Biography

Solomon Joel Cohen was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, in May 1913. His parents were Jewish music hall artistes from London's East End, and - having initially trained and worked as a barber before turning to acting - it was to England he would return, arriving in Southampton on Boxing Day 1946.

Having adopted the name Sidney James, he had joined the Johannesburg Repertory Company in the late 1930s and entertained his fellow South African servicemen during the war, also becoming a regular on radio and on stage. Such was his success and variety of work that it is remarkable he chose to start again from scratch with a move to England.

However, he did not have to worry as his career in Britain began almost immediately. Within 12 months he had secured two credited film roles, not to mention a ream of stage credits. Radio soon followed, and television after that. Somewhat of a workaholic, James never turned down an offer of work unless he was already busy elsewhere.

He first rose to a position of real stardom as the duplicitous spiv in Galton & Simpson's Hancock's Half Hour, initially on radio and later television. In both mediums the sitcom gripped the nation. His first appearance in the Carry On films was in 1960's Constable, and he would become one of the series' biggest stars, appearing in 19 of the 31 titles.

The 1960s and 1970s also saw him star in a variety of his own television series, both for the BBC and ITV. Notably, Citizen James, George And The Dragon, Two In Clover, and Bless This House.

The latter, domestic comedy was by far the biggest hit, running for six series and a feature film spin-off. It was brought to an end only with his death, aged just 62. Like numerous other stars of his generation, Sid collapsed whilst performing for an audience, suffering a fatal heart attack on stage at the Sunderland Empire on the 26th April 1976.