He starred in 150 films.
Actor Leslie Phillips, best known for his roles in the Carry On franchise and as the Sorting Hat in the Harry Potter films, has died at the age of 98 after a long illness.
Renowned for his popular ‘Ding Dong’, ‘Well, Hello’ and ‘I Say’ catchphrases, the actor had been battling a long illness following a life-threatening stroke in 2015.
He had spent the last few years recovering at his home.
A representative for the star confirmed he died “peacefully in his sleep” on Monday (7 November).
His passing brings down the curtain on a career in show business of more than eight decades, in which he starred in 150 films.
Paying tribute, his wife Zara, 63, said: “I’ve lost a wonderful husband and the public has lost a truly great showman.
“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.”
Whilst older generations may know him best for his Carry On stardom, younger fans will recognise his voice from the Harry Potter films where he was the sound of the Sorting Hat.
Clip via Wizarding World
Phillips’ passing comes just weeks after another star of the films, Robbie Coltrane passed away at the age of 72.
Over the course of his career, Phillips starred in over 200 movies and TV shows, as well as radio programmes – including 18 years on BBC radio sitcom The Navy Lark.
Phillips made his acting debut on the West End at the age of just 14 and went on to star in various Shakespeare theatre productions worldwide.
The actor appeared in four Carry On movies, including 1959’s Carry On Nurse and 1992’s Carry On Columbus.
He received two honours from the late Queen Elizabeth II, first an OBE in 1998 and then a CBE for services to showbiz a decade later.
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