Leslie Phillips, known for his roles in films such as ‘Harry Potter’ and ‘Carry On,’ died at the age of 98 after a long illness.
Phillips, who played the Sorting Hat in the ‘Harry Potter’ films, starred in over 200 movies, TV shows, and radio shows over the course of his 80-year career.
According to Variety, Phillips is survived by his wife Zara.
Born in 1924, Phillips rose to prominence in the UK and the US thanks to his distinctive voice, roles as slick upper-class British characters, and sassy catchphrases like ‘Ding Dong,’ ‘Heee-llo,’ and ‘I Say’ from films such as Carry On Teacher, Carry On Columbus, and Carry On Nurse. Phillips also appeared in the 2001 film Lara Croft: Tomb Raider alongside Angelina Jolie.
According to the report, Phillips is best known for his 17-year stint as a dumb officer on the BBC radio programme ‘The Navy Lark,’ which he shared with Ronnie Barker and Jon Pertwee.
He was nominated for a BAFTA and won a British Independent Film Award for his supporting role in the 2006 film ‘Venus,’ alongside Peter O’Toole. He also appeared in films such as Steven Spielberg’s ‘Empire of the Sun’ and Sydney Pollack’s ‘Out of Africa.’
One of his most well-received stage performances was as Falstaff in the Stratford production of William Shakespeare’s comedy The Merry Wives of Windsor.
