Fans and friends of Leslie Phillips are paying tribute to the actor following the news of his death (Picture: REX/Shutterstock)
Tributes have been paid to legendary actor Leslie Phillips who has died at the age of 98.
The veteran actor was best-known for his roles in the iconic Carry On films, as well as voicing The Sorting Hat in the Harry Potter film franchise.
Having carved out an incredible career over a whopping eight decades in showbusiness, it was confirmed on Tuesday that Phillips has died ‘peacefully in his sleep’ on Monday, November 7.
He is said to have been battling a long illness.
As his wife, Zara Carr, led tributes to ‘national treasure Phillips and declared the public had ‘lost a truly great showman,’ celebrities and the public have been sharing memories of their own.
Former Good Morning Britain host Piers Morgan was among those paying tribute to the actor, calling him a ‘wonderful character & superb comedy actor (sic).’
The acclaimed actor had a stellar career in showbusiness over eight decades (Picture: Studiocanal/Rex/Shutterstock)
Piers Morgan was among those remembering the actor (Picture: TalkTV)
He added that the announcement of his death was ‘sad news.’
Soaps star Stuart Anthony described him as ‘a true gentleman, fantastic actor and the nicest man I’ve ever met.
‘His stories were the best,’ he went on. ‘RIP Leslie Phillips.’
Coronation Street actor Tony Maudsley shared a photo with the late comedian, describing working with him as ‘a joy.’
‘And yes he did say DING DONG (because I asked him to).’
Confirming the sad news on Tuesday, Phillips’ widow Carr said she had ‘lost a wonderful husband and the public has lost a truly great showman.
‘He was quite simply a national treasure. People loved him. He was mobbed everywhere he went.’
Speaking to The Sun about memories with her husband, she recalled how, when they were married, ‘he cheekily introduced me to the Press as royalty, insisting I was the new Zara Phillips and that I was related to the Queen.’
Phillips and Carr were married in 2013 in a small ceremony in London when Carr, a social worker, was 50.
Phillips was best known for his roles in the Carry On and Harry Potter films (Picture: Rex/Shutterstock)
She is his third wife, having first married Penelope Bartley in 1948, however they divorced years later after welcoming four children.
Bartley tragically died in a house fire in 1981, with Phillips marrying second wife Angela Scoular in 1982, and the pair remained together until her death in 2011 when she was suffering from cancer.
Over the course of his career, Phillips starred in over 200 movies and TV shows as well as radio programmes, including 17 years starring opposite Ronnie Barker and Jon Pertwee on BBC Radio show The Navy Lark.
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He made his acting debut on the West End at the tender age of 14 and went on to star in various Shakespeare theatre productions around the world.
His services to the entertainment industry led him to receive two honours from the late Queen Elizabeth II: an OBE in 1998, followed by a CBE a decade later.
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The actor has been described as a ‘national treasure.’
