Norman Wisdom
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.
Known for
Acting53
movieInnes Lloyd: The Producer
2025
Self (archive footage)
The Unforgettable Norman Wisdom
2011
Himself (archive footage)
movieNorman Wisdom: His Story
2010
Himself : Archive footage
movieExpresso
2007
The Vicar (as Sir Norman Wisdom)
tvBetween The Sheets
2003
Maurice Hardy
tvThe Last Detective
2003
Lofty Brock
movieDouble X: The Name of the Game
1992
Arthur Clutton/Maurice Rigby
tvCasualty
1986
Mr. Cole
tvWogan
1982
Self
tvBergerac
1981
Vincent
movieGoing Gently
1981
Bernard Flood
tvA Little Bit of Wisdom
1974
Norman Wisdom
tvPlayhouse
1974
Bernard Flood
tvLast of the Summer Wine
1973
Man Carrying Gnome (uncredited) / Billy Ingleton
movieWhat's Good for the Goose
1969
Timothy Bartlett
movieThe Night They Raided Minsky's
1968
Chick Williams
movieAndrocles and the Lion
1967
Androcles
moviePress for Time
1966
Norman Shields / Emily Shields / Wilfred, the Prime Minister
movieThe Sandwich Man
1966
Boxing Vicar
movieThe Early Bird
1965
Norman Pitkin
movieA Stitch in Time
1963
Norman Pitkin
movieOn the Beat
1962
Norman Pitkin / Giulio Napolitani
movieThe Girl on the Boat
1962
Sam Marlowe
movieThe Bulldog Breed
1960
Ordinary Seaman Norman Puckle
movieThere Was a Crooked Man
1960
Davy Cooper
movieFollow a Star
1959
Norman Truscott
movieThe Square Peg
1958
Private Norman Pitkin / General Otto Schreiber
movieJust My Luck
1957
Norman Hackett / Mr. Hackett
movieUp in the World
1956
Norman
tvTony Awards
1956
Self - Nominee / Performer
movieOne Good Turn
1955
Norman
movieDate with a Dream
1948
Shadow Boxer
Writing6
moviePress for Time
1966
Screenplay
movieOn the Beat
1962
Screenplay
movieThe Bulldog Breed
1960
Screenplay
movieFollow a Star
1959
Screenplay
movieThe Square Peg
1958
Screenplay