20 Facts About Ernie Wise

Ernest Wiseman, known by his stage name Ernie Wise, was an English comedian, best known as one half of the comedy duo Morecambe and Wise, who became a national institution on British television, especially for their Christmas specials.

Ernie Wise attended Thorpe Infant and Junior School, and then East Ardsley Boys' School, but entered the entertainment industry in 1933, appearing as an actor and singer in music hall.

Ernie Wise's father, Harry, a railway lamp man, was a semi-professional singer, and they appeared together under the name "Bert Carson and his Little Wonder".

Ernie Wise appeared as a clown in the Nignog Revue at the Alhambra in Bradford in March 1936 and received a very good review.

Ernie Wise toured with Jack Hylton's stage show and made his television debut on the BBC London television Jack Hylton show on 15 March 1939.

Over a period of more than twenty years, Morecambe and Ernie Wise had regular series with both ITV and BBC.

Ernie Wise was commonly regarded as the straight man of the partnership, although his role gradually and subtly changed over the years.

Ernie Wise's character changed from being a conventional straight man into a pretentious and self-satisfied buffoon.

Also in 1985, Ernie Wise appeared in an acting role in an episode of the American TV situation comedy Too Close for Comfort, playing an old friend of the main character Henry, played by Ted Knight.

Ernie Wise gave talks on cruises about his life and career.

Ernie Wise wrote his autobiography, Still on My Way to Hollywood, in 1990.

Ernie Wise was the subject on This Is Your Life, which was transmitted on Boxing Day that year.

Ernie Wise's 1992 Christmas single was a recommended retail release in Music Week.

Ernie Wise was an active and long-time participant in the Keep Britain Tidy campaign.

Ernie Wise was not asked to participate, the BBC saying that they did not want "too many talking heads".

Ernie Wise was recovering from a minor stroke which he had suffered in December 1993 which forced him to spend Christmas and New Year in hospital.

Ernie Wise suffered a second minor stroke in August 1995, and as a result, announced his retirement from show business on 27 November 1995, his 70th birthday.

Ernie Wise had agreed to do so, but then his health had begun to deteriorate further.

Ernie Wise died from heart failure and a chest infection at the Nuffield Hospital, Wexham, near Slough, on the morning of 21 March 1999.

Ernie Wise married to dancer Doreen Blythe on 18 January 1953.