Doctor Who Actress Succumbs to Cancer

LONDON: Elisabeth Sladen, known for her role as Sarah Jane Smith on the BBC’s Doctor Who and CBBC’s The Sarah Jane Adventures, has passed away at the age of 63.

Sladen first appeared on Doctor Who in 1973 and remained on the show for three and a half seasons. She made several guest appearances over the years, including alongside David Tennant. In 2007 she was given her own spin-off show, The Sarah Jane Adventures, by CBBC. One of CBBC’s most popular shows, the series was named best children’s drama by the Royal Television Society (RTS) Awards this year.

"I’m deeply saddened and shocked by the news of Lis’ untimely death," said Damian Kavanagh, controller of CBBC. "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."

Russell T Davies, creator of The Sarah Jane Adventures, noted, "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, who worked with Sladen as 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.

Matt Smith, the latest Doctor, 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."

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 honored 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."

Sladen leaves behind a husband, actor Brian Miller, and her daughter, Sadie.