Leonard Rossiter, a talented individual, was born on October 21st, 1926, in the city of Liverpool. Due to financial constraints, he was unable to attend university, and instead, he worked in an insurance office until the age of 27.
It was then that he joined the Preston repertory company, marking his professional stage debut in the play "The Gay Dog". This initial experience was followed by appearances in productions at Wolverhampton, Salisbury, and The Old Vic Company at Bristol's Theatre Royal.
In 1962, Rossiter made his big-screen debut in the film "A Kind of Loving", and this was soon followed by a string of film appearances throughout the 1960s, including "Billy Liar" in 1963. He also made several television appearances during this period, such as in the shows "Z Cars", "The Avengers", and "Steptoe and Son".
His portrayal of Adolf Hitler in the 1969 play "The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui" catapulted him to West End stardom. He then went on to play the role of "Rigsby" in the popular television series "Rising Damp" in 1974 and the title role in the television series "The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin" in 1976, making him a household name.
Rossiter was also known for his comedic partnership with Joan Collins in a series of Cinzano commercials, which were considered comic masterpieces. He was a keen sportsman and excelled in squash, tennis, and football. Furthermore, he was a connoisseur of fine wines.
Tragically, Rossiter's busy career was cut short on October 5th, 1984, just 16 days shy of his 58th birthday. During a performance of Joe Orton's play "Loot", he suffered a heart attack in his dressing room, bringing an abrupt end to his life.
Throughout his life, Rossiter was married to actress Gillian Raine and had a daughter named Camilla.
