Eric Morecambe

Acting

Eric Morecambe

Born 1926-05-14 · Morecambe, Lancashire, England, UK

John Eric Bartholomew OBE (14 May 1926 – 28 May 1984), known by his stage name Eric Morecambe, was an English comedian who together with Ernie Wise formed the award-winning double act Morecambe and Wise. The partnership lasted from 1941 until Morecambe's death of a heart attack in 1984. Eric took his stage name from his home town, the seaside resort of Morecambe. He is best remembered for the television series The Morecambe & Wise Show, which for some of its Christmas episodes gained UK viewing figures of over twenty-eight million people.[1] The duo's reputation enabled them to have a number of prestigious guests on the show, including Angela Rippon, Princess Anne, Cliff Richard, Laurence Olivier, John Mills, the Dad's Army cast, Glenda Jackson, Tom Jones, Elton John, The Beatles and even former Prime Minister Harold Wilson.​

Acting credits

Morecambe & Wise: The Lost Tapes poster
6.0

A series of sketches taken from the recently-unearthed Morecambe & Wise tape that contained footage which had not been seen for 50 years, and was believed to have been lost forever. The newly discovered half-hour show featured a series of gag-packed routines involving stage curtains, ventriloquism and a daring sketch in which Eric eavesdrops on a newly wedded couple in the flat next door. Now, contributors including Jonathan Ross, Ben Miller and Eddie Izzard look back at this rare slice of classic comedy once again.

Morecambe & Wise: The Lost Tapes

2021

That Riviera Touch poster
6.0

Eric and Ernie decide to take a holiday to the South of France and unwittingly become mixed up with a band of jewel thieves.

That Riviera Touch

1966

The Magnificent Two poster
3.3

Two salesmen travel to a small South American Country to peddle their wares. However the country is in the middle of a major conflict between the Government led by Diaz and the rebels led by Torez. When Torez is accidentally killed the rebels mistaken pick up one of the salesmen, Eric, as he looks like Torez. Eric and Ernie are promised millions to carry on the charade once the rebels take charge. However once Eric takes charge he finds himself back in danger as scheming general Carillo plans to remove the impostor from his role.

The Magnificent Two

1967

Morecambe and Wise: Be Wise Don't Drink and Drive poster
NR

Ernie tells Eric to ‘be wise’ and not drive home after their Christmas party.

Morecambe and Wise: Be Wise Don't Drink and Drive

1963

The Intelligence Men poster
6.1

A chance meeting with a Schlecht agent forces a humble coffee shop manager into the secret world of spies in Swinging London. With the help of his MI5 friend, he poses as the recently dead Major Cavendish who had managed to infiltrate the dreaded organization; he knows that they are intending to assassinate someone - could it be the famous Russian ballerina who has recently arrived for an appearance at Covent Garden?

The Intelligence Men

1965

No artwork available
NR

Narrated by Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise, this documentary is about "Laurel and Hardy", one of the most popular and critically acclaimed comedy double acts of the early Classical Hollywood era of American cinema. It features interviews with Jerry Lewis, Dick Van Dyke, Babe London, Marcel Marceau, Lucille Hardy (Ollie's wife), Bob Monkhouse, Hal Roach, Marvin T Hatley, Jack McCabe and many more.

Omnibus - Cuckoo: A Celebration of Mr. Laurel and Mr. Hardy

1974

Eric & Ernie: Behind the Scenes poster
NR

A history of the British television comedy double act Morecambe & Wise to coincide with the BBC drama about their early lives.

Eric & Ernie: Behind the Scenes

2011

Simon Simon poster
6.7

A comedy short with very little speaking. Graham Stark and John Junkin have a new elevated platform to work with but still manage to get into lots of trouble. Lots of celebrity appearances.

Simon Simon

1970

The Passionate Pilgrim poster
7.5

A pilgrim attempts to gain entry to a castle by any means possible, to get to a beautiful maiden, but the lord of the castle will go to in order to stop him.

The Passionate Pilgrim

1984

The Best of Morecambe and Wise poster
NR

Compilation of sketches featuring the much-loved funnymen Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise. Includes 'Anthony and Cleopatra' with Glenda Jackson, 'Monty in the Bounty' with Arthur Lowe, the famous 'Singing in the Rain' routine, and Eric and Ernie making breakfast to the sound of 'The Stripper'.

The Best of Morecambe and Wise

2001

Night Train to Murder poster
6.0

When Eric's niece Kathy becomes one of the heirs to a considerable fortune, her life (and those of the other heirs) is placed in jeopardy by the actions of a mysterious inter-loper.

Night Train to Murder

1984

Eric & Ernie Live poster
NR

For the first time ever on video, Morecambe and Wise are once again live in concert. This video shows the only ever live recording of what some would say are Britain's top all time comedy double act, featuring all their famous routines as they perform for over an hour at Fairfields Halls in Croydon in the mid-70s. Morecambe and Wise delighted millions with their unique brand of humour, they reigned supreme in the 60s, 70s and 80s as comedy kings and their success and popularity has never since been equalled. The filming of this concert was a present from their long time manager as a way of showing thanks and admiration for all their hard work over the years. When you watch this video, you will be witnessing comedy history in the making, for the first time in years Morecambe and Wise are once again live in concert. Marvel at their comedy genius.

Eric & Ernie Live

1973

Late Flowering Love poster
8.0

Light dramatisation of four poems by poet laureete Sir John Betjeman, set on location in the south of England

Late Flowering Love

1981

Morecambe & Wise: Christmas Specials poster
NR

Running from 1969 until 1977, the BBC Christmas shows were usually on Christmas Day. These classic sketches revolved around famous guest stars, such as Eric Porter, Fenella Fielding, Ann Hamilton, Peter Gushing, Glenda Jackson, Andre Previn and Des O'Connor, being made fun of by Eric and Ernie.

Morecambe & Wise: Christmas Specials

2007

Morecambe & Wise: The Unseen Tapes poster
NR

Hilarious rare and unseen footage of Britain's beloved comedy duo, including some footage previously unseen on network television. Also features Gail Morecambe, Gary Morecambe, Judi Dench, Wayne Sleep, Rula Lenska and more.

Morecambe & Wise: The Unseen Tapes

2025

Morecambe & Wise: In Their Own Words poster
NR

Jonathan Ross introduces the story of British television's greatest double act as they told it themselves, using television appearances, rare radio material and correspondence from the BBC archives to build up a fascinating portrait of their lives and careers. The programme reveals how, as young performers, Eric and Ernie really did share a bed, and reveals the BBC's rather lofty response when they first auditioned for television in 1948.

Morecambe & Wise: In Their Own Words

2008

Eric & Ernie's Home Movies poster
NR

Morecambe & Wise are arguably the most popular and loved double acts ever to have been on television, but off it they built up quite an archive too - largely unseen until now - which reveals what Eric and Ernie were really like in the company of family and friends. Both Eric and Ernie were avid home movie makers, chronicling their rise to fame and recording key moments in their private and family lives, at home and abroad. Now for the first time, with access to Morecambe & Wise's entire home movie collection, this documentary shows Eric and Ernie at work and at play, on tour and on holiday, from summer season in Blackpool to trying to make it in the USA, from their pre-television fame days to the height of their career.

Eric & Ernie's Home Movies

2017

One Pair of Eyes - No, But Seriously poster
NR

Marty Feldman, for many years a successful comedy writer before turning to performing, explores humour through the people who create it, comparing their traditions, motivations and anxieties with his own. Among the people Marty talks to are Peter Sellers, Eric Morecambe, Peter Brough and Archie Andrews, Dudley Moore and Barry Took.

One Pair of Eyes - No, But Seriously

1969

Parkinson Meets Morecambe and Wise poster
NR

Michael Parkinson looks back at his 1972 interview with comedy duo Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise, who he describes as 'the funniest double act we ever produced. The interview, which Parkinson cites as the wittiest he ever conducted, sees Morecambe and Wise at their absolute best, speaking about their pasts, their heroes and their friendship.

Parkinson Meets Morecambe and Wise

1999

The Best Of Morecambe & Wise poster
7.0

A collection of some of your favourite sketches from an irreplaceable comedy partnership, including: "Anthony & Cleopatra", starring Glenda Jackson (but without Caesar, who'd come down with a touch of the "hieroglyphics"). "Monty On The Bounty" - with Arthur Lowe as Captain Blight, Eric Morecambe as Fletcher Christian and Ernie Wise as Midshipman Tinkle. "The meeting of Byron and Keats" - including such unforgettable lines as "two cows eating grass on a sunny hillock, by four tomorrow that grass will be mil-lock!" "Eric being well and truly "lacquered" as a long-standing member of a bar-football team - with new recruit, Ernie, strapped alongside him on the wooden bar. The classic "Singing In The Rain" Sketch. And, most famous of all, Eric & Ernie making breakfast to the sound of the stripper music.

The Best Of Morecambe & Wise

2001

No artwork available
NR

A peek behind the scenes at the business of the comedian and how it is being expanded for film and television.

Look at Life: Funny Business Is No Joke

1967

Behind the camera