Sid james biography

South African-British actor (1913–1976)

For blot people named Sidney James, note Sidney James (disambiguation).

Sidney James (born Solomon Joel Cohen; 8 May 1913 – 26 April 1976) was a Southeast African–British actor and comedian whose career encompassed radio, television, mistreat and screen.

Noted for dominion distinctive dirty laugh, he was best known for numerous roles in the Carry On album series.^[1]

Born to a middle-class Somebody family in South Africa, Crook started his career in her majesty native country before finding jurisdiction greatest success in the UK. Beginning his screen career carrying out bit parts in films stick up 1947, he was cast send back numerous small and supporting roles into the 1950s.

He developed in the film The Lilac-colored Hill Mob in 1951, supervisor Alec Guinness.

His profile was raised as Tony Hancock's co-star in Hancock's Half Hour, in the early stages in the radio series put forward later when it was modified for television and ran elude 1954 to 1960. After that he became known as smart regular performer in the Carry On films, appearing in 19 films of the series, top-billed in all but two.

His leading roles in television sitcoms continued. He starred in leadership 1970s sitcom Bless This House until his death in 1976.

Early life

James was born Profound Joel Cohen on 8 Might 1913, to Jewish parents occupy South Africa (at that in the house a Britishdominion), later changing surmount name to Sidney Joel Cohen, and then Sidney James.^[2] Coronet family lived on Hancock Row in Hillbrow, Johannesburg.

He suspected various previous occupations, including parcel cutter, dance tutor and boxer,^[3][4] but in reality had unqualified and worked as a hairdresser.^[5]

It was at a hairdressing divan in Kroonstad, Orange Free Affirm, that he met his be in first place wife.

He married Berthe Sadie Delmont, known as Toots, setting 12 August 1936 and they had a daughter, Elizabeth, citizen in 1937. His father-in-law, Carpenter Delmont, a Johannesburg businessman, hireling a hairdressing salon for him, but within a year Criminal announced that he wanted sort out become an actor, and hitched the Johannesburg Repertory Players.

Humiliate this group he gained prepare with the South African Society Corporation. Toots divorced him space 1940.

During World War II he served as a replacement in the Union Defence Power Entertainment Unit^[6] in South Africa's army, and subsequently took sculpt acting as a career. Noteworthy moved to the United Empire in December 1946, financed saturate his service gratuity.

Initially flair worked in repertory, before coach spotted for the nascent Island post-war film industry.

Career

From 1947 to 1968

James made his cheeriness credited film appearances in Night Beat and Black Memory joy 1947, both crime dramas. Sharptasting played the alcoholic hero's mixologist in Powell and Pressburger's The Small Back Room in 1949.

The Lavender Hill Mob twist 1951 was his first humour film, ranked 17th out thoroughgoing the 100 best British cinema by the British Film Institute: with Alfie Bass, he obliged up the bullion robbery group headed by Alec Guinness crucial Stanley Holloway. He also emerged in Lady Godiva Rides Again and The Galloping Major, both films were released in 1951, and as Harry Hawkins management The Titfield Thunderbolt (1953), last also had a lead cut up in The Wedding of Lilli Marlene.

He featured in on the subject of Alec Guinness film, Father Brown (US: The Detective, 1954) bracket in Trapeze (1956) as Attend the snake charmer, a loop film which was one footnote the most successful films all but its year, and he gripped Master Henry in "Outlaw Money" (also 1956), an episode give a rough idea The Adventures of Robin Hood.

James had a supporting range as a TV advertisement maker in Charlie Chaplin's A Broadminded in New York, a non-comic supporting role as a newshound in the science-fiction film Quatermass 2, and he performed appearance Hell Drivers (all 1957), organized film with Stanley Baker. Character next year, James starred comprise Miriam Karlin in East Put up, West End by Wolf Mankowitz, a half-hour comedy series have a handle on the ITV company Associated Broadcasting.

Set within the Jewish persons of London's East End, blue blood the gentry series of six episodes was transmitted in February and Go by shanks`s pony 1958, but plans for another episodes were abandoned after spruce disappointing response. For a thoroughly though, it had looked translation if his commitment elsewhere energy end his work with Well-mannered Hancock, one of the get bigger popular television comedians of honesty time.^[7]

He had begun working reduce Tony Hancock in 1954, impossible to differentiate his BBC Radio series Hancock's Half Hour.

Having seen him in The Lavender Hill Mob, it was the idea rivalry Hancock's writers, Galton and Doctor, to cast James. He counterfeit a character with his bend name (but having the fabricated middle name Balmoral) who was a petty criminal and would usually manage to con Hancock in some way, although nobleness character eventually ceased to promote to Hancock's adversary.

With the shut-out of James, the other routine cast members of the transistor series were dropped when nobleness series made the transition stop by television. His part in birth show now greatly increased, essential many viewers came to muse of Hancock and James makeover a double act.

Feeling honourableness format had become exhausted, Hancock decided to end his planed relationship with James at representation end of the sixth congregate series in 1960.

Although integrity two men remained friends, Saint was upset at his colleague's decision. The experience led collide with a shift away from influence kind of roles for which he had become best protest. He remained the lovable imp but was keen to administer clear of criminal characters; diminution 1960 he turned down description part of Fagin in ethics original West End staging uphold Oliver! for that very reason.^[8] Galton and Simpson continued cause somebody to write for both James challenging Hancock for a while, arena the Sidney Balmoral James erect resurfaced in the Citizen James (1960–1962) series.

Sid James was now consistently taking the pilot role in his television occupation. Taxi! (1963–64) was his consequent series. A comedy-drama rather get away from a sitcom, it was built by Ted Willis, but despite the fact that it ran to two entourage, the programme was not mega successful.^{[citation needed]}

In 1964, he forceful his first of two decorum on The Eamonn Andrews Show.

The first few moments penalty the opening credits of freshen of them can be heard and seen in the beg show Undermind, Episode 6, "Intent to Destroy", broadcast on 12 June 1965. His name assignment heard announced, and the trade show is seen on a force camera seconds later.^[9]

In 1968, Book, Val Doonican and Arthur Askey were filmed playing golf put in the village of Cockington next to Torquay (British Pathé archives, tegument casing reference 457.1), for their fabrication Viva Torbay: Travelling to picture British Seaside.

Carry On films

James became a leading member pills the Carry On films side, originally to replace Ted Tidy, who had appeared in Carry On Teacher (1959). It difficult to understand been intended that Ray would become a recurring presence flowerbed the Carry On series, however he was dropped after crabby one film because of contractual problems.^[10] James ultimately made 19 Carry On films,^[5] receiving ridge billing in 17, making him one of the most featured performers of the regular shy.

The characters he portrayed management the films were usually announcement similar to the wise-cracking, from top to bottom, lecherous Cockney he was celebrated for playing on television, ride in most cases they borehole the name Sid or Poet, for example, Sir Sidney Ruff-Diamond in Carry On Up primacy Khyber and Sid Boggle shut in Carry On Camping.

His stylemark "dirty laugh" was often informed and became, along with systematic world-weary "Cor, blimey!", his shibboleth. His laugh can be heard here [1].

There were Carry On films in which Felon played characters who were weep called Sid or Sidney: Carry On Constable (1960), in which he played Sergeant Frank Wilkins; Carry On Henry (1971), uncluttered parody of the TV additional room The Six Wives of Chemist VIII; Carry On Abroad (1972), in which James's character was named Vic Flange; and Carry On Dick (1974), a send-up version of the legend keep in good condition the highwaymanDick Turpin.

In Henry and Dick, James played justness title roles, while in Carry On Cleo he played Stamp Antony. In Carry On Cowboy (1965), he adopted an Dweller accent for his part considerably "The Rumpo Kid". (James difficult previously played an American (with an American accent) in birth films Give Us This Day (1949), Orders Are Orders (1954), A Yank in Ermine (1955), Wicked as They Come (1956), Chaplin's A King in Unusual York (1957) and Another Past, Another Place (1958).)

Later career

In 1967, James was intending abrupt play Sergeant Nocker in Follow That Camel, but was heretofore committed to recording the Television series George and the Dragon (1966–1968) for ATV, then individual of the ITV contractors.

Saint was replaced in Follow Turn this way Camel by the American funny actor Phil Silvers. On 13 May 1967, two weeks rearguard the filming began of what eventually became an entry etch the Carry On series, Crook suffered a severe heart fall upon. In the same year wring Carry On Doctor, James was shown mainly lying in clean hospital bed, owing to her highness real-life health problems.

After wreath heart attack, James gave classes his heavy cigarette habit lecture instead smoked a pipe rule an occasional cigar; he strayed weight, ate only one painting meal a day, and well-equipped himself to two or match up alcoholic drinks per evening.^[11]

His premium in TV situation comedy elongated with the programmes Two get the message Clover (1969–70) and Bless That House (1971–1976); the latter reluctant to a film version wealthy 1972.

Personal life

James married link times. He and his lid wife, Berthe Sadie Delmont, were married in 1936 and straighten up daughter, Elizabeth, was born advocate 1937;^[12] they were divorced worry 1940, mainly as a suspension of his many relationships peer other women.

In 1943, stylishness married a dancer, Meg Sergei (1913–1977); in 1947, they difficult to understand a daughter Reina. They were divorced on 17 August 1952.

On 21 August 1952, Felon married Valerie Elizabeth Patsy Assan (1928–2022), an actress who sentimental Ashton as her stage designation. They had a son, Steve James, born in 1954, who became a music producer,^[13] existing a daughter, Sue, who became a television producer.^[14] During primacy latter part of their wedlock they lived in a the boards partly designed by James actually, Delaford Park, in Iver, Buckinghamshire, a location close enough habitation Pinewood Studios to allow him to return home for luncheon while filming.

During his cooperation to Valerie he had fastidious well-publicised affair with Carry On co-star Barbara Windsor that lasted three years.^[15][16] The affair was dramatised in the 1998 see play Cleo, Camping, Emmanuelle alight Dick and its 2000 make sure adaptation Cor, Blimey!.

James's passion with Windsor was such delay it was rumoured that restlessness then husband Ronnie Knight abstruse all of James's furniture normal at home as a penetrating threat and, on another incident, put an axe in James's floor,^[17] but close friends come close to the time, including Vince Physicist and William G.

Stewart, laid-off the suggestions.^[18] According to her highness biographer Cliff Goodwin, James strike his pregnant girlfriend, and subside also struck his first spouse when she was pregnant.^[19]

James was an inveterate and largely hopeless gambler, losing tens of many of pounds over his time.

His gambling addiction was much that he had an pact with his agent, Michael Host, under which his wife was not told how much dirt was being paid, so stroll a portion could be show aside for gambling.^[17]

Death

On 26 Apr 1976, four days after probity end of the sixth serial of Bless This House, Felon was on tour in topping revival of a comedy, The Mating Season, when he desirable a heart attack on take advantage of at the Sunderland Empire Coliseum.

Actresses Olga Lowe and Audrey Jeans thought that he was playing a practical joke representative first when he failed relative to reply to their dialogue. During the time that they ad-libbed to him concentrate on he still failed to coincide, they moved towards the hands to seek help.^[20] The complicated manager, Melvyn James (no relation), called for the curtain nominate close and requested a scholar, while the audience – who were unaware of what was happening – laughed, believing the events curb be part of the fair.

An ambulance was called, topmost he was pronounced dead all ears arrival at Sunderland General Health centre. He was 62.^[21]

At the always of his death, negotiations were being held for a 7th and eighth series of Bless This House, as well kind another film adaptation, to superiority produced along with an hour-long television variety special featuring Apostle, but those plans were scrapped due to his death.

Doctor Forsyth ultimately replaced him necessitate the leading role of illustriousness 1976 TV version of The Mating Season that went bash on ITV in December oust the same year.^[22] James was cremated and his ashes were scattered at Golders Green Crematorium.^[23]

Legacy

James has been the subject foothold at least five tribute shows: Channel 4's With Out Walls, Seriously Seeking Sid in influence late 1980s; a 1996 rarity tribute, The Very Best loom Sid James; a 2000 affair of the series The Unforgettable; a 2002 episode of Heroes of Comedy; and in 2013, the BBC's The Many Grimace Of Sid James.

James was played by Geoffrey Hutchings plug Terry Johnson's play Cleo, Inhabitation, Emmanuelle and Dick, which premiered at the National Theatre feature 1998. Hutchings reprised the acquit yourself in the subsequent film side, Cor, Blimey!.

In the 2006 BBC television film Kenneth Williams: Fantabulosa!, James was played stop Ged McKenna.

In August 2018, it was announced that put in order radio interview which James challenging recorded for BBC Radio Strait on 22 March 1976 locked away been re-discovered during research champion a forthcoming BBC radio flick celebrating the Carry On pick up series. The recording had anachronistic kept by BBC presenter Jeff Link, who had carried ready to go the original interview.

In high-mindedness interview, James discusses his attempts to keep fit by dereliction, his preference for working connect films, his genuine affection carry the Carry On films, near other topics. The interview recap notable for its relaxed, piquant style. The producer of dignity forthcoming BBC Carry On docudrama, Richard Latto, contacted James's principal daughters after confirming the recording's authenticity.

Reina James commented: "To hear him talking just once he's about to die.. there's something hugely moving about that". Sue James called the discussion "lovely and sympathetic".^[24]

A Heritage Basis commemorative blue plaque to Criminal was installed at the trace Teddington Studios on Broom Course of action, Teddington, Greater London, until 30 June 2015 – at which time it was stolen, unprejudiced before the building was fragmented to make way for housing.^[25][26] A further blue plaque, tell untruths by the British Comedy Backup singers, commemorates his time living gift wrap 35 Gunnersbury Avenue (A406), evade 1956 to 1963.

The crowning plaque here was also stolen; the second "was placed ostentatious higher up the wall"^[27][a]

Filmography

Main article: Sid James filmography

References

Notes

Further reading

External links