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Norman Wisdom

Norman Wisdom

​From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  

Sir Norman Joseph Wisdom,  OBE  (4 February 1915 – 4 October 2010) 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.

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The Unforgettable Norman Wisdom

The Unforgettable Norman Wisdom

2011

as Himself (archive footage)

Norman Wisdom: His Story

Norman Wisdom: His Story

2010

as Himself : Archive footage

Norman Wisdom: Trouble On Tour

Norman Wisdom: Trouble On Tour

2008

as Self

The Legend of Harrow Woods

The Legend of Harrow Woods

2008

The Secret Life of Norman Wisdom Aged 92¾

The Secret Life of Norman Wisdom Aged 92¾

2008

as Self

Between The Sheets

Between The Sheets

2003

as Maurice Hardy

The Last Detective

The Last Detective

2003

as Lofty Brock

It's Only TV But I Like It

It's Only TV But I Like It

1999

as Self

Where on Earth Is Katy Manning?

Where on Earth Is Katy Manning?

1998

An Audience with Bruce Forsyth

An Audience with Bruce Forsyth

1997

Style Challenge

Style Challenge

1996

Dalziel & Pascoe

Dalziel & Pascoe

1996

Double X: The Name of the Game

Double X: The Name of the Game

1992

as Arthur Clutton/Maurice Rigby

Casualty

Casualty

1986

as Mr. Cole

The Golden Gong: The Story of Rank Films - British Cinema's Legendary Studio

The Golden Gong: The Story of Rank Films - British Cinema's Legendary Studio

1985

as Self

Bergerac

Bergerac

1981

as Vincent

Going Gently

Going Gently

1981

as Bernard Flood

To See Such Fun

To See Such Fun

1977

A Little Bit Of Wisdom

A Little Bit Of Wisdom

1974

as Norman

Playhouse

Playhouse

1974

Nobody Is Norman Wisdom

Nobody Is Norman Wisdom

1973

Last of the Summer Wine

Last of the Summer Wine

1973

as Man Carrying Gnome (uncredited)

Last of the Summer Wine

Last of the Summer Wine

1973

as Billy Ingleton

Last of the Summer Wine

Last of the Summer Wine

1973

as Himself

Norman

Norman

1970

What's Good for the Goose

What's Good for the Goose

1969

as Timothy Bartlett

The Night They Raided Minsky's

The Night They Raided Minsky's

1968

as Chick Williams

Androcles and the Lion

Androcles and the Lion

1967

as Androcles

The Sandwich Man

The Sandwich Man

1966

as Boxing Vicar

Press for Time

Press for Time

1966

as Norman Sheilds

The Early Bird

The Early Bird

1965

as Norman Pitkin

A Stitch in Time

A Stitch in Time

1963

as Norman Pitkin

On the Beat

On the Beat

1962

as Norman Pitkin

The Girl on the Boat

The Girl on the Boat

1962

as Sam Marlowe

The Bulldog Breed

The Bulldog Breed

1960

as Norman

There Was a Crooked Man

There Was a Crooked Man

1960

as Davy Cooper

Follow a Star

Follow a Star

1959

as Norman Truscott

The Square Peg

The Square Peg

1958

as Norman Pitkin / General Schreiber

Just My Luck

Just My Luck

1957

as Norman Hackett

Up in the World

Up in the World

1956

as Norman

Tony Awards

Tony Awards

1956

as Self - Nominee / Performer

This Is Your Life

This Is Your Life

1955

As Long as They're Happy

As Long as They're Happy

1955

as Norman

One Good Turn

One Good Turn

1955

as Norman

Man of the Moment

Man of the Moment

1955

as Norman

Trouble in Store

Trouble in Store

1953

as Norman

Date With a Dream

Date With a Dream

1948

as Shadow Boxer