Beloved British actor Peter Sallis, who voiced Wallace in Wallace And Gromit, has died at 96 years of age.
“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 2 June,” his agent wrote in a statement.
Peter rose to fame through his role as Norman Clegg in the BBC1 comedy Last Of The Summer Wine, Britain’s longest-running series. Peter appeared in all 295 episodes.
Prior to this, he had enjoyed a successful career in theatre, as well as appearing in a range of TV shows including Z Cars, The Avengers and Doctor Who.
But it was his role playing the cheese-loving inventor Wallace in Nick Park’s animated film that made his voice recognisable all over the world.
Nick Park has written a tribute to his good friend Peter.
“I’m so sad, but feel so grateful and privileged to have known and worked with Peter over so many years,” he wrote. “He was always my first and only choice for Wallace.
“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.”
Other celebrities have taken to social media to post tributes to Peter including Paddy McGuinness, Edgar Wright and Vicky Michelle.
Tony Hall, director general of the BBC said: “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.”
