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) Denville Hall,London, England |
| Resting place | St John the Evangelist Churchyard,Upperthong,West Yorkshire, England |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, Voice Actor, Singer |
| Years active | 1943–2017[1] |
| Notable work | Wallace & Gromit, Last of the Summer Wine |
| Spouse | |
| Children | Crispian Sallis |
Peter John Sallis (1 February 1921 – 2 June 2017) was an English actor.[2][3] 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, Sallis appeared inDanger Man,The Avengers,Doctor Who (The Ice Warriors),The Persuaders! andThe Ghosts of Motley Hall. Sallis' film appearances included theHammer horror filmsThe Curse of the Werewolf (1961) andTaste the Blood of Dracula (1970).
Peter John Sallis[4] 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).[5][6] 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.[7] 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.[8][better source needed] He became a wireless mechanic instead and went on to teach radio procedures atRAF Cranwell for which he won aKorda Scholarship.
Sallis appeared in theHal Prince-produced musicalShe Loves Me in 1963.[7] Sallis later appeared in a 1979 TV Movie adaptation ofShe Loves Me based of the 1963 musical, although he played the role of Ladislav Sipos instead of Mr. Maraczek.[9] The 1963 musical ofShe Loves Me was a big success and it led to him making his Broadway debut the following year. Prince was the director of a musical based on the work ofArthur Conan Doyle'sSherlock Holmes calledBaker Street. Sallis was asked by Prince to take the role ofDr. Watson toFritz Weaver's Sherlock Holmes. The show ran for six months on Broadway.[7] Just beforeBaker Street ended he was offered the role of Wally in John Osborne'sInadmissible Evidence, which had been played byArthur Lowe in London withNicol Williamson reprising the lead role. The production was troubled with Williamson hitting producerDavid Merrick with a bottle and walking out before being persuaded to continue. The show was a minor success and ran for six months in New York, opening at theBelasco Theatre before transferring to theShubert Theater.[7] Sallis reprised his role in the 1968 film adaptation.[9] Later, he was in the first West End production ofCabaret in 1968 oppositeJudi Dench.[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 andJackanory Playhouse.[9]
In 1956 Sallis appeared in three episodes of the television seriesStrange Experiences, playing a different character in each episode, such as criminal Squishy Taylor in the episode "Safe and Sound"; pickpocket Chippy Griggs in the episode "The Pickpocket"; 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 of the episodes where eventually given a separate release on television by themselves as episodes of the TV seriesStrange Experiences in 1956.[9]
Sallis' first extended television role came in 1958 where he playedSamuel Pepys in theBBC serialThe Diary of Samuel Pepys.[9] 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".[9] In 1959 Sallis played Cady in the 1959 TV seriesThe Widow of Bath based on the book of the same name byMargot Bennett.[9] He appeared inJango in the episode "Treacle on Three Fingers" (1961) as Oscar Grant.[9] He appeared inDanger Man in the episode "Find and Destroy" (1961) as Gordon.[11]
In 1962 Sallis appeared inMaigret in the episode "The Reluctant Witnesses" as Armand Lachaume.[9] In 1963 Sallis played the lead role of the scientist Mad Willy in theDrama and Mystery seriesThe Chem. Lab. Mystery.[9] In 1964 Sallis played a big role in the TV seriesThe Avengers where played role of Hal Anderson in the episode "The Wringer".[9] 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.[9]
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.[9]
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.[9]
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),[9]Saturday Night and Sunday Morning,[18]Doctor in Love (1960),No Love for Johnnie,[9]The Curse of the Werewolf (1961),[18]I Thank a Fool (1962),The Mouse on the Moon,[9]The V.I.P.s ,[18]Clash by Night (1963),The Third Secret (1964),Rapture (1965),[9]Charlie Bubbles,[18]Inadmissible Evidence (1968),[9]The Reckoning,[9]Scream and Scream Again,Taste the Blood of Dracula,My Lover My Son,[9]Wuthering Heights (1970),[18]The Night Digger (1971),[9]The Incredible Sarah (1976),[18]Full Circle (1977)[9] 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 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).[9]
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.[9]
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.[9] 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.[9]
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.[22] He also appeared, in 1988, as Clegg's father inFirst of the Summer Wine,[9] 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.[23] 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.[9] He appeared inPrometheus: The Life of Balzac in the episode "The Race of Death" (1975) asVictor Hugo.[9] 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,[9] 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.[9] 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) as Solicitor. In 1984 Sallis played Leonard March in three episodes of the TV seriesStrangers and Brothers.[9] In 1986 Sallis played the role of Lucy Walker's supporting father Mr. Walker in theBBC TV Movie A Dangerous Kind of Love.[9] In 1987 he played a former hangman named Sidney Bliss in the tv seriesThe New Statesman oppositeRik Mayall. Although Sallis only played Sidney Bliss in two episodes of the series where as for the 1990 special episode "Who Shot Alan B'Stard?"John Normington played the role of Sidney Bliss.[9]
In 1990 Sallis played another major acting role in the TV series titledCome Home Charlie and 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 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".[7] 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. 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.[28][29] 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.[30][31] In 1996 Sallis narrated two audiobooks from the Little Bear book series those being Little Bear and Little Bear's Visit.[32][33] Sallis appeared in the last episode ofRumpole of the Bailey (1992)[34] and he later starred alongsideBrenda Blethyn,Kevin Whately andAnna Massey in the one-off ITV1 dramaBelonging (2004).[35]
During the 1980s to the 1990s, Sallis provided the voiceover for the Polo Mint television adverts as well as voiceover and live action appearances 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, Shredded Wheat Gold, Zoflora Disinfectant, Sudafed, Medinex, Flymo Ventura Lawnmower, Flymo Turbo Compact, Mr Muscle Sink and Plughole Unblocker and Beamish.[36][37]
Sallis also voiced Hugo in the animated seriesVictor and Hugo: Bunglers in Crime (filling in forThe Wind in the Willows co-starDavid Jason who was the usual voice of Hugo, although Jason's voice of Hugo can still be heard in the opening and closing theme songs) for audio cassettes as well.[citation needed] He narrated "Postman Pat's Parcel of Stories" in the children's television seriesPostman Pat for audio cassettes.[38] In 2005 Sallis narrated the audio CD ofSix-Dinner Sid based on the book of the same name byInga Moore.[39] 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.[40]
In 2001 Sallis had a cameo voiceover role in the TV movieHotel! where he provided the radio voice of Little Ashford Flying Club.[41]
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.[42]
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. 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.[43]
In 2006, Sallis published anautobiography entitledFading into the Limelight.[7] 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".[44]
Sallis married actressElaine Usher atSt. John's Wood Church in London on 9 February 1957.[45][5][46] However, it was a turbulent relationship, with Usher leaving him sixteen times before they divorced in 1965 on grounds of desertion and adultery.[2] They eventually reconciled and continued to live together until 1999. Sallis remained close to Usher until her death in 2014.[47][48] They had one son,Crispian Sallis (born 1959), and two grandchildren.[47] Sallis also had three cats.[49]
Sallis suffered frommacular degeneration,[47] and in 2005 recorded an appeal onBBC Radio 4 on behalf of theMacular Society, of which he was a patron.[50] 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.[51]
Sallis was awarded theOBE in the2007 Birthday Honours for services to Drama.[47] 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.[52]
Sallis died fromnatural causes at theDenville Hall nursing home inNorthwood, London on 2 June 2017, aged 96.[3][53] 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.[54]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | A Midsummer Night's Dream[9] | Quince | |
| 1948 | Scenes from Twelfth Night and Macbeth[9] | Sir Toby Belch | |
| Scenes from Twelfth Night and Macbeth/II[9] | |||
| 1951 | Mr. Denning Drives North[88] | Minor Role | Uncredited |
| 1953 | King in Motley[9] | Will | |
| The New Shilling[9] | Mr. Bligh | ||
| 1954 | Stranger from Venus | Soldier | Uncredited |
| Child's Play | Bill (grocery merchant) | Filmed in 1952 | |
| Nineteen Eighty-Four[9] | Unknown | ||
| 1955 | Fcb TV Show No.1[9] | Guest | |
| Moby Dick Rehearsed[9] | Actor | ||
| Cheltenham Festival of Contemporary Literature[9] | Oscar Wilde | ||
| 1956 | Kitty Clive[9] | John Hall | |
| Anastasia | Grischa | Uncredited | |
| 1958 | A Night to Remember[89] | Minor Role | |
| The Doctor's Dilemma | Secretary at Picture Gallery | ||
| Cinderella[9] | Baron Aristide de Pennilac | ||
| 1959 | The Scapegoat[9] | Customs Official | |
| 1960 | David and Broccoli[9] | Mr. Slingsby | |
| Doctor in Love[9] | Love-Struck Patient | Uncredited | |
| The Millionairess[2] | Minor Role | ||
| The Poet[9] | Giulio | ||
| Saturday Night and Sunday Morning[9] | Man in Suit | Uncredited | |
| The Adventures of Alice[9] | Tweedledee | ||
| 1961 | No Love for Johnnie[9] | M.P. | |
| Dear Charles | Edward | ||
| The Curse of the Werewolf[9] | Don Enrique | ||
| The Renegade | Henry Stolt | ||
| Candida[9] | Rev. Alexander Mill | ||
| 1962 | I Thank a Fool | Sleazy Doctor | |
| The Trial[9] | Uncle Max (voice) | ||
| 1963 | The Mouse on the Moon | Russian Delegate | |
| The V.I.P.s[9] | Doctor | ||
| Clash by Night | Victor Lush | ||
| 1964 | Don't Ever Talk to Clocks | Unknown | |
| The Third Secret[9] | Lawrence Jacks | ||
| 1965 | Rapture[9] | Armand | |
| 1966 | The Bible: In the Beginning...[9] | Minor Role | Uncredited |
| 1968 | Charlie Bubbles[9] | Solicitor | |
| Inadmissible Evidence[9] | Hudson | ||
| 1970 | Menace[9] | Narrator (voice) | |
| The Reckoning[9] | Keresley | ||
| Scream and Scream Again[9] | Schweitz | ||
| Taste the Blood of Dracula[9] | Samuel Paxton | ||
| My Lover, My Son[9] | Sir Sidney Brent | ||
| Marie Stopes: Sexual Revolutionary | Ernest Charles, KC | ||
| Wuthering Heights[9] | Mr. Shielders | ||
| 1971 | The Night Digger[9] | Reverend Rupert Palafox | |
| The Bristol Entertainment | Water Seller, Coachman, Ameryk, Mayor, Captain Kimber | ||
| 1972 | The Reprieve[9] | Cossack Horseman | |
| 1973 | Hitler: The Last Ten Days[9] | Banker #2 | |
| Frankenstein: The True Story | Priest | ||
| 1974 | Who Killed Lamb?[9] | Lloyd | |
| Graceless Go I[9] | Guest Star | ||
| 1975 | The Secret Agent[9] | Chief Inspector Heat | |
| The Snowdropper[90] | Spicer | ||
| 1976 | The Incredible Sarah[9] | Thierry | |
| 1977 | Full Circle[9] | Jeffrey Branscombe | |
| 1978 | Across a Crowded Room[9] | Cyril Smallpiece | |
| Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe?[9] | St. Claire | ||
| 1979 | She Loves Me[9] | Ladislav Sipos | |
| 1982 | Witness for the Prosecution[9] | Carter | |
| The Funny Side of Christmas[9] | Clegg | ||
| 1986 | The Secret Diary's of the Film Censors[9] | Unknown | |
| A Dangerous Kind of Love[9] | Mr. Walker | ||
| That's Television Television[9] | Clegg | ||
| 1989 | A Tale of Two Toads[9] | Rat (voice) | |
| A Grand Day Out[9] | Wallace (voice) | ||
| 1993 | The Wrong Trousers[9] | ||
| 1995 | A Close Shave[9] | ||
| 1998 | Everyday Readers[9] | Narrator (voice) | |
| 1999 | Shaggy Dog Story[9] | Norman Clegg | |
| 2001 | Hotel! | Radio Voice of little Ashford Flying Club | Uncredited |
| 2004 | Belonging[9] | Nathan | |
| 2005 | Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit[9] | Wallace, Hutch (voice) | Won –Annie Award for Voice Acting in a Feature Production |
| Colour Me Kubrick[91] | The Second Patient | Cameo appearance | |
| 2008 | A Matter of Loaf and Death[9] | Wallace (voice) | |
| 2012 | The Lark Ascending | Self |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1948 | For The Children[9] | Sir Toby Belch | Episode: "Scenes from Twelfth Night and Macbeth" |
| 1952 | The March of the Peasants[9] | Blakeley | Episode: "The Raven's Father" |
| 1953 | The Heir of Skipton | Thomas | 4 episodes |
| 1955–1961 | ITV Television Playhouse[9] | Daniel Kevin, Corporal Foster, Professor Coogan, Pasquale Sanzio, Peter | 5 episodes |
| 1956 | Strange Experiences[9] | Squishy Taylor, Chippy Criggs, Poor Man | 3 episodes |
| 1957–1963 | Play of the Week[9] | Homer Bolton, Hannibal, 'Dusty' Miller | |
| 1957–1959 | Sunday Night Theatre[9] | J. G.,Snug, Wallace Porter | |
| 1958 | The Black Arrow[9] | Sir Oliver Oates | 4 episodes |
| The Diary of Samuel Pepys[2] | Samuel Pepys | 14 episodes | |
| The Invisible Man | Nesib | Episode: "Crisis in the Desert" | |
| The Lost King[9] | Abbe Fleuriel | Episode: "Monsieur Charles Deslys" | |
| 1959 | The Widow of Bath[9] | Cady | 6 episodes |
| World Theatre[9] | Barere, Simon, Prisoner, Doctor, Provost | 2 episodes | |
| 1960–1963 | BBC Sunday-Night Play[9] | Robinet, Capt. Hardy, Hesketh-Payne, Harry Shell, Danny Fellows, Housing clerk, Gerald Swinney | 7 episodes |
| 1960 | Musical Playhouse[92] | Max | 1 episode |
| International Detective | Eugene Payas | ||
| 1960–1973 | Armchair Theatre[9] | Sam Carter, Alfred Purdie, Mr. Pender, Onslow | 5 episodes |
| 1961 | Jango[9] | Oscar Grant | 1 episode |
| Danger Man | John Gordon | Episode: "Find and Destroy" | |
| Amelia[9] | William Hogarth | 7 episodes | |
| A Chance of Thunder | Howard | 3 episodes | |
| 1962 | Maigret[9] | Armand Lachaume | Episode: "The Reluctant Witnesses" |
| The Largest Theatre in the World[9] | Frank Godsell | Episode: "Heart to Heart"[9] | |
| Crying Down the Lane[9] | Champion | 6 episodes | |
| 1963 | The Chem. Lab. Mystery[9] | Mad Willy | |
| It Happened Like This[9] | Bill Canford | Episode: "The Hidden Witness" | |
| 1963–1964 | Drama 61-67 | Philip Mallard, Ronald Green | 2 episodes |
| Z-Cars[9] | Seaton, Williams | ||
| Festival | Captain of the Fire Brigade, Romainville | 2 episodes | |
| 1963 | Zero One[9] | Major Konel | Episode: "The Trial" |
| 1964 | The Avengers | Hal Anderson | Episode: "The Wringer" |
| Story Box | Bilbo Baggins | 2 episodes | |
| Detective[9] | Man | Episode: "The Drawing" | |
| Sergeant Cork[9] | 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[9] | Stannage | Episode: "A Laugh in the Dark Question" |
| Blackmail[9] | Miles Beckett | Episode: "The Setup" | |
| 1967 | Doctor Who[9] | Penley | Serial: "The Ice Warriors" |
| 1968–1969 | The Wednesday Play[9] | Eric, Unknown | 3 episodes |
| 1969–1978 | Omnibus[9] | Guest,Mirbeau | 4 episodes |
| 1969 | Play of the Month[9] | Unknown | Episode:Maigret at Bay |
| Plays of Today[9] | Mr. Street | Episode:The Ladies: Joan | |
| 1970 | Catweazle | Stuffy Gladstone | Episode: "The Curse of Rapykin" |
| Mystery and Imagination[9] | Brogden, Mundel, Hopkins | Episode: "Sweeney Todd" | |
| Parkin's Patch[9] | 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[9] | Sonny Waters | Episode: "The Millicent Sisters, Edward de Bruno and Ruth - Where Are They Now?" | |
| 1971–1976 | Hadleigh[9] | Dakin, Strapper Strapton | 2 episodes |
| Softly, Softly: Task Force[9] | Lodge, Professor Dowell, Edward Letheridge | 3 episodes | |
| 1971 | Thirty-Minute Theatre[9] | Lumley | Episode:The Railwayman's New Clothes" |
| The Ten Commandments[9] | 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![9] | David Piper | Episode: "The Long Goodbye" | |
| 1972 | Spyder's Web[9] | Grovnik | Episode: "Romance on Wheels" |
| The Moonstone[9] | 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[9] | Norman Clegg | 295 episodes |
| 1973 | Comedy Playhouse[9] | Episode: "Of Funerals and Fish" | |
| 1973–1974 | Thriller[9] | Man, Lloyd | 2 episodes |
| 1973–1981 | Play for Today[9] | Austin Melcroft, Minor Role, Minor Role, Shushin | 4 episodes |
| 1973 | The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes[9] | Dr. Jervis | Episode: "The Moabite Cypher" |
| For the Sake of Appearance[9] | Samuel Pepys | Episode: "Perukes and Periwigs" | |
| 1974 | Barlow at Large[9] | Joseph Miller | Episode: "Snatch" |
| The Pallisers[9] | Mr Bonteen | 5 episodes | |
| Armchair Cinema[9] | Benitet | Episode:The Prison | |
| The Capone Investment | Wheatfield | 6 episodes | |
| 1974–1977 | Crown Court[9] | Gerald Prosser, Insp. George Storton | |
| 1974–1979 | Playhouse[9] | Patient, Leslie | 2 episodes |
| 1975 | Prometheus: The Life of Balzac[9] | Victor Hugo | Episode: "The Race to Death" |
| 1976–1978 | The Ghosts of Motley Hall[9] | Mr. Gudgin, Old Gudgin | 15 episodes |
| 1976 | BBC2 Playhouse[9] | Major Venables | Episode:The Mind Beyond: The Daedalus Equations |
| The Mind Beyond[9] | 1 episode | ||
| Jackanory Playhouse[9] | Deor | Episode:The Winter Warrior | |
| 1977 | Raffles[9] | Kingsmill | Episode: "The Gold Cup" |
| Murder Most English: A Falxborough Chronicle[9] | Rodney Gloss | 2 episodes | |
| Yanks Go Home[9] | Randall Todd | 4 episodes | |
| Premiere[9] | Ernest | Episode: "The Obelisk" | |
| 1978 | The Clifton House Mystery[9] | Milton Guest | 3 episodes |
| 1978–1980 | Leave it to Charlie[9] | Arthur Simister, Alfred Simister | 26 episodes |
| 1979 | Room Service[9] | Mr. Fellows | Episode 1.3 |
| 1980 | Ladykillers[9] | O'Brien | Episode: "Not for the Nervous" |
| Tales of the Unexpected[9] | Solicitor | Episode: "A Picture of a Place" | |
| 1982 | The Kids International Show | Clegg | Episode 1.1 |
| Hallmark Hall of Fame[9] | Carter | ||
| 1983–2008 | 60 Minutes | Mr Bennet, Guest | 2 episodes |
| 1984 | Strangers and Brothers | Leonard March | 3 episodes |
| 1984–1990 | The Wind in the Willows[9] | Ratty (voice) | 66 episodes |
| 1985 | Rocky Hollow[9] | Narrator (voice) | 26 episodes |
| 1986 | Mountain Men[9] | Mr. Walker | Episode: "A Dangerous Kind of Love" |
| 1987 | The New Statesman | Sidney Bliss | 2 episodes |
| The Bretts[9] | Dr. Woodward | Episode: "The Actresss and the Bishop" | |
| Last of the Summer Wine: Big Day at Dream Acres[9] | Clegg | ||
| 1988–1989 | First of the Summer Wine[9] | Mr David Clegg | 13 episodes |
| 1990 | Come Home Charlie and Face Them[9] | Evans Rhys-Jones | 3 episodes |
| 1991–1992 | Victor & Hugo: Bunglers in Crime[9] | Hugo (voice) | 30 episodes |
| 1992 | Rumpole of the Bailey[9] | Henry Tong | Episode: "Rumpole on Trial" |
| 1996 | Q.E.D.[9] | Narrator (voice) | 1 episode |
| Wildlife Showcase[9] | |||
| 1997 | First Light[9] | Guest | |
| Animal People[9] | Narrator (voice) | ||
| Exclusive[9] | Guest | ||
| 1998 | Rex the Runt | Wallace (voice) | |
| 1999 | Whatever You Want[9] | Clegg | |
| 2000 | Turning Point[9] | Guest | |
| 2001 | Holby City | Lionel Davis | Episode: "The Mourning After" |
| Then and Now[9] | Guest | 1 episode | |
| 2002 | Wallace & Gromit's Cracking Contraptions | Wallace (voice) | 10 episodes |
| 2003 | Balamory[9] | Man at Train Station | Episode: "Snowflake Fairy" |
| Sooty[9] | (voice) | Episode: "Sooty's Ghost" | |
| 2004 | Doctors | Arthur Weartherill | Episode: "A Game of Soldiers" |
| 2007 | Eureka[9] | Guest | Episode: "Sight Unseen" |
| 2009 | Kingdom[9] | Cyril | Episode 3.1 |
| 2010 | Wallace & Gromit's World of Invention[47] | 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"[93] | Narrator (voice) | |
| Polo "Sorry"[94] | |||
| Polo "Straight Down The Middle"[95] | |||
| Polo "What's In A Name"[96] | |||
| 1986 | Polo "Holy"[97] | ||
| Polo "Planet"[98] | |||
| Polo "Runners"[99] | |||
| Polo "Taste Drive"[100] | |||
| Polo "Trick"[101] | |||
| 1995 | Polo "Corridor"[102] | ||
| 1997-2000s | TV Licensing Commercial [Wallace & Gromit][103] | Wallace (voice) | |
| 1997 | Kellogg's Commercial [Wallace & Gromit][104] | ||
| 1998 | ReebokTheatre of Dreams[105] | ||
| 2003 | RenaultKangoo-matic[106][107] | ||
| 2004 | JacobsCracking[108][109] | ||
| 2005 | PG TipsH-H-Hot[110][111] | ||
| 2008 | BBC OneWallace & Gromit's Runaway Sled | Partially voiced byBen Whitehead | |
| 2009 | NpowerBoiler[9][112][113] | ||
| NpowerInsheepsulation[114][115] | |||
| Children in Need Commercial [Wallace & Gromit] | |||
| M&SChristmas wouldn't be Christmas without...[116][117] | |||
| 2010 | NpowerWidescreen[118][119] | ||
| NpowerHand of Dog[120] | |||
| BBC OneThey're back![121] | |||
| BBC OneSteam Powered Wheel Chair[122] | |||
| 2024 | BBC OneIce Sculpture[123] | Archive recordings; Released posthumously | |
| Radio Times Wallace & Gromit Commercial[124] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | The War of the Worlds[125] | Narrator | |
| 1968 | The Day of the Triffids[20] | Coker | 2 episodes |
| 1971 | Haunted: Tales of the Supernatural[126] | Narrator | |
| 1977 | The Importance of Being Earnest[127] | Unknown | |
| 1983 | When the Wind Blows[128][129] | Jim Bloggs | |
| 1986–1987 | Living With Betty[130] | Betty | 6 episodes |
| 1992 | Postman Pat[38] | Narrator | |
| 1993 | The Adventure of the Norwood Builder[131] | Jones Oldacre | |
| 1996 | Wallace & Gromit[132] | Wallace (voice) | 3 episodes |
| 2000 | Hercule Poirot's Christmas[133] | Hercule Poirot | |
| 2009 | Desert Island Discs[134] | Himself | |
| 2012 | BBC Proms[135] | Wallace (archive sound) | 1 episode |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Little Bear[136] | Narrator (voice) | |
| Little Bear's Visit[137] | |||
| 1997 | Wallace & Gromit and the Lost Slipper | Wallace (voice) | |
| 1998 | Anoraknophobia | ||
| 1999 | Crackers in Space | ||
| 2005 | Six-Dinner Sid[39] | Narrator (voice) | |
| 2006 | Fading into the Limelight: Peter Sallis the Autobiography[138] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Wallace & Gromit Fun Pack[139] | Wallace (voice) | |
| 1997 | Wallace & Gromit Cracking Animator[140] | ||
| 1998 | Wallace & Gromit Print O Matic | ||
| 2000 | Wallace & Gromit Fun Pack 2[141] | ||
| 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)[142] | 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[143] | ||
| Wallace & Gromit Adventures Java[144] | |||
| 2010 | Wallace & Gromit: Wallace's Workshop[145] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | "A Married Man"[146] | Singer | |
| 1968 | "It Couldn't Please Me More (Pineapple)"[147] | ||
| "Married"[148] | |||
| "Meeskite"[149] | |||
| 1984 | "You've Got to Have a Little Bit of Style"[150] | ||
| "Fancy Dress"[151] | |||
| "We'll Go Boating"[151] |
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | Korda Scholarship | Work | Training at theRoyal Academy of Dramatic Art | Won | [2] |
| 1999 | Unsung Heroes Award | Acting | Film and Television | Won | [152] |
| 2005 | Annie Award | Best Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production | Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit | Won | [153] |
| 2007 | Order of the British Empire (OBE) | Services to Drama | Honoured | [3] | |
