Norman Wisdom
Sir Norman Wisdom OBE ( born February 4, 1915 in London, † October 4, 2010 on the Isle of Man) was a British actor who in the second half of the 20th century came primarily through his slapstick exemplary occurrence of great popularity.
Career
Wisdom was born as the second son of Frederick, a chauffeur, and the seamstress Maude Wisdom in the British capital. Maude left the family when Norman was 9 years old. He then came to an orphanage after his father had driven away. In order to secure a livelihood, he left in 1928 with 13 school to work in countless odd jobs, including as a buddy in coal mining, waiters, Page and elevator operator. He then joined the army, where, however, he deserted after only one year and hired as a cabin boy on a cargo ship. However, the time in the army also had its good side, because here he discovered his characterized by facial expressions and gestures comedic skills, which reminded of the body language and dominance ago to Charlie Chaplin.
After another odd jobs and recovering from the Second World War, Wisdom then tried as an actor. First, go to theaters, he came in 1948 for the film, which he should remain true for a long time. Its heyday was Wisdom in the 1950s and 1960s in British film comedies with him in the lead role. For these films, he created the fictional character " Norman " - usually called " Norman Pitkean " - which became his best known part and also his trademark over the coming years.
" Norman " is a laborer and a member of the middle class, mostly childishly naive and clumsy, relatively small, but with great craving. " Norman " always wore an ill-fitting suit with high water trousers, crumpled collar, tie and slate- gray tweed cap. As a " Norman " Wisdom could fully exploit his slapstick skills by almost constantly stumbled in the movies, fell down or bumped into doors and walls. " Norman " also grinned getting weird one-sided in his films and had the peculiarity of always and permanently break in sustained laughter before he could bring a joke to end. In addition, during sticky situations his exclamation "Mr Grimsdale! " With which he called for his (mostly by actor Edward Chapman embodied ) boss. The first Norman - film was " hustle and bustle in the department store " from 1953, the most successful " The big bottle " (1965) and " Blind Luck " (1966).
After the end of the series it was quiet around Wisdom, he stepped over the coming decades only sporadically in British television productions and devoted himself instead to the theater again. Into old age, he retained his acrobatic skills and stepped far after his 80th birthday from 1996 with a one -man show on, in which he presented shows and skits framed by his famous - have become stumbling and falling deposits. The program, he joined always with the song "Do not laugh at me (cause I'm a fool ) ". This piece has Wisdom written in 1953 for " hustle and bustle in the department store " itself, and it was during the time of his signature tune.
He had the end of 2004 in the Christmas special of the series " Last of the Summer Wine" His last television appearance. On the occasion of his 90th birthday ( 4 February 2005) announced Wisdom to completely retire from show business, what he has except for two small guest roles in productions also observed. He lived most recently retired to the Isle of Man, where he, at the age of 95 years, passed away in early October 2010.
Wisdom was married from October 1947 until the divorce in 1969 with the British Freda Simpson. From the relationship, the children were Nicholas (* 1953) and Jacqueline (born 1954 ) produced.
Awards
Trivia
- His motto is: "I can never tell a joke, I've always found it Easier to just fall over. " ( "I can not tell jokes, I always found it easier to fall down. " )
- Norman Wisdom is the most popular and most famous comedian in Albania until today. This is due to that the " Norman " movies were the only western strip until the fall of communism, which could be displayed in the fact. The former Albanian dictator Enver Hoxha saw in the presentation of " Norman " as a little clumsy proletarians at odds with his opponents a parable of the working class struggle against capitalism. When the Iron Curtain finally fell, Wisdom had become with his physical comedy into a crowd favorite among the population. He briefly toured on the country and engaged since for support and charity projects for Albanian children.
- Although Wisdom until recently lived on the Isle of Man, he had decided to continue to pay his taxes by the British tax rates, instead of Man to the tariffs of the Isle of Man.
- The former British Prime Minister John Major was one day called the " Norman Wisdom of Western democracy ".
- The official address of his fan club is: Norman Wisdom Official Fan Club Real publicity 115 Ranworth Avenue, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, EN11 9NS, England, UK.
- The post of Grenada has launched in November 2002, a set of six stamps, which were dedicated to Norman Wisdom. On them the comedian is depicted in his signature role as " Norman Pitkean ".