What is known about an actor like Norman Wizdom? How was his career? What can be said about the personal life of the artist? Which films starred Norman Wizdom? Biography, the path to fame, the achievements of the actor - all this will be considered in our publication.
early years
Norman Wizdom was born in London on February 4, 1915. A boy was born in the family of a driver and dressmaker. As a child, our hero had a complex character and had the glory of a real bully. The guy never managed to finish school. At the age of 11, his parents sent him for re-education to the orphanage, which was located in the city of Diele in Kent. Little Norman Wizdom could not stand the local strict orders and made several attempts to escape. In the end, the boy still had to return to the shelter in order to receive primary education.
Closer to adulthood, the guy began to lead a street life. In order not to starve to death, he was forced to steal food from metropolitan stores. Having reached his 13th birthday, Norman Wizdom decided to settle down somewhat. At this time, he got a young boy on one of the merchant ships that was part of the British fleet. In the future, the guy worked for several years at the mine, served as a footman in a hotel in London, and also served in a restaurant.
Military service
At the age of 15, Norman Wizdom decided to join the army. Once in service, the guy got the post of drummer in the hussar regiment, which was stationed in the city of Lucknow in northern India. Being here, the young man not only received a certificate of secondary education, but also learned to ride horses and won the title of boxing champion in the light category among the colonial troops.
During the service, Norman mastered the game on a number of musical instruments. Our hero masterfully performed the parts on drums, piano, trumpet and clarinet. Among other things, at this time the young man manifested innate artistic inclinations. Wizdom often performed on stage with humorous sketches, causing unrestrained laughter among colleagues.
In the late 30s, our hero returned from India to his homeland. Once in his native London, Norman followed the path of his father and learned how to drive a car. From that moment, the young man began to earn his living by private cab.
Then Norman learned the profession of a telephone operator. It was thanks to the skills of a signalman with the outbreak of World War II that Wizdom was once again drafted into the army. Our hero was entrusted with work in one of the government bunkers. Often he had to transmit secret messages from Winston Churchill himself. Once, accidentally calling Prime Minister Vinnie, a novice comedian almost fell under the tribunal.
How did Wizdom become an actor?
At the end of the war, our hero was sent to the communications regiment, which was located on the territory of the county of Gloucestershire in the city of Cheltenham. Here Norman began to regularly give charity concerts, demonstrating on stage his ability to play a wide variety of musical instruments.
After one of the successful performances, the famous actor Rex Harrison approached Wizdom . The latter was impressed by the talents of the guy and invited him to replenish the troupe of the capital's music hall. After some time, Norman's full talent as a comedian was fully revealed. Gradually, they began to attract him to performances on television. Subsequently, our hero became one of the stars of the popular entertainment program “Vaudeville”.
Movie debut
Norman Wizdom first appeared on wide screens in 1948. The debut work in a big movie for the actor was the role in the film "Date with a Dream." Then came the tape "Troubles in the Shop", where the actor first appeared before a wide audience in the image of Mr. Pitkin. Subsequently, the artist was engaged in screenwriting, acting as a producer.
Artist's finest hour
The widest audience, comedian Norman Wizdom, is known as Mr. Pitkin, a good-natured and muddler who constantly finds himself in the center of incredible events and ridiculous situations. This movie character has become a real calling card of the artist. Wizdom has played a funny character in more than a dozen paintings.
Mr. Pitkin was adored not only by British viewers. The hero was also popular among Soviet cinema fans. Especially successful was the film “Mr. Pitkin Behind Enemy Lines”, where the satirical hero, in his own peculiar manner, fought with the German invaders in the fields of the Second World War. Equally successful was the film “At the Post,” in which the character portrayed a man during a flight to the moon.
Norman Wizdom: filmography
During his rather long, saturated shooting career, the actor managed to appear in the following projects:
- "Date with a dream";
- "King for a day";
- “Just so lucky”;
- "Troubles in the shop";
- "For the better";
- "Mr. Pitkin: upside down";
- "Mr. Pitkin on the stage";
- "Mr. Pitkin Behind Enemy Lines";
- "The Adventures of Pitkin in the hospital";
- "Once upon a time there was a scammer";
- “Girl on board”;
- "Early bird";
- "Bulldog breed";
- "In leg";
- "What is good for a goose";
- “Well-meaning”;
- “Peacefully leave”;
- "At the post";
- "A day full of adventure";
- "Dalsil and Pascoe";
- "On the night of the raid at Minsky."
Personal life
Norman Wizdom married for the first time in 1941. The actor's choice was a girl named Doreen Brett. A few years later, the couple had a son, who was named Michael. However, this union was not destined to last long. In 1946, Wizdom and Brett decided to break up.
A year after the divorce, the actor began a romantic relationship with the famous dancer Isabelle Simpson. Soon the wedding took place. In this marriage, the artist became the father of two more children. The boy, who was born in 1953, the couple called Nicholas. In 1954, the famous married couple had a daughter named Jacqueline. This marriage ended in 1969.
Subsequently, the actor focused entirely on solo tours with humorous numbers. Wizdom decided not to marry anymore. Active creative activity of the artist continued until the achievement of the 90th anniversary. On his birthday, an elderly actor told the public that he wanted to devote the remaining years to communicating with children and playing golf. An outstanding artist died in a nursing home on October 4, 2010, having lived his last days on the picturesque Isle of Man.