A much-loved comic actor who has specialized in playing plummy, quintessentially English stereotypes, Leslie Phillips' heart was in acting from a very young age. He received elocution lessons as a child in order to lose his natural cockney accent (at that time a regional British accent was a major impediment to an aspiring actor) and he attended the Italia Conti School.

During the Second World War he served with the Durham Light Infantry. He returned to acting and it was during the 1950s that he established himself as a notable player in British movies. His greatest claim to fame to this day are the "Doctor" series of movies, which he inherited from Dirk Bogarde. He also worked on radio, most notably "The Navy Lark" for the BBC.

In later life he returned to playing supporting roles and even appeared in Steven Spielberg's Empire of the Sun. He continues to make cameo appearances in films and television and is a regular guest on British chat shows.
Leslie was awarded an OBE for services to drama in November 1998. Supports Tottenham Hotspur Football Club Worked on the BBC radio comedy The Navy Lark with other famous British comic actors Jon Pertwee and Ronnie Barker. His association with the catchphrase "Ding dong", said whenever he saw an attractive women, first started when he played "Jack Bell" in Carry on Nurse. Friends with actor Denholm Elliott for many years.