Leslie Phillips, voice of Harry Potter's Sorting Hat and star of 'Carry On' movies, dies at 98

The British actor Leslie Philips who acted in the ‘Carry On’ comedy franchise died on Monday. The veteran actor is also known for his voice of the Sorting Hat in the Harry Potter movie series. He was at the age of 98. His agent Jonathan Lloyd confirmed that the actor passed away peacefully in his sleep.

The veteran stage and screen actor also came to fame after creating expressive catchphrases like “hello”, “ding dong”, “well”, and “I say!”.

Leslie Philips’ film acting career is primarily noteworthy for several comedy roles. Later, he explored other genres. Among his various roles, his work opposite Peter O’Toole in the film Venus in 2006 earned him a nomination for the best supporting actor at the BAFTA.




Born in Tottenham, North London, in 1924, Leslie Samuel Philips grew up pronouncing the accent of the city’s working class. However, he was better known for his portrayals of upper-class people.

Apart from studying drama, elocution, and dance at the Italia Conti Stage School, he also served as a lieutenant during the Second World War.
In 2014, Philips suffered a stroke during his shopping in London. However, he made a remarkable recovery from there.

FAQs:

1. In how many Carry On movie series did Leslie Philips act?
   Among the 'Carry On series of 31 comedy films, Philips starred in three films: Carry On Teach, Carry On Constable, and Carry On Nurse.
2. What was Philips’ big break in movies?
   Philips’ big break came in 1957 with the Gene Kelly musical Les Girls.