In pictures: the life of Norman Wisdom

The actor, once said to have described himself as a 'short-arse who's been lucky' became a film star with Trouble In Store in 1953. The movie was the first of the Wisdom comedies that would provide the Rank Organisation with yearly commercial hits well into the 1960s. Here he is pictured with Margaret Rutherford Photograph: ITV / Rex Features

Wisdom with Jerry Desmonde in A Stitch In Time (1963), directed By Robert Asher. Sir Norman enjoyed huge popularity in Albania, where his films were shown during the brutal communist dictatorship of Enver Hoxha. Films such as A Stitch In Time and Trouble In Store were among the few western movies allowed to be screened in the country at the time Photograph: Allstar

With Belinda Lee in Man Of The Moment (1955), directed by John Paddy Carstairs Photograph: Sportsphoto Ltd./Allstar

In The Square Peg (1959), another film directed by John Paddy Carstairs Photograph: Allstar

Up in the World (1956) Photograph: ITV / Rex Features

Sir Norman with his mother, Maude Wisdom. He had a tough upbringing: sleeping in the same room as his whole family; a spell in a children's home, then employment by the Merchant Navy at a young age Photograph: Rex Features

With his wife Freda and two children, Jacqueline and Nicholas, at the piano in 1956 Photograph: Popperfoto/Getty Images

With Julie Shearing in The Bulldog Breed (1960) Photograph: ITV / Rex Features

Amid a crowd of young fans in Finsbury Park, 9 June 1977 Photograph: Getty Images/Evening Standard

Soaking Raymond Huntley in On The Beat (1962), directed By Robert Asher Photograph: Allstar

Among headgear in 1965. Charlie Chaplin once said: 'Norman is my favourite clown' Photograph: Dezo Hoffmann/Rex Features

With Brian Wilde, Peter Sallis and Bill Owen in Last Of The Summer Wine (1996). In later years, Sir Norman's roles were occasional appearances in TV series such as this and Coronation Street Photograph: Allstar

In Coronation Street in 2004 playing Ernie Crab, who shows up at the Duckworths' to buy Jack Duckworth's exercise bike Photograph: ITV / Rex Features

In 1995, still enjoying young ladies' company Photograph: Nils Jorgensen/Rex Features

Aboard HMS Ark Royal at Southampton in July 2002 Photograph: Solent News / Rex Features

Celebrating 50 years in showbusiness with the launch of his very own stamp in 1999 Photograph: Terry Williams/Rex Features

After receiving his knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace Photograph: John Stillwell/PA

Meeting the Queen during her visit to the Isle of Man. Wisdom broke with royal protocol by grabbing her arm as she walked away from him Photograph: Phil Noble/PA

Playing up to the camera during filming for his last role in a short film entitled Expresso. He came out of retirement aged 91 to appear in the film, doing a comic turn as a vicar being plagued by a fly Photograph: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images