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