John Leeson (the voice of K9) has died
Actor John Leeson, best known as the voice of the robot dog K-9 in Doctor Who, has passed away at age 83. His performance helped transform a temporary prop into an iconic and beloved character in the long-running science fiction series.
Why it matters
Leeson's work left a lasting impact on British television history and the legacy of the Doctor Who franchise.
The actor John Leeson, the voice of K-9, has died at the age of 83.
John Leeson played the voice of the Doctor's robot dog in 54 episodes of Doctor Who. His characterisation of the little robot dog was so skilled and so full of fun that he helped make what was due to be a temporary character into a fully fledged member of the TARDIS crew, much loved and remembered by fans. It is a tribute to the actor that his cry of Affirmative is as much associated with Doctor Who as the Daleks' cry of Exterminate . He endowed the character with a life force that saw K-9 return to the series and its spinoffs many times over the years.
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