Leslie Phillips, the British actor best known for his roles in the Carry On films and the Harry Potter franchise, died Monday. He was 98. According to the Associated Press, Phillips’ agent Jonathan Lloyd confirmed the news, adding that the actor had died peacefully in his sleep following a long illness. Phillips’ career spanned over eight decades, with appearances on film, television and radio.

Phillips was born in 1924 near White Hart Lane. By 14, Phillips was acting in West End plays alongside successful actors, including Vivien Leigh. In 1938, he made his film debut on the romantic musical Lassie from Lancashire. Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, Phillips worked steadily in British films, including Anna Karenina, Pool of London, and The Gamma People. Although he appeared across a myriad of film genres, he rose to popularity following his appearances on the British comedy film series Carry On throughout the 1950s and 1960s. From 1959 to 1977, Phillips appeared as Sub-Lieutenant Phillips in the radio comedy The Navy Lark. He also appeared in the film version of the popular radio series. He continued in the comedy sphere with The Doctor franchise, starring in three of the films.

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

Leslie Philips Outside of Comedy

In the 1980s, Phillips took a departure from comedy and took roles in drama films, including Steven Spielberg’s Empire of the Sun, the Academy award-winning Out of Africa, and Scandal.

In the 2000s, Phillips appeared Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and voiced the Sorting Hat in three of the Harry Potter films. In 2006, he was nominated for a BAFTA for his portrayal of Ian on Hanif Kurieshi’s Venus.

Besides a successful entertainment career, Phillips served in World War II as a 2nd lieutenant in the Durham Light Infantry, but escaped D-Day after being found unfit for service due to an illness that brought about partial paralysis. In 1948, he married actress Penelope Bartley and the two had four children. The two divorced in 1965, but remained amicable until Bartley died in 1981. He married actress Angela Scoular in 1982, and the two remained together until she died in 2011. In 2013, he married Zara Carr. At the age of 90, Phillips suffered two strokes, one that left him confined to a wheelchair. Phillips was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 1998 Birthday Honours. During the 2008 New Year Honours, he was promoted to Commander of the Order of the British Empire.

Phillips is survived by his wife and children.