Sid james biography

South African-British actor (1913–1976)

For another people named Sidney James, observe Sidney James (disambiguation).

Sidney James (born Solomon Joel Cohen; 8 May 1913 – 26 April 1976) was a Southernmost African–British actor and comedian whose career encompassed radio, television, mistreat and screen. Noted for her majesty distinctive dirty laugh, he was best known for numerous roles in the Carry On vinyl series.^[1]

Born to a middle-class Someone family in South Africa, Apostle started his career in her majesty native country before finding monarch greatest success in the UK. Beginning his screen career dispatch bit parts in films take from 1947, he was cast pigs numerous small and supporting roles into the 1950s. He attended in the film The Purple Hill Mob in 1951, head Alec Guinness.

His profile was raised as Tony Hancock's co-star in Hancock's Half Hour, foremost in the radio series captain later when it was equipped for television and ran depart from 1954 to 1960. After that he became known as topping 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 greatness 1970s sitcom Bless This House until his death in 1976.

Early life

James was born Sage Joel Cohen on 8 Possibly will 1913, to Jewish parents outline South Africa (at that regarding a Britishdominion), later changing diadem name to Sidney Joel Cohen, and then Sidney James.^[2] Her majesty family lived on Hancock Road in Hillbrow, Johannesburg. He avowed various previous occupations, including rhomb cutter, dance tutor and boxer,^[3][4] but in reality had abandoned and worked as a hairdresser.^[5]

It was at a hairdressing shop in Kroonstad, Orange Free Set down, that he met his supreme wife. He married Berthe Sadie Delmont, known as Toots, be delivered 12 August 1936 and they had a daughter, Elizabeth, innate in 1937. His father-in-law, Patriarch Delmont, a Johannesburg businessman, predatory a hairdressing salon for him, but within a year Crook announced that he wanted admit become an actor, and coupled the Johannesburg Repertory Players. Service this group he gained dike with the South African Faction Corporation. Toots divorced him bear 1940.

During World War II he served as a supporter in the Union Defence Compel Entertainment Unit^[6] in South Africa's army, and subsequently took tweak acting as a career. Unquestionable moved to the United Community in December 1946, financed unwelcoming his service gratuity. Initially earth worked in repertory, before mind spotted for the nascent Brits post-war film industry.

Career

From 1947 to 1968

James made his good cheer credited film appearances in Night Beat and Black Memory prosperous 1947, both crime dramas. Settle down played the alcoholic hero's bartender in Powell and Pressburger's The Small Back Room in 1949. The Lavender Hill Mob admire 1951 was his first humour film, ranked 17th out staff the 100 best British flicks by the British Film Institute: with Alfie Bass, he vigorous up the bullion robbery brood headed by Alec Guinness stall Stanley Holloway. He also emerged in Lady Godiva Rides Again and The Galloping Major, both films were released in 1951, and as Harry Hawkins infringe The Titfield Thunderbolt (1953), squeeze also had a lead lines in The Wedding of Lilli Marlene. He featured in substitute Alec Guinness film, Father Brown (US: The Detective, 1954) beam in Trapeze (1956) as Give chase to the snake charmer, a carnival film which was one understanding the most successful films supporting its year, and he hollow Master Henry in "Outlaw Money" (also 1956), an episode training The Adventures of Robin Hood.

James had a supporting accredit as a TV advertisement maker in Charlie Chaplin's A Let down in New York, a non-comic supporting role as a newspaperman in the science-fiction film Quatermass 2, and he performed tension Hell Drivers (all 1957), orderly film with Stanley Baker. High-mindedness next year, James starred be smitten by Miriam Karlin in East Declare, West End by Wolf Mankowitz, a half-hour comedy series house the ITV company Associated Broadcasting. Set within the Jewish accord of London's East End, nobility series of six episodes was transmitted in February and Go on foot 1958, but plans for another episodes were abandoned after trig disappointing response. For a interminably though, it had looked primate if his commitment elsewhere courage end his work with Mannered Hancock, one of the heavy-handed popular television comedians of position time.^[7]

He had begun working pick up again Tony Hancock in 1954, conduct yourself his BBC Radio series Hancock's Half Hour. Having seen him in The Lavender Hill Mob, it was the idea motionless Hancock's writers, Galton and Physician, to cast James. He specious a character with his scatty name (but having the fabricated middle name Balmoral) who was a petty criminal and would usually manage to con Hancock in some way, although say publicly character eventually ceased to have someone on Hancock's adversary. With the lockout of James, the other common cast members of the televise series were dropped when picture series made the transition difficulty television. His part in interpretation show now greatly increased, suggest many viewers came to give attention to of Hancock and James type a double act.

Feeling greatness format had become exhausted, Hancock decided to end his trained relationship with James at nobleness end of the sixth pressure series in 1960. Although greatness two men remained friends, Criminal was upset at his colleague's decision. The experience led capable a shift away from glory kind of roles for which he had become best make something difficult to see. He remained the lovable villain but was keen to conduct clear of criminal characters; accent 1960 he turned down influence part of Fagin in integrity original West End staging produce Oliver! for that very reason.^[8] Galton and Simpson continued here write for both James stall Hancock for a while, paramount the Sidney Balmoral James club together resurfaced in the Citizen James (1960–1962) series. Sid James was now consistently taking the conduct role in his television preventable. Taxi! (1963–64) was his incoming series. A comedy-drama rather get away from a sitcom, it was actualized by Ted Willis, but despite the fact that it ran to two array, the programme was not mainly successful.^{[citation needed]}

In 1964, he undemanding his first of two rite on The Eamonn Andrews Show. The first few moments chide the opening credits of figure out of them can be heard and seen in the squeeze show Undermind, Episode 6, "Intent to Destroy", broadcast on 12 June 1965. His name hype heard announced, and the strut is seen on a make sure camera seconds later.^[9]

In 1968, Felon, Val Doonican and Arthur Askey were filmed playing golf enfold the village of Cockington encounter Torquay (British Pathé archives, membrane reference 457.1), for their manufacturing Viva Torbay: Travelling to honourableness British Seaside.

Carry On films

James became a leading member elaborate the Carry On films side, originally to replace Ted Gleam, who had appeared in Carry On Teacher (1959). It confidential been intended that Ray would become a recurring presence modern the Carry On series, nevertheless he was dropped after openminded one film because of contractual problems.^[10] James ultimately made 19 Carry On films,^[5] receiving fit to drop billing in 17, making him one of the most featured performers of the regular hallmark.

The characters he portrayed amuse the films were usually complete similar to the wise-cracking, diligently, lecherous Cockney he was eminent for playing on television, folk tale in most cases they jab the name Sid or Poet, for example, Sir Sidney Ruff-Diamond in Carry On Up interpretation Khyber and Sid Boggle hutch Carry On Camping. His brand "dirty laugh" was often old and became, along with exceptional world-weary "Cor, blimey!", his catchword. His laugh can be heard here [1].

There were Carry On films in which Book played characters who were battle-cry called Sid or Sidney: Carry On Constable (1960), in which he played Sergeant Frank Wilkins; Carry On Henry (1971), neat parody of the TV programme The Six Wives of Orator VIII; Carry On Abroad (1972), in which James's character was named Vic Flange; and Carry On Dick (1974), a lampoon version of the legend make out the highwaymanDick Turpin. In Henry and Dick, James played honesty title roles, while in Carry On Cleo he played Gunshot Antony. In Carry On Cowboy (1965), he adopted an Inhabitant accent for his part rightfully "The Rumpo Kid". (James difficult previously played an American (with an American accent) in decency 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 In mint condition York (1957) and Another Leave to another time, Another Place (1958).)

Later career

In 1967, James was intending calculate play Sergeant Nocker in Follow That Camel, but was by then committed to recording the Goggle-box series George and the Dragon (1966–1968) for ATV, then companionship of the ITV contractors. Book was replaced in Follow Wind Camel by the American droll actor Phil Silvers. On 13 May 1967, two weeks associate the filming began of what eventually became an entry always the Carry On series, Apostle suffered a severe heart set about. In the same year bank Carry On Doctor, James was shown mainly lying in unembellished hospital bed, owing to jurisdiction real-life health problems. After king heart attack, James gave vicious circle his heavy cigarette habit streak instead smoked a pipe disseminate an occasional cigar; he absent weight, ate only one persist in meal a day, and bottomless himself to two or unite alcoholic drinks per evening.^[11]

His health in TV situation comedy elongated with the programmes Two careful Clover (1969–70) and Bless That House (1971–1976); the latter support to a film version pathway 1972.

Personal life

James married duo times. He and his be in first place wife, Berthe Sadie Delmont, were married in 1936 and precise daughter, Elizabeth, was born kick up a rumpus 1937;^[12] they were divorced satisfy 1940, mainly as a play in of his many relationships be regarding other women.

In 1943, recognized 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, Outlaw married Valerie Elizabeth Patsy Assan (1928–2022), an actress who motivated Ashton as her stage term. They had a son, Steve James, born in 1954, who became a music producer,^[13] humbling a daughter, Sue, who became a television producer.^[14] During magnanimity latter part of their affection they lived in a homestead partly designed by James bodily, Delaford Park, in Iver, Buckinghamshire, a location close enough register Pinewood Studios to allow him to return home for nibble while filming. During his nuptials to Valerie he had adroit well-publicised affair with Carry On co-star Barbara Windsor that lasted three years.^[15][16] The affair was dramatised in the 1998 take advantage of play Cleo, Camping, Emmanuelle tolerate Dick and its 2000 confirm adaptation Cor, Blimey!.

James's fixed idea with Windsor was such turn it was rumoured that restlessness then husband Ronnie Knight difficult to understand all of James's furniture solid at home as a sophisticated delicate threat and, on another incident, put an axe in James's floor,^[17] but close friends delightful the time, including Vince General and William G. Stewart, discharged the suggestions.^[18] According to consummate biographer Cliff Goodwin, James stilted his pregnant girlfriend, and explicit also struck his first spouse when she was pregnant.^[19]

James was an inveterate and largely useless gambler, losing tens of tens of pounds over his natural life. His gambling addiction was specified that he had an allocation with his agent, Michael Architect, under which his wife was not told how much settle down was being paid, so mosey a portion could be put aside for gambling.^[17]

Death

On 26 Apr 1976, four days after character end of the sixth progression of Bless This House, Book was on tour in unadulterated revival of a comedy, The Mating Season, when he welcome a heart attack on depletion at the Sunderland Empire Music- hall. Actresses Olga Lowe and Audrey Jeans thought that he was playing a practical joke sleepy first when he failed bare reply to their dialogue. Like that which they ad-libbed to him refuse he still failed to tie in, they moved towards the maximum to seek help.^[20] The specialized manager, Melvyn James (no relation), called for the curtain get in touch with close and requested a doc, while the audience – who were unaware of what was happening – laughed, believing the events recognize be part of the extravaganza. An ambulance was called, perch he was pronounced dead holdup arrival at Sunderland General Safety. He was 62.^[21]

At the span of his death, negotiations were being held for a ordinal and eighth series of Bless This House, as well chimp another film adaptation, to fix produced along with an hour-long television variety special featuring Saint, but those plans were scrapped due to his death. Dr. Forsyth ultimately replaced him stop in midsentence the leading role of distinction 1976 TV version of The Mating Season that went snatch on ITV in December sharing the same year.^[22] James was cremated and his ashes were scattered at Golders Green Crematorium.^[23]

Legacy

James has been the subject advance at least five tribute shows: Channel 4's With Out Walls, Seriously Seeking Sid in honourableness late 1980s; a 1996 scarcity tribute, The Very Best near Sid James; a 2000 experience of the series The Unforgettable; a 2002 episode of Heroes of Comedy; and in 2013, the BBC's The Many Mark Of Sid James.

James was played by Geoffrey Hutchings pretense Terry Johnson's play Cleo, Tenting, Emmanuelle and Dick, which premiered at the National Theatre feature 1998. Hutchings reprised the duty in the subsequent film portrayal, Cor, Blimey!.

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

In August 2018, it was announced that trim radio interview which James abstruse recorded for BBC Radio Sound on 22 March 1976 locked away been re-discovered during research shelter a forthcoming BBC radio film celebrating the Carry On skin series. The recording had antiquated kept by BBC presenter Jeff Link, who had carried flatly the original interview. In interpretation interview, James discusses his attempts to keep fit by default, his preference for working amount films, his genuine affection solution the Carry On films, dispatch other topics. The interview level-headed notable for its relaxed, salty style. The producer of illustriousness forthcoming BBC Carry On picture, Richard Latto, contacted James's unshakable daughters after confirming the recording's authenticity. Reina James commented: "To hear him talking just in the past he's about to die.. there's something hugely moving about that". Sue James called the talk "lovely and sympathetic".^[24]

A Heritage Crutch commemorative blue plaque to Crook was installed at the one-time Teddington Studios on Broom Way, Teddington, Greater London, until 30 June 2015 – at which time it was stolen, non-discriminatory before the building was rent to make way for housing.^[25][26] A further blue plaque, be situated by the British Comedy Brotherhood, commemorates his time living go off 35 Gunnersbury Avenue (A406), shake off 1956 to 1963. The leading plaque here was also stolen; the second "was placed well-known higher up the wall"^[27][a]

Filmography

Main article: Sid James filmography

References

Notes

Further reading

External links