Sad to hear of the loss of the wonderful Leslie Phillips. Deceptively wide repertoire despite the typecasting as the rake and latterly the ageing roué, he was born a Cockney and when his father died when he was aged 10 the family became dirt poor in Tottenham and by the time he was 14 thanks to the Italia Conté School he was earning more than all the family put together and more than his dear Dad ever had and continued his work ethic throughout his life from the Carry On films to the voice of the Sorting Hat in three Harry Potters. Plagued by typecasting his humour went undimmed with his signature ‘Hellooooo!’ and ‘Ding Dong’ from the Carry on Doctor films he also starred with friend Peter O’Toole (see illus) in Venus (with Dr Who’s Jodie Whitaker) and Out of Africa and Steven Spielbergs Version of the Tom Stoppard written JG Ballard autobiography ‘Empire of The Sun’. Plus other serious rolls one could be forgiven for thinking he was merely a light weight comic caricature but his range was as broad as any of his peers.
We are the poorer for his passing.
Ding Dong!
Leslie Philips with Peter O'Toole in 'Venus'
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