Leslie Samuel Phillips, the English actor best known for his role in the Carry On movies and the Harry Potter series, has died, Sky News reports. He was 98 years old.
According to Phillips' agent, Jonathan Lloyd, he passed away “peacefully in his sleep” on Monday (7 November).
“I've lost a wonderful husband and the public has lost a truly great showman,” Phillips’ wife, Zara Carr told The Sun. “He was quite simply a national treasure. People loved him. He was mobbed everywhere he went.”
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In the Harry Potter movies, Phillips voiced the Sorting Hat - he most notably played a huge part in the iconic scene where Harry is placed in Gryffindor after pleading the hat to not put him in Slytherin.
Outside of the wizarding world franchise, the actor was well known for his over-the-top portrayals of upper-class Englishmen, and was widely recognised for his catchphrases like “I say”, “ding dong” and “well hello”. He originally had a cockney accent, having been born in Tottenham, North London, but took elocution lessons since, at the time, regional accents were considered to be barriers to acting careers.
Sky News writes that although Phillips pursued a career in Hollywood, he still preferred the UK, and said: "I could have stayed, but I am a Londoner through and through. I want to go everywhere, but I will always want to live in London. So I came back.”
“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,” the official Harry Potter Film account wrote on Twitter. “His words warmly welcomed each student upon their arrival at Hogwarts and revealed where they would flourish best. He will be very much missed.”
Our thoughts go out to Phillips’ family, friends and loved ones at this difficult time - may he rest in peace.
Topics: TV And Film, Harry Potter, no article matching