Sid James

Sid James (1913-1976) was a South African-born English-based actor and comedian. He was born Solomon Joel Cohen in Hillbrow, Johannesburg. He later changed his name to Sidney Joel Cohen and then Sidney James. In 1937 he joined the Johannesburg Repertory Players as an actor and also started doing work at the South African Broadcasting Corporation in Johannesburg. During the Second World War he became a lieutenant in the South African Army in an entertainment unit. Immediately after the war he moved to Britain where he worked in repertory before he started landing roles on radio, television and in films and became a world famous comedy star, possibly best known for his roles in the series of Carry On films. He lived in England for the rest of his life.