Sidney James
Biography
Sid James was a South African-born British actor and comedian who worked across radio, television, stage and film. Born in Johannesburg, he built a stage career in his home country before moving to Britain, and he made his first credited screen appearances in 1947. Through the 1950s he took small and supporting parts, among them The Lavender Hill Mob (1951) opposite Alec Guinness, The Small Back Room (1949), Trapeze (1956), Hell Drivers (1957) and A King in New York (1957). He became Tony Hancock's co-star in Hancock's Half Hour, first on radio and then on television from 1954 to 1960. He was a regular in the Carry On series, appearing in 19 of the films and receiving top billing in 17, among them Carry On Cleo (1964), Carry On Up the Khyber (1968), Carry On Camping (1969) and Carry On Dick (1974). He also led television sitcoms, including Bless This House, until he died in 1976.
62years old at death
- Born Hillbrow
- Died Sunderland
- Star sign: TaurusThe sign runs April 20 to May 20
- Solomon Joel Cohen (birth name)
Movie Career
- Films
- 39
- Career span
- 25 years1949 to 1974
Genres
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A role that slipped away
James wanted to avoid criminal characters, so in 1960 he said no to playing Fagin in the original West End production of Oliver!.
Big break
James was cast in Hancock's Half Hour in 1954 on the suggestion of Hancock's writers, Galton and Simpson, who had seen him in The Lavender Hill Mob.
A role that slipped away
James was set to play Sergeant Nocker in Follow That Camel in 1967 but was replaced by American comic actor Phil Silvers because he was already committed to recording George and the Dragon.
A change of course
James was a lieutenant in the Union Defence Force Entertainment Unit during World War II, then took up acting. His service gratuity paid for his move to the United Kingdom in December 1946.
Sidney James movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Gerald Thomas directed sixteen of these films, Ralph Thomas six and Charles Crichton two. Two actors appear in thirteen of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Joan Sims's page
Kenneth Williams's page
Charles Hawtrey's page
Peter Butterworth's page
Kenneth Connor's page
Hattie Jacques's page
Gerald ThomasDirector, 16 films, 1960 to 1974
All films by Gerald Thomas
Ralph ThomasDirector, 6 films, 1952 to 1962
All films by Ralph Thomas
Charles CrichtonDirector, 2 films, 1951 to 1953
All films by Charles Crichton
Also eight films together1 more actor
- Peter GilmoreCarry On Henry (1971), Carry On Again Doctor (1969), Carry On Up the Khyber (1968), Carry On Doctor (1967), Carry on Pimpernel (1967), Carry on Cowboy (1965), Carry on Cleo (1964) and Carry on Cabby (1963)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.