Sir Norman Joseph Wisdom, OBE (4 February 1915 â€" 4 October 2010) 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 that was often called Norman Pitkin. He was
awarded the 1953 BAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer to Leading
Film Roles following the release of Trouble in Store, his first film
in a lead role.Wisdom gained celebrity status in lands as far apart as
South America, Iran and many Eastern Bloc countries, particularly in
Albania where his films were the only ones by Western actors permitted
by dictator Enver Hoxha to be shown. Charlie Chaplin once referred to
Wisdom as his "favourite clown".Wisdom later forged a career on
Broadway in New York City 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. 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 was appointed OBE and was knighted five
years later.
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 that was often called Norman Pitkin. He was
awarded the 1953 BAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer to Leading
Film Roles following the release of Trouble in Store, his first film
in a lead role.Wisdom gained celebrity status in lands as far apart as
South America, Iran and many Eastern Bloc countries, particularly in
Albania where his films were the only ones by Western actors permitted
by dictator Enver Hoxha to be shown. Charlie Chaplin once referred to
Wisdom as his "favourite clown".Wisdom later forged a career on
Broadway in New York City 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. 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 was appointed OBE and was knighted five
years later.
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