ACTOR
Sidney James
Known for Carry On Cruising · No Orchids for Miss Blandish · The Ed Sullivan Show
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."
Snapshot 2026-10-16
- Born
- May 8, 1913
- Died
- Apr 26, 1976
- Birthplace
- Hillbrow, Johannesburg, Union of South Africa
- Known For
- Acting
Biography
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."
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Known For
MOVIE
Carry On CruisingCaptain Wellington Crowther · 1962
★ 6.1
★ 6.1
MOVIE
No Orchids for Miss Blandishuncredited · 1948
★ 6.1
★ 6.1
TV
The Ed Sullivan ShowSelf · 1948
★ 6.8
★ 6.8
TV
Armchair TheatreBasher Bates · 1956
★ 6.0
★ 6.0
MOVIE
What's a Carry On?Self (archive footage) (uncredited) · 1998
★ 7.7
★ 7.7
TV
The World of HammerSelf (archive footage) · 1994
★ 6.8
★ 6.8
Filmography
Movies
Black MemoryEddie Clinton
1947
NightbeatNixon (as Sidney James)
1947
It's Hard to be GoodPlatform guard (uncredited)
1948
No Orchids for Miss Blandishuncredited
1948
The Front PageHildy Johnson
1948
Give Us This DayMurdin
1949
Once a Jolly SwagmanRowton
1949
Paper OrchidFreddy Evans (as Sidney James)
1949
The Small Back Room'Knucksie' Moran
1949
Last HolidayJoe Clarence
1950
The Lady Craved ExcitementCarlo
1950
The Man in BlackHenry Clavering / Hodson
1950
Lady Godiva Rides AgainLew Beeson
1951
Talk of a MillionJohn C. Moody
1951
The Galloping MajorBookmaker
1951
The Lavender Hill MobLackery Wood
1951
Emergency CallDanny Marks
1952
Father's Doing FineTaxi Driver
1952
Gift HorseNed Hardy, Landlord Golden Bull
1952
I Believe in YouSergeant Body
1952
Miss Robin HoodSidney (as Sidney James)
1952
Tall HeadlinesMr. Spencer, neighbor
1952
The Magic BoxArmy Sergeant
1952
Time, Gentlemen, Please!Eric Hace
1952
Venetian BirdBernardo
1952BF
Box for One
1953
Cosh BoyDesk Sergeant
1953
Escape by NightGino Rossini
1953
Is Your Honeymoon Really Necessary?Hank Hanlon
1953
Park Plaza 605Supt. Williams (as Sidney James)
1953
The Flanagan BoySharkey (as Sidney James)
1953
The Square RingAdams
1953
The Titfield ThunderboltHarry Hawkins
1953
The Wedding of Lilli MarleneFennimore Hunt
1953
The Yellow BalloonCharlie
1953
Will Any Gentleman...?Mr. Hobson
1953
Aunt ClaraHonest Sid
1954
Father BrownBert Parkinson
1954
For Better, for WorseForeman
1954
Orders Are OrdersEd Waggermeyer
1954
Seagulls Over SorrentoCharlie Badger
1954
The Belles of St Trinian'sBenny
1954
The Crowded DayJoe, the Night Watchman
1954
The House Across the LakeBeverly Forrest (as Sidney James)
1954
The Rainbow JacketHarry
1954
The Weak and the WickedSyd Baden
1954
A Kid for Two FarthingsIce Berg
1955
A Yank in ErmineNightclub manager
1955
It's a Great DayHarry Mason
1955
Joe MacbethBanky
1955
John and JulieMr. Pritchett
1955
Out of the CloudsHenry, the Gambler
1955
The Deep Blue SeaMan outside bar
1955
The Glass CageTony Lewis
1955
Dry RotFlash Harry
1956
Ramsbottom Rides AgainBlack Jake
1956
The Extra DayBarney West
1956
The Iron PetticoatPaul
1956
TrapezeSnake Charmer
1956
Wicked as They ComeFrank Allenborg
1956
A King in New YorkJohnson - TV Advertiser
1957
Campbell's KingdomTim, MacDonald's driver-rigger
1957
Hancock's Half Hour: Volume 1Sidney Balmoral James
1957
Hell DriversDusty, Truck Driver
1957
InterpolJoe - First Bartender
1957
Quatermass 2Jimmy Hall
1957
The ShiraleeLuke
1957
The Smallest Show on EarthMr. Hogg
1957
The Story of Esther CostelloJoe Ryan
1957
Another Time, Another PlaceJake Klein
1958
I Was Monty's DoublePorter YMCA
1958
Next to No TimeAlbert, Cabin Steward
1958
The Man InsideFranklin
1958
The Sheriff of Fractured JawThe Drunk
1958
The Silent EnemyChief Petty Officer Thorpe
1958
Desert MiceBert Bennett
1959
Idol on ParadeHerbie
1959LA
Look at Life: Dustmen's DaySelf - Commentator
1959
Look at Life: Market PlaceSelf - Commentator
1959
Make Mine a MillionSid Gibson
1959
The 39 StepsPerce Baker
1959
Tommy the ToreadorCadena
1959
Too Many CrooksSid
1959
Upstairs and DownstairsP.C. Edwards
1959
And the Same to YouSammy Gatt
1960
Carry On ConstableSergeant Frank Wilkins
1960
The Pure Hell of St Trinian'sAlphonse O'Reilly
1960
Watch Your SternChief Petty Officer Mundy
1960
A Weekend with LuluCafé Patron
1961
Carry On RegardlessMr. Bert Handy
1961
Double BunkSid Randall
1961
Look at Life: Up To Scratch
1961
Raising the WindSid
1961
The Green HelmetRichie Launder
1961
What a Carve Up!Sid Butler
1961
What a WhopperHarry Sutton
1961
Carry On CruisingCaptain Wellington Crowther
1962LA
Look at Life: Getting a Move OnSelf - Commentator
1962
Carry On CabbyCharlie Hawkins
1963
We Joined the NavyDance Instructor
1963
Carry On CleoMark Antony
1964
The Beauty Jungle'Butlins' Judge
1964
Carry On CowboyJohnny Finger, the Rumpo Kid
1965
The Big JobGeorge Brain
1965
Three Hats for LisaSid Marks
1965
TokolosheHarry Parsons
1965DU
Don't Utter a NoteBasher Bates
1966
Where the Bullets FlyMortuary Attendant
1966
Carry On DoctorMr. Charlie Roper
1967
Don't Lose Your HeadSir Rodney Ffing, the Black Fingernail
1967
Carry On Up the KhyberSir Sidney Ruff-Diamond
1968VT
Vive TorbaySelf
1968
Carry On Again DoctorGladstone Screwer
1969
Carry On CampingSid Boggle
1969
Carry On ChristmasEbenezer Scrooge
1969
Carry On Again ChristmasLong John Silver
1970
Carry On LovingSidney Bliss
1970
Carry On Up the JungleMr. Bill Boosey
1970
All This, and Christmas Too!Sid Jones
1971
Carry On at Your ConvenienceSid Plummer
1971
Carry On HenryKing Henry VIII
1971
Bless This HouseSid Abbot
1972
Carry On AbroadVic Flange
1972
Carry On MatronSid Carter
1972
Carry on ChristmasMr. Belcher / Seed Pod / Sir Henry / Sergeant Will Ball / Robin Hood
1973
Carry On GirlsCouncillor Sid Fiddler
1973
What a Carry On!
1973
Carry On DickBig Dick Turpin
1974
The World of BudgerigarsSelf
1976
That's Carry On!Various Characters (archive footage)
1977
To See Such Fun
1977
Seriously Seeking SidSelf (archive footage)
1993
Stop Messin' About!: The Very Best of Kenneth Williams(Archive footage)
1996
What's a Carry On?Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
1998
The Unforgettable Sid JamesSelf
2000
On Location: The Carry OnsVarious Characters (archive footage) (uncredited)
2001
Sid James: Comedy IconSelf (Archive Footage)
2022Television
The Ed Sullivan ShowSelf · 2 eps
1948
Armchair TheatreBasher Bates · 1 eps
1956
Hancock's Half Hour57 eps
1956
The BuccaneersChantey Jack · 1 eps
1956
The Adventures of William TellSchaffner · 1 eps
1958
Look at LifeNarrator · 4 eps
1959
Citizen JamesSidney 'Sid' Balmoral James · 32 eps
1960Citizen JamesCreator
1960T
Taxi!Sid Stone · 26 eps
1963
George and the Dragon26 eps
1966
Carry On Christmas Specials4 eps
1969
Two in CloverSid Turner · 13 eps
1969
Bless This HouseSid Abbott · 66 eps
1971Bless This HouseAlf Carter · 1 eps
1971
Carry On LaughingPrince Rupert / Arnold Basket · 1 eps
1975Carry On LaughingBaron Hubert · 1 eps
1975Carry On LaughingLovelace · 1 eps
1975Carry On LaughingSir Francis Drake · 1 eps
1975
ITV Christmas Comedy15 eps
1983
The World of HammerSelf (archive footage) · 1 eps
1994
Carry On Forever3 eps
2015Photos
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