Sid James attack while performing on stage at the Sunderland Empire Theatre; he died in hospital an hour later. Some, including comedian Les Dawson, claim to have seen the ghost of James at the theatre, and subsequently refused to appear at the theatre again. James was born Solomon Joel Cohen on 8 May 1913, to Jewish parents in South Africa, later changing his name to Sidney Joel Cohen, and then Sidney James. His family lived on Hancock Street in Hillbrow, Johannesburg. Upon moving to the UK later in life, he claimed various previous occupations, including diamond cutter, dance tutor and boxer; in
James Young (comedian) James Young (comedian) James Alexander Young (23 June 1918 – 5 July 1974), better known as Jimmy Young or simply Our Jimmy, was a Northern Irish actor and comedian born in Ballymoney, Northern Ireland and brought up in Belfast. He performed on stage and television. His comedy records sold over a quarter of a million copies. His stage shows are most closely associated with the Group Theatre, where his one man show gained a listing in the "Guinness Book of Records" as the longest running in the world. He also toured extensively across Ireland, Canada and the United States. He