends, the government of Her Majesty, for the legend, comic actor Norman Wisdom passing away. Let us pray for his soul finds eternal peace.'
Read more: www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1317750/Sir-Norman-Wisdom-beloved-comic-dies-95.html#ixzz11Uu39URU
......Although I normally wouldn't choose to watch this type of film...as they seem a little old for me... i'm glad that my parents introduced me to him, but that's all I really know about him.
,...I really enjoy watching his films now...always make me laugh...and show just how talented he was
R.I.P... Norman Wisdom
best wishes
Sing
By Emily Sheridan and Paul Bentley
Last updated at 3:11 PM on 5th October 2010
Comments (360) Videos Add to My Stories
Huge star: Sir Norman as 'Pitkin' in the 1955 film One Good Turn. The comedian's movies were more popular than James Bond
Sir Norman Wisdom died last night at the age of 95.
The star, who was one of the country’s best-loved comedians, had been in very ill health in the days before his death at an Isle of Man nursing home.
In a statement, his family said: ‘Over the past six months Norman has sustained a series of strokes causing a general decline in both his physical and mental health.
‘He had maintained a degree of independence until a few days ago. However, over the last few days his condition rapidly declined. He was in no pain or distress and peacefully passed over.’
Sir Norman retired in 1990 after a career that spanned six decades and won him global fame.
He discovered his talent for comedy while serving in the Merchant Navy and later the Army.
After seeing one of his performances, the actor Rex Harrison advised him: ‘If you don’t become a professional comedian when you’re back in civvy street, you’re mad.’
Five-foot tall Sir Norman took the advice to heart and, in December 1945, persuaded the manager of Collins Music Hall in Islington, North London, to give him break as a performer. He was billed as Norman Wisdom, The Successful Failure.
Over the next few years he developed his hallmark character, The Gump – an innocent, enthusiastic, but hapless little man always anxious to help.
‘I began to play it up, laying on the pathos to see how far I could stretch it,’ he once said. ‘I felt I had hit upon a unique image.’
His first film for Rank, Trouble In Store, was an instant hit in 1953 and launched the song that would become his theme tune: Don’t Laugh At Me, which made number one in the charts.
The movie, in which his window-dressing ambitions spark chaos in a department store, set the template for the films that followed.
Comedy classic: Sir Norman in the smash-hit film, The Square Peg, with actor Edward Chapman as Mr Grimsdale, the character who was the subject of his famous catchphrase
Sir Norman always played the 'clown', the clumsy underdog in turned-up cap and ill-fitting suit battling against adversity.
In titles like The Early Bird, The Square Peg and A Stitch In Time, he worked for his nemesis Mr Grimsdale, sparking the catchphrase 'Ooo, Mr Grimsdale!'.
Between 1955 and 1966, Sir Norman beat Sean Connery's James Bond to become Britain's biggest box office draw.
Gump was Sir Norman's own word for his accident-prone fool character, often called Norman Pitkin.
Charlie Chaplin called the diminutive star his favourite clown and Sir Norman was seen as the natural heir to entertainer George Formby.
Sir Norman summed up his appeal: 'My comedy is for children from three to 93. You do need a slightly childish sense of humour and if you haven't got that, it's very sad.'
Sir Norman Wisdom applauds the Queen during her visit to the Isle of Man in 2003. Wisdom broke with Royal protocol by grabbing the arm of the Queen as she walked away from him during the visit. Right, Wisdom with Hollywood star Bob Hope at the Palladium in London's West End in 1954
Sir Norman with his second wife Freda at London Airport in 1955. The couple divorced in 1969
His little man against the world films peaked commercially with A Stitch In Time in 1963, where he unleashes chaos in a hospital.
He also branched out, away from his traditional formula, in films like There Was A Crooked Man (1960) and The Girl On The Boat (1961), based on the PG Wodehouse story.
Sir Norman wowed Broadway in the 1960s and was brought to the attention of Hollywood, where he made The Night They Raided Minsky's (1968), starring Britt Ekland.
In the early 1970s, Sir Norman's star was beginning to wane. He made a number of sitcoms like Norman, Nobody Is Norman Wisdom and A Little Bit Of Wisdom.
Sir Norman won critical acclaim for his non-comic role as a cancer patient in the TV play Going Gently (1981), directed by Stephen Frears.
In later years, Sir Norman's roles were one-off appearances in TV dramas ranging from Coronation Street to Last Of The Summer Wine.
Screen star: Wisdom (right) in 1965 film The Early Bird with Paddie O'Neil and Edward Chapman
Family man: Wisdom, pictured in 1987, brought up his children Nicholas and Jacqueline alone after splitting up from their mother Freda
Sir Norman's last film appearance was in 2007, when the comedy legend came out of retirement to appear in short film Expresso - doing a comic turn as a vicar being plagued by a fly.
He moved to the Isle of Man in 1980 but kept on touring. A dedicated charity worker, he was knighted in 2000.
Moments after receiving the honour from the Queen for his services to comedy, Sir Norman completed one of his trademark stumbles. The Queen threw her head back and laughed.
Bizarrely, he was a big name in Albania. The diminutive actor became a national institution in the European country by accident, during the brutal communist dictatorship of Enver Hoxha.
His films, like A Stitch In Time and Trouble In Store, were the only Western movies allowed to be broadcast at the time.
Stalinist ruler Hoxha deemed that Sir Norman’s films, in which his alter-ego Pitkin got the better of his bosses, were a Communist parable on class war.
Albanians just found Sir Norman’s brand of slapstick comedy hilarious.
Norman Wisdom outside his Isle of Man home with his Rolls-Royce and BMW motorbike in 1983
Sir Norman with some Albanian policemen when England travelled to the former communist country to play a World Cup qualifier
The country’s love affair with the British comic continued long after the fall of Hoxha.
In 1995, the British performer visited the post-Stalinist country and to his immense surprise was greeted by hundreds of fans.
They included the then leader of the country, Sali Berisha.
A more recent visit happened to coincide with a trip to the country by the England football team.
Sir Norman visited the stadium where England were due to play Albania, and found his popularity, at the age of 86, had eclipsed that of David Beckham, who was training at the pitch at the same time.
Sir Norman’s routine, which included his trademark move of tripping himself up, went down a storm with spectators at the stadium.
Sir Norman Wisdom entertains the crowd in Tirana during half time at the World Cup game in March 2001. He wore a strip that was half Albania and half England
Arise Sir Norman: The comedian, who died yesterday, was knighted by the Queen at Buckingham Palace in June 2000. Left, with England star David Beckham
He joked at the time: 'You see, I’m still big over here. Not anywhere else, but over here.
'I don’t know why I’m so popular here. They must be raving mad.'
Wisdom put his appeal in Albania down to an absence of sex, violence and crime in his films.
The country was plunged into mourning when it was announced that the actor would be retiring.
Sir Norman is also well known for his charity work in Albania, which included supporting and visiting orphanages.
Johnny Mans, Sir Norman’s agent for more than 30 years, said: ‘I thought he’d go on until he was at least 100 and get his telegram from the Queen. He loved the public and the public loved him. He was never, ever big-headed.’
His private life never entirely lost the sadness that had haunted it from the start when his Londoner parents abandoned him.
Married as a young bandsman in 1939, his first wife left him after only a few months. Then in 1946 he married chorus girl Freda Simpson, with whom he had a son Nicholas and a daughter Jacqueline.
But in 1968, while he was starring on Broadway, Freda left him for another man - ‘taller, darker and more handsome,’ he bitterly observed. He never remarried but won custody of their children.
'We mourn together with the Wisdom family, friends and fans': Albanian prime minister's tribute to British comedy legend
Tribute: Sir Norman Wisdom, who has died at the age of 95
Albania's Prime Minister Sali Berisha today sent a message of condolence to the bereaved family of the late Sir Norman Wisdom and praised him for his comedy talent.
Mr Berisha wrote: 'I was deeply saddened to hear about the death of one of the greatest actors of the world comedy, but even a particularly favorite actor of the Albanian audiences and one of the dearest friends of our nation, Sir Norman Wisdom.
'The late Sir Norman Wisdom will always be in our memory for his exceptional talent being promoted into a myth of the time he lived; he used to be the darling of the art lovers worldwide who held him in high esteem.
'Sir Norman Wisdom, who was famous among the Albanians as Norman Pitkin, visited twice Albania following the fall of the Iron Curtain.
'He used to be a cult figure in Albania and the Albanian public welcomed him as such. And this happened even because of the fact that his were the only films from the West allowed in the country under the censorship of the harsh dictatorship.
'The Albanians followed his entertaining comedies with great interest. But, on the other hand even the Albanians occupied a special place in the heart of this great actor and he would even dedicate the "Big in Albania" song to them.
'Hence, today the Albanians share in the mourning together with the Wisdom family, the friends and fans of their most beloved entertainer worldwide.
'On behalf of the government of Albania I would like to express heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and his friends, the government of Her Majesty, for the legend, comic actor Norman Wisdom passing away. Let us pray for his soul finds eternal peace.'
Read more: www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1317750/Sir-Norman-Wisdom-beloved-comic-dies-95.html#ixzz11Uu39URU
......Although I normally wouldn't choose to watch this type of film...as they seem a little old for me... i'm glad that my parents introduced me to him, but that's all I really know about him.
,...I really enjoy watching his films now...always make me laugh...and show just how talented he was
R.I.P... Norman Wisdom
best wishes
Sing
