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Dateline: 5th October, 2010
Norman Wisdom (1915 - 2010) Comedian and comic actor Norman Wisdom has died at the age of 95. He had suffered a series of strokes in the six months prior to his death. A statement from his fmaily said that he "has passed away at Abbotswood Nursing Home on the Isle of Man. "Over the last six months Norman has sustained a series of strokes causing a general decline in both his physical and mental health. "He had maintained a degree of independence until a few days ago. However, over the last few days his condition rapidly declined. He was in no pain or distress and peacefully passed over at 18.46 on 4th October." After service in the Merchant Navy, he joined the Army where he became a bandsman and, after World War II, took up a career in entertainment on the advice of Rex Harrison. He became straight man to magician David Nixon and, in the fifties and sixties, went on to make nineteen films for the Rank Organisation. Charles Chaplin described him as his "favourite clown" and his films were very popular. In fact, they were the only Western films allowed to be shown in Albania where he recieved the Freedom of Tirana in 1995. Although best known for his films, he had a stage career which included a Tony nomination for the Broadway production of the James Van Heusen and Sammy Cahn musical comedy Walking Happy. Between 1995 and 2004 a one-off performance as Billy Ingleton in Last of the Summer Wine became a recurring part because of his ppularity with the public. He was knigthed in 2000.
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