Iconic ‘Doctor Who’ Star Passes Away

By Ian Cullen Apr 20, 2011, 0:32 GMT

In recent years the actress got to reprise the role of Sarah Jane for the new series of "Doctor Who" and acted alongside both David Tennant\'s 10th Doctor and Matt Smith’s 11th Doctor.

Elisabeth Sladen, who lit up the screens in the 1970s as Sarah Jane Smith in the classic "Doctor Who" series passed away earlier today from complications due to cancer. She was 63.

Sladen was much loved by fans of "Doctor Who," and was a fantastic ambassador for the series.

In recent years the actress got to reprise the role of Sarah Jane for the new series of "Doctor Who" and acted alongside both David Tennant's 10th Doctor and Matt Smith’s 11th Doctor.

She also got to head up her own series taking on the title role in the CBBC series ‘The Sarah Jane Adventures,’ which spun - off from "Doctor Who."

BBC entertainment reporter Lizo Mzimba said: “She was one of the most popular Doctor Who companions of all time, and one of the people who managed to do both old Doctor Who and Doctor Who when it came back.”

Reaction from Who fandom has been coming in.

In a statement, the BBC said: “It is with much sadness that we can announce Elisabeth Sladen, the much-loved actress best known for her role as Sarah Jane Smith in Doctor Who and CBBC’s The Sarah Jane Adventures, passed away this morning. She was 63.”

"Doctor Who" writer Paul Cornell said: “Very sorry to hear about Elisabeth Sladen, a great actor, special to everyone of my generation and a whole new one.”

The following tweet from Doctor Who Magazine was sent: “With great sadness, DWM must report the loss of our beloved Sarah Jane, actress Elisabeth Sladen. The best of best friends. Too, too sad.”

In a 2006 interview with the BBC before returning to Doctor Who, Sladen spoke of her love for the show, saying: “I think it has lovely layers and I’d defend the programme to anyone. I’m very emotionally part of that programme and I think a lot of the people who worked on it are. You used to love going to work every day.”

[Writer's Note] I got to meet with Elisabeth Sladen in 2006 shortly after her first appearance in the new series of Doctor Who. I found her to be a very warm and kind hearted person who genuinely cared about Doctor Who, and loved the opportunity to interact with fans.

I remember being in the audience when Sladen regaled us with stories about having worked with third Doctor Who, Jon Pertwee, and how she went on to work with Tom Baker. But I also remember her asking members of the audience for their thoughts about the new series.

To fans like me who grew up with "Doctor Who" throughout the 70s and 80s, Elisabeth Sladen was the ultimate in "Doctor Who" companions, and easily the most popular of the classic series.