Difference between revisions of "Sidney James"

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JAMES, Sidney (Sid). (19**-1976) Internationally known film and television actor, stage actor. Born in  *** and trained at ***. Started his career in the [[Johannesburg Repertory Society|Johannesburg REPS]]  **** In 1940 he played the lead in ''[[Of Mice and Men]]'' for the [[Johannesburg Repertory Society|Johannesburg REPS]]. (19**-19**?). *** Also performed for the [[Gwen ffrangçon-Davies-Marda Vanne Company]] between 1941 and 1946, ***  He then joined the [[UDF Entertainment Unit]], performing in ***** . *** Went on to fame as a comedian on radio and television in the ''Goon Show''/the *** show? (*??), **** and in films such as ** and **. But he is perhaps best remembered for his role in the long running “Carry on…” series of film comedies. Actor who performed for the [[Gwen Ffrangçon-Davies-Marda Vanne Company]] which presented seasons of plays during the war years at the [[Standard Theatre]]. Later found fame as a comedian in Britain, notably in the ''Carry On'' films. Starred in Emlyn Williams's ''[[The Wind of Heaven]]'' in 1946, together with [[Gwen ffrangçon-Davies]], [[Marda Vanne]], [[Zoë Randall]] and [[Wensley Pithey]]. The [[Quibell Brothers|Quibells]] brougt him home for the first time in twenty years to star in ''[[Wedding Fever]]'' at the [[Civic Theatre]] in circa 1970. *** (Tucker, 1997)
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[[ Sidney James]] (08/05/1913-26/04/1976) [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sid_James] was a South African-born, internationally known as a comedian, film and television and stage actor.  
  
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Also widely known as '''[[Sid James]]'''
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==Biography==
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He was born [[Solomon Joel Cohen]] in Hillbrow, Johannesburg. He later changed his name to [[Sidney Joel Cohen]] and then to '''[[Sidney James]]'''.
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He stage started his career in 1937 when he joined the [[Johannesburg Repertory Players]] (also known as [[Johannesburg Repertory Society|Johannesburg REPS]]) as an actor and started doing work for the [[South African Broadcasting Corporation]] also in Johannesburg. During the Second World War he became a lieutenant in the Union Defence Force (South Africa's army) in the [[Union Defence Force Entertainment Unit]].
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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 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carry_On_(franchise)]. 
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He went on to star in more than 60 films, including ''[[The Small Back Room]]'' (1949), ''[[The Lavender Hill Mob]]'' (1951), ''[[A King in New York]]'' (1957) and ''[[The Story of Esther Costello]]'' (1957).
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He was married three times: first to Berthe Sadie Delmont, whom he divorced in 1940, then he married Meg Williams in 1943 and divorced her in 1952. In 1952 he married Valerie Ashton. He had four children, Elizabeth, born 1937, Reina, born 1947, Steve, born 1954 and Sue, born ?
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He lived in England for the rest of his life and died in Sunderland, Great Britain, on April 26, 1976.
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==Contribution to South African film, media, theatre and performance==
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In 1940 he played the lead in ''[[Of Mice and Men]]'' for the [[Johannesburg Repertory Society|Johannesburg REPS]].
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Also performed for the [[Gwen ffrangçon-Davies / Marda Vanne Company]] which presented seasons of plays during the war years and immediately afterwards at the [[Standard Theatre]] in Johannesburg and the [[Alhambra Theatre]] in Cape Town. These included ''[[Oasis]]'' and ''[[A Month in the Country]]'', both in 1946. Starred in Emlyn Williams's ''[[The Wind of Heaven]]'' in 1946, together with [[Gwen ffrangçon-Davies]], [[Marda Vanne]], [[Zoë Randall]] and [[Wensley Pithey]].
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The [[Quibell Brothers]] brought him home for the first time in 20 years to star in ''[[Wedding Fever]]'' at the [[Civic Theatre]] circa 1970.
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== Sources ==
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[[Percy Tucker]] 1997. ''Just the Ticket. My 50 Years in Show Business''. Johannesburg: [[Witwatersrand University Press]]. 
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sid_James#Early_life
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''Encyclopaedia Judaica'', Second Edition, Volume 11. Fred Skolnik, Editor in Chief and Michael Berenbaum, Executive Editor, Keeter Publishing House Ltd., Jerusalem.
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https://samilhistory.com/2016/03/18/carry-on-the-south-african-army-the-story-of-sid-james/
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Go to the [[ESAT Bibliography]]
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==Return to==
  
 
Return to [[ESAT Personalities J]]
 
Return to [[ESAT Personalities J]]

Latest revision as of 05:17, 2 October 2025

Sidney James (08/05/1913-26/04/1976) [1] was a South African-born, internationally known as a comedian, film and television and stage actor.

Also widely known as Sid James

Biography

He was born Solomon Joel Cohen in Hillbrow, Johannesburg. He later changed his name to Sidney Joel Cohen and then to Sidney James.

He stage started his career in 1937 when he joined the Johannesburg Repertory Players (also known as Johannesburg REPS) as an actor and started doing work for the South African Broadcasting Corporation also in Johannesburg. During the Second World War he became a lieutenant in the Union Defence Force (South Africa's army) in the Union Defence Force 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 [2].

He went on to star in more than 60 films, including The Small Back Room (1949), The Lavender Hill Mob (1951), A King in New York (1957) and The Story of Esther Costello (1957).

He was married three times: first to Berthe Sadie Delmont, whom he divorced in 1940, then he married Meg Williams in 1943 and divorced her in 1952. In 1952 he married Valerie Ashton. He had four children, Elizabeth, born 1937, Reina, born 1947, Steve, born 1954 and Sue, born ?

He lived in England for the rest of his life and died in Sunderland, Great Britain, on April 26, 1976.

Contribution to South African film, media, theatre and performance

In 1940 he played the lead in Of Mice and Men for the Johannesburg REPS.

Also performed for the Gwen ffrangçon-Davies / Marda Vanne Company which presented seasons of plays during the war years and immediately afterwards at the Standard Theatre in Johannesburg and the Alhambra Theatre in Cape Town. These included Oasis and A Month in the Country, both in 1946. Starred in Emlyn Williams's The Wind of Heaven in 1946, together with Gwen ffrangçon-Davies, Marda Vanne, Zoë Randall and Wensley Pithey.

The Quibell Brothers brought him home for the first time in 20 years to star in Wedding Fever at the Civic Theatre circa 1970.

Sources

Percy Tucker 1997. Just the Ticket. My 50 Years in Show Business. Johannesburg: Witwatersrand University Press.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sid_James#Early_life

Encyclopaedia Judaica, Second Edition, Volume 11. Fred Skolnik, Editor in Chief and Michael Berenbaum, Executive Editor, Keeter Publishing House Ltd., Jerusalem.

https://samilhistory.com/2016/03/18/carry-on-the-south-african-army-the-story-of-sid-james/

Go to the ESAT Bibliography

Return to

Return to ESAT Personalities J

Return to South African Theatre Personalities

Return to Main Page

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