It’s always a magical moment when we tell anybody who our father was. Invariably, the revelations are greeted with a warm, laughing smile and sometimes even an impromptu hug. Barriers simply melt away as we share our memories of Dad’s work. It’s as if he smiles and everyone smiles back. Reina named this phenomenon as ‘The Gift of Sid’.
The many, many people that Dad worked with remember him with the same affection, amplified by the experiences that they’d shared: his kindness to other actors and crew, the thoughtful way he would encourage newcomers, and the times he’d put himself out to help a colleague in need of professional reassurance.
Although probably best known for the Carry On series, Dad’s range was remarkable. From musicals to melodramas, classic comedy and sitcoms to thrillers, the consistent element in his work was the quality of his performance. Trained from an early age by his parents, themselves successful music hall artists, he approached every part with the same meticulous dedication and professionalism.
We think it is quite wonderful that fifty years on, since his death on stage in 1976, Dad continues to entertain audiences across many generations around the world. We think he’d be rather pleased about that!
Reina, Stephen and Susan