John Leeson, the British actor known as the voice of the robot K9 in the series „Doctor Who”, has died. He was 83 years old; his son, Guy Ducker, announced his death on Facebook.
What the family said
As Deadline and Variety reported, quoting the actor’s son’s post, Leeson died on Sunday, 1 November, at 15:03, „after a summer of illness”. The son wrote that the actor’s real name was John Ducker and that „John Leeson” was his stage name. In the reports quoted, the family did not give further details about the cause of death beyond mention of an illness lasting several months.
Official tribute
The series’ official account on X confirmed the news. It said the news of Leeson’s death was received with great sadness, noting that he was known to fans since 1977 as the voice of the Doctor’s robotic companion.
According to The Guardian, the show’s producer Russell T Davies also paid tribute to the actor, calling him a „true gentleman”.
Who was John Leeson
Leeson was best known as the voice of K9, a mechanical dog who accompanied the Doctor in the classic run of „Doctor Who” from 1977. According to The Guardian, he also appeared in the series „Dad’s Army” and in the children’s programme „Rainbow”. K9 became one of the most recognisable characters in the show, and the role earned Leeson the admiration of successive generations of viewers.
The actor was 83 years old. Information about his family is limited to his son, who announced the news publicly.
What it means
For Polish viewers, „Doctor Who” is one of the longest-running science fiction series in the world, and K9 remains its recognisable symbol. The news of Leeson’s death will likely prompt reactions among fans in Poland as well.
