Peter Sallis | |
|---|---|
 Sallis in 2008 | |
| Born | Peter John Sallis (1921-02-01)1 February 1921 Twickenham,Middlesex, England |
| Died | 2 June 2017(2017-06-02) (aged 96) |
| Resting place | St John the Evangelist Churchyard,Upperthong,West Yorkshire, England |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, Voice Actor, Singer |
| Years active | 1943–2017 |
| Notable work | Wallace & Gromit, Last of the Summer Wine |
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) |
| Spouse | |
| Children | Crispian Sallis |
Peter John Sallis (1 February 1921 – 2 June 2017) was an English actor.[1][2] He was the original voice ofWallace in theAcademy Award-winningWallace & Gromit films and playedNorman "Cleggy" Clegg inLast of the Summer Wine from its 1973 inception until the final episode in 2010, making him the only actor to appear in all 295 episodes. Additionally, he portrayed Norman Clegg's father in the prequel seriesFirst of the Summer Wine.
Among his television credits, Peter Sallis appeared inDanger Man,The Avengers,Doctor Who (The Ice Warriors),The Persuaders! andThe Ghosts of Motley Hall. Peter Sallis' film appearances included theHammer horror filmsThe Curse of the Werewolf (1961) andTaste the Blood of Dracula (1970).
Peter John Sallis[3] was born on 1 February 1921 inTwickenham,Middlesex (now in Greater London), the only child of bank manager Harry Sallis (1889–1964) and Dorothy Amea Frances (née Barnard; 1891–1975).[4][5] After attendingMinchenden Grammar School inSouthgate, Sallis went to work in a bank, working on shipping transactions. He and his family moved toLeigh-on-Sea inEssex, after his mother had fallen in love with her physician but he continued to attend school, for a year, at Minchenden.[6] After the outbreak of theSecond World War, he joined theRoyal Air Force. He was unable to serve as aircrew because of aserum albumin disorder and was told he might black out at high altitudes.[citation needed] He became a wireless mechanic instead and went on to teach radio procedures atRAF Cranwell for which he won aKorda Scholarship.
After studying at theRoyal Academy of Dramatic Art, Peter Sallis made his first appearance on the professional stage at theArts Theatre in September 1946 in the small roles of Soldier and Servant inR. B. Sheridan'sThe Scheming Lieutenant.[7] After three years in provincial repertory theatres and appearing on tour he returned to London in May 1951 as Fedotik in a revival ofThe Three Sisters at theAldwych Theatre.[7]
At theLyric Hammersmith in November 1951, he played Roger Doremus inSummer and Smoke and transferred with the play to theDuchess in January 1952. At theOld Vic in May 1952, he played the Jeweller inTyrone Guthrie's production ofTimon of Athens. Later in that year he appeared in two productions byBernard Miles: as the Porter and Doctor inMacbeth and Hoard inA Trick to Catch the Old One.[7]
DuringJohn Gielgud's season at the Lyric, Hammersmith in 1952–53 Sallis appeared as Waitwell inThe Way of the World and Retrosi inVenice Preserved.[7] In Gielgud's 1953 gramophone recording ofThe Importance of Being Earnest Peter Sallis played Lane oppositeRoland Culver as Algernon.[8] At theAldwych Theatre in April 1954, he played the 1st Soldier inPeter Brook's production ofThe Dark is Light Enough, and at theHaymarket he played Joe Scanlon inThe Matchmaker in November 1954.[7]
At theGlobe in May 1955, he played Virgil Penny inInto Thin Air;[7] at theDuke of York's Theatre in June 1955 he played Stage Manager/Flask in Orson Welles's adaptation ofMoby Dick in a cast including Welles,Gordon Jackson,Joan Plowright,Patrick McGoohan andKenneth Williams.[9] He acted in new plays and classics; among the latter he played Fag in a revival ofThe Rivals in 1956, Simon and Barere inDanton's Death, Thrifty inThe Cheats of Scapin and Doctor and Provost inBrand (1959).[7]
At theRoyal Court Theatre in July 1959, he played Gigot inNoël Coward'sFeydeau adaptation,Look After Lulu. When the production transferred to theNew Theatre in September he took over fromGeorge Devine as Herr van Putzeboum.[7] At the Royal Court in April 1960 he played Bottard inRhinoceros transferring to theStrand Theatre in June 1960.[7] He made his first appearance in New York at the Broadway Theatre in February 1965 as Dr Watson inBaker Street; in December of that year, he played Hudson inInadmissible Evidence at the Belasco Theatre, New York.[7]
His later stage roles included Roat inWait Until Dark (Strand, July 1966),[10] Herr Schultz inCabaret (Palace, February 1968), Edwin Palmer inThe Pay-Off (Comedy Theatre, 1972)[10] and Dogberry inMuch Ado About Nothing, (Strand, 1989).[10]
Sallis appeared in more than 150 films and in more than 170 television shows. From 1955–1979 Sallis appeared in many of theITV andBBC playhouse/play/theatre programmes includingITV Television Playhouse,Play of the Week,Sunday Night Theatre,World Theatre,BBC Sunday Night Play,Musical Playhouse,Armchair Theatre,The Wednesday Play,Play of the Month,Plays of Today,Thirty Minute Theatre,Comedy Playhouse,Play for Today,Armchair Cinema,Playhouse,BBC2 Playhouse,Jackanory Playhouse andPremiere.[11]
From 1955-1956, Sallis appeared in three episodes of the television seriesStrange Experiences, playing a different character in each episode, such as pickpocket Chippy Griggs in the episode "The Pickpocket"; criminal Squishy Taylor in the episode "Safe and Sound"; and a Poor Man in the episode "The Inveterate Gambler". Sallis was also the only guest star actor to appear in more than one episode out of all the cast members from the TV series. The episodes "Safe and Sound" and "The Knife Thrower" were first shown in the 1955 TV movie/TV playFcb TV Show No. 1. They were included in the TV movie/TV play to give some idea of how an evening's viewing might appear on the forthcoming ITA channel in London. Both episodes were eventually given a separate release on television by themselves as episodes of the TV seriesStrange Experiences in 1956.[11]
Sallis' first extended television role came in 1958 where he playedSamuel Pepys in theBBC serialThe Diary of Samuel Pepys.[11] That same year Sallis started in the TV seriesThe Black Arrow as Sir Oliver Oates and he appeared in the TV seriesThe Lost King as abbe Fleuriel in the episode "Monsieur Charles Deslys".[11] In 1959 Sallis played Cady in the 1959 TV seriesThe Widow of Bath based on the book of the same name byMargot Bennett.[11] He appeared inJango in the episode "Treacle on Three Fingers" (1961) as Oscar Grant.[11] He appeared inDanger Man in the episode "Find and Destroy" (1961) as Gordon and he also later that year played Rev. Alexander Mill in theBBC TV PlayCandida.
In 1962, Sallis appeared inMaigret in the episode "The Reluctant Witnesses" as Armand Lachaume.[11] In 1963 Sallis played the lead role of the scientist Mad Willy in theDrama and Mystery seriesThe Chem. Lab. Mystery.[11] In 1964 Sallis played a big role in the TV seriesThe Avengers where played role of Hal Anderson in the episode "The Wringer".[11] He appeared in theBBCDoctor Who story "The Ice Warriors" (1967), playing renegade scientist Elric Penley;[12] and in 1983 was due to play the role of Striker in anotherDoctor Who serial, "Enlightenment", but had to withdraw.[13]
Sallis appeared as schoolteacher Mr Gladstone in an episode of the first series ofCatweazle in 1970. He was cast in the BBC comedy sitcom seriesThe Culture Vultures (1970), which saw him play stuffy Professor George Hobbs toLeslie Phillips's laid-back rogue Dr Michael Cunningham.[14] During the production, Phillips was rushed to hospital with aninternal haemorrhage and as a result, only five episodes were completed.[15]
He appeared twice in the seriesHadleigh, first in 1971 in the episode "Bow to the Lady" as Dakin and again in 1976 in the episode "The Charm Factor" as Strapper Strapton.[11]
He appeared three times in the British police seriesSoftly, Softly: Task Force. First in 1971 in the episode "Cash and Carry" as Lodge, then 1975 in the episode "High Life" as Professor Dowell and in 1976 in the episode "A Shot in the Dark" as Edward Letheridge.[11]
In 1971, Sallis played a lead role in the TV seriesThe Ten Commandments in the episode "The Nineteenth Hole" where he played the second commandment named Gerry.[11]
Sallis started alongsideRobin Ellis,Suzanne Neve,Garfield Morgan,Margaret Courtenay,Elvi Hale,John Bryans, Maurice Quick,James Cossins andArthur Pentelow in the 1971 British TV SeriesBel Ami, based on the French novel byGuy de Maupassant. Sallis played the character Norbert de Varenne in four episodes of the series.[16]
Sallis acted alongsideRoger Moore andTony Curtis in an episode ofThe Persuaders! ("The Long Goodbye", 1971).[17] He appeared in many British films of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s includingChild's Play (1954),Anastasia (1956),The Doctor's Dilemma (1958),The Scapegoat (1959),[11]Saturday Night and Sunday Morning,[18]Doctor in Love (1960),No Love for Johnnie,[11]The Curse of the Werewolf (1961),[18]I Thank a Fool (1962),The Mouse on the Moon,[11]The V.I.P.s ,[18]Clash by Night (1963),The Third Secret (1964),Rapture (1965),[11]Charlie Bubbles,[18]Inadmissible Evidence (1968),[11]The Reckoning,[11]Scream and Scream Again,Taste the Blood of Dracula,My Lover My Son,[11]Wuthering Heights (1970),[18]The Night Digger (1971),[11]The Incredible Sarah (1976),[18]Full Circle (1977)[11] andWho Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe? (1978).[19]
Sallis appeared in many British TV movies/TV plays of the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, includingFcb TV Show No.1 (1955),Kitty Clive (1956),Cinderella (1958),David and Broccoli (1960),Candida (1961),Heart to Heart (1962),Who Killed Lamb?,Graceless Go I (1974),The Secret Agent (1975),Across a Crowded Room (1978),She Loves Me (1979),The Secret Diaries of the Film Censors,A Dangerous Kind of Love,That's Television Entertainment (1986),A Tale of Two Toads (1989) andBelonging (2004).[11]
Additionally in 1968, he was cast as the well-intentioned Coker in a BBC Radio production ofJohn Wyndham'sThe Day of the Triffids.[20]
Sallis played a priest in the TV filmFrankenstein: The True Story (1973), and the following year played Mr Bonteen in the BBC period dramaThe Pallisers.[11]
In 1972, Sallis played Mr. Bruff in three episodes of the 1972 TV seriesThe Moonstone, based on the book of the same name byWilkie Collins.[11] In the same period, he started alongsideEdward Woodward,T.P. McKenna,Russell Hunter andWilliam Squire in the TV seriesCallan in the episode "The Richardmond File: A Man Like Me" as Routledge as well as his role as Sammy Harrison in two episodes of the TV seriesKate.[11]
Sallis was cast in the pilot forComedy Playhouse which became the first episode ofLast of the Summer Wine (retrospectively titledOf Funerals and Fish, 1973) as the unobtrusive lover of a quiet life, Norman Clegg.[21] The pilot was successful and the BBC commissioned a series. Sallis had already worked on stage withMichael Bates, who played the self-appointed leader Blamire in the first two series. Sallis played the role of Clegg from 1973 to 2010, and was the only cast member to appear in every episode.[21] He also appeared, in 1988, as Clegg's father inFirst of the Summer Wine,[11] a prequel toLast of the Summer Wine set in 1939.
In 1974, Sallis started alongsideGlyn Owen,Isobel Black,John Thaw,Roland Curram,Jill Dixon and John Bown in the TV showThe Capone Investment.[22] Sallis appeared twice in the TV seriesCrown Court first in 1974 in "Triangle" as Gerald Prosser in all three parts and again in 1977 in "Such a Charming Man" as Insp. George Storton in all three parts.[11] In 1975 he appeared in theBBC,Wales TV MovieThe Snowdropper as Spicer, a snowdropper that where'sOveralls/Dungarees. That same year he also appeared inPrometheus: The Life of Balzac in the episode "The Race of Death" (1975) asVictor Hugo.[23][11] He appeared in the children's seriesThe Ghosts of Motley Hall (1976–78), in which he played Arnold Gudgin, an estate agent who did not want to see the hall fall into the wrong hands,[11] and he played Rodney Gloss in the BBC seriesMurder Most English (1977).[24]
Sallis also appeared in the TV seriesYanks Go Home where he played Randell Todd in four episodes in 1977.[11] In the same period, he starred alongsideNorthern comic actorDavid Roper in theITV sitcomLeave it to Charlie as Charlie's pessimistic boss.[25] The programme ran for four series, ending in 1980. Sallis also played the part of the ghost-hunter Milton Guest in the children's paranormal drama seriesThe Clifton House Mystery (1978).[26] In 1980, he appeared inLady Killers in the episode "Not for the Nervous" (1980) as O'Brien and that same year he also appeared inTales of the Unexpected in the episode "A Picture of a Place" (1980). In 1984, Sallis played Leonard March in three episodes of the TV seriesStrangers and Brothers.[11] In 1986, Sallis played the role of Lucy Walker's supporting father Mr. Walker in theBBC TV MovieA Dangerous Kind of Love.[11] In 1987, he played a former hangman named Sidney Bliss in two episodes of the TV seriesThe New Statesman oppositeRik Mayall.[11]
In 1990, Sallis played another major acting role in the television series titledCome Home Charlie & Face Them based on the book of the same name byR.F. Delderfield. In the series, Sallis played role of Evan Rhys-Jones in all three episodes of the series. In the series, Evan Rhys-Jones and his wife, Gwladys Rhys-Jones, immediately start throwing their daughter, 27-year-old Ida Rhys-Jones, at Charlie.[27]
In 1954 he voiced Lane the butler oppositeJohn Gielgud in the audio cassette seriesThe Importance Of Being Earnest.[28] In his autobiography,Fading into the Limelight, Sallis recounts a meeting withOrson Welles, where he received a mysterious telephone call summoning him to the desertedGare d'Orsay inParis where Welles announced he wanted him to dubHungarian bit-players in his film adaptation ofFranz Kafka'sThe Trial (1962). Sallis wrote that "the episode was Kafka-esque, to coin a phrase".[6] From 1966–1983 he appeared in 8 episodes of the BBC Radio seriesAfternoon Theatre.[29][30] In 1970 Sallis narrated a UKPublic information film calledMenace. The short film was about the safety of householders to reduce the risk of burglary by locking all windows and points of entry.[31] In 1971 he voicedKing Henry in theBBC TV movieThe Bristol Entertainment.[32]
Sallis was the narrator onRocky Hollow (1983) for all 26 episodes. He voiced Rat inThe Wind in the Willows (1984–90), based on the book byKenneth Grahame and produced byCosgrove Hall Films, alongsideMichael Hordern as Badger,David Jason as Toad andRichard Pearson as Mole. He also voiced Rat in the secondWind in the Willows movieA Tale of Two Toads in 1989.[11] Also in 1983 he played the lead character Jim Bloggs, alongsideBrenda Bruce as Hilda, in a BBC Radio 4 adaptation of Raymond Briggs'When the Wind Blows.[33][34] From 1986–1987 Sallis voiced Harold in all six episodes of the BBC Radio seriesLiving with Betty and he also voiced the lead characterHercule Poirot, alongside Manning Wilson as Col Johnson, in a BBC Radio 4 audio cassette titledHercule Poirot's Christmas.[35][36] In 1996 Sallis narrated two audiobooks from the Little Bear book series those being Little Bear and Little Bear's Visit.[37][38] Sallis appeared in the last episode ofRumpole of the Bailey (1992)[39] and he later starred alongsideBrenda Blethyn,Kevin Whately andAnna Massey in the one-off ITV1 dramaBelonging (2004).[40]
During the 1980s to the 1990s, Sallis provided the voiceover for a series of television adverts forPolo mints.[41][42] He also provided voiceover for many other adverts such as Heinz Classic Soup Cream of Chicken with White Wine, Panasonic, Contac 400, Lift Lemon Tea, Hotpoint, Persil Liquid, Super Poli-Grip and Shredded Wheat Gold.[citation needed]
Sallis also voiced Hugo in the animated seriesVictor and Hugo: Bunglers in Crime.[citation needed] He narrated "Postman Pat's Parcel of Stories", a cassette tape story compilation based onPostman Pat.[43] In 1996 he narrated two audio cassette tapes of theFrog and Toad book series those beingDays With Frog and Toad andFrog and Toad All Year which were both published byAbbey Home Entertainment.[44] Around the same time period he also narrated another two audio cassette tapes, those beingLittle Bear andLittle Bear's Visit which were both stories from theLittle Bear book series.[45] That same year he also starred alongsideJohn Moffatt,Graham Crowden,Jeremy Clyde, Roger May,Bill Nighy andDiana Quick in a BBC Radio adaptation ofDeath at Broadcasting House where he provided the voice of Detective Inspector Spears. It was also shown as an episode of the BBC Radio seriesSaturday Playhouse.[46]
Sallis also appeared in theSaturday Playhouse episode "The Trials of Oscar Wilde: The Love That Dare Not Speak Its Name" where he voicedEdward Clarke alongsideSimon Russell Beale andNigel Davenport[47] 2005 Sallis narrated the audio CD ofSix-Dinner Sid based on the book of the same name byInga Moore.[48] The following year when Sallis released his autobiography book titledFading into the Limelight: Peter Sallis the Autobiography he also narrated his autobiography book for an audio CD that was released the same year.[49]
In 2001, Sallis had a cameo voiceover role in the TV movieHotel! where he provided the radio voice of Little Ashford Flying Club.[50]
While a student in 1983,Nick Park wrote to Sallis asking him if he would voice his character Wallace, an eccentric inventor. Sallis agreed to do so for a donation of £50 to his favourite charity. The work was eventually released in 1989 and Aardman Animations'Wallace & Gromit: A Grand Day Out went on to win aBAFTA award. Sallis reprised his role in theOscar and BAFTA Award-winning filmsThe Wrong Trousers in 1993 andA Close Shave in 1995.[51]
Throughout the late 1990s to the early 2000s, Sallis continued to voice Wallace in manyWallace & Gromit video games, adverts and audio cassettes, and returned to voice Wallace in 2002 TV seriesWallace & Gromit's Cracking Contraptions and in the Oscar-winning 2005 motion picture filmWallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, for which he won anAnnie Award for Best Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production. In 2008, Sallis voiced a newWallace & Gromit adventure,A Matter of Loaf and Death. Following theCurse of the Were-Rabbit, Sallis's eyesight began to fail as a result ofmacular degeneration and he used a talking portable typewriter with a specially illuminated scanner to continue working. In 2009, he played Gloria Millington's father Cyril in the TV seriesKingdom in the episode "Episode 3.1".[11] His last role as Wallace was in 2010'sWallace & Gromit's World of Invention. Two years later, Sallis retired from acting due to ill health, withBen Whitehead taking over as the voice of Wallace.[51]
In 2006, Sallis published anautobiography entitledFading into the Limelight.[6] As well as his 36 years inLast of the Summer Wine, Sallis also recounts the early era of his relationship withWallace & Gromit creatorNick Park when it took six years forA Grand Day Out to be completed. He says that his work as Wallace has "raised his standing a few notches in the public eye".[52]
Sallis married actressElaine Usher atSt. John's Wood Church in London on 9 February 1957.[53][4][54] However, it was a turbulent relationship, with Usher leaving him sixteen times before they divorced in 1965 on grounds of desertion and adultery.[1] They eventually reconciled and continued to live together until 1999. Sallis remained close to Usher until her death in 2014.[55][56] They had one son,Crispian Sallis (born 1959), and two grandchildren.[55] Sallis also lived with three cats in a small cottage.[57]
Sallis suffered frommacular degeneration,[55] and in 2005 recorded an appeal onBBC Radio 4 on behalf of theMacular Society, of which he was a patron.[58] He also recorded on behalf of the society a television appeal, which was broadcast onBBC One on 8 March 2009. Following his diagnosis of the disease, Aardman produced a short animated film for the society.[59]
Sallis was awarded theOBE in the2007 Birthday Honours for services to Drama.[55] On 17 May 2009, he appeared on the BBC Radio 4 programmeDesert Island Discs, selectingSibelius'Symphony No. 5 in E-flat major as his favourite.[60] Just before his death he recorded/voiced Wallace one last time for the hospital elevators inside theBristol Royal Hospital for Children. Aardman did this to make his voice live on forever.[61]
Sallis died fromnatural causes at theDenville Hall nursing home inNorthwood, London on 2 June 2017, aged 96.[2][62] He was buried next to fellowLast of the Summer Wine actorBill Owen in the churchyard of St John's Parish Church,Upperthong, near the town ofHolmfirth in Yorkshire, the home of the sitcom.[63]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | A Midsummer Night's Dream[11] | Quince | |
| 1948 | Scenes from Twelfth Night and Macbeth[11] | Sir Toby Belch | |
| Scenes from Twelfth Night and Macbeth/II[11] | |||
| 1951 | Mr. Denning Drives North[98] | Minor Role | Uncredited |
| 1953 | King in Motley[11] | Will | |
| The New Shilling[11] | Mr. Bligh | ||
| 1954 | Stranger from Venus | Soldier | Uncredited |
| Child's Play | Bill (grocery merchant) | Filmed in 1952 | |
| Nineteen Eighty-Four[11] | Unknown | ||
| 1955 | Fcb TV Show No.1[11] | Guest | |
| Moby Dick Rehearsed[11] | Actor | ||
| Cheltenham Festival of Contemporary Literature[11] | Oscar Wilde | ||
| 1956 | Kitty Clive[11] | John Hall | |
| Anastasia | Grischa | Uncredited | |
| 1958 | A Night to Remember[98] | Minor Role | |
| The Doctor's Dilemma | Secretary at Picture Gallery | ||
| Cinderella[11] | Baron Aristide de Pennilac | ||
| 1959 | The Scapegoat[11] | Customs Official | |
| 1960 | David and Broccoli[11] | Mr. Slingsby | |
| Doctor in Love[11] | Love-Struck Patient | Uncredited | |
| The Millionairess[1] | Minor Role | ||
| The Poet[11] | Giulio | ||
| Saturday Night and Sunday Morning[11] | Man in Suit | Uncredited | |
| The Adventures of Alice[11] | Tweedledee | ||
| 1961 | No Love for Johnnie[11] | M.P. | |
| Dear Charles | Edward | ||
| The Curse of the Werewolf[11] | Don Enrique | ||
| The Renegade | Henry Stolt | ||
| Candida[11] | Rev. Alexander Mill | ||
| 1962 | I Thank a Fool | Sleazy Doctor | |
| The Trial[11] | Uncle Max (voice) | ||
| Heart to Heart[11] | Frank Godsell | ||
| 1963 | The Mouse on the Moon | Russian Delegate | |
| The V.I.P.s[11] | Doctor | ||
| Clash by Night | Victor Lush | ||
| 1964 | Don't Ever Talk to Clocks | Unknown | |
| The Third Secret[11] | Lawrence Jacks | ||
| 1965 | Rapture[11] | Armand | |
| 1966 | The Bible: In the Beginning...[11] | Minor Role | Uncredited |
| 1968 | Charlie Bubbles[11] | Solicitor | |
| Inadmissible Evidence[11] | Hudson | ||
| 1970 | Menace[11] | Narrator (voice) | |
| The Reckoning[11] | Keresley | ||
| Scream and Scream Again[11] | Schweitz | ||
| Taste the Blood of Dracula[11] | Samuel Paxton | ||
| My Lover, My Son[11] | Sir Sidney Brent | ||
| Marie Stopes: Sexual Revolutionary | Ernest Charles, KC | ||
| Wuthering Heights[11] | Mr. Shielders | ||
| 1971 | The Night Digger[11] | Reverend Rupert Palafox | |
| The Bristol Entertainment | Water Seller, Coachman, Ameryk, Mayor, Captain Kimber, King Henry Voice | ||
| 1972 | The Reprieve[11] | Cossack Horseman | |
| 1973 | Hitler: The Last Ten Days[11] | Banker #2 | |
| Frankenstein: The True Story | Priest | ||
| 1974 | Who Killed Lamb?[11] | Lloyd | |
| Graceless Go I[11] | Guest Star | ||
| 1975 | The Secret Agent[11] | Chief Inspector Heat | |
| The Snowdropper[99] | Spicer | ||
| 1976 | The Incredible Sarah[11] | Thierry | |
| 1977 | Full Circle[11] | Jeffrey Branscombe | |
| 1978 | Across a Crowded Room[11] | Cyril Smallpiece | |
| Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe?[11] | St. Claire | ||
| 1979 | She Loves Me[11] | Ladislav Sipos | |
| 1982 | Witness for the Prosecution[11] | Carter | |
| The Funny Side of Christmas[11] | Clegg | 1982 Comedy Sketch | |
| 1984 | Royal Variety Performance[11] | 1984 Comedy Sketch | |
| 1986 | The Secret Diary's of the Film Censors[11] | Unknown | |
| A Dangerous Kind of Love[11] | Mr. Walker | ||
| That's Television Television[11] | Clegg | ||
| 1989 | A Tale of Two Toads[11] | Rat (voice) | |
| A Grand Day Out[11] | Wallace (voice) | ||
| 1993 | The Wrong Trousers[11] | ||
| 1995 | A Close Shave[11] | ||
| 1998 | Everyday Readers[11] | Narrator (voice) | |
| 1999 | Shaggy Dog Story[11] | Norman Clegg | |
| 2001 | Hotel! | Radio Voice of little Ashford Flying Club | Uncredited |
| 2004 | Belonging[11] | Nathan | |
| 2005 | Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit[11] | Wallace, Hutch (voice) | Won –Annie Award for Voice Acting in a Feature Production |
| Colour Me Kubrick[citation needed] | The Second Patient | Cameo appearance | |
| 2006 | Displacements[11] | Peter Sallis | |
| 2008 | A Matter of Loaf and Death[11] | Wallace (voice) | |
| 2009 | Living with Macular Disease[11] | Peter Sallis,Narrator (voice) | |
| 2012 | The Lark Ascending | Self |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1948 | For The Children[11] | Sir Toby Belch | Episode: "Scenes from Twelfth Night and Macbeth" |
| 1952 | The March of the Peasants[11] | Blakeley | Episode: "The Raven's Father" |
| 1953 | The Heir of Skipton | Thomas | 4 episodes |
| 1955–1961 | ITV Television Playhouse[11] | Daniel Kevin, Corporal Foster, Professor Coogan, Pasquale Sanzio, Peter | 5 episodes |
| 1956 | Strange Experiences[11] | Squishy Taylor, Chippy Criggs, Poor Man | 3 episodes |
| 1957–1963 | Play of the Week[11] | Homer Bolton, Hannibal, 'Dusty' Miller | |
| 1957–1959 | Sunday Night Theatre[11] | J. G.,Snug, Wallace Porter | 4 episodes |
| 1958 | The Black Arrow[11] | Sir Oliver Oates | |
| The Diary of Samuel Pepys[1] | Samuel Pepys | 14 episodes | |
| The Invisible Man | Nesib | Episode: "Crisis in the Desert" | |
| The Lost King[11] | Abbe Fleuriel | Episode: "Monsieur Charles Deslys" | |
| 1959 | The Widow of Bath[11] | Cady | 6 episodes |
| World Theatre[11] | Barere, Simon, Prisoner, Doctor, Provost | 2 episodes | |
| 1960–1963 | BBC Sunday-Night Play[11] | Robinet, Capt. Hardy, Hesketh-Payne, Harry Shell, Danny Fellows, Housing clerk, Gerald Swinney | 7 episodes |
| 1960 | Dance Date[11] | Dancer | Episode: "Episode 1.7" |
| Musical Playhouse[100] | Max | Episode: "Parasol" | |
| International Detective | Eugene Payas | Episodes: "The Raschid Case" | |
| Summerhouse[101] | Storyteller | Episode: "Episode 1.11" | |
| 1960–1973 | Armchair Theatre[11] | Mr. Milroy, Sam Carter, Alfred Purdie, Mr. Pender, Onslow | 5 episodes |
| 1961 | Jango[11] | Oscar Grant | Episode: "Treacle on Three Fingers" |
| Danger Man | John Gordon | Episode: "Find and Destroy" | |
| Amelia[11] | William Hogarth | 7 episodes | |
| A Chance of Thunder | Howard | 3 episodes | |
| 1962 | Maigret[11] | Armand Lachaume | Episode: "The Reluctant Witnesses" |
| The Largest Theatre in the World[11] | Frank Godsell | Episode: "Heart to Heart"[11] | |
| Crying Down the Lane[11] | Champion | 6 episodes | |
| 1963 | The Chem. Lab. Mystery[11] | Mad Willy | |
| It Happened Like This[11] | Bill Canford | Episode: "The Hidden Witness" | |
| 1963–1964 | Drama 61-67 | Philip Mallard, Ronald Green | 2 episodes |
| Z-Cars[11] | Seaton, Williams | ||
| 1963 | Zero One[11] | Major Konel | Episode: "The Trial" |
| 1963-1964 | Festival | Captain of the Fire Brigade, Romainville | 2 episodes |
| 1964 | The Avengers | Hal Anderson | Episode: "The Wringer" |
| Story Box | John Walker,Bilbo Baggins | 2 episodes | |
| Detective[11] | Man | Episode: "The Drawing" | |
| Sergeant Cork[11] | Rev. Hubert Wales, Feng | 2 episodes | |
| The Sullavan Brothers | Kenneth K. Hirst | Episode: "A Question of Honor" | |
| 1965–1971 | Public Eye | Colin Renolds, Eddie Meadows | 2 episodes |
| 1966 | Knock on Any Door[11] | Stannage | Episode: "A Laugh in the Dark Question" |
| Blackmail[11] | Miles Beckett | Episode: "The Setup" | |
| 1967 | Doctor Who[11] | Penley | Serial: "The Ice Warriors" |
| 1968–1970 | The Wednesday Play[11] | Eric, Minor Role (Uncredited), Man (Uncredited) | 3 episodes |
| 1969–2000 | Omnibus[11] | Guest, Self - Introduction,Mirbeau, Self | 7 episodes |
| 1969 | Play of the Month[11] | Minor Role (Uncredited) | Episode: "Maigret at Bay" |
| Plays of Today[11] | Mr. Street | Episode:The Ladies: Joan | |
| 1970 | Catweazle | Stuffy Gladstone | Episode: "The Curse of Rapykin" |
| Mystery and Imagination[11] | Brogden, Mundel, Hopkins | Episode: "Sweeney Todd" | |
| Parkin's Patch[11] | Chief Supt. Mitchum | Episode: "Two Gentlemen Standing" | |
| The Culture Vultures | Professor George Hobbes | 3 episodes | |
| The Troubleshooters | Henry Wynn | Episode: "We All Need Experts" | |
| Menace[11] | Sonny Waters | Episode: "The Millicent Sisters, Edward de Bruno and Ruth - Where Are They Now?" | |
| 1971–1976 | Hadleigh[11] | Dakin, Strapper Strapton | 2 episodes |
| Softly, Softly: Task Force[11] | Lodge, Professor Dowell, Edward Letheridge | 3 episodes | |
| 1971 | Thirty-Minute Theatre[11] | Lumley | Episode:The Railwayman's New Clothes" |
| The Ten Commandments[11] | Gerry | Episode: "The Nineteenth Hole" | |
| Budgie | Peter Olliphant | Episode: "Grandee Hotel" | |
| Bel Ami | Norbert de Varenne | 4 episodes | |
| Paul Temple | George Robertson | Episode: "The Quick and the Dead" | |
| Trial | Almond | Episode: "Debris" | |
| Justice | Coroner | Episode: "When Did You First Feel the Pain?" | |
| The Persuaders![11] | David Piper | Episode: "The Long Goodbye" | |
| 1972 | Spyder's Web[11] | Grovnik | Episode: "Romance on Wheels" |
| The Moonstone[11] | Mr. Bruff | 3 episodes | |
| Callan | Routledge | Episode: "The Richmond File: A Man Like Me" | |
| Kate | Sammy Harrison | 2 episodes | |
| 1973–2010 | Last of the Summer Wine[11] | Norman Clegg | 295 episodes |
| 1973 | Comedy Playhouse[11] | Episode: "Of Funerals and Fish" | |
| 1973–1974 | Thriller[11] | Man, Lloyd | 2 episodes |
| 1973–1981 | Play for Today[11] | Austin Melcroft, Minor Role, Minor Role, Shushin | 4 episodes |
| 1973 | The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes[11] | Dr. Jervis | Episode: "The Moabite Cypher" |
| For the Sake of Appearance[11] | Samuel Pepys | Episode: "Perukes and Periwigs" | |
| 1974 | Barlow at Large[11] | Joseph Miller | Episode: "Snatch" |
| The Pallisers[11] | Mr Bonteen | 5 episodes | |
| Armchair Cinema[11] | Benitet | Episode: "The Prison" | |
| The Capone Investment | Wheatfield | 6 episodes | |
| Late Night Drama[11] | Guest, Patient | 3 episodes | |
| 1974–1977 | Crown Court[11] | Gerald Prosser, Insp. George Storton | 6 episodes |
| 1974–1979 | Playhouse[11] | Mr. Wainwright, Leslie | 2 episodes |
| 1974 | Call My Bluff[11] | Self | |
| 1975 | Prometheus: The Life of Balzac[11] | Victor Hugo | Episode: "The Race to Death" |
| 1976–1978 | The Ghosts of Motley Hall[11] | Mr. Gudgin, Old Gudgin | 15 episodes |
| 1976 | It's Childsplay[11] | Self | Episode: "Episode 1.4" |
| BBC2 Playhouse[11] | Major Venables | Episode: "The Mind Beyond: The Daedalus Equations" | |
| The Mind Beyond[11] | Episode: "The Daedalus Equations" | ||
| Jackanory Playhouse[11] | Deor | Episode: "The Winter Warrior" | |
| 1977 | Raffles[11] | Kingsmill | Episode: "The Gold Cup" |
| Murder Most English: A Falxborough Chronicle[11] | Rodney Gloss | 2 episodes | |
| Yanks Go Home[11] | Randall Todd | 4 episodes | |
| Premiere[11] | Ernest | Episode: "The Obelisk" | |
| 1978 | A Play for Love[11] | Cyril Smallpiece | Episode: "Across a Crowded Room" |
| The Clifton House Mystery[11] | Milton Guest | 3 episodes | |
| 1978–1980 | Leave it to Charlie[11] | Arthur Simister, Alfred Simister | 26 episodes |
| 1979 | Room Service[11] | Mr. Fellows | Episode "1.3" |
| This Is Your Life[11] | Self, Filmed Tribute | 7 episodes | |
| The Val Doonican Music Show[11] | Self | Episode: "Val's Christmas Music Show" | |
| 1980 | Ladykillers[11] | O'Brien | Episode: "Not for the Nervous" |
| Tales of the Unexpected[11] | Solicitor | Episode: "A Picture of a Place" | |
| 1982 | The Kids International Show | Clegg | Episode 1.1 |
| Hallmark Hall of Fame[11] | Carter | Episode "Witness for the Prosecution" | |
| 1983–2008 | 60 Minutes | Mr Bennet, Guest | 2 episodes |
| 1984 | Strangers and Brothers | Leonard March | 3 episodes |
| 1984–1990 | The Wind in the Willows[11] | Ratty (voice) | 66 episodes |
| 1985 | Rocky Hollow[11] | Narrator (voice) | 26 episodes |
| 1986 | Mountain Men[11] | Mr. Walker | Episode: "A Dangerous Kind of Love" |
| 1987 | The New Statesman | Sidney Bliss | 2 episodes |
| Sylvanian Families[11] | (voice) | Episode: "Hip to Be Bear/Feud for Thought" | |
| The Bretts[11] | Dr. Woodward | Episode: "The Actress and the Bishop" | |
| 1988–1989 | First of the Summer Wine[11] | Mr David Clegg | 13 episodes |
| 1988 | Blue Peter[11] | Self | Episode: 32.29 |
| 1990 | Come Home Charlie and Face Them[11] | Evans Rhys-Jones | 3 episodes |
| 1991–1992 | Victor & Hugo: Bunglers in Crime[11] | Hugo (voice) | 31 episodes |
| 1992 | Rumpole of the Bailey[11] | Henry Tong | Episode: "Rumpole on Trial" |
| Noel's House Party[11] | Clegg | Episode 2.7 | |
| 1996 | Q.E.D.[11] | Narrator (voice) | Episode: "Sunshine and Scattered Showers" |
| Wildlife Showcase[11] | Episode: "Once Upon Australia" | ||
| 1997 | First Light[11] | Guest | Episode: "Reasons to be Thankful" |
| Animal People[11] | Narrator (voice) | Episode: "There's a Penguin in the House" | |
| Exclusive[11] | Guest | Episode: 1.20 | |
| 1998 | Rex the Runt | Wallace (voice) | Episode: "Adventures on Telly 1/Adventures on Telly Part 1" |
| 1999 | Whatever You Want[11] | Clegg | Episode: 3.7 |
| 2000 | Auntie's Bloomers[11] | Self, Acting Role (Uncredited) | Episode: "Auntie's Golden Bloomers" |
| 2001 | Holby City | Lionel Davis | Episode: "The Mourning After" |
| 2001-2019 | Songs of Praise[11] | Guest, Self - Guest | 2 episodes |
| 2001 | Then and Now[11] | Guest | Episode: "1.1" |
| Turning Point[11] | Guest | Episode: "1.6" | |
| 2002 | Wallace & Gromit's Cracking Contraptions | Wallace (voice) | 10 episodes |
| 2003 | Balamory[11] | Man at Train Station | Episode: "Snowflake Fairy" |
| Sooty[11] | (voice) | Episode: "Sooty's Ghost" | |
| 2004 | Doctors | Arthur Weartherill | Episode: "A Game of Soldiers" |
| 2006 | Inside Out[11] | Clegg | Episode: "Last of the Summer Wine, Air Ambulance, and The Lottery" |
| 2007 | Eureka[11] | Guest | Episode: "Sight Unseen" |
| 2009 | Kingdom[11] | Cyril | Episode 3.1 |
| 2010 | Wallace & Gromit's World of Invention[55] | Wallace (voice) | 6 episodes |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Wallace & Gromit in A Grand Day Out (English language teaching adaptation) | Wallace (voice) | 6 episodes |
| Wallace & Gromit in The Wrong Trousers (English language teaching adaptation) | |||
| Wallace & Gromit in A Close Shave (English language teaching adaptation) | 7 episodes |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Polo "Something Missing"[102] | Narrator (voice) | |
| Polo "Sorry"[103] | |||
| Polo "Straight Down The Middle"[104] | |||
| Polo "What's In A Name"[105] | |||
| 1986 | Polo "Holy"[106] | ||
| Polo "Planet"[107] | |||
| Polo "Runners"[108] | |||
| Polo "Taste Drive"[109] | |||
| Polo "Trick"[110] | |||
| 1995 | Polo "Corridor"[111] | ||
| 1997–2000s | TV Licensing Commercial [Wallace & Gromit][112] | Wallace (voice) | |
| 1997 | Kellogg's Commercial [Wallace & Gromit][113] | ||
| 1998 | ReebokTheatre of Dreams[114] | ||
| 2003 | RenaultKangoo-matic[115][116] | ||
| 2004 | JacobsCracking[117][118] | ||
| 2005 | PG TipsH-H-Hot[119][120] | ||
| 2008 | BBC OneWallace & Gromit's Runaway Sled | Partially voiced byBen Whitehead | |
| 2009 | NpowerBoiler[11][121][122] | ||
| NpowerInsheepsulation[123][124] | |||
| Children in Need Commercial [Wallace & Gromit] | |||
| M&SChristmas wouldn't be Christmas without...[125][126] | |||
| 2010 | NpowerWidescreen[127][128] | ||
| NpowerHand of Dog[129] | |||
| BBC OneThey're back![130] | |||
| BBC OneSteam Powered Wheel Chair[131] | |||
| 2024 | BBC OneIce Sculpture[132] | Archive recordings; Released posthumously | |
| Radio Times Wallace & Gromit Commercial[133] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | The Importance of Being Earnest[134] | Lane (voice) | 1 episode |
| 1967 | The War of the Worlds[135] | Narrator (voice) | 1 episode |
| 1968 | The Day of the Triffids[20] | Coker (voice) | 2 episodes |
| 1976 | The Ice Warriors | Penley (voice) | 6 episodes |
| 1980 | Haunted: Tales of the Supernatural[136] | Edward (voice) | 1 episode |
| 1983 | When the Wind Blows[33][34] | Jim Bloggs (voice) | |
| 1986–1987 | Living With Betty[137] | Harold (voice) | 6 episodes |
| 1990 | Christmas Tales[138] | Narrator (voice) | 1 episode |
| 1992 | Postman Pat[43] | Narrator (voice) | 6 episodes |
| 1993 | The Adventure of the Norwood Builder[139] | Jones Oldacre (voice) | 1 episode |
| 1994 | Stay Stum[140] | Alan Stamp (voice) | |
| 1996 | Saturday Playhouse[46][47] | Detective Inspector Spears, SirEdward Clarke (voice) | 2 episodes |
| Days With Frog And Toad[141] | Narrator (voice) | ||
| Wallace & Gromit[142] | Wallace (voice) | 3 episodes | |
| 1999 | Two Handers[143] | Bobby (voice) | 1 episode |
| 2000 | Hercule Poirot's Christmas[144] | Hercule Poirot | |
| 2002 | A Ripe Old Age[145] | Guest, Conducter (voice) | 3 episodes |
| 2009 | Desert Island Discs[60] | Himself | |
| 2012 | BBC Proms[146] | Wallace (archive sound) | 1 episode |
| 2013-2014 | The Secret World[147] | Man (voice) | 2 episodes |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Little Bear[37] | Narrator (voice) | |
| Little Bear's Visit[38] | |||
| 1997 | Wallace & Gromit and the Lost Slipper | Wallace (voice) | |
| 1998 | Anoraknophobia | ||
| 1999 | Crackers in Space | ||
| 2005 | Six-Dinner Sid[48] | Narrator (voice) | |
| 2006 | Fading into the Limelight: Peter Sallis the Autobiography[148] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Wallace & Gromit Fun Pack[149] | Wallace (voice) | |
| 1997 | Wallace & Gromit Cracking Animator[150] | ||
| 1998 | Wallace & Gromit Print O Matic | ||
| 2000 | Wallace & Gromit Fun Pack 2[151] | ||
| 2003 | Wallace & Gromit in Project Zoo | ||
| 2005 | Wallace & Gromit PG Tips Flash Game | ||
| Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit | |||
| Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (DVD game)[152] | Uncredited | ||
| Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit Paint & Create | |||
| Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit Print Studio | |||
| 2009 | Wallace & Gromit: Top Bun[153] | ||
| Wallace & Gromit Adventures Java[154] | |||
| 2010 | Wallace & Gromit: Wallace's Workshop[155] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | "A Married Man"[156] | Singer | |
| 1968 | "It Couldn't Please Me More (Pineapple)"[157] | ||
| "Married"[158] | |||
| "Meeskite"[159] | |||
| 1984 | "You've Got to Have a Little Bit of Style"[160] | ||
| "Fancy Dress"[161] | |||
| "We'll Go Boating"[161] |
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 2006 | Fading into the Limelight: Peter Sallis the Autobiography[6] |
| 2014 | Peter Sallis - Summer Wine & Other Stories: My Autobiography - Softcover[162] |
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | Korda Scholarship | Work | Training at theRoyal Academy of Dramatic Art | Won | [1] |
| 1999 | Unsung Heroes Award | Acting | Film and Television | Won | [163] |
| 2005 | Annie Award | Best Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production | Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit | Won | [164] |
| 2007 | Order of the British Empire (OBE) | Services to Drama | Honoured | [2] | |
