Eric Morecambe: Summary

Recent Role:: Himself (on video) on Omnibus (UK)

Gender:: Male

Birthday:: 5-14-1926

Death:: 5-28-1984

Birthplace:: Morecambe, Lancashire, England

Birth Name:: John Eric Bartholomew

Eric was born in the town which he would later use as his stage name: Morecambe in Lancashire, England.

He was an only child and his parents, Sadie and George Bartholomew, were really eager for him to be successful in life. His mother even took a waitress job to raise the money for Eric's dancing lessons, even though he didn't enjoy the lessons. He left school aged 14.

He won several talent contests and an audition with Jack Hylton. During this audition he met a certain Ernest Wiseman, who was to become his comedy partner a few years later at the insistence of Eric's mother.

Their double act was broken up when they both joined the war effort during Word War II. Eric became what was known as a Bevin boy, young men conscripted to work in the coal mines. After a period of 11 months he left the army due to a heart defect. Shortly afterward he reunited with Ernie and they worked together on stage and, later on, they appeared together on television as well.

The Morecambe & Wise Show ran for nine seasons and was extremely popular. Their Christmas shows were practically mandatory viewing and the 1977 show had ratings that have not been matched to this day.

He married Joan Bartlett in December of 1952 and together they had two children, a daughter named Gail and a son named Gary. They adopted a third child, a boy named Steven in 1973.

Throughout his career he suffered two heart attacks, the third one was final. Eric was born in the town which he would later use as his stage name: Morecambe in Lancashire, England.

He was an only child and his parents, Sadie and George Bartholomew, were really eager for him to be successful in life. His mother even took a waitress job to raise the money for Eric's dancing lessons, even though he didn't enjoy the lessons. He left school...