Norman Wisdom 1958

Norman Wisdom 1958 as " Charley's Aunt " for new musical version "Where's Charley" smoking cigar blowing smoke rings
Born in Paddington, London, in 1920. Parents divorced when he was nine, sent to live with guardians in Deal, on the Kent coast. His father stopped paying his upkeep though so he was thrown out. Left school at 14, took various jobs until a friend suggested they became miners, so Wisdom walked from London to Cardiff in search of work. In the event he found employment on a ship to Argentina, where he learned to box. Joined the Army as a band boy, learning to play saxophone, clarinet, piano and drums. Left army in 1946 for a showbiz career. Appeared in Scarborough as David Nixon's 'stooge' - the 'Gump' was born. First TV appearance in 1948, and his first Royal Variety Performance in 1942 ('), which led to his first television series. The Rank Film Organisation signed him up for seven years in 1953 at a film a year. The first was "Trouble in Store" and featured song that became his catchphrase and a chart hit for over a year - "Don't laugh at me cos I'm a fool." Wisdom played the same 'Gump' character in most of his films, but in different roles (milkman, soldier, sailor, window cleaner and reporter.) In 1963 he appeared alone onh stage, save for compere Bruce Forsyth for a full hour (London Palladium.), during which he re-papered the set. Forsyth, the foreman and Wisdom the employee in a celebrated sketch which ended in a chase through the crowd and orchestra. Wisdom was not just a clown. He won an Oscar for his performance in "The Night They Raided Minsky's" in which he co-starred with Britt Ekland. He gave up the Gump character in pursuit of more serious roles and in 1981 he struck gold with Stephen Frears moving television play "Going Gently", in which he played a patient with terminal cancer. Judi Dench also starred. Wisdom is also a singer and songwriter- In 1991 he worked on an album with Rick Wakeman and he sung with the Human League on "The Things That Dreams Are Made Of."
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