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Norman Wisdom

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Comedian

The Resume

    (February 4, 1915-October 4, 2010)
    Born in London, United Kingdom
    Slapstick comedian
    Portrayed the character Norman Pitkin in a series of low-budget Rank Organization comedies
    Also appeared in the films 'The Night They Raided Minsky's' (1968), 'What's Good for the Goose' (1969) and 'Expresso' (2007)
    Portrayed Billy Ingleton in the TV series 'Last of the Summer Wine' (1995-2004)

Why he might be annoying:

    He was fired from a job as a hotel waiter after dropping a loaded breakfast tray down an elevator shaft.
    While serving in the Signal Corps during WWII, he was disciplined for addressing Winston Churchill as 'Winnie.'
    He was big throughout the British Commonwealth but never caught on in America.
    His attempt to change his image by starring in the sex comedy 'What's Good For The Goose' was a disastrous flop.
    He would shave up to a dozen years off his age.
    During a European Community debate on agricultural policy, a French speaker's request for 'la sagesse des Normands' was mistranslated into English as a call for Norman Wisdom to solve the problem (1991).
    Sky News erroneously ran his obituary on air and on their website (2008).
    Due to someone altering his Wikipedia entry a month before his death, several obituaries incorrectly credited him with co-writing the hit '(There'll Be Blue Birds Over) The White Cliffs Of Dover.'

Why he might not be annoying:

    He was raised in an orphanage after his mother ran off and his abusive father disowned him.
    After he appeared in an army charity show, Rex Harrison came backstage and told him he should become a professional entertainer.
    He won a BAFTA Award as 'most promising newcomer.' (1953)
    Charlie Chaplin called Wisdom his 'favorite clown.'
    He was nominated for a Tony for his only Broadway appearance, in the musical comedy 'Walking Happy.' (1967)
    He was big in Albania, where he was one of the few Western actors whose films were allowed into the country by Enver Hoxha.
    After the fall of Communism, he supported several children's charities in Albania.
    He drew a laugh from the Queen by performing one of his trademark trips after being knighted (2000).

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 5 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 6 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 12 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 11 Votes: 63.64% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 8 Votes: 62.50% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 9 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 102 Votes: 62.75% Annoying