HELLL-000, GOODBYE
Daily Express|November 09, 2022
A working-class boy who made his name playing toffs, a natural optimist scarred by tragedy and a (mostly) devoted husband typecast as a womaniser, Carry On star Leslie Phillips has died at 98 after a life filled with contradiction
Martin Phillips
HELLL-000, GOODBYE

THE man responsible for the smoothest “Helll-ooo!” in acting has said his final goodbye. Silver-tongued stage and film star Leslie Phillips has died at the age of 98. To a younger audience he was the voice of the audience he was the voice of the sorting hat in the Harry Potter movies.

To an older generation, he will always be the moustache-twirling, archetypal cad or lecherous medic from the Carry On and Doctor movies.

But in a career spanning an unrivalled three-quarters of a century, and more than 200 films, television and radio series, there was so much more in between.

In spite of his early comedy roles, which made him a household name, his life was repeatedly coloured by tragedy and his succession of roles as a rakish toff could hardly have been further removed from his humble background.

Although known for his plummy accent, Leslie Phillips was born into a working-class family in Tottenham, north London, and his father, a factory worker who made gas appliances, died from rheumatic fever aged 44, when Leslie was just nine.

He later recalled seeing his dad’s body laid out in an open coffin in the front room for days. “He wasn’t properly prepared. His face went an extraordinary colour, fungus grew on his ears and nose. For a few days it was continuous crying and screaming,” he said.

That horror was soon followed by the grim reality of poverty, as his elder siblings had to go out to work and his mother took in sewing to try to provide for the family.

The actor once said: “We were deprived, no question about it. I was the baby and I saw how you had to work in life if you want to succeed.”

 

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der November 09, 2022-Ausgabe von Daily Express.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der November 09, 2022-Ausgabe von Daily Express.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

WEITERE ARTIKEL AUS DAILY EXPRESSAlle anzeigen
OLD PALS AXE
Daily Express

OLD PALS AXE

Merciless Southgate on why it is now time to get tough with England

time-read
2 Minuten  |
May 22, 2024
OUT ON HIS TOD
Daily Express

OUT ON HIS TOD

Pochettino exits despite being wined and dined by Boehly

time-read
2 Minuten  |
May 22, 2024
DON'T BE A KLOPPY CAT
Daily Express

DON'T BE A KLOPPY CAT

Only success will put a stop to the comparisons for Arne

time-read
1 min  |
May 22, 2024
Jos calls on England to win ugly
Daily Express

Jos calls on England to win ugly

LET'S GRIND AS WELL AS SHINE

time-read
2 Minuten  |
May 22, 2024
REAL GEM
Daily Express

REAL GEM

Teal's colt impresses in Derby workout

time-read
1 min  |
May 22, 2024
World Cup helps Freddie put the horror of his Top Gear crash behind him
Daily Express

World Cup helps Freddie put the horror of his Top Gear crash behind him

A SMILING Freddie Flintoff joins England for a World Cup practice session but can't hide the scars from his horrific Top Gear crash.

time-read
1 min  |
May 22, 2024
Netanyahu's 'disgust' over arrest moves
Daily Express

Netanyahu's 'disgust' over arrest moves

BENJAMIN Netanyahu has spoken of his fury at moves by the International Criminal Court to arrest him for murder and attacking civilians.

time-read
1 min  |
May 22, 2024
Cleverly: Work as one and we can vanquish evil gangs grooming our children
Daily Express

Cleverly: Work as one and we can vanquish evil gangs grooming our children

550 suspected child predators arrested in major crackdown's first year

time-read
2 Minuten  |
May 22, 2024
Laws must 'protect our values from intimidation' by protesters
Daily Express

Laws must 'protect our values from intimidation' by protesters

SWEEPING measures to crack down on protests have been proposed by the Government's adviser on political violence.

time-read
1 min  |
May 22, 2024
Cost-of-living boost as inflation closes in on 2% target
Daily Express

Cost-of-living boost as inflation closes in on 2% target

INFLATION is expected to fall close to its target today in a major boost for Rishi Sunak's economic policies.

time-read
2 Minuten  |
May 22, 2024