--- name: "Peter Sallis" canonical: "https://film.one/person/peter-sallis" fi1m_id: "peter-sallis" imdb_id: "nm0758608" tmdb_id: 7317 wikidata_id: "Q739052" roles: ["Actor"] born: "1 February 1921" died: "2 June 2017" reviewed_on_fi1m: 4 average_fi1m_score: 86 average_as: "actor" average_over: 2 updated: "2026-10-22T03:22:35.362958+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Peter Sallis ## Identity Peter Sallis - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/peter-sallis - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** peter-sallis - **IMDb ID:** nm0758608 - **TMDB ID:** 7317 - **Wikidata ID:** Q739052 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Sallis, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q739052, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0758608/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/7317 Actor. Born 1 February 1921 in Twickenham, England, UK. Died 2 June 2017. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 1 February 1921, Twickenham, England, UK - **Died:** 2 June 2017 - **Active:** 1967–2005 - **Also known as:** Peter John Sallis, Pete Sallis, Pītā Sarisu, Pedro Sallis, Pierre Sallis, Pietro Sallis - **Titles on Fi1m:** 4: 2 acting, 2 other - **Average Fi1m score:** 86, as actor, over 2 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1960s 84 (2), 2000s 87 (1), 2010s 68 (1) - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Sallis, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q739052, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0758608/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/7317 ## Fi1m on Peter Sallis > Peter Sallis makes Wallace’s unreliable judgement sound so genial that we remain pleased to hear his next idea. We rate that unforced enthusiasm highly: he gives the animators room to make the jokes without treating his character as one. In *Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit* (2005), Wallace can be plainly unreliable and still a pleasure to listen to. Peter Sallis lets the enthusiasm carry the voice, never asking us to admire how amusing he is being. There is no audible wink in it, and no attempt to put us above the character. That nasal, slightly mournful sound makes the eagerness funnier, and the performance stays affectionate where a more knowing reading could have made Wallace tiresome. Sallis had spent decades in character parts across theatre, television and film before these animated films gave his voice such a good home. In Roy Clarke’s *Last of the Summer Wine* (1973–2010), he played Norman Clegg, the philosophical everyman, appearing in all 295 episodes. The understated timing suited that gentle ensemble comedy; he did not need to insist on being its centre. Wallace began with Nick Park’s *A Grand Day Out* (1989), while the television work continued, and Sallis voiced him through *A Matter of Loaf and Death* (2008). Park and Steve Box’s *The Curse of the Were-Rabbit* makes the value of that approach especially clear. Sallis does not make Wallace knowing or fashionable, leaving Gromit’s silent reactions to show what loyalty to him costs. We laughed at Gromit’s forehead because its minute movements showed how hard he was working to remain patient with Wallace. That is the animators’ work, but Sallis supplies the voice they need to react to: genial enough for us to understand why the dog stays, even when the man’s judgement fails him. The performance works with the silent character rather than trying to compete with him. The feature does stretch its plot to fill the running time, and a welcome voice cannot entirely settle that problem. Nor should we pretend that a film with such expressive animation belongs to the person at the microphone. Sallis deserves credit for leaving space for work as funny as his own. See it for him and the dog, with a little patience for the plot. ## Biography Peter Sallis (1921–2017) was an English actor. He was born in Twickenham, Middlesex, and trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. His long career included stage work, television and film supporting roles, and voice acting. Sallis played Norman Clegg in the BBC sitcom *Last of the Summer Wine* from its first episode in 1973 until the series ended in 2010. He was the only cast member to appear in all 295 episodes. He was also the original voice of Wallace in the Wallace & Gromit stop-motion films, including *A Grand Day Out* (1989), *The Wrong Trousers* (1993), *A Close Shave* (1995), *Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit* (2005) and *A Matter of Loaf and Death* (2008). He provided the voice of Rat in the Cosgrove Hall series *The Wind in the Willows* (1984–1990). Sallis was appointed OBE in 2007 for services to drama and received an Annie Award for his voice performance in *The Curse of the Were-Rabbit*. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, bbc.co.uk.* ## On Fi1m (4) ### Performed in (2) — the average rests on these - *Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit* (2005), Fi1m 87, as Wallace / Hutch (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/wallace-and-gromit-the-curse-of-the-were-rabbit.md) - *Callan* (1967), Fi1m 86, as Routledge — [page](https://film.one/tv/callan.md) ### Also credited (2) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited - *Early Man* (2018), Fi1m 68, In Memory Of — [page](https://film.one/film/early-man.md) - *Saturday Night and Sunday Morning* (1960), Fi1m 82, as Man in Suit (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/saturday-night-and-sunday-morning.md) ## Complete filmography (247) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Access All Areas - The Making of Wallace and Gromit* (2024), as Wallace (archive footage) - *Wallace & Gromit: The Collection* (2024), Actor - *Comedy Classic: Keeping Up Appearances* (2023), as Cleggy (archive footage, uncredited) - *What We Were Watching* (2018), series, as Clegg (archive footage, uncredited) - *Early Man* (2018), In Memory Of — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/film/early-man.md) - *Wallace & Gromit - Hearts of Clay* (2017), as Wallace / Gromit - *Aardman: A Cracking Collection* (2015), series, as Wallace (voice) - *Second Time Around: The Troughton Years* (2012), as Reccoat (archive footage) - *Wallace & Gromit's World of Invention* (2010), series, as Wallace (voice) - *Wallace & Gromit's World of Invention* (2010), as Wallace (voice) - *Living with Macular Disease* (2009), as Peter Sallis/Narrator Voice - *A Matter of Loaf and Death* (2008), as Wallace (voice) - *Kingdom* (2007), series, as Cyril - *Gromit's Tail-Waggin' DVD* (2006), as Wallace (voice) - *Time Trumpet* (2006), series, as Clegg, Clegg (archive footage) - *Eureka* (2006), series, as Guest (uncredited) - *Charlie Brooker's Screenwipe* (2006), series, as Clegg (archive footage, uncredited) - *The Making of Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit* (2006), as Wallace (archive footage) - *Colour Me Kubrick* (2005), as Patient - *Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit* (2005), as Wallace / Hutch (voice) — Fi1m 87, [page](https://film.one/film/wallace-and-gromit-the-curse-of-the-were-rabbit.md) - *The Funny Blokes of British Comedy* (2005), as Norman Clegg (archive footage) (uncredited) - *Belonging* (2004), as Nathan - *Easy* (2003), as Man (uncredited) - *Comedy Connections* (2003), series, as Clegg (archive footage, uncredited), Norman Clegg (archive footage, uncredited) - *Harry Hill's TV Burp* (2002), series, as Wallace (voice) — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/harry-hills-tv-burp.md) - *Wallace & Gromit's Cracking Contraptions* (2002), as Wallace (voice) - *Wallace & Gromit's Cracking Contraptions* (2002), series, as Wallace (voice) - *Balamory* (2002), series, as Man at Train Station (uncredited) - *Wallace & Gromit’s Cracking Contraptions: Behind the Scenes* (2002), as Wallace (archive footage) (uncredited) - *Then and Now* (2001), series, as Guest - *Sooty* (2001), series, as (voice) (uncredited) - *The Incredible Adventures of Wallace & Gromit* (2001), as Wallace (Voice) - *Hotel!* (2001), as Radio Voice of Little Ashford Flying Club (Uncredited) - *Songs of Praise* (2001), series, as Guest - *Chicken Run* (2000), Thanks — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/chicken-run.md) - *Doctors* (2000), series, as Arthur Weatherill - *Holby City* (1999), series, as Lionel Davis - *The Amazing World of Wallace & Gromit* (1999), as Wallace (Voice) (Archive Footage) - *Rex the Runt* (1998), series, as Wallace (voice) (uncredited) - *Everyday Readers* (1998), as Narrator (voice) - *Wallace & Gromit in A Grand Day Out* (1998), series, as Wallace (Voice) - *Operation Good Guys* (1997), series, as Minor Role (uncredited) - *Wallace & Gromit: The Best of Aardman Animation* (1996), as Wallace - *A Close Shave* (1996), as Wallace (voice) - *Character Building* (1995), as Wallace (voice) - *Inside the Wrong Trousers* (1993), as Wallace (archive footage, uncredited) - *The Wrong Trousers* (1993), as Wallace (voice) - *The Crane* (1993), as Man (uncredited) - *The Christmas Collection* (1992), as Rat (voice) - *Noel's House Party* (1991), series, as Clegg - *Come Home Charlie and Face Them* (1990), series, as Evan Rhys-Jones - *More Children's Holiday Favourites* (1990), as Rat (voice) - *A Grand Day Out* (1990), as Wallace (voice) - *Oh, Mr. Toad* (1990), series, as Rat - *The Wind in the Willows: A Tale of Two Toads* (1989), as Rat (voice) - *More Children's Summer Stories* (1989), as Rat (voice) - *Lollipop Children's Favourites - Volume 2* (1989), as Rat (voice) - *Lollipop Children's Favourites - Volume 1* (1989), as Rat (voice) - *First of the Summer Wine* (1988), series, Actor - *Motormouth* (1988), series, as Wallace (Voice) - *Children's Favourites - Volume 1* (1988), as Rat (voice) - *Last of the Summer Wine: Big Day at Dream Acres* (1987), as Norman Clegg - *Sylvanian Families* (1987), series, as Rabbit (voice, uncredited) - *The New Statesman* (1987), series, as Sidney Bliss - *The Wind in the Willows: Winter Tales* (1986), as Rat (voice) - *A Dangerous Kind of Love* (1986), as Mr. Walker - *The Secret Diaries of the Film Censors* (1986), Actor - *Last of the Summer Wine: Uncle of the Bride* (1986), as Norman Clegg - *Rocky Hollow* (1985), series, as Narrator (voice) - *Rocky Hollow* (1985), as Narrator (voice) - *Royal Variety Performance 1984* (1984), as Clegg - *The Wind in the Willows* (1984), series, as Rat (voice), Vocals - *Strangers and Brothers* (1984), series, as Leonard March - *Last of the Summer Wine: Getting Sam Home* (1983), as Norman Clegg - *The Funny Side of Christmas* (1982), as Clegg - *Witness for the Prosecution* (1982), as Carter - *The Kids International Show* (1982), series, as Clegg - *The Kamikaze Ground Staff Reunion Dinner* (1981), as Shushin, Vocals - *Tales of the Unexpected: A Picture of a Place* (1980), as Solicitor - *Lady Killers* (1980), series, as O'Brien - *She Loves Me* (1979), as Ladislav Sipos, Vocals - *Tales of the Unexpected* (1979), series, as Solicitor - *You're Not Watching Me, Mummy* (1979), as Leslie - *Room Service* (1979), series, as Mr. Fellows - *Last of the Summer Wine Christmas Specials 1978-1982* (1978), as Clegg - *628-E8* (1978), as Mirbeau - *The Clifton House Mystery* (1978), series, as Milton Guest - *Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe?* (1978), as St. Claire - *Leave it to Charlie* (1978), series, as Arthur Simister, Alfred Simister - *Across a Crowded Room* (1978), as Cyril Smallpiece - *Full Circle* (1978), as Jeffrey Branscombe - *The Obelisk* (1977), as Ernest - *Premiere* (1977), series, as Ernest - *Murder Most English: A Flaxborough Chronicle* (1977), series, as Rodney Gloss - *The Price of Coal, Part 2: Back to Reality* (1977), as Worker (uncredited) - *The Price of Coal, Part 1: Meet the People* (1977), as Minor Role (uncredited) - *Raffles* (1977), series, Actor - *The Winter Warrior* (1976), as Deor - *Yanks Go Home* (1976), series, as Randall Todd - *The Incredible Sarah* (1976), as Thierry - *The Daedalus Equations* (1976), as Major Venables - *The Ghosts of Motley Hall* (1976), series, as Mr Gudgin - *Rumpole of the Bailey* (1975), series, as Henry Tong - *Prometheus: The Life of Balzac* (1975), series, Actor - *The Secret Agent* (1975), as Chief Inspector Heat - *The Snowdropper* (1975), as Spicer - *Back of Beyond* (1974), as Man (uncredited) - *Graceless Go I* (1974), as Mr. Wainwright - *Frankenstein: The True Story* (1974), as Priest - *Nightmare at 43 Hillcrest* (1974), as Man (uncredited) - *Late Night Drama* (1974), series, as Patient - *The Capone Investment* (1974), as Wheatfield - *Armchair Cinema* (1974), series, as Benitet - *The Prison* (1974), as Benitet - *Playhouse* (1974), series, as Maj. Venables - *Who Killed Lamb?* (1974), as Lloyd - *The Pallisers* (1974), series, as Mr Bonteen - *Frankenstein: The True Story* (1973), series, as Priest - *Beyond Our Means* (1973), as Onslow - *Hitler: The Last Ten Days* (1973), as Banker #2 (uncredited) - *Song at Twilight* (1973), as Austin Melcroft - *Lady Killer* (1973), as Man - *Frankenstein* (1973), as Man (uncredited) - *Frankenstein* (1973), series, as Man (uncredited) - *Last of the Summer Wine* (1973), series, as Clegg - *Crown Court* (1972), series, as Gerald Prosser, Insp. George Storton - *The Reprieve* (1972), as Cossack Horseman - *Spyder's Web* (1972), series, as Grovnik - *The Moonstone* (1972), series, as Mr. Bruff - *The Bristol Entertainment* (1971), as Water Seller / Coachman / Ameryk / Mayor / Captain Kimber / King Henry Voice - *Justice* (1971), series, as Coroner - *The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes* (1971), series, as Dr. Jervis - *The Persuaders!* (1971), series, as Piper - *Trial* (1971), series, as Almond - *Bel Ami* (1971), series, as Norbert de Varenne - *Bel Ami* (1971), as Norbert de Varenne - *Budgie* (1971), series, as Peter Olliphant - *The Ten Commandments* (1971), series, as Gerry - *The Railwayman's New Clothes* (1971), as Lumley - *The Road Builder* (1971), as Rev. Rupert Palafox - *The Hallelujah Handshake* (1970), as Minor Role (uncredited) - *Play for Today* (1970), series, Actor - *Menace* (1970), series, as Sonny Waters - *Marie Stopes: Sexual Revolutionary* (1970), as Ernest Charles, KC - *Wuthering Heights* (1970), as Mr. Shielders - *My Lover, My Son* (1970), as Sir Sidney Brent - *Taste the Blood of Dracula* (1970), as Samuel Paxton - *Sweeney Todd* (1970), as Brogden / Mundel / Hopkins - *Catweazle* (1970), series, as Stuffy Gladstone - *Scream and Scream Again* (1970), as Schweitz - *The Reckoning* (1970), as Keresley - *Kate* (1970), series, as Sammy Harrison - *Menace* (1970), as Narrator (voice) - *Paul Temple* (1969), series, Actor - *Softly Softly: Task Force* (1969), series, as Lodge, Edward Letheridge, Professor Dowell - *The Ladies: Joan* (1969), as Mr. Street - *Hadleigh* (1969), series, as Dakin, Strapper Strapton - *Plays of Today* (1969), series, as Mr. Street - *The Big Flame* (1969), as Man (uncredited) - *Maigret at Bay* (1969), as (uncredited) - *Cream: Farewell Concert* (1969), as Guest - *Wind Versus Polygamy* (1968), as Man (uncredited) - *Inadmissible Evidence* (1968), as Hudson - *Charlie Bubbles* (1968), as Solicitor - *The Drummer and the Bloke* (1968), as Eric - *Doctor Who: The Ice Warriors* (1967), as Penley - *Omnibus* (1967), series, as Mirbeau, Guest - *ITV Playhouse* (1967), series, as Leslie, Patient - *Callan* (1967), series, as Routledge — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/callan.md) - *The Bible: In the Beginning...* (1966), as Minor Role (uncredited) - *Mystery and Imagination* (1966), series, as Brogden / Mundel / Hopkins - *Softly, Softly* (1966), series, Actor - *BBC Play of the Month* (1965), series, as (uncredited) - *Thirty-Minute Theatre* (1965), series, as Lumley - *Knock on Any Door* (1965), series, as Stannage - *Blackmail* (1965), series, as Miles Beckett - *Rapture* (1965), as Armand - *The Troubleshooters* (1965), series, as Henry Wynn - *Public Eye* (1965), series, as Eddie Meadows, Colin Reynolds - *The Sullavan Brothers* (1964), series, as Kenneth K. Hirst - *The Wednesday Play* (1964), series, as Eric, Man - *The Trial of Dr. Fancy* (1964), as Mr. Pender - *Clash by Night* (1964), as Victor - *A Wicked World* (1964), as Ronald Green - *Don't Ever Talk to Clocks* (1964), Actor - *The Third Secret* (1964), as Lawrence Jacks - *Doctor Who* (1963), series, as Penley — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/doctor-who.md) - *Festival* (1963), series, as Captain of the Fire Brigade, Romainville - *The V.I.P.s* (1963), as Doctor - *Drama '63: A Well Dressed Man* (1963), as Philip Mallard - *Sergeant Cork* (1963), series, as Rev. Hubert Wales - *The Mouse on the Moon* (1963), as Russian Delegate - *Into the Dark* (1963), as Alfred Purdie - *The Chem. Lab. Mystery* (1963), series, as Mad Willy - *Heart to Heart* (1962), as Frank Godsell - *Zero One* (1962), series, as Major Konel - *I Thank a Fool* (1962), as Sleazy Doctor - *Crying Down the Lane* (1962), series, as Champion - *Z-Cars* (1962), series, as Seaton - *Candida* (1961), as Rev. Alexander Mill - *A Chance of Thunder* (1961), series, as Howard - *The Day the Earth Caught Fire* (1961), as Man (uncredited) - *A Taste of Honey* (1961), as Man (uncredited) - *A Call on Kuprin: Part 2* (1961), as Hesketh-Payne - *The Curse of the Werewolf* (1961), as Don Enrique - *Amelia* (1961), series, Actor - *Drama 61-67* (1961), series, as Philip Mallard, Roland Green - *No Love for Johnnie* (1961), as M.P. - *The Zoo Story* (1961), as Peter - *The Avengers* (1961), series, as Hal Anderson — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-avengers-1961.md) - *The Adventures of Alice* (1960), as Tweedledee - *Maigret* (1960), series, Actor - *Saturday Night and Sunday Morning* (1960), as Man in Suit (uncredited) — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/saturday-night-and-sunday-morning.md) - *The Poet* (1960), as Giulio - *The Millionairess* (1960), as Minor Role (uncredited) - *Sunday-Night Play* (1960), series, as Hesketh-Payne, Harry Shell - *Danger Man* (1960), series, as John Gordon - *Doctor in Love* (1960), as Mr. Luke (uncredited) - *Twentieth Century Theatre: Colombe* (1960), as Robinet - *International Detective* (1959), series, as Eugene Payas - *Brand* (1959), as Doctor & Provost - *The Scapegoat* (1959), as Customs Official - *World Theatre* (1959), series, as Barere, Simon, Prisoner, Doctor & Provost - *The Doctor's Dilemma* (1959), as Secretary at Picture Gallery - *Dance Date* (1959), series, Actor - *Cinderella* (1958), as Baron Aristide de Pennilac - *A Midsummer Night's Dream* (1958), as Snug - *A Night to Remember* (1958), as Minor Role (uncredited) — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/a-night-to-remember.md) - *The Diary of Samuel Pepys* (1958), series, as Samuel Pepys - *Anastasia* (1956), as Grischa (uncredited) - *Armchair Theatre* (1956), series, as Alfred Purdie, Mr. Pender, Onslow, Sam Carter - *Kitty Clive* (1956), as John Hall - *The Inveterate Gambler* (1956), as The Burglar - *Safe and Sound* (1956), as Squishy Taylor - *Quay South* (1955), as Corporal Foster - *The Concert* (1955), as Daniel Kevin (as Pete Sallis) - *Strange Experiences* (1955), series, as Chippy Griggs, Squishy Taylor, The Burglar - *The Pickpocket* (1955), as Chippy Criggs - *Moby Dick—Rehearsed* (1955), as A Stage Manger /Flask - *Fcb TV Show No.1* (1955), as Squishy Taylor - *Nineteen Eighty-Four* (1954), as Man (uncredited) - *Child's Play* (1954), as Bill - grocery merchant - *Stranger from Venus* (1954), as Soldier (uncredited) - *Hallmark Hall of Fame* (1951), series, as Carter - *Mr. Denning Drives North* (1951), as Man (uncredited) - *Sunday Night Theatre* (1950), series, as Snug, J. G. - *The Loves of Joanna Godden* (1947), as Man (uncredited) ## Gallery - ![Peter Sallis](https://film.one/media/person/99047/gallery-4d655766df48.jpg) Peter Sallis — davidwilson83, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/74/Peter_Sallis.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Cropped image of models from "Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit" on display at St. George's, Bristol (2019)](https://film.one/media/person/99047/gallery-be152ea89e9c.jpg) Cropped image of models from "Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit" on display at St. George's, Bristol (2019) — Humbledaisy, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d7/WallaceandGromit2.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Peter Sallis](https://film.one/media/person/99047/gallery-726d3c25e034.jpg) Peter Sallis — Image via TMDB - ![Peter Sallis](https://film.one/media/person/99047/gallery-9270a6cf4543.jpg) Peter Sallis — Image via TMDB --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/peter-sallis