John Leeson (the voice of K9) has died

John Leeson, the renowned actor known for his iconic voice as K-9 in Doctor Who, has passed away at the age of 83. Leeson portrayed the character in 54 episodes of the long-running sci-fi series, bringing to life the lovable robot dog with a cry of "Affirmative" that became synonymous with Doctor Who itself.

Born John Ducker in 1943, Leeson honed his acting skills at the Leicester Dramatic Society and later at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, where he adopted his stage name. He began his career in repertory and pantomime, including a memorable performance in Toad of Toad Hall. His first television role came in 1965, followed by appearances in The Spanish Farm and Dad's Army.

Leeson's breakthrough came in 1977 when he was cast to voice K-9, initially intended as a temporary character. His performance was so compelling that the character became a permanent fixture on the show. He also lent his voice to K-9 in spin-offs like K-9 and Company and The Sarah Jane Adventures. Throughout his career, Leeson made numerous other memorable TV appearances, including in Blake's 7, Jigsaw, Crown Court, and The Barretts of Wimpole Street.

John Leeson died peacefully after a brief illness, leaving behind his wife Judy Griffiths and their son, filmmaker Guy Ducker.