Wissenswertes

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

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 25, she was 12. They married when Naomi was 18.

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

He was awarded the CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the Coronation Honours List of 1953. In the early 1970s he was offered a knighthood but turned it down because it would have impinged too much on his private life.

He never signed autographs.

Foster father and acting instructor of George Cole.

Refused to be interviewed throughout his career.

Was a professional elocutionist, as well as drama teacher.

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

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

He appeared in 61 films and 46 West End productions.

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.

By 1950, he topped the cinemagoers popularity poll.

He and Naomi had one daughter, Merlith McKendrick.

Refused all requests in making public appearances.

He was made the rector of Edinburgh University in 1948.

Before becoming an actor he was a phoneticist teaching Scottish ministers how to speak effectively.

He appeared in nine films with George Cole: Cottage to Let (1941), Das doppelte College (1950), Maxie macht Karriere (1951), Charles Dickens - Eine Weihnachtsgeschichte (1951), Folly to Be Wise (1952), Ein Inspector kommt (1954), Die Schönen von St. Trinians (1954), Der grüne Mann (1956) and Blue Murder at St. Trinian's (1957).

He was awarded an honorary LLD by Edinburgh University at the end of his term as Rector.

His foster son George Cole appeared opposite Alastair Sim in several films. These included "The Green Man, "Folly to Be Wise" and "The Belles of St. Trinian's.".

He worked with Alfred Hitchcock in Alfred Hitchcock's Die rote Lola (1950), playing "Commodore Gill".

Was a highly respected and successful classical actor of the theatre.

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

He died of cancer in University College Hospital.

In 1950 he headed the British Cinema Exhibitors Poll.

One of his earliest film appearances in comedy, was opposite legendary entertainer George Formby in 1936.

Twenty-four years after his death, made a brief appearance in the very last television episode of One Foot In The Grave, albeit as a painted portrait.

During a break in the making of a film, Alastair Sim borrowed a popular fan magazine from a fellow actor and quickly flicked through the contents. He was appalled by what he saw.

Died of cancer in University College Hospital, London.

The honour that gave him most satisfaction was being made Rector of Edinburgh University.

He was known for not signing autographs.

Once had ambitions in becoming a theatre director. After being informed that he had no aptitude in that department, Alastair Sim tried his luck at acting aged 30.

His last appearance was in Rogue Male with Peter O'Toole on BBC Television.

He was married to Naomi.