Norman Wisdom

Biography

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.

Known For

The Mike Douglas Show

Casualty

Tony Awards

The Merv Griffin Show

Bergerac

Last of the Summer Wine

Last of the Summer Wine

Wogan

All Movies (36)

• Innes Lloyd: The Producer2025 · as Self (archive footage)
• The Unforgettable Norman Wisdom2011 · as Himself (archive footage)
• Norman Wisdom: His Story2010 · as Himself : Archive footage
• Norman Wisdom: Trouble On Tour2008 · as Self
• The Legend of Harrow Woods2008 · as Winston
• The Secret Life of Norman Wisdom Aged 92¾2008 · as Self
• Expresso2007 · as The Vicar (as Sir Norman Wisdom)
• Thora Hird Tribute2003 · as Self
• Where on Earth Is Katy Manning?1998
• An Audience with Bruce Forsyth1997
• Cue Here for Laughs with John Virgo1994 · as Self
• Double X: The Name of the Game1992 · as Arthur Clutton/Maurice Rigby
• The Golden Gong: The Story of Rank Films - British Cinema's Legendary Studio1985 · as Self
• Going Gently1981 · as Bernard Flood
• To See Such Fun1977
• What's Good for the Goose1969 · as Timothy Bartlett
• The Night They Raided Minsky's1968 · as Chick Williams
• Androcles and the Lion1967 · as Androcles
• Press for Time1966 · as Norman Shields / Emily Shields / Wilfred, the Prime Minister
• The Sandwich Man1966 · as Boxing Vicar
• The Early Bird1965 · as Norman Pitkin
• A Stitch in Time1963 · as Norman Pitkin
• On the Beat1962 · as Norman Pitkin / Giulio Napolitani
• The Girl on the Boat1962 · as Sam Marlowe
• The Bulldog Breed1960 · as Ordinary Seaman Norman Puckle
• There Was a Crooked Man1960 · as Davy Cooper
• Follow a Star1959 · as Norman Truscott
• Look at Life: A Dog's Life1959 · as Self
• The Square Peg1958 · as Private Norman Pitkin / General Otto Schreiber
• Just My Luck1957 · as Norman Hackett / Mr. Hackett
• Up in the World1956 · as Norman
• Man of the Moment1955 · as Norman
• As Long as They're Happy1955 · as Norman
• One Good Turn1955 · as Norman
• Trouble in Store1953 · as Norman
• Date with a Dream1948 · as Shadow Boxer

All TV Shows (18)

• Between The Sheets2003 · as Maurice Hardy
• The Last Detective2003 · as Lofty Brock
• It's Only TV But I Like It1999 · as Self
• Style Challenge1996
• Casualty1986 · as Mr. Cole
• Wogan1982 · as Self
• Bergerac1981 · as Vincent
• An Audience with...1978 · as Self
• A Little Bit Of Wisdom1974 · as Norman
• Playhouse1974 · as Bernard Flood
• Nobody Is Norman Wisdom1973 · as Nobody
• Last of the Summer Wine1973 · as Man Carrying Gnome (uncredited)
• Last of the Summer Wine1973 · as Billy Ingleton
• Norman1970
• The Merv Griffin Show1962 · as Self
• The Mike Douglas Show1961 · as Self
• Tony Awards1956 · as Self - Nominee / Performer
• This Is Your Life1955