Actor David Graham has died aged 99 (Pictures: Getty; BBC; Nick Jr)
Actor David Graham, who voiced characters in shows including Doctor Who, Peppa Pig and Thunderbirds has died aged 99.
Born in London in 1925, Graham initially worked in the Royal Air Force as a radar mechanic before pursuing an acting career after studying at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York.
One of his first major roles was being cast in the first two episodes of the first season of Doctor Who, however he was best known for being the voice behind the evil Daleks in the 1960s and 70s.
Graham was also well known as the voice of Aloysius Parker, the butler and chauffeur in 1960s TV series Thunderbirds and its film sequels.
However, in more recent years he became known to younger generations as the voice of Grandpa Pig in the TV series Peppa Pig.
In an interview with the Mirror in 2015, Graham recalled creating the voice of the Daleks, which terrified viewers of the beloved sci-fi series for years.
The actor began his career in the 1960s (Picture: Charley Gallay/ Getty Images for Amazon Studios)
He previously voiced the evil Daleks in Doctor Who (Picture: BBC Picture Archives)
‘I created it with Peter Hawkins, another voice actor,’ he explained.
‘We adopted this staccato style then they fed it through a synthesiser to make it more sinister.’
As well as voicing Parker for the futuristic children’s puppet series Thunderbirds, he also played the show’s pilot Gordon Tracy, and Brains the engineer, between 1965 and 1966.
He later reprised the role for an ITV remake of the programme in 2015, titled Thunderbirds Are Go!.
The actor was only original cast member to return.
‘I am triple chuffed to be on board the new series… and reprising my role of dear old Parker with such a distinguished cast,’ he said at the time.’
Graham also played Grandpa Pig in Peppa Pig (Picture: Channel 5)
‘My driving skills are in good nick and I am delighted to be behind the wheel again with m’lady,’ referring to Lady Penelope, who was played in the reboot by Rosamund Pike.
The BBC broke the news of the actor’s death, however no more information was reported.
Graham also told the publication that he has aspirations of an acting career early in life.
‘At school I always wanted to say the poem or read the story. I always wanted to act,’ he said.
However, he had to postpone his ambitions when World War Two broke out, during which time he worked as a radar mechanic.
After the war he took up a job as an office clerk but went on to join his sister and her American GI husband in New York, where he attended a theatre school.
One of his other best known roles was as Parker in Thunderbirds (Picture: BBC)
After returning home, he worked in repertory theatre before getting work the first Doctor Who series.
Graham was also a member of Lawrence Olivier’s company at the National Theatre.
His long …read more
Source:: Metro
