
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
Read moreShow less
Biography from TMDB.
- April 20, 1924
- November 7, 2022 (aged 98)
- Tottenham, London, England, UK
- Actor, also producer
- 59 on MovieCove · 143 credits in all
What are Leslie Phillips' films like?
Across their 33 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.
Genres
Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.
Themes
What they feel like to watch
Ironic 1 · Wry 9 · Earnest 21
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
Easy watch 23 · Affecting 4 · Heavy 5
Resolved 29 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 0
Roles they play
Usually the Trickster: 3 of 11 analyzed roles.
Show the 11 rolesHide the roles
- Heraldas Robin Carter in Big Time Operators (1957)
- Allyas Jack Bell in Carry on Nurse (1959)
- Shapeshifteras Alistair Grigg in Carry on Teacher (1959)
- Tricksteras Squadron Leader Thomas in Make Mine a Double (1959)
- Heroas Dandy Forsdyke in Crooks Anonymous (1962)
- Heroas Dr. Gaston Grimsdyke in Carnaby, M.D. (1966)
- Tricksteras Raymond Lowe in Maroc 7 (1967)
- Tricksteras Minister in Don't Just Lie There, Say Something! (1974)
- Mentoras James Blake in Chancer (1990)
- Shadowas Professor Blathwaite in August (1996)
- Allyas Ian in Venus (2006)
Moods and endings
- 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).
- The Thief of Bagdad (1940) · actor · free
- Tales from the Crypt (1989) · actor · free
- Midsomer Murders (1997) · actor · free
- The Last Detective (2003) · actor · free
- Saving Grace (2000) · actor · free
- The Canterville Ghost (1996) · actor · free
- Heartbeat (1992) · actor · free
- Cinderella (2000) · actor · free
- Color Me Kubrick (2005) · actor · free
- After Death (2012) · actor · free
- Carry on Columbus (1992) · actor · free
- Midsomer Murders (1997) · actor · free
- The Last Detective (2003) · actor · free
- Monarch of the Glen (2000) · actor · free
- Saving Grace (2000) · actor · free
- The Adventures of Robin Hood (1955) · actor · free
- Anna Karenina (1948) · actor · free
- Chancer (1990) · actor · free
- The Canterville Ghost (1996) · actor · free
- Heartbeat (1992) · actor · free
- Cinderella (2000) · actor · free
- BritBox
- Shout! TV, show their 4 titles on Shout! TV
- PBS Masterpiece, show their 3 titles on PBS Masterpiece
- Acorn TV, show their 2 titles on Acorn TV
- BFI Player, show their title on BFI Player
- Dox, show their title on Dox
- Magnolia Selects, show their title on Magnolia Selects
- Midnight Pulp, show their title on Midnight Pulp
- ScreenPix, show their title on ScreenPix
- UP Faith & Family, show their title on UP Faith & Family
- XiveTV Documentaries, show their title on XiveTV Documentaries
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)

After Death(2012)
Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films
Late Bloomers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)
Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all filmsDrama Trails (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

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

Is Anybody There?(2008)
Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films
The Dead Peasants Society (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

Venus(2006)
Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films
Color Me Kubrick(2005)
Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films
Agatha Christie's Marple(2004)
Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows
Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all filmsCollusion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

The Last Detective(2003)
Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all shows
Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films
Thunderpants(2002)
Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all filmsOutside the Rules (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)
Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider(2001)
Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films
Sword of Honour(2001)
Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films
Sword of Honour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

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

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

Monarch of the Glen(2000)
Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all shows
Saving Grace(2000)
Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films
Cinderella(2000)
Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all filmsThe Heaven and Earth Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

The Jackal(1997)
Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films
The Pale Horse(1997)
Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films
Caught in the Act (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

Midsomer Murders(1997)
Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows
August(1996)
Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films
Dennis the Menace and Gnasher (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

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

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

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

The Canterville Ghost(1996)
Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films
Two Golden Balls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

Love on a Branch Line (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)
The House of Windsor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)
Honey for Tea (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

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

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

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

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

Heartbeat(1992)
Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows
The Trials of Oz (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

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

King Ralph(1991)
Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films
Life After Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

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

Chancer(1990)
Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all showsPlunder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

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

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

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

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

Tales from the Crypt(1989)
Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows
Scandal(1989)
Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films
Empire of the Sun(1987)
Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows
Lovejoy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

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

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

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

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

That's Carry On!(1977)
Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films
Spanish Fly (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

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

Rumpole of the Bailey(1978)
Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows
Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films
Casanova '73 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

Not Now Darling (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)
Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films
Doctor in Trouble (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

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

Galton and Simpson Comedy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)
A Very Fine Line (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

Maroc 7(1967)
Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all filmsThe World of Wodehouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

Carnaby, M.D.(1966)
Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all filmsThe Gong Game (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

You Must Be Joking!(1965)
Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films
Father Came Too! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

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

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

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

Crooks Anonymous(1962)
Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films
Raising the Wind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Inn for Trouble (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)
Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films
Please Turn Over (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

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

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

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

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

Hell, Heaven or Hoboken(1958)
Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films
The Invisible Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

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

Just My Luck(1957)
Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films
Les Girls(1957)
Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films
High Flight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

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

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

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

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

Armchair Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)
Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows
Value for Money (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

As Long as They're Happy(1955)
Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films
Mark Saber (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

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

The Fake(1953)
Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films
Terror on a Train(1953)
Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films
The Sound Barrier(1952)
Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films
The Galloping Major (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

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

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

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

Anna Karenina(1948)
Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films
The Proud Valley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

The Thief of Bagdad(1940)
Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films
The Mikado(1939)
Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films
The Four Feathers(1939)
Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films
Climbing High (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

The Citadel(1938)
Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all filmsLassie from Lancashire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)
Hotel Caledonia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)
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.

Biggest box office
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001)

Highest rated
The Longest Day (1962)

Most popular right now
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001)
Film career
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
Billing
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.
- 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.
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
- Gerald ThomasShared titles: Carry on Columbus (1992), Carry on Nurse (1959), Carry on Teacher (1959)See all 3 shared titles with Gerald Thomas

- Ken AnnakinShared titles: Crooks Anonymous (1962), The Longest Day (1962)See all 2 shared titles with Ken Annakin

Writers
- Dave FreemanShared titles: Carry on Columbus (1992), The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins (1971)See all 2 shared titles with Dave Freeman
- Jack DaviesShared titles: Carnaby, M.D. (1966), Crooks Anonymous (1962)See all 2 shared titles with Jack Davies
- Norman HudisShared titles: Carry on Nurse (1959), Carry on Teacher (1959)See all 2 shared titles with Norman Hudis
Actors
- Joan SimsShared titles: The Canterville Ghost (1996), Don't Just Lie There, Say Something! (1974), The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins (1971), Carnaby, M.D. (1966), Carry on Nurse (1959), Carry on Teacher (1959), Just My Luck (1957)See all 7 shared titles with Joan Sims

- Denholm ElliottShared titles: Maroc 7 (1967), You Must Be Joking! (1965), The Sound Barrier (1952)See all 3 shared titles with Denholm Elliott

- James Robertson JusticeShared titles: Carnaby, M.D. (1966), You Must Be Joking! (1965), Crooks Anonymous (1962)See all 3 shared titles with James Robertson Justice

- Hattie JacquesShared titles: Carry on Nurse (1959), Carry on Teacher (1959), Make Mine a Double (1959)See all 3 shared titles with Hattie Jacques

Composers, cinematographers and editors
- John JympsonShared titles: King Ralph (1991), Maroc 7 (1967)See all 2 shared titles with John Jympson
- Ernest StewardShared titles: Carnaby, M.D. (1966), Crooks Anonymous (1962)See all 2 shared titles with Ernest Steward
- Bruce MontgomeryShared titles: Carry on Nurse (1959), Carry on Teacher (1959)See all 2 shared titles with Bruce Montgomery
- John ShirleyShared titles: Carry on Nurse (1959), Carry on Teacher (1959)See all 2 shared titles with John Shirley
Producers
- Peter RogersShared titles: Carry on Columbus (1992), Carry on Nurse (1959), Carry on Teacher (1959)See all 3 shared titles with Peter Rogers

- Steve ChristianShared titles: Churchill: The Hollywood Years (2004), Cinderella (2000)See all 2 shared titles with Steve Christian
- Chris KennyShared titles: Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001), Empire of the Sun (1987)See all 2 shared titles with Chris Kenny
- Sydney PollackShared titles: King Ralph (1991), Out of Africa (1985)See all 2 shared titles with Sydney Pollack

Mixed roles
- Barry CryerShared titles: Stanley Baxter: Now and Then (2008), The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins (1971)See all 2 shared titles with Barry Cryer

- Peter RichardsonShared titles: Churchill: The Hollywood Years (2004), Carry on Columbus (1992)See all 2 shared titles with Peter Richardson

- Rik MayallShared titles: Churchill: The Hollywood Years (2004), Carry on Columbus (1992)See all 2 shared titles with Rik Mayall

- Patrick CargillShared titles: Carry on Nurse (1959), Make Mine a Double (1959)See all 2 shared titles with Patrick Cargill





