Earlier today, Peter Sallis, a British National Treasure past away. Whilst the name may not be familiar to all of you out there, his voice most definitely will be. Between 1989 and 2010, Sallis was best known as the voice of hapless inventor, Wallace in the Academy Award winning Wallace & Gromit shorts and films.
As well as portraying Wallace, the actor is also known for playing Norman ‘Cleggy’ Clegg in the long running BBC series, Last of the Summer Wine, which centres on three elderly men getting into hijinks in the English countryside, more often than not ending with the men rolling down a steep hill on some wheeled device. Sallis played this role from the shows beginning in 1973 to its end in 2010, appearing in all 295 episodes.
It was as Wallace that gave the actor the worldwide fame that he deserved. Voicing the character in each of the television specials, the two spin-off television series and the big screen movie, Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit.
Sallis retired from acting in 2010 as a result of blindness, with his role of Wallace being taken over by Ben Whitehead in later appearances. His death was announced earlier today by his agent, who revealed that the actor had past away peacefully with his family by his side at the age of 96.
His memory will always live on in his characters, many of whom will be introduced to youngsters for generations to come.
What do you think? What was your favorite role? Let us know below.
Source: BBC