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.
Acted in 178
2020s
- 2024
Wallace & Gromit: The Collection
Movie
- 2023
Comedy Classic: Keeping Up Appearances
Cleggy (archive footage, uncredited)
2010s
- 2018
What We Were Watching
Clegg (archive footage, uncredited) · 2 episodes
- 2017
Wallace & Gromit - Hearts of Clay
Wallace / Gromit
- 2015
Aardman: A Cracking Collection
Wallace (voice) · 1 episode
- 2012
Second Time Around: The Troughton Years
Reccoat (archive footage)
- 2010
Wallace & Gromit's World of Invention
Wallace (voice) · 6 episodes
Wallace & Gromit's World of Invention
Wallace (voice)
2000s
- 2008
- 2007
- 2006
Gromit's Tail-Waggin' DVD
Wallace (voice)
Time Trumpet
Clegg, Clegg (archive footage) · 1 episode
- 2005
- 2004
- 2003
Comedy Connections
Clegg (archive footage, uncredited), Norman Clegg (archive footage, uncredited) · 1 episode
- 2002
Wallace & Gromit's Cracking Contraptions
Wallace (voice)
Wallace & Gromit's Cracking Contraptions
Wallace (voice) · 10 episodes
Wallace & Gromit’s Cracking Contraptions: Behind the Scenes
Wallace (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 2001
Great Comedy Moments
Norman Clegg (archive footage)
The Incredible Adventures of Wallace & Gromit
Wallace (Voice)
Hotel!
Radio Voice of Little Ashford Flying Club (Uncredited)
- 2000
1990s
- 1999
The Amazing World of Wallace & Gromit
Wallace (Voice) (Archive Footage)
- 1998
Rex the Runt
Wallace (voice) (uncredited) · 1 episode
- 1997
Operation Good Guys
Minor Role (uncredited) · 1 episode
- 1996
Wallace & Gromit: The Best of Aardman Animation
Wallace
- 1994
- 1993
Inside the Wrong Trousers
Wallace (archive footage, uncredited)
The Crane
Man (uncredited)
- 1991
- 1990
1980s
- 1989
The Wind in the Willows: A Tale of Two Toads
Rat (voice)
- 1988
First of the Summer Wine
TV
- 1987
Last of the Summer Wine: Big Day at Dream Acres
Norman Clegg
Sylvanian Families
Rabbit (voice, uncredited) · 1 episode
- 1986
The Wind in the Willows: Winter Tales
Rat (voice)
The Secret Diaries of the Film Censors
Movie
Last of the Summer Wine: Uncle of the Bride
Norman Clegg
- 1984
Royal Variety Performance 1984
Clegg
Strangers and Brothers
Leonard March · 3 episodes
- 1983
Last of the Summer Wine: Getting Sam Home
Norman Clegg
- 1982
The Funny Side of Christmas
Clegg
- 1980
1970s
- 1979
She Loves Me
Ladislav Sipos
You're Not Watching Me, Mummy
Leslie
Room Service
Mr. Fellows · 1 episode
- 1978
628-E8
Mirbeau
The Clifton House Mystery
Milton Guest · 3 episodes
Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe?
St. Claire
- 1977
The Obelisk
Ernest
The Price of Coal, Part 2: Back to Reality
Worker (uncredited)
The Price of Coal, Part 1: Meet the People
Minor Role (uncredited)
Raffles
TV
- 1976
Yanks Go Home
Randall Todd · 4 episodes
The Incredible Sarah
Thierry
The Daedalus Equations
Major Venables
- 1975
- 1974
Back of Beyond
Man (uncredited)
Frankenstein: The True Story
Priest
Nightmare at 43 Hillcrest
Man (uncredited)
The Capone Investment
Wheatfield
Armchair Cinema
Benitet · 1 episode
The Prison
Benitet
Who Killed Lamb?
Lloyd
- 1973
Frankenstein: The True Story
Priest · 2 episodes
Beyond Our Means
Onslow
Song at Twilight
Austin Melcroft
Lady Killer
Man
Frankenstein
Man (uncredited)
Frankenstein
Man (uncredited) · 2 episodes
- 1972
Spyder's Web
Grovnik · 1 episode
The Moonstone
Mr. Bruff · 3 episodes
- 1971
The Road Builder
Rev. Rupert Palafox
- 1970
The Hallelujah Handshake
Minor Role (uncredited)
Marie Stopes: Sexual Revolutionary
Ernest Charles, KC
Sweeney Todd
Brogden / Mundel / Hopkins
The Reckoning
Keresley
1960s
- 1969
Maigret at Bay
(uncredited)
- 1968
Wind Versus Polygamy
Man (uncredited)
Inadmissible Evidence
Hudson
Charlie Bubbles
Solicitor
The Drummer and the Bloke
Eric
- 1967
Doctor Who: The Ice Warriors
Penley
- 1966
- 1965
Rapture
Armand
- 1964
Clash by Night
Victor
A Wicked World
Ronald Green
The Third Secret
Lawrence Jacks
- 1963
The V.I.P.s
Doctor
Drama '63: A Well Dressed Man
Philip Mallard
The Mouse on the Moon
Russian Delegate
- 1962
Heart to Heart
Frank Godsell
I Thank a Fool
Sleazy Doctor
- 1961
The Day the Earth Caught Fire
Man (uncredited)
The Curse of the Werewolf
Don Enrique
No Love for Johnnie
M.P.
The Zoo Story
Peter
- 1960
Saturday Night and Sunday Morning
Man in Suit (uncredited)
The Millionairess
Minor Role (uncredited)
Doctor in Love
Mr. Luke (uncredited)
Twentieth Century Theatre: Colombe
Robinet
1950s
- 1959
Brand
Doctor & Provost
The Doctor's Dilemma
Secretary at Picture Gallery
- 1958
Cinderella
Baron Aristide de Pennilac
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Snug
- 1956
Anastasia
Grischa (uncredited)
Armchair Theatre
Alfred Purdie, Mr. Pender, Onslow, Sam Carter · 1 episode
- 1955
Quay South
Corporal Foster
The Concert
Daniel Kevin (as Pete Sallis)
Strange Experiences
Chippy Griggs, Squishy Taylor, The Burglar · 1 episode
Moby Dick—Rehearsed
A Stage Manger /Flask
- 1954
Nineteen Eighty-Four
Man (uncredited)
Child's Play
Bill - grocery merchant
Stranger from Venus
Soldier (uncredited)
- 1951
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Carter · 1 episode
Mr. Denning Drives North
Man (uncredited)
- 1950
1940s
- 1947
The Loves of Joanna Godden
Man (uncredited)
Sound 2
1980s
- 1984
1970s
- 1979
She Loves Me
Vocals
Other crew 1
2010s
- 2018
Appearances18
2020s
- 2022
Last Of The Summer Wine: 30 Years Of Laughs
Self (archive)
2010s
- 2015
A Grand Night In: The Story of Aardman
Self - Voice of Wallace
- 2012
The Lark Ascending
Self (uncredited)
2000s
- 2009
Orson Welles Over Europe
Self
- 2007
British Film Forever
Self (as Peter Sallis OBE) · 1 episode
- 2006
How Wallace & Gromit Went to Hollywood
Self
Displacements
himself
- 2004
Britain's Best Sitcom
Self · 1 episode
- 2003
Thora Hird Tribute
Self
1990s
- 1995
The National Television Awards
Self · 2 episodes
- 1992
- 1991
Auntie's Bloomers
Self/Acting Role (uncredited) · 1 episode
1980s
- 1985
Rocky Hollow
Narrator (voice)
Rocky Hollow
Narrator (voice) · 26 episodes
1970s
- 1978
1960s
- 1965
Thanked in the credits1
2000s
- 2000
