Acting · Marylebone, London, England · Born February 4, 1915
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.
MovieInnes Lloyd: The Producer
2025
as Self (archive footage)
The Unforgettable Norman Wisdom
2011
as Himself (archive footage)
MovieNorman Wisdom: His Story
2010
as Himself : Archive footage
MovieNorman Wisdom: Trouble On Tour
2008
as Self
MovieThe Legend of Harrow Woods
2008
as Winston
The Secret Life of Norman Wisdom Aged 92¾
2008
as Self
MovieExpresso
2007
as The Vicar (as Sir Norman Wisdom)
TVBetween The Sheets
2003
as Maurice Hardy
MovieThora Hird Tribute
2003
as Self
TVThe Last Detective
2003
as Lofty Brock
It's Only TV But I Like It
1999
as Self
MovieWhere on Earth Is Katy Manning?
1998
MovieAn Audience with Bruce Forsyth
1997
Style Challenge
1996
Cue Here for Laughs with John Virgo
1994
as Self
MovieDouble X: The Name of the Game
1992
as Arthur Clutton/Maurice Rigby
TVCasualty
1986
as Mr. Cole
The Golden Gong: The Story of Rank Films - British Cinema's Legendary Studio
1985
as Self
TVWogan
1982
as Self
TVBergerac
1981
as Vincent
MovieGoing Gently
1981
as Bernard Flood
TVAn Audience with...
1978
as Self
MovieTo See Such Fun
1977
TVA Little Bit of Wisdom
1974
as Norman Wisdom
TVPlayhouse
1974
as Bernard Flood
Nobody Is Norman Wisdom
1973
as Nobody
TVLast of the Summer Wine
1973
as Man Carrying Gnome (uncredited)
Norman
1970
MovieWhat's Good for the Goose
1969
as Timothy Bartlett
MovieThe Night They Raided Minsky's
1968
as Chick Williams
MovieAndrocles and the Lion
1967
as Androcles
MoviePress for Time
1966
as Norman Shields / Emily Shields / Wilfred, the Prime Minister
MovieThe Sandwich Man
1966
as Boxing Vicar
MovieThe Early Bird
1965
as Norman Pitkin
MovieA Stitch in Time
1963
as Norman Pitkin
MovieOn the Beat
1962
as Norman Pitkin / Giulio Napolitani
TVThe Merv Griffin Show
1962
as Self
MovieThe Girl on the Boat
1962
as Sam Marlowe
TVThe Mike Douglas Show
1961
as Self
MovieThe Bulldog Breed
1960
as Ordinary Seaman Norman Puckle
MovieThere Was a Crooked Man
1960
as Davy Cooper
MovieFollow a Star
1959
as Norman Truscott
Look at Life: A Dog's Life
1959
as Self
MovieThe Square Peg
1958
as Private Norman Pitkin / General Otto Schreiber
MovieJust My Luck
1957
as Norman Hackett / Mr. Hackett
MovieUp in the World
1956
as Norman
TVTony Awards
1956
as Self - Nominee / Performer
MovieMan of the Moment
1955
as Norman
TVThis Is Your Life
1955
MovieAs Long as They're Happy
1955
as Norman
MovieOne Good Turn
1955
as Norman
MovieTrouble in Store
1953
as Norman
MovieDate with a Dream
1948
as Shadow Boxer
