Peter Sallis

Though never one to chase the limelight or court the title of “star,” Peter Sallis quietly etched his name into the heart of British television and animation with warmth, humour, and a voice that would become one of the most beloved in the country.

Born on 1 February 1921 in Twickenham, just a stone's throw from the legendary film studios, Sallis's early life gave little hint of the enduring career to come. Pressured into a banking job by his father, he found himself miserably out of place behind a teller’s desk. It was only with the outbreak of the Second World War—serving as a radio instructor at RAF College Cranwell—that the trajectory of his life changed. A chance casting in a production of Hay Fever rekindled his childhood fascination with the stage, and after the war, he secured a place at RADA with a scholarship for ex-servicemen.

He made his London debut in 1946, and in the decades that followed, Sallis quietly built a reputation as a solid, versatile stage actor. He shared the spotlight with theatrical giants such as John Gielgud, Vivien Leigh, Orson Welles, and Laurence Olivier. Though his talent was undeniable, widespread fame eluded him for many years. "I was never a star," he admitted. Yet those who worked with him knew the calibre of performer he was—reliable, thoughtful, and always compelling.

His television appearances were many and varied, from The Diary of Samuel Pepys to The Wind in the Willows. He even set his wig on fire once during a live broadcast—proof of the unpredictability of early television and the quiet professionalism with which he navigated it. Sallis made over 500 television appearances throughout his career, beginning with an uncredited appearance in a 1947 BBC showing of A Midsummer Night's Dream which was broadcast live from the Open Air Theatre in Regents Park - in two parts, the first on Monday 28 July and the second the following night (although it's unclear if he appeared in both broadcasts or, if only one, which one). In 1948, he appeared in For the Children as Sir Toby Belch but it wasn't until the 1950s that he began to appear on screen with more regularity.

In the 1960s he would often pop up in programmes like The Avengers, Sergeant Cork, Z Cars, and Doctor Who and in the 1970s he appeared in episodes of Public Eye, The Persuaders!, Callan, The Adventures of Black Beauty, The Capone Investment, Crown Court and was a regular character, Mr Gudgin in The Ghosts of Motley Hall.

Then came Last of the Summer Wine in 1973, and with it, the role that would change everything.

As the mild, philosophical, and eternally bemused Norman Clegg, Sallis won the hearts of millions. In the fictional hills of Holmfirth, alongside Foggy and Compo, he helped spin comic gold from the seemingly mundane. The trio, as Sallis once said, were "simply three children who’ve reached pensionable age"—an idea that resonated with both the elderly and the young. For more than three decades, he remained the show's constant presence, the soul of a series that became the longest-running comedy in British television history. "The role of Clegg literally changed my life," he once reflected. And so it did, for him and for viewers alike.

While Clegg brought him lasting recognition, it was a plasticine cheese-lover that ensured Sallis’s voice would echo far beyond Yorkshire. As Wallace, the earnest and eccentric inventor in Nick Park's Wallace and Gromit films, Sallis created another national treasure. His gentle Northern lilt gave the character charm, humour, and humanity, and helped win audiences the world over. Few actors get the chance to bring not one, but two icons to life.

Off-screen, Sallis remained a private man. Though he made the gossip pages for his tumultuous relationship with actress Elaine Usher, including 16 separations and one son (Crispian, who went on to acclaim as a production designer), he rarely courted media attention. Those who knew him described him as softly spoken, polite, and quietly self-effacing—qualities that mirrored the understated charm he brought to so many of his roles.

Peter Sallis OBE passed away from natural causes at the Denville Hall nursing home in Northwood, on 5 June 2017, aged 96, having lived a life rich in character, craft, and gentle humour. He never set out to be a star—but by the time he left us, he had become part of the fabric of British culture. Through Wallace, through Clegg, and through every quietly brilliant performance in between, Peter Sallis gave audiences something truly rare: the gift of subtlety, warmth, and a smile that lingered long after the credits rolled.

He is missed. But like a proper bit of Wensleydale, he'll always be remembered—fondly, and with love.