Trivia

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.

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.

His performance in Dulcimer Street (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.

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.

He never signed autographs.

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.

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.

He and Naomi had one daughter, Merlith McKendrick.

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 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: Bombsight Stolen (1941), The Happiest Days of Your Life (1950), Bikini Baby (1951), A Christmas Carol (1951), Folly to Be Wise (1952), An Inspector Calls (1954), The Belles of St. Trinian's (1954), The Green Man (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.

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

He died of cancer in University College Hospital.

Refused all requests in making public appearances.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

He was married to Naomi.

Died of cancer in University College Hospital, London.

He was known for not signing autographs.

Despite being successful in films, the actor was the polar opposite of what constitutes being a film star: refusing every autograph request, refusing to be interviewed or to indulge in publicity of any kind.