The Stage

Norman Wisdom dies aged 95

Published Tuesday 5 October 2010 at 10:14 by Matthew Hemley

Comic performer Norman Wisdom has died at the age of 95.

The entertainer died at the Abbotswood Nursing Home on the Isle of Man yesterday, having suffered a series of strokes over the last six months.

In a statement, his family said: “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 6.46pm on October 4.”

Wisdom, who was knighted in 2000, joined the army at the age of 14 and left it in 1946, when he set about becoming a professional entertainer.

He went on to sign a seven-year film contract with the Rank Organisation, and made his first appearance at the Royal Variety Performance in 1952, before going on to appear in a further eight.

His career spanned radio, film, television and the stage. Television credits included A Little Bit of Wisdom and dramas such as Bergerac, Casualty and Dalziel and Pascoe.

A full obituary will appear in a future edition of The Stage.