Norman Wisdom
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- Feb 4, 1915
- Died
- Oct 4, 2010 (aged 95)
- Place of birth
- Marylebone, London, England
- Credits
- 56
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
Five Children and It
2004Movie
Casualty
1986TV
Mr. Cole
Last of the Summer Wine
1973TV
Man Carrying Gnome (uncredited), Billy Ingleton
The Early Bird
1965Movie
Norman Pitkin
A Stitch in Time
1963Movie
Norman Pitkin
On the Beat
1962Movie
Norman Pitkin / Giulio Napolitani
Filmography
Innes Lloyd: The Producer
2025Movie
Self (archive footage)
The Unforgettable Norman Wisdom
2011Movie
Himself (archive footage)
Norman Wisdom: His Story
2010Movie
Himself : Archive footage
Norman Wisdom: Trouble On Tour
2008Movie
Self
The Legend of Harrow Woods
2008Movie
Winston
The Secret Life of Norman Wisdom Aged 92¾
2008Movie
Self
Expresso
2007Movie
The Vicar (as Sir Norman Wisdom)
Five Children and It
2004Movie
Between The Sheets
2003TV
Maurice Hardy
Thora Hird Tribute
2003Movie
Self
The Last Detective
2003TV
Lofty Brock
It's Only TV But I Like It
1999TV
Self
Where on Earth Is Katy Manning?
1998Movie
An Audience with Bruce Forsyth
1997Movie
Style Challenge
1996TV
Dalziel and Pascoe
1996TV
Bernie Marks
Cue Here for Laughs with John Virgo
1994Movie
Self
Double X: The Name of the Game
1992Movie
Arthur Clutton/Maurice Rigby
Casualty
1986TV
Mr. Cole
The Golden Gong: The Story of Rank Films - British Cinema's Legendary Studio
1985Movie
Self
Wogan
1982TV
Self
Bergerac
1981TV
Vincent
Going Gently
1981Movie
Bernard Flood
The South Bank Show
1978TV
An Audience with...
1978TV
Self
To See Such Fun
1977Movie
A Little Bit of Wisdom
1974TV
Norman Wisdom
Playhouse
1974TV
Bernard Flood
Nobody Is Norman Wisdom
1973TV
Nobody
Last of the Summer Wine
1973TV
Man Carrying Gnome (uncredited), Billy Ingleton
Norman
1970TV
What's Good for the Goose
1969Movie
Timothy Bartlett
The Night They Raided Minsky's
1968Movie
Chick Williams
Androcles and the Lion
1967Movie
Androcles
Press for Time
1966Movie
Norman Shields / Emily Shields / Wilfred, the Prime Minister
The Sandwich Man
1966Movie
Boxing Vicar
The Early Bird
1965Movie
Norman Pitkin
A Stitch in Time
1963Movie
Norman Pitkin
On the Beat
1962Movie
Norman Pitkin / Giulio Napolitani
The Merv Griffin Show
1962TV
Self
The Girl on the Boat
1962Movie
Sam Marlowe
The Mike Douglas Show
1961TV
Self
The Bulldog Breed
1960Movie
Ordinary Seaman Norman Puckle
There Was a Crooked Man
1960Movie
Davy Cooper
Follow a Star
1959Movie
Norman Truscott
Look at Life: A Dog's Life
1959Movie
Self
The Square Peg
1958Movie
Private Norman Pitkin / General Otto Schreiber
Just My Luck
1957Movie
Norman Hackett / Mr. Hackett
Up in the World
1956Movie
Norman
Tony Awards
1956TV
Self - Nominee / Performer
Man of the Moment
1955Movie
Norman
This Is Your Life
1955TV
As Long as They're Happy
1955Movie
Norman
One Good Turn
1955Movie
Norman
Trouble in Store
1953Movie
Norman
Date with a Dream
1948Movie
Shadow Boxer