James Young (comedian)
| James Young | |
|---|---|
| Born |
James Alexander Young 23 June 1918 Ballymoney, Ireland |
| Died | 5 July 1974 (aged 56) Belfast, Northern Ireland |
| Occupation | Actor, Comedian |
| Years active | 1944–1974 |
James Alexander Young (23 June 1918 – 5 July 1974), better known as Jimmy Young or simply Our Jimmy, was an actor and comedian born in Ballymoney, Northern Ireland and brought up in Belfast.
He performed on stage and television. His comic records sold over a quarter of a million copies. His stage shows are most closely associated with the Group Theatre, where his one man show gained a listing in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest running in the world. He also toured extensively across Ireland, Canada and the United States.
He is best remembered for the characters in his sketches, which uniquely reflected the character of the people of Belfast. These included "Orange Lil", "The Lady from Cherryvalley", and "Derek the Window Cleaner" from the BBC Radio Ulster series The McCooeys. He was also one of the first comedians to confront the Troubles in his material, while still appealing to both sides of the divided community.
A blue plaque in his memory is displayed at his birthplace in Union Street, Ballymoney and at his family's home in Fernwood Street, Ormeau Road, Belfast.
James Alexander Young was born on 23 June 1918 at 33 Union Street Ballymoney, the fourth child of Alexander and Grace Young. In the economic uncertainty following World War I, the Youngs moved to the industrial Belfast where Alexander found work as a stable hand for a local bakery. Until the age of 14, Young attended the Cooke Church School off the Ravenhill Road. Even at this early stage Youngs natural talent for humour was evident. His mother would often tell "stop impersonating the visitors. Because after you do, I find it impossible to take them seriously."
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