Norman Wisdom
Known for Acting · 53 credits
- Born
- 1915-02-04
- Died
- 2010-10-04
- Place of birth
- Marylebone, London, England
- Also known as
- Норман Уисдом
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
TV Shows (17)
The Mike Douglas Show
1961
as Self
This Is Your Life
1955
Casualty
1986
as Mr. Cole
The Merv Griffin Show
1962
as Self
Wogan
1982
as Self
Tony Awards
1956
as Self - Nominee / Performer
Last of the Summer Wine
1973
as Man Carrying Gnome (uncredited) / Billy Ingleton
Playhouse
1974
as Bernard Flood
Style Challenge
1996
Bergerac
1981
as Vincent
An Audience with...
1978
as Self
The Last Detective
2003
as Lofty Brock
It's Only TV But I Like It
1999
as Self
Nobody Is Norman Wisdom
1973
as Nobody
A Little Bit of Wisdom
1974
as Norman Wisdom
Between The Sheets
2003
as Maurice Hardy
Norman
1970
Movies (36)
Going Gently
1981
as Bernard Flood
Expresso
2007
as The Vicar (as Sir Norman Wisdom)
One Good Turn
1955
as Norman
Innes Lloyd: The Producer
2025
as Self (archive footage)
The Girl on the Boat
1962
as Sam Marlowe
The Sandwich Man
1966
as Boxing Vicar
The Night They Raided Minsky's
1968
as Chick Williams
Press for Time
1966
as Norman Shields / Emily Shields / Wilfred, the Prime Minister
The Early Bird
1965
as Norman Pitkin
The Bulldog Breed
1960
as Ordinary Seaman Norman Puckle
A Stitch in Time
1963
as Norman Pitkin
On the Beat
1962
as Norman Pitkin / Giulio Napolitani
Norman Wisdom: His Story
2010
as Himself : Archive footage
The Legend of Harrow Woods
2008
as Winston
The Square Peg
1958
as Private Norman Pitkin / General Otto Schreiber
Androcles and the Lion
1967
as Androcles
Follow a Star
1959
as Norman Truscott
There Was a Crooked Man
1960
as Davy Cooper
What's Good for the Goose
1969
as Timothy Bartlett
Man of the Moment
1955
as Norman
The Golden Gong: The Story of Rank Films - British Cinema's Legendary Studio
1985
as Self
Cue Here for Laughs with John Virgo
1994
as Self
Up in the World
1956
as Norman
Thora Hird Tribute
2003
as Self
As Long as They're Happy
1955
as Norman
Trouble in Store
1953
as Norman
Where on Earth Is Katy Manning?
1998
Date with a Dream
1948
as Shadow Boxer
Just My Luck
1957
as Norman Hackett / Mr. Hackett
An Audience with Bruce Forsyth
1997
Double X: The Name of the Game
1992
as Arthur Clutton/Maurice Rigby
The Unforgettable Norman Wisdom
2011
as Himself (archive footage)
To See Such Fun
1977
Look at Life: A Dog's Life
1959
as Self
The Secret Life of Norman Wisdom Aged 92¾
2008
as Self
Norman Wisdom: Trouble On Tour
2008
as Self
About Norman Wisdom
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 famou… With 53 credits spanning from 1948 to 2025, Norman Wisdom has appeared in 36 films and 17 TV shows.
Fans searching for Norman Wisdom movies, Norman Wisdom filmography, or the latest projects starring Norman Wisdom can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Norman Wisdom Movies
- Going Gently (1981) — as Bernard Flood
- Expresso (2007) — as The Vicar (as Sir Norman Wisdom)
- One Good Turn (1955) — as Norman
- Innes Lloyd: The Producer (2025) — as Self (archive footage)
- The Girl on the Boat (1962) — as Sam Marlowe
Where to Watch Norman Wisdom Films
Most Norman Wisdom movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Norman Wisdom, check our movies catalogue and browse page.