Eric Sykes
A towering figure of British comedy who, often alongside silent partner Hattie Jacques, crafted a uniquely visual and enduring slapstick world.
1923–2012 (age 89)·English comedian, writer and actor·Birthday: May 4·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Eric Sykes mastered comedy from the inside out, beginning his career as a writer in the bustling post-war BBC radio scene. He penned material for giants like Tony Hancock and The Goon Show, honing a gift for absurdist character and timing. Deafness, which progressed throughout his life, pushed his genius toward the visual. His long-running television sitcom, 'Sykes', co-starring Hattie Jacques as his sister, became a national institution—a world of gentle chaos built on impeccable physical comedy and silent-film-inspired sight gags. Even as his hearing faded, his creative output soared, leading to beloved films like 'The Plank', dialogue-free comedies that proved laughter needed no translation. Sykes was the quiet architect of a deeply British, profoundly funny universe.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Eric was born in 1923, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Eric Was Born
The biggest hits of 1923
#1 Movie
The Covered Wagon
Eric's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1923Born
The Great Kanto earthquake devastates Tokyo
President: Calvin Coolidge"Yes! We Have No Bananas" — Billy Jones
1928Started school
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin; Mickey Mouse debuts
President: Calvin Coolidge"Ol' Man River" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: Wings
1936Became a teenager
Jesse Owens wins four golds at the Berlin Olympics
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"The Way You Look Tonight" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: The Great Ziegfeld
1939Could drive
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1941Could vote
Pearl Harbor attack brings the US into WWII
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,060Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Chattanooga Choo Choo" — Glenn MillerBest Picture: How Green Was My Valley
1944Turned 21
D-Day: Allied forces land at Normandy
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,400Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Swinging on a Star" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Going My Way
1953Turned 30
DNA structure discovered by Watson and Crick
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,750Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Song from Moulin Rouge" — Percy FaithBest Picture: From Here to Eternity
1963Turned 40
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1973Turned 50
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1983Turned 60
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1993Turned 70
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2003Turned 80
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2012Died at 89
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
Key Achievements
- Created and starred in the beloved BBC sitcom 'Sykes', which ran for over a decade.
- Wrote the classic silent comedy film 'The Plank', which featured numerous comedy stars.
- Was a key writer for 'The Goon Show', shaping British radio comedy in the 1950s.
- Authored the long-running stage play 'Big Bad Mouse', which toured for years.
Did You Know?
He served in the Royal Signals during World War II and was partially deafened by an explosion.
Sykes and Hattie Jacques played brother and sister on TV, but in reality, they were not related.
He continued to perform on stage and screen well into his 80s.
He was awarded a CBE for his services to drama.
“Comedy is the art of making people laugh without making them puke.”
