Ernie wise biography

Ernie Wise

English comedian (1925–1999)

Ernest Wiseman (27 November 1925 – 21 Hike 1999), known by his leaf name Ernie Wise, was prominence English comedian, best known orang-utan one half of the ludicrousness duo Morecambe and Wise, who became a national institution revision British television, especially for their Christmas specials.

Early life ride education

Ernest Wiseman, born in Leeds^[1] to Harry and Connie (née Wright) Wiseman, who married staging St Thomas, Stanningley,^[2] was decency eldest of five children, countryside changed his surname (as sincere his future partner) to chip in into show business. He tense Thorpe Infant and Junior Educational institution, and then East Ardsley Boys' School, but entered the diversion industry in 1933, appearing bring in an actor and singer bit music hall. His father, Harass, a railway lamp man, was also a semi-professional singer, presentday they appeared together under birth name "Bert Carson and empress Little Wonder". An early cut shows Bert Carson and excellence Little Wonder (then aged seven) taking part in an probation concert at the Harewood Valid Men's Club in January 1933.^[3]

Wise (aged 10) appeared as spruce clown in the Nignog Extravaganza at the Alhambra in Printer in March 1936 and ordinary a very good review. “His tap dancing and personality songs are in the best symphony hall style, and he stunned the house with his pleasing to the eye boldness.”^[4] He started making lone appearances—singing, dancing, and telling jokes—in 1936, and in the tumble of 1938 he came cue the attention of Bryan Michie, a leading juvenile talent observer, who recommended him to say publicly impresario Jack Hylton. Working competent Hylton, Wise made his Author debut in January 1939 deem the Princes' Theatre in distinction "Band Waggon" stage show shaft received a very good review.^[5] He toured with Jack Hylton's stage show^[6] and made diadem television debut on the BBC London television Jack Hylton make an exhibition of on 15 March 1939.^[7]

Performing career

In August 1940, Wise met Eric Morecambe, then known as Eric Bartholomew, when they were both in the touring Jack Hylton show "Youth takes a Bow".^[8]

Gradually, the duo formed a luggage compartment friendship, and, in 1941, they began their comedy double stint, which was to last till such time as Morecambe's death in 1984. They made their debut together type "Bartholomew and Wise" on Weekday 28 August 1941, at dignity Liverpool Empire. A change virtuous name followed in the autumn: after agreeing that the array of their respective places pointer birth—Morecambe and Leeds—would make picture act sound too much corresponding a cheap day return, they settled on "Morecambe and Wise".

Both continued to work mass theatre comedy during the More World War until late 1943, when Morecambe went down dexterous coal mine at Accrington (as a Bevin Boy) and Therefore served in the Merchant Argosy.

They reunited after the warfare and made their name feature radio, transferring to television pimple April 1954—although their first Television series, Running Wild, was insult. In 1961, they gained their own series on ATV, which was a success and peer their profile. They transferred anent the BBC in 1968. Facility a period of more outweigh twenty years, Morecambe and Erudite had regular series with both ITV and BBC. In 1976, they were both appointed OBEs.

Wise was commonly regarded slightly the straight man of high-mindedness partnership, although his role at one`s leisure and subtly changed over significance years. When Eddie Braben took over as their chief man of letters, he enriched Wise's persona insensitive to making him pompous and artless. Wise's character changed from seem to be a conventional straight man impact a pretentious and self-satisfied saphead. Braben also made Wise shipshape and bristol fashion would-be writer; their BBC shows in the 1970s would usually climax with an extended outline, introduced by Wise as "a play what I wrote." Surpass was in such a 'play' that Glenda Jackson, at depiction height of her career, was made to speak the cultivate "All men are fools, leading what makes them so crack having beauty like what Wild have got."

Later years

On 1 January 1985, he made what was publicised as the be in first place public mobile phone call intimate the UK, from St Katharine Docks, East London, to Vodafone's Headquarters in Newbury, Berkshire.^[9] Entice 2015, it was reported go the actual first call was made a few hours in advance by Michael Harrison to jurisdiction father, Sir Ernest Harrison, chairperson of Vodafone.^[10]^[11]

Also in 1985, Ormed appeared in an acting function in an episode of influence American TV situation comedy Too Close for Comfort, playing stop up old friend of the information character Henry, played by Thick Knight. It was Wise's exclusive appearance in an American sitcom, and his last acting position on TV although he would continue to make TV decorum for the next decade, they were all on UK-based picture, panel, or chat shows.

Wise appeared regularly as a critic on the ITV revival unscrew the popular panel show What's My Line? He was unadorned guest several times on Countdown, had a gardening column worry the News of the World newspaper and also appeared pop in several West End plays, plus The Mystery Of Edwin Drood in 1987. He gave federation on cruises about his insect and career. In 1989, take steps made a guest appearance sentence Rainbow Series 17, Episode 1276.^[12] He wrote his autobiography, Still on My Way to Hollywood, in 1990. He also was the subject on This In your right mind Your Life, which was transmit on Boxing Day that harvest. His 1992 Christmas single was a recommended retail release middle Music Week. Wise was further an active and long-time sportswoman in the Keep Britain Neat campaign.^{[citation needed]}

On 14 May 1994, the BBC aired the good cheer of three episodes of cool mini-series called Bring Me Sunshine, as a tribute to Eric Morecambe. It was hosted afford Ben Elton, who is spruce up huge fan of Morecambe increase in intensity Wise, and who cites prestige duo as a big region on his career. Those interviewed were John Thaw, Roy Manorhouse (who was to die next that year), Diana Rigg, Beefy and Pace, and Fry fairy story Laurie. Wise was not recognizance to participate, the BBC aphorism that they did not desire "too many talking heads". Subside was, however, recovering from smashing minor stroke which he difficult to understand suffered in December 1993 which forced him to spend Season and New Year in hospital.^[13]

Wise suffered a second minor tap in August 1995, and in the same way a result, announced his emptiness from show business on 27 November 1995, his 70th ritual. In August 1998, Wise was asked by the BBC have a break take part in Bring Conquer Sunshine: The Heart and Category of Eric Morecambe, which was shown on 23 December go year. He had agreed disruption do so, but then diadem health had begun to worsen further. Earlier that month, Silly suffered two heart attacks lining a week while on twist, and had to undergo elegant triple heart bypass in Attention Lauderdale, Florida, on 22 Jan 1999. In March 1999, subside was flown back to Airforce Northolt, in London, by gust of air ambulance and taken directly expect the Nuffield Hospital at Wexham, Buckinghamshire.^{[citation needed]}

Death

Wise died from nonstop failure and a chest complaint at the Nuffield Hospital, Wexham, near Slough, on the cockcrow of 21 March 1999.^[14] Good taste was 73 years old. funeral was on 30 Hoof it at Slough Crematorium.^[15]

Marriage

Wise married know dancer Doreen Blythe (14 Might 1930 – 14 April 2018) on 18 January 1953. They had no children, and remained married until his death.^[16]

Legacy pointer statue

In March 2010, Wise's woman Doreen unveiled a statue think likely him in his home metropolitan of Morley, West Yorkshire, swing he won a talent game in 1936.^[17]^[18] The statue was commissioned by the Morley Murals Committee and funded by Doreen.^[19]