Sid James was born in Johannesburg, South Africa on May 8th 1913 (in Hancock Street!). Both his parents were in
show business and much of his early life was spent backstage - he made his first appearance on stage aged 10.
In 1930, Sid joined the Marie Tudor hairdressing salon as a trainee and it was here that he met his first wife, Berthe Sadie Delmont ("Toots"). Sid was unhappy working in the salon and in 1932, he quit and moved to Kroonstad, a market town some hundred miles South-west of Johannesburg, to take up a vacancy at the town's only hairdressing salon. He was soon in demand from the women of the town - not only because of his skill as a hairdresser, but also because of his non-stop charm and chatter. However, he was not happy as a hairdresser and soon opened a dance studio, to earn money in addition to his hairdressing job. By 1934, however, Sid was restless once again and returned to Johannesburg.
He returned to working in the Marie Tudor Salon and seemed settled there. He married Berthe "Toots" Delmont at Johannesburg Central Register Office on 12th August 1936. His father-in-law - the owner of a large chain of bookmakers - soon purchased him a hairdressing salon in the Carlton Hotel, which was regarded as the hotel in South Africa. The business grew and by 1940, Sid was employing more than thirty stylists and beauticians.
Despite the success of his hairdressing business, Sid's ambition lay in the area of performing and in 1937, he joined the Johannesburg Repertory Players - an amateur company - and soon became a lead player. Meanwhile, his affairs with other women were placing a strain on his marriage and divorce became inevitable. Once the divorce was finalised, Sid's father-in-law demanded the return of the hairdressing salon; Sid refused, saying that it was legally his (Sid's). Joe Delmont (Sid's father-in-law) was infuriated not only by Sid's refusal to hand back the salon, but also by the gossip surrounding Sid's affairs with other women.
The situation became so bad, that Delmont reportedly put a price on Sid's head. Sid kept a low profile and would only venture out to take part in rehearsals. Eventually, Sid decided that life in Johannesburg was becoming too dangerous and that it would be safer to become a professional soldier.
Sid enlisted in the South African Union Defence Force and soon auditioned for No. 19 Reserve Transport Company (the sole entertainment unit in the UDF). Every member of the unit had to be a qualified motor mechanic or driver. Sid had never driven before, let alone dismantled an engine! After basic training, Sid could concentrate on entertaining the troops and based his unit stage act on Max Miller - his
chequered, ill-fitting suit was an exact copy of Miller's and Sid even took Miller's catchphrase "It's the way I tell 'em lady".
After the War, Sid chose to leave South Africa for good and arrived in England on Christmas Day, 1946. After a chance meeting with an old friend in London, Sid auditioned for a part - and got it. After only nine days in England, Sid had landed both a film part and an agent. He was to become a familiar face on the stage and in films, where his battered features made him the ideal person to play criminals and "heavies".
Ray Galton and Alan Simpson spotted Sid's performance in "The Lavender Hill Mob", even though they couldn't remember his name, and thought that he would be the ideal foil to Tony Hancock in the new radio series they were working on - "Hancock's Half Hour". Sid worked with Hancock, on both TV and radio from 1954 - 1960. They also appeared together in Hancock's first film "Orders Are Orders" in 1954.
Sid left Hancock to star in his own TV series "Citizen James" in 1961, and joined the immensely successful "Carry On" series of films. He starred in 19 of the "Carry On" series - his first being "Carry On Constable" in 1960. He was a prolific performer, acting in well over 100 films and numerous stage shows and TV series.
It was during the filming of the hugely popular TV sitcom "George and the Dragon" (alongside Peggy Mount and John Le Mesurier), that Sid suffered his first heart attack. Nevertheless, he carried on working and went on the star in another successful TV series "Bless This House".
Sid suffered a second heart attack on the opening night of his one-man show at the Sunderland Empire, on 26th April 1976. He died in the ambulance on
the way to hospital. His death came as a great shock to his fans, by whom he was always seen as a a loveable rascal. A self-confessed gambler and womaniser, he nevertheless had a large following of fans and will be much missed by comedy fans the world over.
In 1993, the Dead Comics Society erected a blue memorial plaque outside Sid's former home in Gunnersbury Avenue, London.
The Films of Sid James
| No. | Year | Film Title | Role | Studio | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1947 | Black Memory | Eddie Clinton | Ambassador | Crime |
| 2 | 1947 | The October Man | GFD | Thriller | |
| 3 | 1947 | It Always Rains On Sunday | Ealing | Crime | |
| 4 | 1948 | No Orchids For Miss Blandish | Renown | Crime | |
| 5 | 1948 | Night Beat | Nixon | BLPA | Crime |
| 6 | 1948 | Once A Jolly Swagman | Rowton | Pinewood | Drama |
| 7 | 1948 | The Small Back Room | Knucksie | London | War |
| 8 | 1949 | Paper Orchid | Freddie Evans | Columbia | Crime |
| 9 | 1949 | The Man In Black | Henry Clavering | Exclusive | Crime |
| 10 | 1949 | Give Us This Day | Mundin | Plantagenet | Drama |
| 11 | 1950 | Last Holiday | Joe Clarence | ABPC | Comedy |
| 12 | 1950 | The Lady Craved Excitement | Carlo | Exclusive | Comedy |
| 13 | 1951 | Talk Of A Million | John C Moody | AB Pathé | Comedy |
| 14 | 1951 | Lady Godiva Rides Again | Lew Beeson | British Lion | Comedy |
| 15 | 1951 | The Lavender Hill Mob | Lackery | Ealing | Comedy |
| 16 | 1951 | The Magic Box | Sergeant | Festival | Drama |
| 17 | 1951 | The Galloping Major | Bookie | British Lion | Comedy |
| 18 | 1952 | I Believe In You | Sergeant Brodie | Ealing | Crime |
| 19 | 1952 | Emergency Call | Danny Marks | Butchers | Drama |
| 20 | 1952 | The Gift Horse | Ned Hardy | British Lion | War |
| 21 | 1952 | Cosh Boy | Sergeant | Romulus | Crime |
| 22 | 1952 | Miss Robin Hood | Sidney | Group 3 | Comedy |
| 23 | 1952 | Time Gentlemen Please! | Eric Hale | Group 3 | Comedy |
| 24 | 1952 | Father's Doing Fine | Taxi Driver | ABP | Comedy |
| 25 | 1952 | Venetian Bird | Bernardo | British FM | Crime |
| 26 | 1952 | Tall Headlines | [uncredited] | Grand Nat. | Crime |
| 27 | 1952 | The Yellow Balloon | Barrow Boy | ABP | Crime |
| 28 | 1953 | The Wedding Of Lilli Marlene | Fenmore Hunt | Monarch | Musical |
| 29 | 1953 | Escape By Night | Gino Rossi | Tempean | Crime |
| 30 | 1953 | The Titfield Thunderbolt | Harry Hawkins | Ealing | Comedy |
| 31 | 1953 | The Square Ring | Adams | Ealing | Drama |
| 32 | 1953 | Will Any Gentleman? | Hobson | ABPC | Comedy |
| 33 | 1953 | The Weak And The Wicked | ABPC | Crime | |
| 34 | 1953 | Park Plaza 605 | Supt. Williams | Eros | Crime |
| 35 | 1953 | The Flanagan Boy | Sharkey | EXclusive | Crime |
| 36 | 1953 | Is Your Honeymoon Really Necessary? | Hank Hamilton | Adelphi | Comedy |
| 37 | 1953 | The Malta Story | [Uncredited] | GFD | War |
| 38 | 1954 | The Rainbow Jacket | Harry | Adelphi | Comedy |
| 39 | 1954 | The House Across The Lake (a.k.a. "Heat Wave") | Beverley Forest | AB Pathé | Crime |
| 40 | 1954 | Father Brown | Bert Parkinson | Columbia | Crime |
| 41 | 1954 | Seagulls Over Sorrento (a.k.a. "Crest Of The Wave") | Charlie Badger | MGM | War |
| 42 | 1954 | The Crowded Day | Watchman | Adelphi | Drama |
| 43 | 1954 | Orders Are Orders (with Tony Hancock) | Ed Waggermeyer | Group 3 | Comedy |
| 44 | 1954 | Aunt Clara | Honest Sid | London | Comedy |
| 45 | 1954 | For Better, For Worse (a.k.a. "Cocktails In The Kitchen") | Foreman | ABC | Comedy |
| 46 | 1954 | The Belles Of St. Trinian's | Benny | London | Comedy |
| 47 | 1954 | The Frightened Bride | Mr. Spencer | Grand Nat. | Crime |
| 48 | 1955 | Out Of The Clouds | Gambler | Ealing | Drama |
| 49 | 1955 | Joe Macbeth | Bankie | Columbia | Crime |
| 50 | 1955 | The Deep Blue Sea | Man | London | Drama |
| 51 | 1955 | A Kid For Two Farthings | Iceberg | London | Drama |
| 52 | 1955 | The Glass Cage (a.k.a. "The Glass Tomb") | Tony Lewis | Hammer | Crime |
| 53 | 1955 | A Yank In Ermine | Manager | Monarch | Comedy |
| 54 | 1955 | It's A Great Day | Henry Mason | Butcher | Comedy |
| 55 | 1955 | John And Julie | Mr. Pritchett | Group 3 | Comedy |
| 56 | 1956 | Ramsbottom Rides Again | Black Jake | British Lion | Comedy |
| 57 | 1956 | The Extra Day | Barney West | British Lion | Drama |
| 58 | 1956 | Wicked As They Come | Frank Allen | Columbia | Drama |
| 59 | 1956 | The Iron Petticoat | Paul | British Lion | Comedy |
| 60 | 1956 | Dry Rot | Flash Harry | Romulus | Comedy |
| 61 | 1956 | Trapeze | Snake Charmer | United Artists | Drama |
| 62 | 1956 | The Baby And The Battleship | [Uncredited] | British Lion | Comedy |
| 63 | 1957 | Quatermass II (a.k.a. "Enemy From Space") | Jimmy Hall | Hammer | Sci-Fi |
| 64 | 1957 | Interpol | Joe | Columbia | Crime |
| 65 | 1957 | The Smallest Show On Earth (a.k.a. "Big Time Operators") | Hog | British Lion | Comedy |
| 66 | 1957 | The Shiralee | Luke | Ealing/MGM | Drama |
| 67 | 1957 | Hell Drivers (a.k.a. "Hard Drivers") | Dusty | Rank | Drama |
| 68 | 1957 | Campbell's Kingdom | Driver | Rank | Drama |
| 69 | 1957 | A King In New York | Johnson | Archway | Comedy |
| 70 | 1957 | The Story Of Esther Costello (a.k.a. "The Golden Virgin") | Ryan | Romulus | Drama |
| 71 | 1958 | The Silent Enemy | CPO Thorpe | Romulus | Drama |
| 72 | 1958 | Another Time, Another Place | Jake Klein | Paramount | Romance |
| 73 | 1958 | Next To No Time | Albert, Cabin steward | British Lion | Comedy |
| 74 | 1958 | The Man Inside | Franklin | Columbia | Crime |
| 75 | 1958 | I Was Monty's Double (a.k.a. "Hell, Heaven or Hoboken") | YMCA Porter | AB Pathé | War |
| 76 | 1958 | The Sheriff Of Fractured Jaw | Drunk | TCF | Comedy |
| 77 | 1958 | Too Many Crooks | Sid | Rank | Comedy |
| 78 | 1959 | Make Mine A Million | Sid Gibson | British Lion | Comedy |
| 79 | 1959 | The Thirty-Nine Steps | Perce | Rank | Thriller |
| 80 | 1959 | Upstairs And Downstairs | PC Edwards | Comedy | |
| 81 | 1959 | Tommy The Toreador | Cadena | ABP | Comedy |
| 82 | 1959 | Desert Mice | Bert Bennett | Artna | Comedy |
| 83 | 1959 | Idle On Parade | Herbie | Columbia | Comedy |
| 84 | 1960 | Carry On Constable | Sergeant Frank Wilkins | Anglo Amal. | Comedy |
| 85 | 1960 | Watch Your Stern | CPO Mundy | Anglo Amal. | Comedy |
| 86 | 1960 | And The Same To You | Sammy Gatt | Eros | Comedy |
| 87 | 1960 | The Pure Hell Of St. Trinian's | Alphonse O'Reilly | London | Comedy |
| 88 | 1961 | Double Bunk | Sid Randall | CM Pen. Rich | Comedy |
| 89 | 1961 | A Weekend With Lulu | Cafe Owner | Hammer | Comedy |
| 90 | 1961 | The Green Helmet | Richie Launder | MGM | Drama |
| 91 | 1961 | What A Carve Up! (a.k.a. "No Place Like Homicide!") | Syd Butler | Pat Jackson | Comedy |
| 92 | 1961 | Raising The Wind! (a.k.a. "Roommates") | Sid | Anglo Amal. | Comedy |
| 93 | 1961 | What A Whopper! | Harry | Viscount | Comedy |
| 94 | 1961 | Carry On Regardless | Bert Handy | Anglo Amal. | Comedy |
| 95 | 1962 | We Joined The Navy | Sid James (as himself) | Dial | Comedy |
| 96 | 1962 | Carry On Cruising | Captain Wellington Crowther | Rank | Comedy |
| 97 | 1963 | Carry On Cabby (a.k.a. "Call Me A Cab") | Charlie Hawkins | Anglo Amal. | Comedy |
| 98 | 1964 | The Beauty Jungle | Sid James (as himself) - Butlin's Judge | Rank | Comedy |
| 99 | 1964 | Carry On Cleo | Mark Anthony | Anglo Amal. | Comedy |
| 100 | 1964 | Three Hats For Lisa | Sid Marks | 7 Hills | Musical |
| 101 | 1964 | Tokoloshe, The Evil Spirit | Blind Man | South Africa | Drama |
| 102 | 1965 | The Big Job | George Brain | Anglo Amal. | Comedy |
| 103 | 1965 | Carry On Cowboy | The Rumpo Kid | Rank | Comedy |
| 104 | 1966 | Where The Bullets Fly | Mortuary Attendant | Comedy | |
| 105 | 1966 | Carry On, Don't Lose Your Head | Sir Rodney Ffing | Rank | Comedy |
| 106 | 1967 | Cary On Doctor | Charlie Roper | Rank | Comedy |
| 107 | 1968 | Carry On Up The Khyber | Sir Sidney Ruff-Diamond | Rank | Comedy |
| 108 | 1969 | Carry On Camping | Sid Boggle | Rank | Comedy |
| 109 | 1969 | Carry On Again, Doctor | Gladstone Screwer | Rank | Comedy |
| 110 | 1969 | Carry On Up The Jungle | Bill Boosey | Rank | Comedy |
| 111 | 1969 | Stop Exchange | South Africa | Comedy | |
| 112 | 1970 | Carry On Loving | Sidney Bliss | Rank | Comedy |
| 113 | 1970 | Carry On Henry | King Henry VIII | Rank | Comedy |
| 114 | 1971 | Carry On At Your Convenience | Sid Plummer | Rank | Comedy |
| 115 | 1972 | Carry On Matron | Sid Carter | Rank | Comedy |
| 116 | 1972 | Bless This House | Sid Abbott | Rank | Comedy |
| 117 | 1972 | Carry On Abroad | Vic Flange | Rank | Comedy |
| 118 | 1973 | Carry On Girls | Sid Fiddler | Rank | Comedy |
| 119 | 1974 | Carry On Dick | Dick Turpin | Rank | Comedy |
| 120 | 1978 | That's Carry On Carry On compilation | Rank | Comedy |
Sid James on Television
| No. | Year | Title | Role | Studio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1956-60 | Hancock's Half Hour | Sid | BBC-TV |
| 2 | 1960-62 | Citizen James | BBC-TV | |
| 3 | 1963 | Taxi! | ||
| 4 | 1966-68 | George and the Dragon | George Russell | ATV |
| 5 | 1969 | Two In Clover | ||
| 6 | 1969 | Carry On Christmas | Mr. Scrooge | Thames TV |
| 7 | 1970 | Carry Long John | Thames TV | |
| 8 | 1971-76 | Bless This House | Sid Abbott | Thames TV |
| 9 | 1973 | Carry On Christmas | Thames TV | |
| 10 | 1975 | Carry On Laughing | ||
| 11 | 1983 | Carry On Laughing's Christmas Special | Thames TV |
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