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Biography
about|the English actor|the English cricketer|Leslie Phillips (cricketer)|the singer Leslie Ann Phillips|Sam Phillips (musician)BLP sources|date=April 2011Infobox person| name = Leslie Phillips| image = LesliePhillipsBAFTA07 crop and mirror.jpg| caption = Phillips at the Orange British Academy Film Awards in February 2007| birth_name = Leslie Samuel Phillips| birth_date = Birth date and age|1924|4|20|df=yes| birth_place = Tottenham , North London , England | nationality = England|English | notable_works = #Filmography|See below | occupation = Actor, voice-over artist, author| years_active = 1934 Loose Women Interview, 2 July 2010–present| spouse = Penelope Bartley (m. 1948-1965, divorced) Angela Scoular (m. 1982-2011, her death)| children = 4Leslie Samuel Phillips , Order of the British Empire|CBE (born 20 April 1924) is an English people|English actor with a highly recognisable upper class accent. Originally known for his work as a comedy actor, Phillips subsequently made the transition to character roles.
Early life
Contrary to the impression given by his public persona, Phillips came from a background of poverty. He was born in Tottenham , North London , England , the son of Cecelia Margaret (née Newlove) and Frederick Samuel Phillips, http://www.filmreference.com/film/18/Leslie-Phillips.html who worked at Glover and Main , manufacturers of cookers in Edmonton, London ; the "filthy, sulphurous" air of the factory gave him a weak heart and edema , leading to his death at the age of 44. In 1931, the family moved to Chingford , London where Phillips attended Larkswood primary school .cite news |title=Ex-pupil Phillips opens old school |url= http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/1502804.expupil_phillips_opens_old_school/ |publisher=Waltham Forest Guardian |date=27 June 2007 |last=Moyes |first=Johnathon |accessdate=10 May 2009
It was his mother who decided that Phillips should be sent to the Italia Conti Academy to receive elocution lessons in order to lose his natural cockney accent. At that time a strong regional accent from any city was a major impediment to an aspiring actor. It proved to be an astute move and by the age of 14 Phillips was the family's main breadwinner, saving his mother from squalor.
Career
Phillips made his first film appearances as a child in the 1930s. He is the only actor still alive who performed at Pinewood Studios during the week it opened in 1936. He also understudied for Binkie Beaumont and H.M. Tennent in the West End theatre|West End . In 1938, 14-year-old Leslie Phillips appeared with Graeme Muir in the West End play Dear Octopus where Muir was the juvenile lead. During the Second World War shows were frequently interrupted by Civil defense siren|air-raid sirens and Phillips recalls in his autobiography that "audiences would evaporate and head for cellars or Underground station s".
Due to his acquired upper class accent, Phillips was selected for officer training at Catterick Garrison|Catterick and duly commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery in 1943. He was transferred to the Durham Light Infantry in 1944 but was later declared unfit for service after being diagnosed with a neurological condition that caused partial paralysis. He was initially sent to a psychiatric hospital in error but was then sent to the correct facility for treatment.
Demobbed as a lieutenant in December 1944, Phillips' acting career initially took in "the murkiest rat-infested old wikt:playhouse|playhouses and music hall s in the North of England ". It was during the 1950s that he became known for playing amusing English stereotypes. His seductive voice is his trademark as well as his catchphrases, "I say, Ding Dong" (originally the catchphrase of Phillips' character Jack Bell in Carry On Nurse ), "Hello" and "Lumme!", which were partly, if not wholly, based on those of fellow cad actor Terry-Thomas . He appeared in three of the early Carry On films ( Carry On Nurse , Carry On Teacher and Carry On Constable ). After Constable he told producer Peter Rogers that he did not wish to do any more Carry Ons, though he did return for Carry On Columbus in 1992. In the 1960s he took over from Dirk Bogarde in several of the ' Doctor in the House|Doctor ' film comedies. Between 1959 and 1977 Phillips became familiar on radio with a leading role in The Navy Lark .
After his marriage to Angela Scoular in 1982 Phillips decided to move away from the kind of lecherous twits with suave chat-up lines which had characterised much of his previous work. Phillips has remained busy in both stage and television productions, along with character roles in films like Empire of the Sun (1987) directed by Steven Spielberg and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001). Phillips also provided the voice for the Magical objects in Harry Potter#Sorting Hat|Sorting Hat in the Harry Potter films appearing in '' Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)|Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001) and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)|Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) as well as reprising his role in the final movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (2011). He has also appeared in British television sitcom s including Honey for Tea with Felicity Kendal and appeared in cameo roles in the popular series such as The Bill .
In 2006 he appeared in Hanif Kureishi 's film Venus (film)|Venus alongside Peter O'Toole and was nominated for a BAFTA for Best Supporting Actor in 2007 for his role as the veteran actor, Ian. http://www.bafta.org/site/page287.html
Phillips' autobiography, Hello was published by Orion in 2006. ISBN 0-7528-8178-7. He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1998 Queen's Birthday Honours and was raised to Commander (CBE) in the 2008 New Year Honours .
Personal life
Phillips married his first wife, actress Penelope Bartley, on 30 May 1948.cite book|last = Phillips|first=Lesley|title = "Hello", The Autobiography |publisher =Orion Books Ltd|year=2006|isbn=978-0-7528-8178-2 They had four children, Caroline, Claudia, Andrew and Roger.
In 1962 Phillips started a romantic relationship with actress Caroline Mortimer , daughter of writer Penelope Mortimer and stepdaughter of John Mortimer who was an understudy in a stage play in which Phillips starred. Phillips and Bartley separated at that point and were divorced in 1965.
After his relationship with Mortimer ended, Phillips embarked on a relationship with actress Vicki Luke with whom he lived for approximately three years after which he started a relationship with Angela Scoular , a former Bond girl .
While on tour in Australia in 1981 he was notified that Penelope Bartley had died in a fire. Phillips elected to continue in the production and not attend her funeral. He has acknowledged that his family has never forgiven him for not coming back to attend the funeral.
In 1982 Phillips and Scoular, 22 years his junior, were married, and remained together until her death in April 2011. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1376148/Leslie-Phillips-Bond-Girl-wife-Angela-Scoular-commits-suicide.html Daily Mail news item Retrieved 20 April 2011 Scoular was suffering from bowel cancer and took her own life. Phillips was too ill to attend the inquest into Scoular's death three months later. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-14218733
He is a long-term fan of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club and made an appearance on the pitch as part of the half-time entertainment during the team's home match against Swansea City on 1 April 2012.
'' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy '' as Minor characters from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy#Hactar|Hactar
Marilyn Imrie#Cousin Bette, The Poor Relation|Cousin Bette, The Poor Relation , BBC Radio 4 Classic Serial (9 – 23 April 2000)
Drop Me Here...Darling
The Skivers
The House of Unspeakable Secrets
The Scarifyers|The Scarifyers: The Secret Weapon of Doom
Television
My Wife Jacqueline (1952) as Tom Bridger. (BBC) (sitcom)
The Adventures of Robin Hood – Episode "Friar Tuck" as Sir William of Marmsbury, "Checkmate" as Count De Waldern (series 1:1955), "A Village Wooing" as Wat Longfellow (series 2:1956) and "The Reluctant Rebel" as Herbert (series 4:1958).
Tracey and Me (1956) as Wally Forrest (Associated Rediffusion/ITV) (sitcom)
''H.G.Well's Invisible Man (1958) – "Blind Justice" as Sparrow (ITC film series)
Our Man At St.Marks (series 1 only, 1963) as The Reverend Andrew Parker. (Associated Rediffusion/ITV) (sitcom)
Comedy Playhouse : "Impasse" – 15 Mar 1963 (BBC)
Comedy Playhouse : "The Time and Motion Man" – 29 July 1965 ( BBC )
Foreign Affairs (1966) as Dennis Proudfoot (BBC) (sitcom)
The Galton & Simpson Comedy : "The Suit" – 19 April 1969 (London Weekend Television/LWT)
The Culture Vultures (1970) as Dr. Michael Cunningham (BBC) (sitcom)
'' Casanova '73 (1973) as Henry Newhouse ( BBC ) (sitcom)
''Summer's Lease (1989) as William Fosdyke (BBC/WGBH Boston/Australian Broadcasting Corporation/TV New Zealand) (4 part adaptation of novel by Sir John Mortimer)
The Comic Strip Presents...: "GLC:The Carnage Continues..." 15 February 1990 (BBC) as Sir Horace Cutler
Life After Life (Pilot)(1990) as Wing Commander Boyle (LWT)
Chancer ( Central Television : 1990–91)
Honey for Tea (1994) as Sir Dickie Hobhouse (BBC) (sitcom)
The House of Windsor (1994) as Lord Montague Bermondsey (Granada) (sitcom)
Love on a Branch Line (TV series)|Love on a Branch Line (1994) as Lord Flamborough (BBC)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2|Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (2011) (voice)
Death (2012)
Video games
Phillips provided his voice for the character of Gex (character)|Gex in the UK and European release of Gex (video game series)#Gex: Enter the Gecko|Gex: Enter the Gecko .
References
reflist
External links
IMDb name|680587
http://www.britmovie.co.uk/forums/actors-actresses/973-leslie-phillips-rakes-progress.html Interview at Britmovie.co.uk
http://www.thechap.net/Phillips.html Interview at The Chap magazine
http://www.denofgeek.com/movies/6865/the_den_of_geek_interview_leslie_phillips.html Interview at Den Of Geek
Use dmy dates|date=April 2012 Persondata | NAME = Phillips, Leslie | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = | SHORT DESCRIPTION = | DATE OF BIRTH = 20 April 1924 | PLACE OF BIRTH = Tottenham , North London , England | DATE OF DEATH = | PLACE OF DEATH = DEFAULTSORT:Phillips, Leslie Category:1924 births Category:British Army personnel of World War II Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Category:Durham Light Infantry officers Category:English writers Category:English film actors Category:English stage actors Category:English television actors Category:English voice actors Category:English video game actors Category:Alumni of the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts Category:Living people Category:People from Tottenham Category:Royal Artillery officers
