Solomon Joel Cohen was born to English parents in Johannesburg, South Africa, but found fame as a comedy actor after moving to England. He first rose to stardom as the duplicitous spiv in Galton & Simpson's Hancock's Half Hour, both on radio and TV. He went on to star in 19 of 31 Carry On films. The 1960s and 1970s also saw him star in a variety of his own television series, for both the BBC and ITV. Notably, Citizen James, George And The Dragon, Two In Clover, and Bless This House.
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.
- Birth name
- Solomon Joel Cohen
- Full name
- Sidney James
- AKA
- Sidney Joel Cohen
- Gender
- Male
- Nationality
- United Kingdom / South Africa
- Born
- Thursday 8th May 1913 - Hillbrow, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Died
- Monday 26th April 1976 (aged 62) - Sunderland Empire
Family
- Wife
- Berthe Delmont (1936 - 1940)
- Wife
- Meg Williams (1943 - 1952)
- Wife
- Valerie James (1952 - 1976)
Known for
Credits
Year | Production | Role |
---|---|---|
2015 | The Essay: British Film Comedians | Subject |
2015 | Carry On Forever
|
Self (Archive Material) |
2013 | Tony Hancock: From Bournemouth To East Cheam | Self (Archive Material) |
2013 | Sid James: Not Just A Dirty Laugh | Self (Archive Material) |
2013 | The Many Faces Of... - Series 3 | Self (Archive Material) |
2011 | Greatest Ever Carry On Films | Self (Archive Material) |
2011 | Legends Of British Comedy | Self (Archive Material) |
2011 | My Favourite Joke
|
Self (Archive Material) |
2010 | Carry On Forever! | Self (Archive Material) |
2009 | Very Nearly An Armful - The Galton & Simpson Story | Self (Archive Material) |
2005 | The Unknown Hancock | Self (Archive Material) |
2000 | The Unforgettable... - Series 2
|
Self (Archive Material) |
1984 | What A Carry On (as Sidney James) | Self (Archive Material) |
1977 | That's Carry On! (as Sidney James) | Self (Archive Material) |
1976 | Bless This House - Series 6 | Sid Abbott |
1975 | Carry On Laughing - Series 1
|
Sir Francis Drake |
1975 | Carry On Laughing - Series 1
|
Lovelace |
1975 | Carry On Laughing - Series 1
|
Baron Hubert |
1975 | Carry On Laughing - Series 1 | Prince Rupert |
1975 | Carry On Laughing - Series 1 | Arnold Basket |
1974 | Bless This House - Series 5 | Sid Abbott |
1974 | Carry On Dick (as Sidney James) | Richard 'Big Dick' Turpin / Reverend Flasher |
1974 | Bless This House - Series 4 | Sid Abbott |
1973 | Carry On Christmas - Carry On Christmas | Mr Belcher |
1973 | Carry On Christmas - Carry On Christmas | Seed Pod |
1973 | Carry On Christmas - Carry On Christmas | Sir Henry |
1973 | Carry On Christmas - Carry On Christmas | Sergeant Ball |
1973 | Carry On Christmas - Carry On Christmas | Robin Hood |
1973 | What A Carry On! (as Sidney James) | Self |
1973 | Carry On Girls (as Sidney James) | Cllr Sidney Fiddler |
1973 | Bless This House - Series 3 | Sid Abbott |
1972 | Carry On Abroad (as Sidney James) | Vic Flange |
1972 | Carry On Matron (as Sidney James) | Sid Carter |
1972 | Bless This House - Series 2 | Sid Abbott |
1972 | Bless This House | Sid Abbot |
1971 | Carry On At Your Convenience (as Sidney James) | Sid Plummer |
1971 | Carry On Henry (as Sidney James) | Henry VIII |
1971 | Bless This House - Series 1 | Sid Abbott |
1970 | Carry On Christmas - Carry On Again Christmas (as Sidney James) | Long John Silver |
1970 | Carry On Loving (as Sidney James) | Sidney Bliss |
1970 | Carry On Forever (as Sidney James) | Self |
1970 | Carry On Up The Jungle (as Sidney James) | Bill Boosey |
1970 | Two In Clover - Series 2 (as Sidney James) | Sid Turner |
1969 | Carry On Christmas - Carry On Christmas | Scrooge |
1969 | Carry On Again Doctor (as Sidney James) | Gladstone Screwer |
1969 | Carry On Camping (as Sidney James) | Sid Boggle |
1969 | Two In Clover - Series 1 (as Sidney James) | Sid Turner |
1969 | Carry On Christmas - Series 4 | Various |
1969 | Carry On Christmas - Series 2 | Various |
1969 | Carry On Christmas - Series 1 | Various |
1968 | Carry On... Up The Khyber (as Sidney James) | Sir Sidney Ruff-Diamond |
1968 | George And The Dragon - Series 4 | George Russell |
1968 | Carry On Doctor (as Sidney James) | Mr. Roper |
1968 | George And The Dragon - Series 3 | George Russell |
1967 | George And The Dragon - Series 2 | George Russell |
1966 | Don't Lose Your Head (as Sidney James) | Sir Rodney Ffing |
1966 | George And The Dragon - Series 1 | George Russell |
1965 | Sid And Dora | Sid Edge |
1965 | Carry On Cowboy (as Sidney James) | The Rumpo Kid |
1965 | Three Hats For Lisa (as Sidney James) | Sid Marks |
1965 | The Big Job | George 'The Great Brain' |
1964 | The Beauty Jungle (as Sydney James) | Butlin's Judge |
1964 | Taxi! - Series 2 (as Sidney James) | Sid Stone |
1964 | Carry On Cleo (as Sidney James) | Mark Antony |
1963 | Taxi! - Series 1 (as Sidney James) | Sid Stone |
1963 | Carry On Cabby (as Sidney James) | Charlie Hawkins |
1962 | Citizen James - Series 3 (as Sidney James) | Sid James |
1962 | Carry On Cruising (as Sidney James) | Captain Wellington Crowther |
1961 | What A Whopper (as Sidney James) | Harry |
1961 | Citizen James - Series 2 (as Sidney James) | Sid James |
1961 | It's A Deal (as Sidney James) | Sid |
1961 | A Weekend With Lulu (as Sidney James) | English Gambler |
1961 | Carry On Regardless (as Sidney James) | Bert Handy |
1961 | Double Bunk (as Sidney James) | Sid Randall |
1960 | The Pure Hell Of St. Trinian's (as Sidney James) | Alphonse O'Reilly |
1960 | Citizen James - Series 1 (as Sidney James) | Sid James |
1960 | Carry On, Constable (as Sidney James) | Sgt. Frank Wilkins |
1960 | And The Same To You (as Sidney James) | Sammy Gatt |
1959 | Too Many Crooks (as Sidney James) | Sid |
1959 | Tommy The Toreador (as Sidney James) | Cadena |
1959 | Make Mine A Million | Sid Gibson |
1958 | Hancock's Half Hour - Series 4 | Sidney Balmoral James |
1958 | Hancock's Half Hour - Series 4 (as Sidney James)
|
Sid's Grandfather (Voice) |
1958 | Next To No Time! (as Sidney James) | Albert |
1958 | The Sheriff Of Fractured Jaw (as Sidney James) | The Drunk |
1958 | East End - West End | Actor |
1957 | Hancock's Forty-Three Minutes (as Sidney James) | Sidney James |
1957 | Hancock's Half Hour - Series 3 | Sidney Balmoral James |
1957 | Hancock's Half Hour - Series 2 | Sidney Balmoral James |
1957 | Hancock's Half Hour - Series 2 (as Sidney James)
|
General Sidski |
1957 | The Smallest Show On Earth (as Sidney James) | Mr. Hogg |
1956 | Dry Rot (as Sidney James) | Flash Harry |
1956 | Hancock's Half Hour - Series 1 | Sidney Balmoral James |
1955 | Hancock's Half Hour - Series 3 | Sidney James |
1955 | Hancock's Half Hour - Series 2 | Sidney James |
1955 | Hancock's Half Hour - Series 1
|
Tailor |
1954 | Hancock's Half Hour - Series 1 | Sidney James |
1954 | The Crowded Day (as Sidney James) | Joe |
1954 | The Belles Of St. Trinian's (as Sidney James) | Benny |
1954 | For Better, For Worse (as Sidney James) | The Foreman |
1953 | The Titfield Thunderbolt (as Sidney James) | Harry Hawkins |
1952 | Miss Robin Hood (as Sidney James) | Sidney |
1951 | The Lavender Hill Mob (as Sidney James) | Lackery |
1951 | Here's Television (as Sidney James) | Actor |
Non-comedy TV and film credits might be found here:
Sid James on IMDb