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Peter Sallis
Actor

Peter Sallis

1 Feb 1921Born
2 Jun 2017Died
96Age at death
246Credits

Biography

Peter Sallis, OBE (February 1, 1921 – June 2, 2017) was an English actor and entertainer, well-known for his work on British television. Although he was born and brought up in London, his two most notable roles required him to adopt the accents and mannerisms of a Northerner.

Peter John Sallis was born on 1 February 1921 in Twickenham, Middlesex (now in Greater London).

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He was the only child of bank manager Harry Sallis (1889–1964) and Dorothy Amea Frances (née Barnard; 1891–1975).

His first big television role came in 1958 where he played the role of Samuel Pepys in the BBC serial The Diary of Samuel Pepys.

Sallis was best known for his role as the main character Norman Clegg in the long-running British TV comedy Last of the Summer Wine, set in a Yorkshire town. He was the longest serving cast member, appearing in all 295 episodes, and by the end of the show's run was the only one surviving from the programme's first episode in 1973. He also appeared in all 13 of the episodes of the prequel series First of the Summer Wine as Norman Clegg's father. He was also famous for providing the voice of Wallace in the Wallace and Gromit films, again using a northern accent. Sallis also starred alongside Richard Pearson, Michael Horden and David Jason in Cosgrove Hall's The Wind in the Willows (1984-1990) as the voice of Rat/Ratty.

In 1975 he appeared in the BBC Wales, TV play The Snowdropper as Spicer, a snowdropper that where's Overalls/Dungarees. In 1976 he played Mr. Gudgin/Arnold Gudgin in the children's series The Ghosts of Motley Hall (1976–78). The character Gudgin Sallis played in the series was a estate agent who did not want to see the hall fall into the wrong hands.

Sallis also appeared in the TV series Yanks Go Home (1976-1977) where he played Randell Todd in four episodes of the series. Around the same period, he starred alongside Northern comic actor David Roper in the ITV sitcom Leave it to Charlie (1978-1980) as Charlie's pessimistic boss. The programme ran for a total of 26 episodes over four series, ending in 1980. He also played the part of the ghost-hunter Milton Guest in the children's paranormal drama TV series The Clifton House Mystery (1978).

Sallis was married to Elaine Usher in 1957 until they eventually divorced in 1965. Sallis and Usher eventually reconciled and decided to come living together until 1999. Sallis continued to remain close to Usher until eventually she died on 1 January 2014 at the age of 81. They both had one son named Crispian Sallis who was born on 24 June 1959 who later became a British art director and set decorator. Sallis and Usher also had two grandchildren from Crispian. Sallis also lived with three small cats in a small cottage.

Description above from the Wikipedia article Peter Sallis, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Known for

Filmography

The 80 most recent of 246 credits.

  1. 2024Access All Areas - The Making of Wallace and GromitFilm: Wallace (archive footage)
  2. 2024Wallace & Gromit: The CollectionFilm
  3. 2023Comedy Classic: Keeping Up AppearancesFilm: Cleggy (archive footage, uncredited)
  4. 2018What We Were WatchingSeries: Clegg (archive footage, uncredited) (2 episodes)
  5. 2017Wallace & Gromit - Hearts of ClayFilm: Wallace / Gromit
  6. 2015Aardman: A Cracking CollectionSeries: Wallace (voice) (1 episode)
  7. 2012Second Time Around: The Troughton YearsFilm: Reccoat (archive footage)
  8. 2010Wallace & Gromit's World of InventionSeries: Wallace (voice) (6 episodes)
  9. 2010Wallace & Gromit's World of InventionFilm: Wallace (voice)
  10. 2009Living with Macular DiseaseFilm: Peter Sallis/Narrator Voice
  11. 2008A Matter of Loaf and DeathFilm: Wallace (voice)
  12. 2007KingdomSeries: Cyril (1 episode)
  13. 2006Gromit's Tail-Waggin' DVDFilm: Wallace (voice)
  14. 2006Time TrumpetSeries: Clegg, Clegg (archive footage) (1 episode)
  15. 2006EurekaSeries: Guest (uncredited) (1 episode)
  16. 2006Charlie Brooker's ScreenwipeSeries: Clegg (archive footage, uncredited) (1 episode)
  17. 2006The Making of Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-RabbitFilm: Wallace (archive footage)
  18. 2005Colour Me KubrickFilm: Patient
  19. 2005Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-RabbitFilm: Wallace / Hutch (voice)
  20. 2005The Funny Blokes of British ComedyFilm: Norman Clegg (archive footage) (uncredited)
  21. 2004BelongingFilm: Nathan
  22. 2003EasyFilm: Man (uncredited)
  23. 2003Comedy ConnectionsSeries: Clegg (archive footage, uncredited), Norman Clegg (archive footage, uncredited) (1 episode)
  24. 2002Harry Hill's TV BurpSeries: Wallace (voice) (1 episode)
  25. 2002Wallace & Gromit's Cracking ContraptionsFilm: Wallace (voice)
  26. 2002Wallace & Gromit's Cracking ContraptionsSeries: Wallace (voice) (10 episodes)
  27. 2002BalamorySeries: Man at Train Station (uncredited) (1 episode)
  28. 2002Wallace & Gromit’s Cracking Contraptions: Behind the ScenesFilm: Wallace (archive footage) (uncredited)
  29. 2001Then and NowSeries: Guest (1 episode)
  30. 2001SootySeries: (voice) (uncredited) (1 episode)
  31. 2001The Incredible Adventures of Wallace & GromitFilm: Wallace (Voice)
  32. 2001Hotel!Film: Radio Voice of Little Ashford Flying Club (Uncredited)
  33. 2001Songs of PraiseSeries: Guest (1 episode)
  34. 2000DoctorsSeries: Arthur Weatherill (1 episode)
  35. 1999Holby CitySeries: Lionel Davis (1 episode)
  36. 1999The Amazing World of Wallace & GromitFilm: Wallace (Voice) (Archive Footage)
  37. 1998Rex the RuntSeries: Wallace (voice) (uncredited) (1 episode)
  38. 1998Everyday ReadersFilm: Narrator (voice)
  39. 1998Wallace & Gromit in A Grand Day OutSeries: Wallace (Voice) (6 episodes)
  40. 1997Operation Good GuysSeries: Minor Role (uncredited) (1 episode)
  41. 1997Whatever You WantSeries: Clegg (10 episodes)
  42. 1996Wallace & Gromit: The Best of Aardman AnimationFilm: Wallace
  43. 1996A Close ShaveFilm: Wallace (voice)
  44. 1995Character BuildingFilm: Wallace (voice)
  45. 1993Inside the Wrong TrousersFilm: Wallace (archive footage, uncredited)
  46. 1993The Wrong TrousersFilm: Wallace (voice)
  47. 1993The CraneFilm: Man (uncredited)
  48. 1992The Christmas CollectionFilm: Rat (voice)
  49. 1991Noel's House PartySeries: Clegg (1 episode)
  50. 1990Come Home Charlie and Face ThemSeries: Evan Rhys-Jones (3 episodes)
  51. 1990More Children's Holiday FavouritesFilm: Rat (voice)
  52. 1990A Grand Day OutFilm: Wallace (voice)
  53. 1990Oh, Mr. ToadSeries: Rat (13 episodes)
  54. 1989The Wind in the Willows: A Tale of Two ToadsFilm: Rat (voice)
  55. 1989More Children's Summer StoriesFilm: Rat (voice)
  56. 1989Lollipop Children's Favourites - Volume 1Film: Rat (voice)
  57. 1989Lollipop Children's Favourites - Volume 2Film: Rat (voice)
  58. 1988First of the Summer WineSeries (12 episodes)
  59. 1988MotormouthSeries: Wallace (Voice) (1 episode)
  60. 1988Children's Favourites - Volume 1Film: Rat (voice)
  61. 1987Last of the Summer Wine: Big Day at Dream AcresFilm: Norman Clegg
  62. 1987Sylvanian FamiliesSeries: Rabbit (voice, uncredited) (1 episode)
  63. 1987The New StatesmanSeries: Sidney Bliss (2 episodes)
  64. 1986The Wind in the Willows: Winter TalesFilm: Rat (voice)
  65. 1986A Dangerous Kind of LoveFilm: Mr. Walker
  66. 1986The Secret Diaries of the Film CensorsFilm
  67. 1986Last of the Summer Wine: Uncle of the BrideFilm: Norman Clegg
  68. 1985Rocky HollowFilm: Narrator (voice)
  69. 1985Rocky HollowSeries: Narrator (voice) (26 episodes)
  70. 1984Royal Variety Performance 1984Film: Clegg
  71. 1984The Wind in the WillowsSeries: Rat (voice) (65 episodes)
  72. 1984Strangers and BrothersSeries: Leonard March (3 episodes)
  73. 1983Last of the Summer Wine: Getting Sam HomeFilm: Norman Clegg
  74. 1982The Funny Side of ChristmasFilm: Clegg
  75. 1982Witness for the ProsecutionFilm: Carter
  76. 1982The Kids International ShowSeries: Clegg (1 episode)
  77. 1981The Kamikaze Ground Staff Reunion DinnerFilm: Shushin
  78. 1980Tales of the Unexpected: A Picture of a PlaceFilm: Solicitor
  79. 1980Lady KillersSeries: O'Brien (1 episode)
  80. 1979She Loves MeFilm: Ladislav Sipos

Biography and credits from TMDB. This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.