Acting
Norman Wisdom
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
Innes Lloyd: The Producer
Film · 2025
The Unforgettable Norman Wisdom
Film · 2011
Norman Wisdom: His Story
Film · 2010
Norman Wisdom: Trouble On Tour
Film · 2008
The Legend of Harrow Woods
Film · 2008
The Secret Life of Norman Wisdom Aged 92¾
Film · 2008
Expresso
Film · 2007
Five Children and It
Film · 2004
Thora Hird Tribute
Film · 2003
Between The Sheets
Series · 2003
The Last Detective
Series · 2003
It's Only TV But I Like It
Series · 1999
Where on Earth Is Katy Manning?
Film · 1998
An Audience with Bruce Forsyth
Film · 1997
Style Challenge
Series · 1996
Dalziel and Pascoe
Series · 1996
Cue Here for Laughs with John Virgo
Film · 1994
Double X: The Name of the Game
Film · 1992
Casualty
Series · 1986
The Golden Gong: The Story of Rank Films - British Cinema's Legendary Studio
Film · 1985
Wogan
Series · 1982
Going Gently
Film · 1981
Bergerac
Series · 1981
An Audience with...
Series · 1978
The South Bank Show
Series · 1978
To See Such Fun
Film · 1977
Playhouse
Series · 1974
A Little Bit of Wisdom
Series · 1974
Nobody Is Norman Wisdom
Series · 1973
Last of the Summer Wine
Series · 1973
Last of the Summer Wine
Series · 1973
Norman
Series · 1970
What's Good for the Goose
Film · 1969
The Night They Raided Minsky's
Film · 1968
Androcles and the Lion
Film · 1967
Press for Time
Film · 1966
The Sandwich Man
Film · 1966
The Early Bird
Film · 1965
A Stitch in Time
Film · 1963
On the Beat
Film · 1962
The Girl on the Boat
Film · 1962
The Merv Griffin Show
Series · 1962
The Mike Douglas Show
Series · 1961
The Bulldog Breed
Film · 1960
There Was a Crooked Man
Film · 1960
Follow a Star
Film · 1959
Look at Life: A Dog's Life
Film · 1959
The Square Peg
Film · 1958
Just My Luck
Film · 1957
Up in the World
Film · 1956
Tony Awards
Series · 1956
Man of the Moment
Film · 1955
One Good Turn
Film · 1955
As Long As They're Happy
Film · 1955
This Is Your Life
Series · 1955
Trouble in Store
Film · 1953
Date with a Dream
Film · 1948