David Graham, the actor who voiced iconic characters in TV series such as Peppa Pig, Thunderbirds and Doctor Who, has died aged 99.
TV producer Jamie Anderson, son of the Thunderbirds creator Gerry Anderson, said he was “very sad to confirm that David has passed away at the grand old age of 99”, per PA.
“Just a few weeks ago, I was with 2,000 Anderson fans at a Gerry Anderson concert in Birmingham where we sang him happy birthday – such a joyous occasion. And now, just a few weeks later, he’s left us,” he said.
Anderson added that Graham was “always kind and generous with his time and his talent.”
“From the Daleks to Grandpa Pig and numerous voices for Anderson shows including Brains, Gordon Tracy and the iconic Parker. He will be sorely missed.”
Good bye David Graham. What a talent. pic.twitter.com/pQ8Amn9phy
— Stephen La Rivière (@la_riviere) September 20, 2024
Farewell dear David! What heartbreaking news that the legendary David Graham has left us aged 99. The last Tracy brother, voice of Parker and so much more. A great actor, iconic voice, and all round lovely man. We’ll all miss him very much. pic.twitter.com/nmhin4PNWb
— Jamie Anderson (@ImJamieAnderson) September 20, 2024
Graham was born in London in 1925. Speaking to The Mirror in 2015, Graham shared that he knew he wanted to be an actor from a young age. “At school I always wanted to say the poem or read the story. I always wanted to act,” he said.
His ambitions were put on hold when World War Two happened, and he began serving as a radar mechanic in the Royal Air Force. Afterwards, he moved to New York City and started acting at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre.
Upon his return to England, he began his theatre career as Givola in The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui. Graham was also a member of Lawrence Olivier’s company at the National Theatre and would go on to act in a number of stage shows. But, it was his TV career that he was best known for.
David Graham was kind enough to do several recordings for me over a 20 year period, but his last (when he was 96) was his best. In the gap between lockdowns, he came out to record a voice over for our lockdown made series @nebula_75 and belted this performance out. pic.twitter.com/E40AhyL9Hr
— Stephen La Rivière (@la_riviere) September 21, 2024
Oh, RIP David Graham – iconic voice of so many generations, working right the way until the end at 99. Incredible! pic.twitter.com/83Mtlab2Fr
— Chris Chapman (@ChrisChapman81) September 20, 2024
In 1963, alongside actor Peter Hawkins, he became the voice of the Daleks in Doctor Who. The two devised the way the robots spoke, with Hawkins taking on the higher-pitched Daleks, while Graham voiced with a lower-pitch.
Later, he became the voice of various Thunderbirds puppet characters including the aquanaut Gordon Tracy, the scientist Brains, and Lady Penelope’s driver, Aloysius ‘Nosey’ Parker.
He returned as Parker for ITV’s 2015-2020 remake Thunderbirds Are Go, but not for the 2004 live-action film, in which Ron Cook took on the role.
Thunderbirds was created by Gerry Anderson, who died in 2012, and his second wife, Sylvia, the voice of Lady Penelope, who died in 2016. Anderson’s official Twitter/X account shared a tribute today, writing: “David was always a wonderful friend to us here at Anderson Entertainment. We will miss you dearly, David. Our thoughts are with David’s friends and family.”
We’re incredibly sad to confirm the passing of the legendary David Graham. The voice Parker, Gordon Tracy, Brains and so many more. David was always a wonderful friend to us here at Anderson Entertainment. We will miss you dearly, David. Our thoughts are with David’s friends and… pic.twitter.com/DB4HTawHiU
— Gerry Anderson (@GerryAndersonTV) September 20, 2024
In recent years, Graham voiced Grandpa Pig in the children’s show Peppa Pig. He also provided the voice for Wise Old Elf and Mr Gnome on Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom.
He also had brief appearances in ITV’s Coronation Street, The Bill, London’s Burning and BBC dramas Doctors and Casualty.
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