Iconic Harry Potter actor passes away
Comedy actor Leslie Phillips, known for his roles in the Carry On films and as the voice of the Sorting Hat in the Harry Potter series, has died aged 98.
Phillips passed away on Monday after a long illness.
"I've lost a wonderful husband and the public has lost a truly great showman,” his wife Zara told The Sun.
"He was quite simply a national treasure. People loved him. He was mobbed everywhere he went.
“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.”
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 Carry On Nurse - “I say” and “Well, hello”, delivering the last phrase with a suggestive intonation.
Despite only starring in four of the 31 Carry On movies, Phillips said his famous catch phrases followed him for the rest of his career.
Since the news of his death, tributes from fans and fellow actors have flowed in for Phillips.
"RIP Leslie Phillips. Working with him was a joy. And yes he did say DING DONG (because I asked him to),” Coronation Street actor Tony Maudsley, who worked with Phillips, tweeted, along with a photo of the pair on a project they starred in.
“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,” Trainspotting writer Irvine Welsh wrote.
Even controversial TV show host Piers Morgan paid tribute, describing Phillips as a “wonderful character” and “superb” actor.
“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 shared.
Coronation Street actor Stuart Anthony wrote: “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.”
While he was known for his portrayals of upper class Brits, Phillips grew up in north London and revealed in a recent interview with Oldie magazine that he took elocution lessons to change his Cockney accent.
“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.
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.
He first appeared in film in the 1930s but wouldn’t go on to star in the Carry On series in 1959 and 1960.
In 1998, the actor was made an OBE on the Birthday Honours list before being promoted to CBE in the 2008 New Honours.
At the age of 90, he suffered two strokes six months apart.
Image: Getty Images