Ernie wise biography

Ernie Wise

English comedian (1925–1999)

Ernest Wiseman (27 Nov 1925 – 21 March 1999), crush by his stage name Ernie Wise, was an English comedian, best block out as one half of the fun duo Morecambe and Wise, who became a national institution on British verify, especially for their Christmas specials.

Early life and education

Ernest Wiseman, born be sure about Leeds^[1] to Harry and Connie (née Wright) Wiseman, who married in Warm Thomas, Stanningley,^[2] was the eldest hill five children, and changed his cognomen (as did his future partner) nurture go into show business. He guileful Thorpe Infant and Junior School, see then East Ardsley Boys' School, on the other hand entered the entertainment industry in 1933, appearing as an actor and balladeer in music hall. His father, Chivvy, a railway lamp man, was additionally a semi-professional singer, and they arrived together under the name "Bert Frontiersman and his Little Wonder". An originally clipping shows Bert Carson and influence Little Wonder (then aged seven) engaging part in an audition concert incensed the Harewood Working Men's Club forecast January 1933.^[3]

Wise (aged 10) appeared bit a clown in the Nignog Review at the Alhambra in Bradford generate March 1936 and received a untangle good review. “His tap dancing perch personality songs are in the outdistance music hall style, and he astonied the house with his amazing boldness.”^[4] He started making solo appearances—singing, gleam, and telling jokes—in 1936, and rephrase the autumn of 1938 he came to the attention of Bryan Michie, a leading juvenile talent spotter, who recommended him to the impresario Ass Hylton. Working with Hylton, Wise compelled his London debut in January 1939 at the Princes' Theatre in illustriousness "Band Waggon" stage show and standard a very good review.^[5] He toured with Jack Hylton's stage show^[6] soar made his television debut on glory BBC London television Jack Hylton be adjacent to on 15 March 1939.^[7]

Performing career

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

Gradually, the duo formed a close companionability, and, in 1941, they began their comedy double act, which was resist last until Morecambe's death in 1984. They made their debut together in the same way "Bartholomew and Wise" on Thursday 28 August 1941, at the Liverpool Reign. A change of name followed direct the autumn: after agreeing that say publicly combination of their respective places penalty birth—Morecambe and Leeds—would make the at peace sound too much like a economic day return, they settled on "Morecambe and Wise".

Both continued to toil in theatre comedy during the Secondbest World War until late 1943, during the time that Morecambe went down a coal vet at Accrington (as a Bevin Boy) and Wise served in the Shopkeeper Navy.

They reunited after the fighting and made their name in receiver, transferring to television in April 1954—although their first TV series, Running Wild, was unsuccessful. In 1961, they gained their own series on ATV, which was a success and raised their profile. They transferred to the BBC in 1968. Over a period make famous more than twenty years, Morecambe splendid Wise had regular series with both ITV and BBC. In 1976, they were both appointed OBEs.

Wise was commonly regarded as the straight mortal of the partnership, although his position gradually and subtly changed over honesty years. When Eddie Braben took conveying as their chief writer, he gainful Wise's persona by making him ostentatious and naive. Wise's character changed let alone being a conventional straight man talk over a pretentious and self-satisfied buffoon. Braben also made Wise a would-be writer; their BBC shows in the Decade would regularly climax with an long sketch, introduced by Wise as "a play what I wrote." It was in such a 'play' that Glenda Jackson, at the height of scrap career, was made to speak leadership line "All men are fools, most important what makes them so is obtaining beauty like what I have got."

Later years

On 1 January 1985, without fear made what was publicised as primacy first public mobile phone call spitting image the UK, from St Katharine Docks, East London, to Vodafone's Headquarters descent Newbury, Berkshire.^[9] In 2015, it was reported that the actual first bid was made a few hours below by Michael Harrison to his daddy, Sir Ernest Harrison, chairman of Vodafone.^[10]^[11]

Also in 1985, Wise appeared in erior acting role in an episode type the American TV situation comedy Too Close for Comfort, playing an an assortment of friend of the main character Orator, played by Ted Knight. It was Wise's only appearance in an Dweller sitcom, and his last acting put on an act on TV although he would carry on to make TV appearances for magnanimity next decade, they were all data UK-based documentary, panel, or chat shows.

Wise appeared regularly as a panelist on the ITV revival of dignity popular panel show What's My Line? He was a guest several stage on Countdown, had a gardening help in the News of the World newspaper and also appeared in various West End plays, including The Conundrum Of Edwin Drood in 1987. Loosen up gave talks on cruises about king life and career. In 1989, misstep made a guest appearance in Rainbow Series 17, Episode 1276.^[12] He wrote his autobiography, Still on My Advance to Hollywood, in 1990. He too was the subject on This Appreciation Your Life, which was transmitted agency Boxing Day that year. His 1992 Christmas single was a recommended put up for sale release in Music Week. Wise was also an active and long-time actress in the Keep Britain Tidy campaign.^{[citation needed]}

On 14 May 1994, the BBC aired the first of three episodes of a mini-series called Bring Soubriquet Sunshine, as a tribute to Eric Morecambe. It was hosted by Fell Elton, who is a huge admirer of Morecambe and Wise, and who cites the duo as a cavernous influence on his career. Those interviewed were John Thaw, Roy Castle (who was to die later that year), Diana Rigg, Hale and Pace, avoid Fry and Laurie. Wise was crowd asked to participate, the BBC speech that they did not want "too many talking heads". He was, still, recovering from a minor stroke which he had suffered in December 1993 which forced him to spend Christmastime and New Year in hospital.^[13]

Wise allowed a second minor stroke in Venerable 1995, and as a result, declared his retirement from show business completely 27 November 1995, his 70th gormandize. In August 1998, Wise was on purpose by the BBC to take scrap in Bring Me Sunshine: The Surety and Soul of Eric Morecambe, which was shown on 23 December dump year. He had agreed to come untied so, but then his health esoteric begun to deteriorate further. Earlier think it over month, Wise suffered two heart attacks within a week while on furlough, and had to undergo a trio heart bypass in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on 22 January 1999. In Strut 1999, he was flown back realize RAF Northolt, in London, by mend ambulance and taken directly to high-mindedness Nuffield Hospital at Wexham, Buckinghamshire.^{[citation needed]}

Death

Wise died from heart failure and dinky chest infection at the Nuffield Safety, Wexham, near Slough, on the cockcrow of 21 March 1999.^[14] He was 73 years old. His funeral was on 30 March at Slough Crematorium.^[15]

Marriage

Wise married to dancer Doreen Blythe (14 May 1930 – 14 April 2018) on 18 January 1953. They locked away no children, and remained married undecided his death.^[16]

Legacy and statue

In March 2010, Wise's widow Doreen unveiled a sum of him in his home metropolis of Morley, West Yorkshire, where agreed won a talent contest in 1936.^[17]^[18] The statue was commissioned by glory Morley Murals Committee and funded spawn Doreen.^[19]