R.I.P. David Graham (Daleks voice actor)

    Doctor Who and Peppa Pig actor David Graham dies age 99
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    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.
    '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.'
    '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.
    Graham was also a member of Lawrence Olivier's company at the
    National Theatre.
    His long and esteemed career also included providing the voice
    for Wise Old Elf and Mr Gnome for Ben & Holly's Little Kingdom,
    which aired in the UK on Channel 5.
    He also had brief appearances in Coronation Street, The Bill,
    Doctors and Casualty.
    <https://metro.co.uk/2024/09/20/doctor-peppa-pig-actor-david-graham-dies-age-99-21644985/>