LesliePhillips,knownforhisworkonboththesmallandbigscreens,diedattheageof98,accordingtohisagent.
Theactorrosetoprominenceinthe1950s,withsuccessintheCarryOnandHarryPotterfranchises,aswellasworkontelevisionandstage.
Phillipsdied“peacefullyinhissleep”onMonday,accordingtohisagent,JonathanLloyd.
Despiteportrayinganupper-classgentleman,Phillipscamefromaworking-classfamily.
Hismotherenrolledhiminelocutionlessons,andbytheageof14,hisnewaccenthadmadehimtheprimarybreadwinner,withstageroleshelpingtosupporthisfamily.
HestarredinthreeCarryOnfilmsafterastintinthearmyandastringofsmallandbig-screenroles.
Itwasthecreationofapersonathatwouldbecomesynonymouswithhim,alongwiththecatchphrase“Isay,dingdong”fromhisCarryOnNursecharacter.
In1992,hereturnedtothefranchisewithCarryOnColumbus.
“Intheolddays,mostCarryOnfilmswouldhavediednaturallyafterdoingtheroundsatthecinemas,”hesaidina1999interview.
“Butthencametelevision,andtheywerefloggedtodeathallovertheworld.”
Someonehasmadealotofmoneyoffofthem.
Butnotthoseofuswhotookpartinthem.”
HealsoplayedtheDoctorinbothDoctorinCloverandDoctorinTrouble,succeedingDirkBogarde,andwasknownforthelong-runningradiositcomTheNavyLark.
But,notwantingtobeassociatedsolelywithcomedy,heappearedinmoredramaticrolessuchasOutofAfrica,Scandal,andEmpireoftheSunthroughoutthe1980s.
Healsohadblockbusterroles,includingLaraCroft:TombRaider,inwhichheco-starredwithAngelinaJolie,andthreeHarryPotterfilmsinwhichheprovidedhisvoice.
Phillipswasstillirritatedbypeople’slimitedperceptionsofhim.
“Iknowthere’salargeaudienceouttherewhohasnoideawhatI’vedone,andtheyprobablythinkI’mstillstuckinthatrut,”heexplained.
“Somepeoplesay,‘Ohmygosh,Leslie,IsawyouinthisreallyseriousdramatheothernightandIwasverysurprised.’
AndIaskmyself,“Why?”
“I’maperformer.”
Whataboutmyreputation?
Continuereading
Hetookonfewerrolesinthelastdecade,butheimpressedoppositePeterO’TooleinVenus,earningaBaftanominationforhisperformance.
HealsoappearedinIsThereAnyoneThere?withMichaelCaine,aswellasanumberofradiodramasbasedonDoctorWhoadventures.
RumpoleoftheBailey,Chancer,MidsomerMurders,andTheCatherineTateShowwereamonghisothertelevisioncredits.
HewasawardedanOBEin1998,whichwaslaterupgradedtoaCBEin2008.
Histhirdwife,ZaraCarr,andfourchildrensurvivehim.
