RIP Norman Wisdom

October 4, 2010 9:21 PM

Sir Norman Wisdom - Charlie Chaplin's 'favourite clown' - has died, aged 95. For some reason YouTube isn't playing sound for me right now, so I'm finding it hard to collate clips for y'all, so maybe the hive can help me out here. But Sir Norman was a complete childhood hero to me and, I would imagine, many other English (and Albanian!) MeFites, and I'd hate to see his passing go un-noticed.
posted by unSane (25 comments total)

This page - with a dozen or so clips and a potted bio - will do the job!
posted by woodblock100 at 9:47 PM on October 4, 2010

thanks for posting this; I didn't know him and am glad to see all these clips.

.
posted by LobsterMitten at 10:06 PM on October 4, 2010

.
posted by strixus at 10:32 PM on October 4, 2010

.
posted by zeoslap at 10:39 PM on October 4, 2010

(should be in comic sans) His Don't Laugh At Me ('Cause I'm A Fool)

☺
posted by nickyskye at 11:42 PM on October 4, 2010

A class act
posted by niceness at 12:00 AM on October 5, 2010

.
posted by DanCall at 12:14 AM on October 5, 2010

.
posted by plep at 12:36 AM on October 5, 2010

Oh! I honestly didn't know he was still alive.

.
posted by ramix at 12:39 AM on October 5, 2010

One of the best Clowns ever. I shall miss him.
posted by JtJ at 1:34 AM on October 5, 2010

Is this correct?:

Although best known as a performer, he was also a talented song writer, including providing the lyrics for Dame Vera Lynn's greatest hit, There'll Be Blue Birds Over The White Cliffs of Dover.

Other links give the credit to someone else.
posted by pracowity at 2:01 AM on October 5, 2010

When I was a kid he was one of my favourites. RIP.
posted by h00py at 2:06 AM on October 5, 2010

These are the things
These are the things
The things that dreams are made of
New York, ice cream, TV, travel, good times
Norman Wisdom, Johnny, Joey, Dee Dee, good times
(Repeat chorus three times and fade...)
posted by lapolla at 2:38 AM on October 5, 2010 [2 favorites]

.
posted by NordyneDefenceDynamics at 2:40 AM on October 5, 2010

> Other links give the credit to someone else.

The story I heard was that it was an American who wrote the lyrics, hence the presence of entirely American birds flying over English cliffs.

I note the cached Google copies of the Wikipedia pages claim it to be true but currently live ones don't.
posted by vbfg at 2:53 AM on October 5, 2010

Although best known as a performer, he was also a talented song writer, including providing the lyrics for Dame Vera Lynn's greatest hit, There'll Be Blue Birds Over The White Cliffs of Dover.

It's bollocks. The Guardian discovers fact checkers, belatedly, and has amended its article. See: Churnalism
posted by MuffinMan at 3:24 AM on October 5, 2010 [1 favorite]

Childhood hero here as well. And his birthday is the the same as mine! (No I'm not 95, but working on it)

My granny used to take me and my brother along to see him on the silver screen, and we spent the whole movie cackling like hyenas.

Chuckle in Peace, Norman.
posted by arzakh at 3:54 AM on October 5, 2010

Some clips for you....

.
posted by itsjustanalias at 5:50 AM on October 5, 2010

obviously overcome by grief I failed to spot the first comment... oops
posted by itsjustanalias at 5:51 AM on October 5, 2010

"MISTER GRIMSDALE !"

.
posted by Webbster at 7:23 AM on October 5, 2010

.
posted by Iteki at 10:52 AM on October 5, 2010

Wisdom's admirers included Charlie Chaplin – who called him his favourite clown, and said he was the only serious rival to his own genius

Hard cheese on Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd.

Never did like Chaplin. Like this guy, however.
posted by IndigoJones at 12:45 PM on October 5, 2010

I too, will sorely miss him. Thank goodness he left such a large body of work. He was a childhood favourite of mine (along with Arthur Askey) in large part because he had such an expressive face - such a cheeky grin.
posted by unliteral at 6:11 PM on October 5, 2010

.
posted by schwa at 9:35 PM on October 5, 2010

Residents of the Isle of Man have been given an open invitation to attend the funeral of comedy legend Sir Norman Wisdom,.
posted by arzakh at 3:50 PM on October 23, 2010