ACTOR
Alastair Sim
- Known for
- Scrooge (1951), Stage Fright (1950), An Inspector Calls (1954), School for Scoundrels (1960)
30 archived facts 4 topics 1 source Last reviewed Oct 2026
Alastair Sim is an actor best known for Scrooge, Stage Fright and An Inspector Calls.
All facts (30)
- #001
Toward the end of his life, Alastair Sim kept up a correspondence with Ray Bradbury.
- #002
Alastair Sim was appointed CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1953 Coronation Honours List. In the early 1970s he was offered a knighthood but turned it down because it would have intruded too much on his private life.
- #003
Alastair Sim's performance in Dulcimer Street (1948) impressed Alec Guinness so much that Guinness based his own performance in The Ladykillers (1955) on it — so much so that it is often thought to be Sim's work.
- #004
Alastair Sim was George Cole's stepfather and acting teacher.
- #005
Throughout his career, Alastair Sim refused to give interviews.
- #006
Alastair Sim was a professional elocutionist and also a drama teacher.
- #007
Along with Seymour Hicks and Basil Rathbone, Alastair Sim shares the distinction of having played "Ebenezer Scrooge" in more than one production of the classic Charles Dickens novel.
- #008
Alastair Sim never signed autographs.
- #009
Alastair Sim appeared in 61 films and 46 West End productions.
- #010
At the 1969 Chichester Festival, Alastair Sim starred opposite Patricia Routledge in Pinero's "The Magistrate", a performance often cited as his best on stage.
- #011
When Alastair Sim was elected Rector of the University of Edinburgh, he defeated Harold Macmillan (the future Prime Minister) by 2078 votes to 802.
- #012
By 1950, Alastair Sim topped a popularity poll of filmgoers.
- #013
Alastair Sim and Naomi had a daughter named Merlith McKendrick.
- #014
In 1948, Alastair Sim was made Rector of the University of Edinburgh.
- #015
Before becoming an actor, Alastair Sim was a phonetician who taught Scottish ministers effective public speaking.
- #016
Alastair Sim appeared in nine films with George Cole: Bombsight Stolen (1941), The Happiest Days of Your Life (1950), Bikini Baby (1951), A Christmas Carol (1951), Folly to Be Wise (1952), An Inspector Calls (1954), The Belles of St. Trinian's (1954), The Green Man (1956) and Blue Murder at St. Trinian's (1957).
- #017
At the end of his term as Rector, Alastair Sim was awarded an honorary LLD by the University of Edinburgh.
- #018
Alastair Sim worked with Alfred Hitchcock on Hitchcock's Stage Fright (1950), playing "Commodore Gill".
- #019
Alastair Sim died of cancer at University College Hospital.
- #020
Alastair Sim turned down all requests to appear in public.
- #021
The honour that pleased Alastair Sim most was being made Rector of Edinburgh University.
- #022
Alastair Sim once dreamed of becoming a theatre director. After discovering he had no talent for that role, he tried his luck at acting at the age of 30.
- #023
Between 1941 and 1968, Alastair Sim played Captain Hook in at least six different stage productions of J. M. Barrie's "Peter Pan" (the non-musical version), but he never appeared in any film of the play.
- #024
One of Alastair Sim's first film roles in comedy was in 1936, alongside the legendary entertainer George Formby.
- #025
Alastair Sim was a highly respected and successful classical actor of the theatre.
- #026
Alastair Sim last appeared on BBC Television in Rogue Male, alongside Peter O'Toole.
- #027
During a break in the film's production, Alastair Sim borrowed a popular fan magazine from an actor friend and quickly skimmed its contents. He was horrified by what he saw.
- #028
Alastair Sim died of cancer at University College Hospital in London.
- #029
Alastair Sim was known for not signing autographs.
- #030
Despite his success in films, Alastair Sim was the opposite of a film star: he refused every request for an autograph, declined interviews and shunned all forms of publicity.
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