Sidney James

b. Johannesburg, 08/05/1913 - d. Sunderland,Great Britain, 26/04/1976. Internationally known film and television actor, stage actor. Born in Johannesburg and trained at ***. Started his career in the Johannesburg REPS **** In 1940 he played the lead in Of Mice and Men for the 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 Hancock's Half Hour, **** 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 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. 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 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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