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Doctor Who actress Elisabeth Sladen dies aged 63

forgotmyusernameforgotmyusername
edited April 2011 in General Movies & TV Posts: 2,782
Sad news. Not a big fan of Dr.Who but I do watch it and she was part of the Doctor's great heritage and indeed she was a cultural icon in my eyes for her stint with Tom Baker. So long and thanks for your memories you will be sadly missed.

Comments

  • danslittlefingerdanslittlefinger
    edited April 2011 Posts: 886
    RIP Elizabeth.
    My childhood memories are falling apart before my eyes.

    Sarah Jane is gone... :-(
    The Tardis was and never will be the same without you.
  • SaintMarkSaintMark
    Posts: 7,653
    My deepest sympathies go to her family.

    The TARDIS will be emptyer without her and K9 without a master.

    May she rest in peace..............

  • NicNacNicNac Administrator, Moderator
    Posts: 7,585
    Quite shocked by this news. She looked 15 years younger than her 63 years, slim attractive and as fit as a fiddle. Makes it all the more shocking to realise she was so ill.
  • VirageVirage
    Posts: 1,856
    Agreed she was running round not even nine months ago filming her DW spin-off....
  • dragonskydragonsky
    Posts: 2,491
    R.I.P.
    she looked younger,it is sad for sure
  • NicNacNicNac Administrator, Moderator
    Posts: 7,585
    Elizabeth in a recent 'Adventures of Sarah Jane' publicity shot with current Doctor Matt Smith.
    image

  • VirageVirage
    Posts: 1,856
    @Nicnac Uhhhhhhh Its "The Sarah Jane Adventures" and they where half way through shooting series 5
  • NicNacNicNac Administrator, Moderator
    Posts: 7,585
    @Virage Uhhhhh sorry.

    Do you mean that the publicity photo wasn't recent? It's from 2010 I think, which is reasonably recent. And even if it isn't it doesn't really matter, just thought I'd ping a photo up. ;-)
  • MajorDSmytheMajorDSmythe "I tolerate this century, but I don't enjoy it."Moderator
    Posts: 14,023
    I heard this on the news this morning. I'm not really a Sarah Jane fan, but she did go on to become one of the most popular (if not, THE most) of all the Doctors companions.

    R.I.P
  • VirageVirage
    edited April 2011 Posts: 1,856
    Quoting NicNac: Do you mean that the publicity photo wasn't recent? It's from 2010 I think, which is reasonably recent. And even if it isn't it doesn't really matter, just thought I'd ping a photo up.
    The Story Aired October time

    This is series 4 half of series 5 was shot at the same time as series 4 and the other half would have been shot around now
  • Samuel001Samuel001 Moderator
    Posts: 13,356
    This was a big shock last night, it really hit me hard. Cancer just won't stop, almost as if it wants to keep killing. No doubt Sarah Jane is best companion the Doctor ever had and I'm sure childern will also grieve her due to The Sarah Jane Adventures.

    RIP Lis.
    Quoting Virage: This is series 4 half of series 5 was shot at the same time as series 4 and the
    other half would have been shot around now
    Indeed, filming on the second half of the series was delayed recently due to Sladen's health. So we have three more stories to come.

  • VirageVirage
    Posts: 1,856


    Just going To have to wait for a BBC announcement, it seems this also caught them by surprise

    Below are links to pages to the cast and crew reactions (reactions from Tom baker,
    david tenant and matt smith are in the lower one)


    http://www.doctorwhonews.net/2011/04/dwn190411134512-elisabeth-sladen.html
    http://www.doctorwhonews.net/2011/04/doctors-pay-tribute.html


  • Samuel001Samuel001 Moderator
    Posts: 13,356
    Quoting Virage: Just going To have to wait for a BBC announcement, it seems this also caught
    them by surprise

    No, the BBC were first to break the news. They said in a statement:

    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 Adventures, passed away this morning. She was 63.

    Lis first appeared as Sarah Jane in Doctor Who in 1973 alongside the Third Doctor Jon Pertwee and stayed for three and half seasons working alongside Jon and the Fourth Doctor Tom Baker. She returned to the role on numerous occasions over the years and, in 2007, was given her own spin-off series on CBBC - The Sarah Jane Adventures - where she would appear alongside new Doctors David Tennant and Matt Smith.

    The Sarah Jane Adventures brought Lis a whole new generation of fans who grew up to love her alien-busting adventures. The series was hugely popular with fans young and old and won this year's RTS Award for best children's drama.

    Controller of CBBC Damian Kavanagh said tonight: "I'm deeply saddened and shocked by the news of Lis' untimely death. Lis brought joy, excitement and a sense of wonder to her many fans in her role as Sarah Jane Smith. She was adored by our young audience and I know all of them will miss her as much as I will."

    Eleventh Doctor, Matt Smith, said: "What struck me about Lis was her grace. She welcomed me, educated me, and delighted me with her tales and adventures on Doctor Who. And she also seemed to have a quality of youth that not many people retain as they go through life. Her grace and kindness will stay with me because she had such qualities in abundance and shared them freely. I will miss her, as will the world of Doctor Who and all the Doctors that had the good pleasure to work with Lis Sladen and travel the universe with Sarah Jane."

    The creator of The Sarah Jane Adventures Russell T Davies said: "I absolutely loved Lis. She was funny and cheeky and clever and just simply wonderful. The universe was lucky to have Sarah Jane Smith; the world was lucky to have Lis."

    Steven Moffat, Doctor Who's Lead Writer and Executive Producer said: "'Never meet your heroes' wise people say. They weren't thinking of Lis Sladen.

    "Sarah Jane Smith was everybody's hero when I was younger, and as brave and funny and brilliant as people only ever are in stories. But many years later, when I met the real Sarah Jane - Lis Sladen herself - she was exactly as any child ever have wanted her to be. Kind and gentle and clever; and a ferociously talented actress, of course, but in that perfectly English unassuming way.

    "There are a blessed few who can carry a whole television show on their talent and charisma - but I can't think of one other who's done it quite so politely. I once showed my son Joshua an old episode of Doctor Who, in which Lis appeared. "But that's Sarah Jane," he said, confused "In old Doctor Who. From years ago. How come she always look exactly the same?" It's not a comfort today, of course, but children will still be saying that fifty years from now."

    Keith Jones, Director, BBC Cymru Wales, said: "The Sarah Jane Adventures has been one of the most successful children's programmes on television in recent years - and without Elisabeth Sladen it would not have happened. A brilliant presence on screen and on set, she brought the excitement and energy of the Doctor Who family of programmes, of which we are very proud at BBC Wales, to a whole new generation. She will be missed by all at BBC Wales who worked with her."

    Roger Carey, who represented Lis for many years, said. "She was not just a client, but a dear friend. She was so positive about life and her natural energy was intoxicating. She couldn't believe her luck when her career was resurrected in her own series."

    Tenth Doctor, David Tennant, said: "I just can't believe that Lis is gone. She seemed invincible. The same woman who enchanted my childhood, enchanted my time on Doctor Who and enchanted generations who have watched her and fallen in love with her - just like I did. I feel very honoured to have shared a TARDIS with Sarah Jane Smith, and I feel very lucky to have shared some time with Lis Sladen. She was extraordinary."

    Lis had been suffering from cancer. She leaves behind a husband, actor Brian Miller, and her daughter, Sadie.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/dw/news/bulletin_110419_01/Elisabeth_Sladen
  • VirageVirage
    Posts: 1,856
    @Samuel001 I ment her DEATH caught them by surprise not the news of it
  • St_GeorgeSt_George Shuttling Drax's lovelies to the space doughnut - happy 40th, MR!
    Posts: 1,699
    First Angela Scoular and now Elisabeth Sladen? And she's left us at only 63? Sad and genuinely tragic news - she seemed so fit and healthy in recent years; who'd have known? She also, from her acting, seemed a charming person; and I don't doubt she actually was. My thoughts go out to her family.

    RIP, Elisabeth...
  • Samuel001Samuel001 Moderator
    Posts: 13,356
    Quoting Virage: I ment her DEATH caught them by surprise not the news of it
    Oh I see. Well, maybe. Apparently a few people in the know where aware of Sladen's cancer.
  • VirageVirage
    Posts: 1,856
    Catch (well u can) new who tonight which will probably carry a dedication to her or nick cortny ( the brig)
  • VirageVirage
    Posts: 1,856
    Okay Rundown since april

    *CBBC have ended SJA but the 6 episodes shot will air later this year
    *The BBC tribute "My Sarah Jane" Should still be on I-Player
    * Series 6 Episode 1 DID carry a dedication to her
    * Series 6 Episode 3 "The Curse of the black spot" Airs tonight in the UK and US
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