Sid James Death: How did Sid James pass away?

Sidney James was a South African actor who was best known for his roles in the Carry On films.

James suffered a heart attack on stage at the Sunderland Empire Theatre on April 26, 1976, while on a revival tour of The Mating Season, a 1969 farce by Irish playwright Sam Cree. When he failed to respond to her dialogue, actress Olga Lowe assumed he was playing a practical joke on her. She went to the wings for help after he didn’t respond to her ad-libs.

The technical director, Melvyn James, ordered the curtain to close and summoned a doctor, while the audience, who had no idea what was going on, laughed, mistaking the events for part of the show.

He was pronounced dead at Sunderland Royal Hospital after an ambulance was dispatched. He was 62 years old at the time. James’ ashes were scattered at Golders Green Crematorium after he was cremated.