‘Doctor Who’ Star Bernard Cribbins Dies Aged 93

Doctor Who actor Bernard Cribbins has passed away aged 93, his agent confirmed this morning.

To many, Cribbins is best known for appearing in the BBC’s Doctor Who. Cribbins portrayed companion Tom Campbell in the 1966 film Daleks’ Invasion Earth 2150 A.D. before returning to the franchise 41 years later as Wilfred Mott, the grandfather of Donna (played by Catherine Tate).

Cribbins will also be remembered for starring as Albert Perks in the 1970 film The Railway Children, and for his narration on the 1970s children’s series The Wombles.

Doctor Who showrunner Russel T Davies was one of the first to pay tribute to the legendary actor. Davies wrote, “I love this man. I love him. That’s him as Snout in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. D’you fancy doing some Shakespeare, Bernard? ‘Let me see the script.’ He knew everyone! He’d talk about the Beatles and David Niven, and how he once sat on the stairs at a party impersonating bird calls with T H White. Then he’d add, ‘I said to Ashley Banjo last week…’ He loved being in Doctor Who.”

He continued, “He said, ‘Children are calling me grandad in the street!’ His first day was on location with Kylie Minogue but all eyes, even Kylie’s, were on Bernard. He’d turned up with a suitcase full of props, just in case, including a rubber chicken. And what an actor. Oh, really though, what a wonderful actor. We once took him to the TV Choice Awards and sent him up on his own to collect the award, and the entire room stood up and cheered him. That’s a lovely memory. He’d phone up and say, ‘I’ve got an idea! What if I attack a Dalek with a paintball gun?!’ Okay, Bernard, in it went! He loved Gill with all his heart; he mentioned her in every conversation we ever had. A love story for the ages. I’m so lucky to have known him. Thanks for everything, my old soldier. A legend has left the world.”

Cribbins lost his wife Gill of 66 years just last year. Cribbins’ agent said, “Bernard’s contribution to British entertainment is without question. He was unique, typifying the best of his generation, and will be greatly missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing and working with him.”

GAMINGbible extends its condolences to Cribbins' family, friends, and colleagues.

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