Sidney James

Acting

Sidney James

Born May 8, 1913 · Hillbrow, Johannesburg, Union of South Africa

Died April 26, 1976 · aged 62

Sidney James (born Solomon Joel Cohen; May 8, 1913 – April 26, 1976) was a South African-born English-based actor and comedian. He made his name as Tony Hancock's co-star in Hancock's Half Hour and also starred in the popular Carry On films. He was known for his trademark "dirty laugh" and lascivious persona. Bruce Forsyth summed up his talent thus: "He was a natural at being natural."

Known For

The Titfield ThunderboltThe Titfield Thunderbolt · 1953
The Titfield Thunderbolt
7.01953
MovieComedy
When British Railways announce the closure of the Titfield to Mallingford branch line a group of local residents make a bid to run it themselves, backed by a monied member of the community who is attracted by the complete lack of licensing hours on trains. Unfortunately the local bus company starts to use methods that can hardly be seen as fair competition.
The Lavender Hill MobThe Lavender Hill Mob · 1951
The Lavender Hill Mob
7.21951
MovieComedyCrime
A meek bank clerk who oversees the shipments of bullion joins with an eccentric neighbor to steal gold bars and smuggle them out of the country.
A King in New YorkA King in New York · 1957
A King in New York
6.71957
MovieComedyDrama
A recently-deposed "Estrovian" monarch seeks shelter in New York City, where he becomes an accidental television celebrity. Later, he's wrongly accused of being a Communist and gets caught up in subsequent HUAC hearings.
TrapezeTrapeze · 1956
Trapeze
6.31956
MovieDramaRomance
A pair of men try to perform the dangerous "triple" in their trapeze act. Problems arise when the duo is made into a trio following the addition of a sexy female performer.
Quatermass 2Quatermass 2 · 1957
Quatermass 2
6.41957
MovieScience FictionHorror
In England, a group of space scientists led by Bernard Quatermass, who have developed plans for the first Moon colony, learn that a secret, ostensibly government-run, complex of identical design has been built in a remote part of England and is the focus of periodic falls of small, hollow "meteorites" originating in outer space. Quatermass determines to investigate and uncovers a terrifying extraterrestrial life form which has already begun action to take over the Earth.
The Small Back RoomThe Small Back Room · 1949
The Small Back Room
6.71949
MovieDramaWar
As the Germans drop explosive booby-traps on 1943 Britain, the embittered expert who'll have to disarm them fights a private battle with alcohol.
Venetian BirdVenetian Bird · 1952
Venetian Bird
6.21952
MovieThrillerMystery
Travelling to Venice to locate an ex-partisan on behalf of a French insurance company, a British private detective gets mixed-up in a political assassination conspiracy.
I Was Monty's DoubleI Was Monty's Double · 1958
I Was Monty's Double
6.91958
MovieWarDrama
The incredible but true story of how an impersonator was recruited to impersonate General Montgomery to mislead the Germans about his intentions before the North Africa campaign.

Filmography

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