David Graham, the renowned actor famous for lending his voice to iconic TV characters in shows like “Peppa Pig”, “Thunderbirds”, and “Doctor Who”, has died at the age of 99. Graham’s versatile career spanned several decades, endearing him to multiple generations of audiences.
He was best known for his role as the voice of Grandpa Pig in “Peppa Pig”, a character familiar to today’s children, and for voicing the evil Daleks in “Doctor Who”, which terrified children between the 1960s and 70s.
In “Doctor Who”, Graham’s portrayal of the Daleks became one of his most recognizable roles. He worked alongside voice actor Peter Hawkins to create the Daleks’ signature staccato speech, which was then processed through a synthesizer to create their famously chilling tone.
Graham also left a lasting impression with his role as Aloysius Parker, the butler and chauffeur in the 1960s classic “Thunderbirds”. In addition to Parker, he voiced other characters like Gordon Tracy and Brains, the series’ engineer. Graham reprised his role as Parker in the 2015 ITV reboot, “Thunderbirds Are Go!”, making him the only original cast member to return for the remake.
In a 2015 interview with “The Mirror”, Graham revealed that his inspiration for Parker’s voice came from a former butler to the Prince of Wales, whom “Thunderbirds” creator Gerry Anderson introduced him to during the 1960s.
Tributes have poured in for Graham from fans and colleagues alike. Jamie Anderson, son of Gerry Anderson, praised Graham for his kindness and talent, recalling a recent gathering where 2,000 “Thunderbirds” fans celebrated the actor’s birthday.
Gerry Anderson’s official account on X also paid tribute, saying: “David was always a wonderful friend to us here at Anderson Entertainment. We will miss you dearly.”
Born in London, Graham always knew he wanted to be an actor. After serving as a radar mechanic in World War II, he pursued acting in New York before returning to England. His illustrious career included roles in repertory theatre, appearances in “Coronation Street”, “The Bill”, and “Casualty”, and voicing characters like the Wise Old Elf in “Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom”.
David Graham’s extensive body of work and his unforgettable contributions to television will continue to live on in the hearts of fans across generations.
