Peter Sallis, who is best known for voicing Wallace in the animatedWallace and Gromitmovies, has passed away at the age of 96. Hediedon Friday at his home in the U.K. and reportedly died peacefully. Peter Sallis' acting career lasted more than 60 years, with his first role dating back to 1947. He continued acting until 2010 before retiring from the business.
With more than 150 credits to his name, Peter Sallis wasvery prolific during his long career, but there are two roles for which he will always be remembered. One being Wallace, a role which he first took on in 1989 in theWallace and GromitshortA Grand Day Out. He also played Norman Clegg onSummer Wine, the longest-running British sitcom in history. PerDeadline, his agents Jonathan Altaras Associates released this statement.
“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, June 2.”
Starting with a part in a TV version ofA Midsummer Night’s Dreamin 1947, Peter Sallisworked steadilyfor most of his life, acting alongside greats like Orson Welles, Laurence Olivier and John Gielgud. After having more than 25 years of experience under his belt, he took on the role of Norman Clegg inSummer Wine, a role which he played for nearly 40 years, spanning 295 episodes. Few actors outside of soap operas have ever had a run like that on a TV show. Especially a British TV show, where, save for shows likeSummer WineorDoctor Who, series are often cut quite short.
It wasn’t until 1989 that Peter Sallis first took on thevoice roleof Wallace in Nick Park’sWallace and Gromit, the role for which he is best known around the world and the role that defined the later years of his career. TheWallace and GromitshortA Grand Day Outwent on to win a BAFTA. He reprised the role in two more shorts,The Wrong TrousersandA Close Shave, both of which won BAFTA and Oscar awards. Sallis also played Wallace in the 2005 feature-lengthWallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbitas well as 2008’sA Matter of Loaf and Death. The former went on to win the Oscar for Best Animated Feature. Peter Sallis was very happy to have a role that brought so many joy so late in his career, as he regularly expressed his gratitude for the part.
“It is pleasing knowing millions are going to see your work and enjoy it. To still be involved in a project like this at my age is heartwarming. To have a legacy like this is very comforting. I am very lucky to have been involved.”
Born in Twickenham in southwest London, Peter Sallis was an only child and initially followed in his father’s footsteps by going into the world of banking. But that all changed when he was asked to be in a production ofHay Feverin 1943, which gave him the acting bug. The rest, as they say, is history.RIP, Peter Sallis.
