Peter Sallis, OBE (born 1 February 1921) is a retired English actor and entertainer, well known for his work on British television. Although he was born and brought up in London, his two most notable roles require him to adopt the accent and mannerisms of a Northerner. He played Norman "Cleggy" Clegg in Last of the Summer Wine from its 1973 inception until its final episode in 2010 – the only actor to appear in all 295 episodes, as well as the only actor who played a member of the original trio still living (Michael Bates died in 1978, and Bill Owen died in 1999). Internationally, he is known for voicing Wallace in the Wallace and Gromit series of films, but has since handed the role to Ben Whitehead. Sallis has reportedly retired from acting and has not appeared or voiced on film or TV since 2012.

Biography

Sallis suffers from macular degeneration and in 2005 recorded an appeal on BBC Radio 4 on behalf of the Macular Disease Society. He also recorded a television appeal on behalf of the society which was broadcast on BBC One on 8 March 2009. In 2014, Nick Park said that Sallis is "not too well" and that problems with his eyes are worsening, frustrating possibilities that Sallis might voice Wallace again.

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