Peter Sallis dies aged 96
- Comic actor Peter Sallis has died, aged 96
- He is best known as playing Cleggy in Last Of The Summer Wine
- The actor also voiced Wallace in the Wallace & Gromit claymation comedies
Peter Sallis has died at the age of 96.
He passed away at Denville Hall, a retirement home for actors. His agents, Jonathan Altaras Associates, have released a statement saying: "It is with sadness that we announce that our client Peter Sallis died peacefully, with his family by his side, at Denville Hall on Friday, June 2."
The actor was best known for voicing hapless inventor Wallace in the Wallace & Gromit films, and for his role as mild-mannered Norman Clegg, aka Cleggy, in Last Of The Summer Wine.
He was the only actor to star in every episode of the long-running BBC sitcom, and the last remaining member of the original trio, after Michael Bates (Cyril) died in 1978 and Bill Owen (Compo) passed away in 1999. The show, which launched in 1973 and ran until 2010, clocked up a total of 295 episodes.
Sallis also co-starred as young Clegg's father in a spin-off prequel series, First Of The Summer Wine. His other TV comedy roles include parts in The Culture Vultures, Leave It To Charlie and The New Statesman.
Wallace & Gromit creator Nick Park has lead the tributes, saying: "I'm so sad, but feel so grateful and privileged to have known and worked with Peter over so many years. He was always my first and only choice for Wallace. I knew him of course from the very popular long running BBC series Last Of The Summer Wine. He brought his unique gift and humour to all that he did, and encapsulated the very British art of the droll and understated.
"Working with Peter was always a delight and I will miss his wry, unpredictable humour and silliness - that started the moment he greeted you at the door, and didn't stop when the mic was switched off. He had naturally funny bones and was a great storyteller and raconteur off stage too and would keep us amused for hours. He could make the simplest incident sound hilarious - just by the way he said it."
Park concluded: "They don't come along very often like Peter Sallis - he was a unique character, on and off screen, and an absolute honour to have known him."
Shane Allen from BBC Comedy says: "Peter enjoyed a long and very successful career across theatre, film and television. His career highs were in comedy as Norman 'Cleggy' Clegg in Last Of The Summer Wine, which remains the longest running UK sitcom of all time. And it was through his work with Aardman as the quintessentially British everyman Wallace that he will be forever fondly remembered for having the most distinctive and well-loved voice in animation. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this sad time."
Tony Hall, BBC Director General, added: "Alongside Last Of The Summer Wine, Peter Sallis featured in many of the BBC's most popular programmes. He was a marvellous actor - who could forget that remarkable voice? Peter will be greatly missed by his many fans. Our thoughts are with his family and friends."
In 2007, Sallis was awarded an OBE for services to drama. He was married to wife Elaine from 1957 up until her death last year, with whom he had one son, the Oscar-nominated TV and film production designer Crispian Sallis.
Peter Sallis obituary from The Guardian
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