Norman Wisdom
Known for: Acting
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
Series
The Mike Douglas Show
Self
1961
Series
The Merv Griffin Show
Self
1962
Series
Casualty
Mr. Cole
1986
Series
The South Bank Show
1978
Series
Tony Awards
Self - Nominee / Performer
1956
Series
Wogan
Self
1982
Series
Playhouse
Bernard Flood
1974
Series
Last of the Summer Wine
Man Carrying Gnome (uncredited)
1973
Series
Last of the Summer Wine
Billy Ingleton
1973
Series
Bergerac
Vincent
1981
Series
An Audience with...
Self
1978
Series
Dalziel and Pascoe
Bernie Marks
1996
Series
This Is Your Life
1955
Style Challenge
1996
Series
The Last Detective
Lofty Brock
2003
It's Only TV But I Like It
Self
1999
Film
Five Children and It
2004
Series
Between The Sheets
Maurice Hardy
2003
Series
A Little Bit of Wisdom
Norman Wisdom
1974
The Golden Gong: The Story of Rank Films - British Cinema's Legendary Studio
Self
1985
Film
Androcles and the Lion
Androcles
1967
Nobody Is Norman Wisdom
Nobody
1973
Film
Man of the Moment
Norman
1955
Film
The Night They Raided Minsky's
Chick Williams
1968
Film
A Stitch in Time
Norman Pitkin
1963
Film
The Sandwich Man
Boxing Vicar
1966
Film
One Good Turn
Norman
1955
Film
As Long as They're Happy
Norman
1955
Film
The Girl on the Boat
Sam Marlowe
1962
Film
Up in the World
Norman
1956
Film
There Was a Crooked Man
Davy Cooper
1960
Film
Expresso
The Vicar (as Sir Norman Wisdom)
2007
Film
Where on Earth Is Katy Manning?
1998
Film
Going Gently
Bernard Flood
1981
Film
Innes Lloyd: The Producer
Self (archive footage)
2025
Film
To See Such Fun
1977
Film
The Bulldog Breed
Ordinary Seaman Norman Puckle
1960
Film
Double X: The Name of the Game
Arthur Clutton/Maurice Rigby
1992
Film
The Early Bird
Norman Pitkin
1965
Film
The Legend of Harrow Woods
Winston
2008
Film
The Square Peg
Private Norman Pitkin / General Otto Schreiber
1958
Film
Press for Time
Norman Shields / Emily Shields / Wilfred, the Prime Minister
1966
Film
On the Beat
Norman Pitkin / Giulio Napolitani
1962
Norman
1970
Film
An Audience with Bruce Forsyth
1997
Film
What's Good for the Goose
Timothy Bartlett
1969
Film
Trouble in Store
Norman
1953
Film
Follow a Star
Norman Truscott
1959
Film
Date with a Dream
Shadow Boxer
1948
Cue Here for Laughs with John Virgo
Self
1994
Film
Thora Hird Tribute
Self
2003
The Unforgettable Norman Wisdom
Himself (archive footage)
2011
Film
Norman Wisdom: His Story
Himself : Archive footage
2010
Film
Just My Luck
Norman Hackett / Mr. Hackett
1957
The Secret Life of Norman Wisdom Aged 92¾
Self
2008
Film
Norman Wisdom: Trouble On Tour
Self
2008
Film
Look at Life: A Dog's Life
Self
1959