Wisdom, Norman (1915– )

English comedian. Initially a variety performer, he had his first film success in Trouble in Store (1953), followed by others such as What's Good for The Goose (1969). He is best known on television for comic series, including A Little Bit of Wisdom (1974–76), but also played a rare dramatic role as a cancer patient in Going Gently (1981). His book Don't Laugh at Me: An Autobiography was published in 1992. He received a knighthood in 1999.

Wisdom's other early films included Man of the Moment (1955), Just My Luck (1958), There was a Crooked Man (1960), On the Beat (1962), A Stitch in Time (1963), and Sandwich Man (1966). He was also popular in the USA, making The Night They Raided Minsky's there in 1968. His first television series were Norman (1970) and Nobody is Norman Wisdom (1973).

Wisdom was born in London, and made his stage debut in 1946. Following a variety appearance at the London Casino in 1948, he performed regularly at the London Palladium.