Yesterday that magnificent actor Leslie Phillips CBE, serial portrayer of on-screen cads, celebrated his 85th birthday...
Having risen from his lowly Tottenham background (thanks to elocution lessons) to get into the Italia Conti acting school, the young Leslie was one of the first actors to appear at the brand new Pinewood Studios in 1936 (and is indeed the last survivor of that opening).
Throughout the war he continued to appear on stage, an eventually landed a role in radio's The Navy Lark, which became the springboard for his long and profitable career on the big and small screens.
He allegedly based much of the caddish swagger for which he became famous upon his contemporary Terry-Thomas, and indeed the two were often rivals for similar parts. Leslie appeared in three Carry On films before landing the role that made him a "national treasure" - in the Doctor film series.
He later almost parodied himself in a number of stereotypical roles, notably the 70s ITV series Casanova, but made a remarkable renaissance in the early 90s as the sinister James Xavier Blake - nemesis to the hero, played by the sexy Clive Owen - in Chancer.
I have always loved Leslie Phillips. You can immediately assume from scanning a cast list that if this man's name appears, then at least some scenes will be bearable. Many happy returns to a truly great actor!
Here are some of the great man's most memorable comedy moments:
And here he is holding his own against the formidable Peter O'Toole in his most recent film Venus in 2006:
Leslie Phillips on IMDB
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