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 Lewis (comedian) James Lewis (comedian) James Lewis (1840 – 1896) was an American comedian, born in Troy, N. Y., where he made his first stage appearance in 1858, playing Farmer Gammon in "The Writing on the Wall". At the outbreak of the Civil War he was in the South, and narrowly escaped being detained there by the blockade. Subsequently he traveled much in the Middle West. His first appearance in New York City was in 1866, in the farce "Your Life's in Danger", presented at the Olympic Theatre by Mrs. John Wood's company. Afterward he was very successful in Boston in the