Date of Birth

9 October 1900, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

Date of Death

19 August 1976, London, England, UK

The son of Alexander Sim JP and Isabella McIntyre, Alastair Sim was educated in Edinburgh. Always interested in language (especially the spoken word) he became the Fulton Lecturer in Elocution at New College, Edinburgh University from 1925 until 1930. He was invited back and became the Rector of Edinburgh University (1948 - 1951). His first stage appearance was as Messenger in Othello at the Savoy Theatre, London. He went on to create some of the most memorable (usually comedic) roles in British films from 1936 until his death in 1976

He was awarded a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the Coronation Honours List of 1953. He was also offered a knighthood but turned it down because it would have impinged too much on his private life.

He was made the rector of Edinburgh University in 1948.

He appeared in 61 films and 46 West End productions.

He met his wife Naomi Plaskitt when they both appeared in a stage production of "The Land of Hearts Desire" by William Butler Yeats. He was 27, she was 12. They married when Naomi was 18.

When he was made Rector of Edinburgh University, he beat Harold Macmillan (the future Prime Minister) by 2078 votes to 802.

By 1950, he topped the cinemagoers popularity poll.

His performance in London Belongs to Me (1948) so impressed Alec Guinness that he based his performance in The Ladykillers (1955) on it. So much so that Alastair is often thought to have done it.

Played the lead in Pinero's "The Magistrate", opposite Patricia Routledge at the 1969 Chichester festival in what is often cited as his best stage performance.

Foster father and acting instructor of George Cole.

Between 1941 and 1968, he played Captain Hook in at least six different stage productions of James M. Barrie's "Peter Pan" (the non-musical version), but he never starred in a film of the play.

Near the end of his life he maintained a correspondence with Ray Bradbury.

He shares the distinction, along with Seymour Hicks and Basil Rathbone, of portraying Ebenezer Scrooge in more than one production of the classic Dickens novel.

He worked with Alfred Hitchcock in Alfred Hitchcock's Stage Fright (1950), playing Commodore Gill.

In 1950 he headed the British Cinema Exhibitors Poll.

Price:  £175.00