Leonard Rossiter
Biography
Leonard Rossiter was an English actor who built a long stage career before becoming best known for television comedy. Born in Wavertree, Liverpool, in 1926, he made his professional stage debut in Preston in 1954 in The Gay Dog. He worked extensively in repertory and joined the Bristol Old Vic from 1959 to 1961. On screen he was a character actor from the start, with an early film role in A Kind of Loving (1962) and a part as the title character's boss in Billy Liar (1963). He appeared in Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) and Barry Lyndon (1975), and opposite Peter Sellers in The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976). His television fame came as Rupert Rigsby in Rising Damp from 1974 to 1978 and Reginald Perrin in The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin from 1976 to 1979. Later films included Britannia Hospital (1982), and his final film appearance was in Water (1985). He died in 1984.
57years old at death
- Born Wavertree
- Died Westminster
- Star sign: LibraThe sign runs September 23 to October 22
Movie Career
- Films
- 18
- Career span
- 23 years1962 to 1985
First and latest
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First role
At 27, Rossiter became a professional actor after leaving his insurance job to join Preston repertory theater. His professional stage debut came on 6 September 1954 in Preston, in Joseph Colton's The Gay Dog.
A first
In 1980 Rossiter returned to the part of Rigsby for a film of Rising Damp, which meant he had portrayed that same character on stage, on television and in a film.
Behind the camera
In 1980 and 1981, Rossiter published two books showcasing his sharp humor: The Devil's Bedside Book, which offered cynical dictionary definitions like Ambrose Bierce's The Devil's Dictionary, and The Lowest Form of Wit, a compilation of insults and sarcastic remarks with cartoons by Martin Honeysett.
Leonard Rossiter movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Bryan Forbes directed three of these films, Stanley Kubrick two and Blake Edwards two. Three actors appear in three of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Tom Courtenay's page
Geoffrey Bayldon's page
Colin Blakely's page
Herbert Lom's page
Peter Sellers's page
All films by Bryan Forbes
All films by Stanley Kubrick
All films by Blake Edwards
Also two films together18 more actors
- Alan BatesBritannia Hospital (1982) and A Kind of Loving (1962)
- Burt KwoukTrail of the Pink Panther (1982) and The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976)
- Graham StarkTrail of the Pink Panther (1982) and The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976)
- Gerald SimThe Whisperers (1967) and King Rat (1965)
- Liz SmithBritannia Hospital (1982) and Trail of the Pink Panther (1982)
- Alan BadelOtley (1969) and This Sporting Life (1963)
- Eric PortmanDeadfall (1968) and The Whisperers (1967)
- James BolamOtley (1969) and A Kind of Loving (1962)
- Nanette NewmanDeadfall (1968) and The Whisperers (1967)
- Ronald FraserTrail of the Pink Panther (1982) and The Whisperers (1967)
- André MaranneTrail of the Pink Panther (1982) and The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976)
- Vanda GodsellThe Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976) and This Sporting Life (1963)
- Frank MiddlemassBarry Lyndon (1975) and Otley (1969)
- Fulton MackayWater (1985) and Britannia Hospital (1982)
- Margaret Tyzack2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) and The Whisperers (1967)
- Helen FraserBilly Liar (1963) and A Kind of Loving (1962)
- John RonaneKing Rat (1965) and A Kind of Loving (1962)
- Peggy MountOliver! (1968) and Hotel Paradiso (1966)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Box office
What Leonard Rossiter's films earned in cinemas worldwide.
Combined worldwide box office
$185 million
8 of the 18 films have a worldwide figure.
Of the 18 films: 8 worldwide figure; 1 us gross only; 9 figure not found.
- 8Worldwide figure
- 1US gross only
- 9Figure not found
Highest grossing
The eight biggest films earned 100% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.
- 1$72M38.9% of the total
- 2$37M20.2% of the total
- 3$34M18.3% of the total
- 4$32M17.1% of the total
- 5$9.1M4.9% of the total
- 6$581K0.3% of the total
- 7$376K0.2% of the total
- 8$36K0.0% of the total
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.