Iconic Harry Potter actor passes away
<p dir="ltr">Comedy actor Leslie Phillips, known for his roles in the <em>Carry On</em> films and as the voice of the Sorting Hat in the <em>Harry Potter</em> series, has died aged 98.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Phillips passed away on Monday after a long illness.</p>
<p dir="ltr">"I've lost a wonderful husband and the public has lost a truly great showman,” his wife Zara told <em><a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/20359203/leslie-phillips-dead-harry-potter-carry-on/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Sun</a></em>.</p>
<p dir="ltr">"He was quite simply a national treasure. People loved him. He was mobbed everywhere he went.</p>
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<p dir="ltr">“When we married he cheekily introduced me to the press as royalty, insisting I was the new Zara Phillips and that I was related to the Queen.”</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">We are incredibly sad to hear of the passing of the wonderful Leslie Phillips who voiced the Sorting Hat with such inimitable wit and style in the Harry Potter films. <a href="https://t.co/gcqsIT2T3j">pic.twitter.com/gcqsIT2T3j</a></p>
<p>— Harry Potter Film (@HarryPotterFilm) <a href="https://twitter.com/HarryPotterFilm/status/1589982353274929152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 8, 2022</a></p></blockquote>
<p dir="ltr">With more than 200 roles in film, TV and radio series over a career spanning eight decades, the British actor was known for catch phrases including “Ding dong” - referencing his character Jack Bell in 1959’s <em>Carry On Nurse</em> - “I say” and “Well, hello”, delivering the last phrase with a suggestive intonation.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Despite only starring in four of the 31 <em>Carry On</em> movies, Phillips said his famous catch phrases followed him for the rest of his career.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Since the news of his death, tributes from fans and fellow actors have flowed in for Phillips.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-8bde6c39-7fff-d8cb-c746-62150a208617">"RIP Leslie Phillips. Working with him was a joy. And yes he did say DING DONG (because I asked him to),” <em>Coronation Street</em> actor Tony Maudsley, who worked with Phillips, <a href="https://twitter.com/TonyMaudsley1/status/1589961247872909312" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tweeted</a>, along with a photo of the pair on a project they starred in.</span></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">'Well, he-llo!' - alas, no more. He was such fun. He had a wicked sense of humour, such skill as a performer & a unique style that made every performance memorable, watchable & joyous. Honoured to have known him & to salute a long & special life. RIP Leslie Phillips. Ding-dong! <a href="https://t.co/tM9kiIxM83">https://t.co/tM9kiIxM83</a></p>
<p>— Gyles Brandreth (@GylesB1) <a href="https://twitter.com/GylesB1/status/1589981308822114306?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 8, 2022</a></p></blockquote>
<p dir="ltr">“Sorry to hear Leslie Phillips has passed. Always liked his pater and had a few nice exchanges with him on Twitter back in the days when you could do that sort of thing on here,” <em>Trainspotting </em>writer Irvine Welsh <a href="https://twitter.com/IrvineWelsh/status/1589970373957021697">wrote</a>.</p>
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<p dir="ltr">Even controversial TV show host Piers Morgan paid tribute, describing Phillips as a “wonderful character” and “superb” actor.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The wonderful actor, everyone's favourite cad, a master of innuendo and dearest of friends, Leslie Phillips has died aged 98. Spent so many happy times together. He came to my wedding. I shall miss him greatly. Ding Dong Leslie. Hello and now a final goodbye dear chum. <a href="https://t.co/uzhgwIiqcW">pic.twitter.com/uzhgwIiqcW</a></p>
<p>— Morris Bright MBE (@MorrisBrightMBE) <a href="https://twitter.com/MorrisBrightMBE/status/1589956691251953664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 8, 2022</a></p></blockquote>
<p dir="ltr">“R.I.P. Leslie Phillips. You didn’t quite Carry On until 100, but Ding Dong! you had a spiffing good try,” author Martin Knight <a href="https://twitter.com/MartinKnight_/status/1589951574176305153" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shared</a>.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>Coronation Street</em> actor Stuart Anthony <a href="https://twitter.com/STU_ACTOR/status/1589950232778792960" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a>: “The wonderful Leslie Phillips CBE has left us. Aged 98. A true gentleman, fantastic actor and the nicest man I’ve ever met. His stories were the best.. RIP Leslie Phillips.”</p>
<p dir="ltr">While he was known for his portrayals of upper class Brits, Phillips grew up in north London and revealed in a recent interview with <em><a href="https://www.theoldie.co.uk/blog/rip-leslie-phillips-at-98" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Oldie</a></em> magazine that he took elocution lessons to change his Cockney accent.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“All my friends and family were Londoners, real Cockneys, my brother is still a Cockney. They found it hard to recognise the new me, though my voice has without doubt played an enormous part in my success,” he told the outlet.</p>
<p dir="ltr">After attending Italia Conti Stage School, Phillips served as a lieutenant in the Durham Light Infantry during World War II, but was declared unfit for service just before D-Day.</p>
<p dir="ltr">He first appeared in film in the 1930s but wouldn’t go on to star in the <em>Carry On</em> series in 1959 and 1960.</p>
<p dir="ltr">In 1998, the actor was made an OBE on the Birthday Honours list before being promoted to CBE in the 2008 New Honours.</p>
<p dir="ltr">At the age of 90, he suffered two strokes six months apart.</p>
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<p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>