Sid James (Joel Solomon Cohen) brought laughter to millions during his career and continues to win new fans thirty-three years after his untimely death.

James was a South African-Jewish actor who arrived in the UK on Christmas day in 1946 with his then wife, Meg Williams.

Sid's career as an actor started following a host of jobs back in South Africa including: diamond cutter, ladies hairdresser, dance tutor and even a part-time boxer.

Following a host of early stage and film roles in this country, it was the then soon-to-be-famous writing partnership of Ray Galton and Alan Simpson who were to help catapult James to worldwide fame.

Galton & Simpson were working on a new radio series for Tony Hancock and spotted Sid in the Ealing film comedy, The Lavender Hill Mob. They knew instantly that he would be right to play Hancock's petty criminal friend in the series, Sidney Balmoral James (the middle name was made up!).

Hancock's Half Hour on both radio and TV was to inspire millions of people to become fans of the actor who would in time achieve even greater success with the Carry On team.

Sid James' Borehamwood years would see him appear in the film musical Tommy the Toreador (with Tommy Steele, Bernard Cribbins and a fleeting appearance by Kenneth Williams), which was made at Elstree Studios in 1959 (see links section right).

Other Borehamwood credits included the TV sitcom George and the Dragon and certain editions of the Carry On Laughing TV series. Both of the latter two credits were made at ATV's then Clarendon Road studios.

In the latter years the much-loved actor was to also grace our TV screens in the high-rating sitcom Bless this House (for Thames TV), continue to appear in the Carry On films series until Carry On Dick in 1974, appear in the Carry On stage show, Carry On London, at the Victoria Palace in London, and tour extensively in the Sam Cree farce, The Mating Season.

Much has be written over the years about Sid - especially about his private life. To me, and my fellow true fans, Sid James was a one-off; a legendary comedy actor who will never be replaced. James left a wonderful legacy of laughter and wonderful film, radio & TV credits.

What does my heart good is knowing that somewhere out there as I type a child is discovering Sid James for this first time (just as I did back in the late seventies) on TV or DVD etc. - and so it will continue long after both you and I are gone. New fans will continue to embrace Sid and his on-screen antics. That famous "Yack yack" laugh of his will appeal to listeners and viewers forever more!

Sid was to make his final appearance in front of an audience on the 26th April 1976 at the Sunderland Empire in the farce The Mating Season. That particular tour of the aforementioned farce, which he previously played at venues such as the Windmill Theatre in Great Yarmouth, was staged by his own production company, Sidney James Productions, Jersey, Ltd.

Depending which publication you read or which TV documentary you watch, James died on stage or in the ambulance on the way to hospital after suffering a heart attack whilst on stage.

Whatever exactly happened in the final moments of Sid's life, there is no-doubt that he continues to be much-missed by his family, friends and fans.

RIP, Sid.