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Leslie Phillips

Leslie Phillips

Actor, also producer · Died November 7, 2022, aged 98 · Tottenham, London, England, UK

Leslie Samuel Phillips CBE (20 April 1924 – 7 November 2022) was an English actor, director, producer and author. He achieved prominence in the 1950s, playing smooth, upper-class comic roles utilising his "Ding dong" and "Hello" catchphrases. He appeared in the Carry On and Doctor in the House film series as well as the long-running BBC radio comedy series The Navy Lark. In his later career, Phillips took on dramatic parts including a BAFTA-nominated role alongside Peter O'Toole in Venus (2006). He provided the voice of the Sorting Hat in several of the Harry Potter films. Description above from the Wikipedia article Leslie Phillips, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
April 20, 1924
Died
November 7, 2022 (aged 98)
From
Tottenham, London, England, UK
Works as
Actor, also producer
Titles
59 on MovieCove · 143 credits in all
TMDB popularity, last 63 days to Oct 26Down 3% in 30 days

What are Leslie Phillips' films like?

Across their 33 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

What they feel like to watch

their average across 32 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category

Light 24 · Serious 3 · Dark 5

A split, not a type: Grounded 16 · Stylized 10 · Heightened 6

A split, not a type: Gentle 16 · Charged 12 · Intense 4

Steady 17 · Shifting 13 · Whiplash 2

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 9 · Some laughs 8 · Funny 15

A split, not a type: Slow burn 17 · Even-paced 13 · Relentless 2

Casual 24 · Engaged 8 · Full focus 0

Resolved 29 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

11 analyzed roles

Usually the Trickster: 3 of 11 analyzed roles.

Trickster
3 of 11
Ally
2 of 11
Hero
2 of 11
Herald
1 of 11
Shapeshifter
1 of 11
Mentor
1 of 11
Shadow
1 of 11
Show the 11 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
12
Absurd
11
Warm
11
Tense
10
Melancholic
11
Other
27

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy20
  • Bittersweet9
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous2

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Leslie Phillips' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 30 of their 59 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (11).

Subscription and free streaming for Leslie Phillips' titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

143 credits, 59 with a MovieCove page; 9 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Hello: A Portrait Of Leslie Phillips (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Producer · as Himself

  • After Death(2012)

    as Jerimiah Jones

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films
  • Late Bloomers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Leo

  • Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2(2011)

    as The Sorting Hat (voice)

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films
  • Drama Trails (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Week We Went To War (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 4 episodes · Actor

  • Is Anybody There?(2008)

    as Reg

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films
  • The Dead Peasants Society (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Alistair Robertson

  • Venus(2006)

    as Ian

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films
  • Color Me Kubrick(2005)

    as Freddie

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films
  • Agatha Christie's Marple(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Sir Philip Starke

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows
  • Churchill: The Hollywood Years(2004)

    as Lord W'ruff

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films
  • Collusion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Herbert Ames

  • The Last Detective(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Alistair Robertson

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all shows
  • Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets(2002)

    as The Sorting Hat (voice)

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films
  • Thunderpants(2002)

    as Judge

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films
  • Outside the Rules (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 4 episodes · Actor

  • Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone(2001)

    as The Sorting Hat (voice)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films
  • Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films
  • Sword of Honour(2001)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films
  • Sword of Honour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 2 episodes · as Gervase Crouchback

  • Aladdin: The ITV Pantomime (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Prince Hugely Suave

  • Take a Girl Like You (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Lord Archie Edgerstone

  • Monarch of the Glen(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Louis Grimshaw

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all shows
  • Saving Grace(2000)

    as Vicar Gerald Perey

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films
  • Cinderella(2000)

    as Felim

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films
  • The Heaven and Earth Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Jackal(1997)

    as Woolburton

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films
  • The Pale Horse(1997)

    as Lincoln Bradley

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films
  • Caught in the Act (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Sydney Fisher

  • Midsomer Murders(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Godfrey Teal

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows
  • August(1996)

    as Professor Alexander Blathwaite

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films
  • Dennis the Menace and Gnasher (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Greenfly (voice)

  • Dalziel and Pascoe(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as James Westropp

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows
  • Der Blinde (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Sir John

  • Das Karussell des Todes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Sir John

  • Die Katze von Kensington (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Sir John

  • The Canterville Ghost(1996)

    as George, Lord Canterville

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films
  • Two Golden Balls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Viscount Osgood

  • Love on a Branch Line (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 4 episodes · as Lord Flamborough

  • The House of Windsor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 6 episodes · as Lord Montague Bermondsey

  • Honey for Tea (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 7 episodes · as Sir Dickie Hobhouse

  • Bermuda Grace (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Actor

  • The Changeling (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Vermandero

  • Royal Celebration (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Johnny

  • Carry on Columbus(1992)

    as King Ferdinand

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films
  • Thacker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as George Thacker

  • Heartbeat(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Denzil Witty

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows
  • The Trials of Oz (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Judge Michael Argyle

  • Performance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 1 episode · as Judge Michael Argyle · as Vermandero

  • King Ralph(1991)

    as Gordon

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films
  • Life After Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Wing Commander Boyle

  • Who Bombed Birmingham? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Lord Chief Justice Lane

  • Chancer(1990)

    Show 20 episodes · as Jimmy Blake

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows
  • Plunder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Oxford (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Dean

  • Mountains of the Moon(1990)

    as Mr. Arundell

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films
  • GLC: The Carnage Continues (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Sir Horace Cutler

  • Summer's Lease (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show as William Fosdyke

  • Screen One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Johnny · as Viscount Osgood

  • Tales from the Crypt(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Mycroft Amberson

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows
  • Scandal(1989)

    as Lord Astor

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films
  • Empire of the Sun(1987)

    as Maxton

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films
  • The Ruth Rendell Mysteries(1987)

    Show 3 episodes · as Justin Whittaker

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows
  • Lovejoy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Major Eddie Turpin

  • Out of Africa(1985)

    as Sir Joseph

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films
  • Super Gran (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as P.O.W.

  • The Bill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Mr. Palfrey of Westminster (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Styles

  • The Comic Strip Presents... (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Dean · as Sir Horace Cutler

  • That's Carry On!(1977)

    as Mr. Alistair Grigg / Constable Tom Potter (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films
  • Spanish Fly (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Mike Scott

  • Not Now, Comrade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Commander Rimmington

  • Rumpole of the Bailey(1978)

    Show 1 episode · as 'Boxey' Horne

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows
  • Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films
  • Casanova '73 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 7 episodes · as Henry Newhouse

  • Not Now Darling (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Gilbert Bodley

  • The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins(1971)

    as Dickie (segment "Gluttony")

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films
  • Doctor in Trouble (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Dr. Tony Burke

  • Some Will, Some Won't (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Simon Russell

  • Galton and Simpson Comedy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • A Very Fine Line (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Charlton

  • Maroc 7(1967)

    Producer · as Raymond Lowe

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films
  • The World of Wodehouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as The Rev. Esmond Gander

  • Carnaby, M.D.(1966)

    as Dr. Gaston Grimsdyke

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films
  • The Gong Game (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as Clive Breeze

  • You Must Be Joking!(1965)

    as Young Husband

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films
  • Father Came Too! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as Mr. Roddy Chipfield

  • Our Man At St Mark's (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 46 episodes · Actor

  • The Fast Lady (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Freddie Fox

  • The Longest Day(1962)

    as RAF Officer Mac

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films
  • In the Doghouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Jimmy Fox-Upton

  • Crooks Anonymous(1962)

    as Fred "Captain 'Dandy' Forsdyke" Cox

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films
  • Raising the Wind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Mervyn Hughes

  • Very Important Person (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Flying Officer Jimmy Cooper

  • A Weekend with Lulu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Timothy Gray

  • No Kidding (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    as David Robinson

  • Watch Your Stern (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    as Lt. Cmdr. Bill Fanshawe

  • Doctor in Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    as Dr. Tony Burke

  • Carry On Constable (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    as Constable Tom Potter

  • Inn for Trouble (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    as John Belcher

  • Ferdinando I° re di Napoli(1959)

    as Giornalista inglese

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films
  • Please Turn Over (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Dr. Henry Manners

  • Make Mine a Double(1959)

    as Squadron Leader Thomas

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films
  • This Other Eden (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Crispin Brown

  • Carry on Teacher(1959)

    as Mr. Alistair Grigg

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films
  • The Angry Hills (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Ray Taylor

  • Carry on Nurse(1959)

    as Jack Bell

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films
  • The Man Who Liked Funerals (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Simon Hurd

  • The Navy Lark (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Lt. Pouter

  • Hell, Heaven or Hoboken(1958)

    as Major Tennant

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films
  • The Invisible Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Sparrow

  • The Big Money (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Receptionist

  • Just My Luck(1957)

    as The Hon. Mr. Richard Lumb

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films
  • Les Girls(1957)

    as Sir Gerald Wren

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films
  • High Flight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Blake

  • Big Time Operators(1957)

    as Robin Carter

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films
  • Brothers in Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Shop Assistant

  • The Gamma People (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Howard Meade

  • Wire Service (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · as Keynes

  • The Errol Flynn Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · as Venning

  • Armchair Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · as Charlton · as Clive Breeze

  • The Adventures of Robin Hood(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Count de Waldern · as Herbert · as Sir William · as Wat Longfellow

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows
  • Value for Money (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as Robjohns

  • As Long as They're Happy(1955)

    as Box Office Manager

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films
  • Mark Saber (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 1 episode · as Hugh Lawrence

  • The Limping Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Detective Cameron

  • The Fake(1953)

    as Boy Student

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films
  • Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films
  • The Sound Barrier(1952)

    as Controller

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films
  • The Galloping Major (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Reporter (uncredited)

  • Pool of London (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Harry

  • The Woman with No Name (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as 1st Sapper officer

  • Train of Events (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Stacey's Fireman

  • Anna Karenina(1948)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films
  • The Proud Valley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Minor Role

  • The Thief of Bagdad(1940)

    as Urchin in Bagdad Market (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films
  • The Mikado(1939)

    as Boy

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films
  • The Four Feathers(1939)

    as Boy Doffing Cap at Parade

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films
  • Climbing High (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Child actor (uncredited)

  • The Citadel(1938)

    as Girl (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films
  • Lassie from Lancashire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Bit Part

  • Hotel Caledonia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as The Narrator

Career shape

Star power in the 97th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 143 titles, 142 of them dated from 1938 to 2013; peak year 2001.

Film career

19382013

Peak 2001 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 1 MovieCove title. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 1938Screen debut· The Citadel
  • 1962First top-billed film· Crooks Anonymous
  • 2006Career best· Venus

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting142 of 143: 141 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score55thProducing2 of 143: 1 only producing, 1 with another role

By decade

1930s5 · acting1940s4 · acting1950s32 · acting1960s21 · 21 acting · 1 crew1970s10 · acting1980s12 · acting1990s32 · acting2000s21 · acting2010s5 · 4 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 7th · top billed in 3% of 30 roles
38538393

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Leslie Phillips' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 52nd percentile, the median of all 48; across their 31 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 53rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

53rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 31

Approval · how many liked their films

45thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 31

Reach · how many have seen their films

56thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 31

Midcredits score across 59 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up20
  • 50th to 74th16
  • 25th to 49th12
  • Below 25th11

Shape of the crowd

25 of their 59 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved9
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser25
  • Broadly Agreed9
  • Mixed15

Reviewers score the acting 70/100 in their films, across 30 reviewed titles; fans 80, detractors 49. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Leslie Phillips' work okay for kids?

Across up to 8 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore4 titlesmedian 58 · moderateMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity8 titles20–54 · median 42 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity7 titles20–66 · median 37 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs4 titlesmedian 35 · mildMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense4 titlesmedian 40 · moderateMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Leslie Phillips work with?

People who share at least 2 of Leslie Phillips' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Joan Sims shares the most, 7.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles