ACTOR
Eric Sykes
- Known for
- Heavens Above! (1963), Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines or How I Flew from London to Paris in 25 Hours and 11 Minutes (1965), Splitting Heirs (1993), Shalako (1968)
16 archived facts 3 topics 1 source Last reviewed Oct 2026
Eric Sykes is an actor best known for Heavens Above!, Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines or How I Flew from London to Paris in 25 Hours and 11 Minutes and Splitting Heirs.
All facts (16)
- #001
In the last few years they worked together, Eric Sykes's behaviour towards Hattie Jacques was so bad that her sons barred him from her funeral and memorial service. The Sykes family disputes this account, saying Eric was invited to the funeral and memorial but could not attend because he was working in Australia; his children attended in his absence.
- #002
Eric Sykes was appointed OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1986 Queen's Birthday Honours for services to drama.
- #003
Eric Sykes was appointed CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2005 Queen's New Year Honours for services to drama.
- #004
In 2002 Eric Sykes suffered a stroke and underwent heart bypass surgery.
- #005
Eric Sykes's comedy heroes were Laurel and Hardy.
- #006
Eric Sykes attributed at least part of his hearing loss to the Allied bombing of Caen.
- #007
Eric Sykes was the father of three daughters — Kathy Sykes (born 1952), Susan Stronge (born 1953) and Julie Sykes (born 1958) — and one son, David Kurt Sykes (born 1959).
- #008
A memorial service for Eric Sykes was held at St. Martin-in-the-Fields in London on 28 January 2013.
- #009
Eric Sykes gave up cigarettes in 1966 and cigars in 1998.
- #010
Eric Sykes was a fan of Ayn Rand.
- #011
Eric Sykes struggled with hearing loss for much of his life and in the 1990s experienced a gradual loss of sight that left him nearly deaf and blind.
- #012
In 2002 Eric Sykes received the Bernard Delfont Award for Outstanding Contribution to Show Business at The Variety Club Show Business Awards.
- #013
Eric Sykes's manager was Norma Farnes and his personal assistant was Janet Spearman.
- #014
Eric Sykes's first stage name was Rick Allen.
- #015
Eric Sykes was the grandfather of Matt Stronge.
- #016
Eric Sykes was a lifelong supporter of the Conservative Party.
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