Leslie Phillips obituary: The Casanova comedy that arrived at Hogwarts

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Leslie Phillips, who died aged 98, will forever be remembered for playing a lewd old rake.

But his comedic gifts masked the extent of his acting abilities. He received equal praise for his roles in Chekhov and Shakespeare.

In fact, Phillips wasn't particularly proud of his Carry On films, mainly because he considered himself a serious actor.

But for many he will forever be the man who oozed deceptively suave male lust; the older man chatting desperately with attractive women with a "Hell-ay-o!" and "Ding Dong!"

Leslie Samuel Phillips was born in Tottenham, North London on April 20, 1924. To a man known as toff, his roots were completely working-class.

His father, Frederick, worked in a stove manufacturing factory, where filthy conditions led to his death at the age of 44. Young Leslie was only seven years old.

This left his mother, Cecilia, to raise three children on her own. Sensing that Leslie had talent as an actor, she sent him to the Italia Conti drama school to transform his broad Cockney accent.

The move bore fruit sooner than expected. By Christmas 1937, Phillips had landed a role in Peter P...