lucky man
Leslie Phillips survived two strokes and was saved by his wife before death at 98
HARRY Potter actor Leslie Phillips survived two strokes and was saved by his wife before his tragic death aged 98.
The Carry On movie icon died on Monday, after a long illness brought down the curtain on eight decades in show business.
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His agent Jonathan Lloyd confirmed he died “peacefully in his sleep."
Yet prior to his passing Leslie - who was the voice of The Sorting Hat in the Harry Potter films - had already survived two strokes in the space of six months.
His wife Zara Carr, 63, who is 30 years his junior, was on hand to call medics after his first stroke at their Maida Vale home.
At the time, Leslie told : "I’m too young to pop off just yet. I’ve got everything to live for."
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Zara, who married Leslie in 2013, added: "Thank God I was there to save his life."
Just six months later he suffered his second stroke - with the film star reported to have turned "black and blue"
Again social worker Zara sprung into action and resuscitated her spouse.
She was familiar with health scares cropping up during their marriage, with Leslie's skin cancer worry postponing their honeymoon.
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He underwent surgery on the lump on his face, which turned out to be non cancerous, and told the Sunday Mirror of their Honeymoon delay.
Leslie said: "I have to get this thing removed.
"Thank God, it isn't cancer. It just looks rather awful at the moment but I am getting that sorted.
"We have been for all the appointments and the next part will be in a couple of weeks."
Paying tribute to her husband after his passing, Zara said: “I've lost a wonderful husband and the public has lost a truly great showman.
"He was quite simply a national treasure. People loved him. He was mobbed everywhere he went.
"When we married he cheekily introduced me to the Press as royalty, insisting I was the new Zara Phillips and that I was related to the Queen."
Leslie starred in over 200 films, TV and radio series over his glittering career.
For 17 years he starred alongside Ronnie Barker and Jon Pertwee on hit BBC radio show ‘The Navy Lark'.
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An accomplished Shakespearian actor, Leslie also trod the boards in stage shows around the world.
But he was best known for his roles as the smooth-talking rogue with an eye for the ladies in the 'Carry On' and ‘Doctor’ comedy films in the 1950s and 60s.
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