Doctor Who's Elisabeth Sladen dies at 63 Elisabeth Sladen has died at the age of 63, the BBC reports. The Liverpool-born actress had been "battling cancer for some time". A BBC spokesman said: "It is with much sadness that we can announce Elisabeth Sladen, the much-loved actress best known for her role as Sarah Jane Smith in Doctor Who and CBBC's The Sarah Jane …
I've read The Register for well over 10 years, and have never sent any feedback nor made any comment before, but I wanted to today after hearing the news.
Like many I'm sure, I was enraptured by Ms Sladen's portrayal of Sarah Jane Smith as a boy, and I was very pleased to see her involved in the new Doctor Who. It's very sad that she died before what we now expect our time to be, and I extend my sympathies to her family. I'm glad she is imortalised in the fabric Doctor Who which has a unique place in British Culture.
I hope the BBC dedicates the upcoming Doctor Who episode to her, and though I always have the remote control ready to turn away from the spoiler at the end, I will make an exception this time if needed.
RIP
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-13137674
"Doctor Who returns on Saturday and a spokeswoman for the show said that "something suitable is being planned" as a tribute to the late actress."
Ah good. I expected so, but I'm glad to see it confirmed. A glass++ will be raised in my house.
I preferred her later work - better script writers gave the character better lines and more depth - but she must have made an impression if she was the companion brought back. I never knew the real person, but mates who're Doctor Who fanboys have always said she was a genuinely likeable actress.
To be honest, I was too young to develop a proper crush on her when she first appeared, but when she came back I thought she was beautiful.
What people may not realise is that she was very nearly bought back right at the end of the 4th Doctor era to smooth the transition between Tom Baker and Peter Davison. However she didn't want to return full time and instead shot the pilot for the spin-off K9 and Company instead. K9 and Company didn't get picked up due to a change of controllers at BBC1
I was slightly too young to know SJS well from her original Who days, though caught up later on video and DVD, and she was always a favourite. Then her totally appropriate and cleverly done return with the 9th Doctor made her a new legion of fans (my kids are glued to the Sarah Jane Adventures), and added massively to the legend of the show.
Ironically I got K9 and Company from LoveFilm only yesterday. I think we'll now have to have an Elisabeth Sladen tribute night in our house this weekend.
RIP, and thanks.
P.S. Does anyone else grin at the information that she was from Liverpool?? Goes to show what RADA can do - you'd never tell from her voice would you..?!
Sarah Jane Smith was my first companion to my first Doctor (Tom Baker) when I caught an episode of Dr Who by complete chance when I was somewhere around 12 years old. I became a fan instantly. She was the first companion to not scream and hide behind the Doctor every time things got a little scary. As I watched for the first time (Ark in Space), I saw the Doctor ridicule Sarah Jane while she was stuck in an air duct. When she clawed her way out of the duct spitting fire, I simultaneously had my first crush and first favorite science fiction series.
Over here in America, we Who fans are grieving the loss as well.
it's been a pleasure to read all these lovely tributes.
I too remember SJS/ES from the Pertwee/Baker era of Dr Who.
I always picture her in Planet of the Spiders, with a giant queen spider on her back and the little conversation she had with tommy, just after his mind was cleared byh the blue crystal.
Also, the Sarah Jane adventures has been a little triumph! Good old-fashioned BBC childrens adventure.
RIP Elisabeth
The world is a poorer place without you
Great companion for the Doctor and I have been loving the Sarah Jane adventures which I had to force my kids to watch, but they are big fans now. I hope they keep it going as the young actors have become very popular characters in their own right. I don't think it would be right to still call the Sarah Jane adventures but maybe a spin off called The Sarah Jane Legacy or something. Or bring back another companion to carry on the work, maybe Ace. I'm sure Sophie Aldred would be up for it.
It was only the other week when walked in to a re-run of the SJ adventures my son and wife were watching that I commented how good she looked for her age. But it wasnt just her looks and energy, it that was her general demeanour.
Not only did she look good and but she had "feel good" factor. Her character had positive traits which seemed geniune in a way that you know much of that came from the actor within.
I dont know whether she will be trully remembered for her thespian abilities, but I do think she will be remembered for someone we all geniuningly liked... and that I think goes a long way.
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