Peter Sallis
Acting • Born 1921-02-01 – Died 2017-06-02
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). 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.
Filmography
284 credits
A Grand Day Out
Movie • 1990
Wallace (voice)
The Wrong Trousers
Movie • 1993
Wallace (voice)
A Close Shave
Movie • 1996
Wallace (voice)
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
Movie • 2005
Wallace / Hutch (voice)
Belonging
Movie • 2004
Nathan
A Matter of Loaf and Death
Movie • 2008
Wallace (voice)
Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe?
Movie • 1978
St. Claire
Taste the Blood of Dracula
Movie • 1970
Samuel Paxton
The V.I.P.s
Movie • 1963
Doctor
The Drummer and the Bloke
Movie • 1968
Eric
Sweeney Todd
Movie • 1970
Brogden / Mundel / Hopkins
Rapture
Movie • 1965
Armand
I Thank a Fool
Movie • 1962
Sleazy Doctor
Last Of The Summer Wine: 30 Years Of Laughs
Movie • 2022
Self (archive)
Clash by Night
Movie • 1964
Victor
You're Not Watching Me, Mummy
Movie • 1979
Leslie
Brand
Movie • 1959
Doctor & Provost
Getting Sam Home
Movie • 1983
Norman Clegg
Wallace & Gromit's World of Invention
Movie • 2010
Wallace (voice)
Wallace & Gromit's Cracking Contraptions
Movie • 2002
Wallace (voice)
The Road Builder
Movie • 1971
Rev. Rupert Palafox
Wallace & Gromit: The Best of Aardman Animation
Movie • 1996
Wallace
Beyond Our Means
Movie • 1973
Onslow
A Grand Night In: The Story of Aardman
Movie • 2015
Self - Voice of Wallace
The Obelisk
Movie • 1977
Ernest
Doctor in Love
Movie • 1960
Mr. Luke (uncredited)
The Zoo Story
Movie • 1961
Peter
Lady Killer
Movie • 1973
Man
Quay South
Movie • 1955
Corporal Foster
Gromit's Tail-Waggin' DVD
Movie • 2006
Wallace (voice)
A Night to Remember
Movie • 1958
Minor Role (uncredited)
The Bible: In the Beginning...
Movie • 1966
Minor Role (uncredited)
The Millionairess
Movie • 1960
Minor Role (uncredited)
My Lover, My Son
Movie • 1970
Sir Sidney Brent
Full Circle
Movie • 1978
Jeffrey Branscombe
Easy
Movie • 2003
Man (uncredited)
She Loves Me
Movie • 1979
Ladislav Sipos
Displacements
Movie • 2006
himself
Scream and Scream Again
Movie • 1970
Schweitz
The Capone Investment
Movie • 1974
Wheatfield
How Wallace & Gromit Went to Hollywood
Movie • 2006
Self
Child's Play
Movie • 1954
Bill - grocery merchant
The Crane
Movie • 1993
Man (uncredited)
The Moonstone
Movie • 1972
Mr. Buff
Colour Me Kubrick
Movie • 2005
Patient
Frankenstein: The True Story
Movie • 1974
Priest
Wuthering Heights
Movie • 1970
Mr. Shielders
Charlie Bubbles
Movie • 1968
Solicitor
Saturday Night and Sunday Morning
Movie • 1960
Man in Suit (uncredited)
Song at Twilight
Movie • 1973
Austin Melcroft
The Third Secret
Movie • 1964
Lawrence Jacks
The Kamikaze Ground Staff Reunion Dinner
Movie • 1981
Shushin
Orson Welles Over Europe
Movie • 2009
Himself
Doctor Who: The Ice Warriors
Movie • 1967
Penley
The Daedalus Equations
Movie • 1976
Major Venables
The Wind in the Willows: A Tale of Two Toads
Movie • 1989
Rat (voice)
Hotel!
Movie • 2001
Radio Voice of Little Ashford Flying Club (Uncredited)
Hitler: The Last Ten Days
Movie • 1973
Banker #2 (uncredited)
The Ladies: Joan
Movie • 1969
Mr. Street
The Snowdropper
Movie • 1975
Spicer
Kitty Clive
Movie • 1956
John Hall
Candida
Movie • 1961
Rev. Alexander Mill
The Poet
Movie • 1960
Giulio
A Dangerous Kind of Love
Movie • 1986
Mr. Walker
Don't Ever Talk to Clocks
Movie • 1964
The Bristol Entertainment
Movie • 1971
Water Seller / Coachman / Ameryk / Mayor / Captain Kimber / King Henry Voice
The Reprieve
Movie • 1972
Cossack Horseman
The Secret Diaries of the Film Censors
Movie • 1986
Everyday Readers
Movie • 1998
Narrator (voice)
Marie Stopes: Sexual Revolutionary
Movie • 1970
Ernest Charles, KC
Across a Crowded Room
Movie • 1978
Cyril Smallpiece
Moby Dick—Rehearsed
Movie • 1955
A Stage Manger /Flask
The Adventures of Alice
Movie • 1960
Tweedledee
Cinderella
Movie • 1958
Baron Aristide de Pennilac
The Secret Agent
Movie • 1975
Chief Inspector Heat
Menace
Movie • 1970
Narrator (voice)
The Amazing World of Wallace & Gromit
Movie • 1999
Wallace (Voice) (Archive Footage)
The Incredible Adventures of Wallace & Gromit
Movie • 2001
Wallace (Voice)
Comedy Classics: Keeping Up Appearances
Movie • 2023
Cleggy (archive footage, uncredited)
Living with Macular Disease
Movie • 2009
Peter Sallis/Narrator Voice
The Winter Warrior
Movie • 1976
Deor
Drama '63: A Well Dressed Man
Movie • 1963
Philip Mallard
628-E8
Movie • 1978
Mirbeau
The Concert
Movie • 1955
Daniel Kevin (as Pete Sallis)
The Hallelujah Handshake
Movie • 1970
Minor Role (uncredited)
The Price of Coal, Part 1: Meet the People
Movie • 1977
Minor Role (uncredited)
The Price of Coal, Part 2: Back to Reality
Movie • 1977
Worker (uncredited)
Back of Beyond
Movie • 1974
Man (uncredited)
Drama '64/Studio '64: A Wicked World
Movie • 1964
Ronald Green
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Movie • 1958
Snug
Royal Variety Performance 1984
Movie • 1984
Clegg
Mr. Denning Drives North
Movie • 1951
Man (uncredited)
Nineteen Eighty-Four
Movie • 1954
Man (uncredited)
Anastasia
Movie • 1956
Grischa (uncredited)
The Reckoning
Movie • 1970
Keresley
The Funny Side of Christmas
Movie • 1982
Clegg
The Clifton House Mystery
Movie • 1978
Milton Guest
The Lark Ascending
Movie • 2012
Self (uncredited)
Thora Hird Tribute
Movie • 2003
Self
Wind Versus Polygamy
Movie • 1968
Man (uncredited)
The Big Flame
Movie • 1969
Man (uncredited)
The Railwayman's New Clothes
Movie • 1971
Lumley
A Call on Kuprin: Part 2
Movie • 1961
Hesketh-Payne
Cream: Farewell Concert
Movie • 1969
Guest
Wallace & Gromit’s Cracking Contraptions: Behind the Scenes
Movie • 2002
Wallace (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Making of Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
Movie • 2006
Wallace (archive footage)
The Wind in the Willows: Winter Tales
Movie • 1986
Rat (voice)
Frankenstein
Movie • 1973
Man (uncredited)
Nightmare at 43 Hillcrest
Movie • 1974
Man (uncredited)
Last of the Summer Wine Christmas Specials 1978-1982
Movie • 1978
Clegg
Rocky Hollow
Movie • 1985
Narrator (voice)
Inside the Wrong Trousers
Movie • 1993
Wallace (archive footage, uncredited)
Second Time Around: The Troughton Years
Movie • 2012
Reccoat (archive footage)
Twentieth Century Theatre: Colombe
Movie • 1960
Robinet
Children's Favourites - Volume 1
Movie • 1988
Rat (voice)
Lollipop Children's Favourites - Volume 1
Movie • 1989
Rat (voice)
Lollipop Children's Favourites - Volume 2
Movie • 1989
Rat (voice)
More Children's Summer Stories
Movie • 1989
Rat (voice)
More Children's Holiday Favourites
Movie • 1990
Rat (voice)
The Christmas Collection
Movie • 1992
Rat (voice)
Access All Areas - The Making of Wallace and Gromit
Movie • 2024
Wallace (archive footage)
Character Building
Movie • 1995
Wallace (voice)
The Pickpocket
Movie • 1955
Chippy Criggs
Graceless Go I
Movie • 1974
Mr. Wainwright
Safe and Sound
Movie • 1956
Squishy Taylor
The Inveterate Gambler
Movie • 1956
The Burglar
The Incredible Sarah
Movie • 1976
Thierry
Bel Ami
Movie • 1971
Norbert de Varenne
The Wind in the Willows
Movie • 1984
Rat (voice)
The Loves of Joanna Godden
Movie • 1947
Man (uncredited)
The Day the Earth Caught Fire
Movie • 1961
Man (uncredited)
A Taste of Honey
Movie • 1961
Man (uncredited)
Witness for the Prosecution
Movie • 1982
Carter
The Trial of Dr. Fancy
Movie • 1964
Mr. Pender
Into the Dark
Movie • 1963
Alfred Purdie
Fcb TV Show No.1
Movie • 1955
Squishy Taylor
Tales of the Unexpected: A Picture of a Place
Movie • 1980
Solicitor
Korda: I Don't Grow on Trees: Part One
Movie • 1993
Self - Interviewee
Maigret at Bay
Movie • 1969
(uncredited)
Who Killed Lamb?
Movie • 1974
Lloyd
Heart to Heart
Movie • 1962
Frank Godsell
The Prison
Movie • 1974
Benitet
The Curse of the Werewolf
Movie • 1961
Don Enrique
The Scapegoat
Movie • 1959
Customs Official
No Love for Johnnie
Movie • 1961
M.P.
Stranger from Venus
Movie • 1954
Soldier (uncredited)
Inadmissible Evidence
Movie • 1968
Hudson
The Doctor's Dilemma
Movie • 1959
Secretary at Picture Gallery
The Mouse on the Moon
Movie • 1963
Russian Delegate
Wallace & Gromit: The Complete Cracking Collection
Movie • 2024
Wallace
The Funny Blokes of British Comedy
Movie • 2005
Norman Clegg (archive footage) (uncredited)
Budgie
TV • 1971
Peter Olliphant
Doctor Who
TV • 1963
Penley
Softly, Softly
TV • 1966
First of the Summer Wine
TV • 1988
Z-Cars
TV • 1962
The Persuaders!
TV • 1971
Piper
Frankenstein: The True Story
TV • 1973
Priest
Rumpole of the Bailey
TV • 1975
Callan
TV • 1967
Routledge
Hallmark Hall of Fame
TV • 1951
Carter
Raffles
TV • 1977
Catweazle
TV • 1970
Stuffy Gladstone
The Wind in the Willows
TV • 1984
Rat (voice)
Play for Today
TV • 1970
Crying Down the Lane
TV • 1962
Champion
Sunday-Night Play
TV • 1960
Hesketh-Payne
Yanks Go Home
TV • 1976
Amelia
TV • 1961
Menace
TV • 1970
Lady Killers
TV • 1980
O'Brien
International Detective
TV • 1959
Eugene Payas
Prometheus: The Life of Balzac
TV • 1975
Maigret
TV • 1960
Wallace & Gromit's World of Invention
TV • 2010
Wallace (voice)
The Clifton House Mystery
TV • 1978
Come Home Charlie and Face Them
TV • 1990
Paul Temple
TV • 1969
Softly Softly: Task Force
TV • 1969
Lodge
Justice
TV • 1971
Coroner
Kingdom
TV • 2007
Cyril
Tales of the Unexpected
TV • 1979
Solicitor
Oh, Mr. Toad
TV • 1990
Rat
Public Eye
TV • 1965
Eddie Meadows
Wallace & Gromit's Cracking Contraptions
TV • 2002
Wallace (voice)
Danger Man
TV • 1960
John Gordon
The New Statesman
TV • 1987
Sidney Bliss
Armchair Theatre
TV • 1956
Alfred Purdie
The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes
TV • 1971
Dr. Jervis
The Avengers
TV • 1961
Hal Anderson
Trial
TV • 1971
Almond
The Sullavan Brothers
TV • 1964
Kenneth K. Hirst
Aardman: A Cracking Collection
TV • 2015
Wallace (voice)
Doctors
TV • 2000
Arthur Weatherill
Holby City
TV • 1999
Lionel Davis
Eureka
TV • 2006
Guest (uncredited)
Rex the Runt
TV • 1998
Wallace (voice) (uncredited)
Noel's House Party
TV • 1991
Clegg
Balamory
TV • 2002
Man at Train Station (uncredited)
Sooty
TV • 2001
(voice) (uncredited)
Whatever You Want
TV • 1997
Clegg
Operation Good Guys
TV • 1997
Minor Role (uncredited)
Hadleigh
TV • 1969
Dakin
Hadleigh
TV • 1969
Strapper Strapton
Softly Softly: Task Force
TV • 1969
Edward Letheridge
Last of the Summer Wine
TV • 1973
Clegg
Room Service
TV • 1979
Mr. Fellows
Strangers and Brothers
TV • 1984
Leonard March
Armchair Theatre
TV • 1956
Mr. Pender
Armchair Theatre
TV • 1956
Onslow
Softly Softly: Task Force
TV • 1969
Professor Dowell
Drama 61-67
TV • 1961
Philip Mallard
Drama 61-67
TV • 1961
Roland Green
Z-Cars
TV • 1962
Seaton
Crown Court
TV • 1972
Gerald Prosser
The Diary of Samuel Pepys
TV • 1958
Samuel Pepys
World Theatre
TV • 1959
Barere, Simon, Prisoner
World Theatre
TV • 1959
Doctor & Provost
Crown Court
TV • 1972
Insp. George Storton
Omnibus
TV • 1967
Mirbeau
Omnibus
TV • 1967
Guest
The Ten Commandments
TV • 1971
Gerry
Strange Experiences
TV • 1955
Chippy Griggs
Late Night Drama
TV • 1974
Patient
The Chem. Lab. Mystery
TV • 1963
Mad Willy
Knock on Any Door
TV • 1965
Stannage
Playhouse
TV • 1974
Maj. Venables
BBC Play of the Month
TV • 1965
(uncredited)
Thirty-Minute Theatre
TV • 1965
Lumley
Rocky Hollow
TV • 1985
Narrator (voice)
The Troubleshooters
TV • 1965
Henry Wynn
Festival
TV • 1963
Captain of the Fire Brigade
Festival
TV • 1963
Romainville
Then and Now
TV • 2001
Guest
Wallace & Gromit in A Grand Day Out
TV • 1998
Wallace (Voice)
60 Minutes
TV • 1968
Guest
Motormouth
TV • 1988
Wallace (Voice)
The Val Doonican Music Show
TV • 1977
Self
Harry Hill's TV Burp
TV • 2002
Wallace (voice)
The South Bank Show
TV • 1978
Self
Auntie's Bloomers
TV • 1991
Self/Acting Role (uncredited)
The National Television Awards
TV • 1995
Self
Sylvanian Families
TV • 1987
Rabbit (voice, uncredited)
Public Eye
TV • 1965
Colin Reynolds
Room 101
TV • 1994
Norman Clegg (archive footage, uncredited)
Room 101
TV • 1994
Wallace (archive footage, uncredited)
Omnibus
TV • 1967
Self
Zero One
TV • 1962
Major Konel
Smillie's People
TV • 1996
Self
Charlie Brooker's Screenwipe
TV • 2006
Clegg (archive footage, uncredited)
Comedy Connections
TV • 2003
Clegg (archive footage, uncredited)
Comedy Connections
TV • 2003
Norman Clegg (archive footage, uncredited)
What We Were Watching
TV • 2018
Clegg (archive footage, uncredited)
Songs of Praise
TV • 2001
Guest
British Film Forever
TV • 2007
Self (as Peter Sallis OBE)
Armchair Cinema
TV • 1974
Benitet
Spyder's Web
TV • 1972
Grovnik
Call My Bluff
TV • 1965
Self
The Moonstone
TV • 1972
Mr. Bruff
The Oscars
TV • 1953
Self
Troldspejlet
TV • 1989
Wallace (archive footage)
Time Trumpet
TV • 2006
Clegg
Time Trumpet
TV • 2006
Clegg (archive footage)
HBO First Look
TV • 1992
Self
Britain's Best Sitcom
TV • 2004
Self
Esther
TV
Self
Light Lunch
TV • 1997
Self
Open Air
TV • 1986
Self
ITV Playhouse
TV • 1967
Leslie
This Is Your Life
TV • 1955
Self
This Is Your Life
TV • 1955
Self - Filmed Tribute
Sunday Night Theatre
TV • 1950
Snug
Murder Most English: A Flaxborough Chronicle
TV • 1977
Rodney Gloss
Leave it to Charlie
TV • 1978
Arthur Simister, Alfred Simister
Strange Experiences
TV • 1955
Squishy Taylor
Strange Experiences
TV • 1955
The Burglar
Kate
TV • 1970
Sammy Harrison
Bel Ami
TV • 1971
Norbert de Varenne
The Kids International Show
TV • 1982
Clegg
Mystery and Imagination
TV • 1966
Brogden / Mundel / Hopkins
The Pallisers
TV • 1974
Mr Bonteen
Dance Date
TV • 1959
The Ghosts of Motley Hall
TV • 1976
Mr Gudgin
Sunday-Night Play
TV • 1960
Harry Shell