David Graham’s Voices in ‘Peppa Pig’ and ‘Doctor Who’: Remembering the Legendary British Actor Who Passed Away at 99

Renowned voice actor David Graham passed away at the age of 99 on Friday, September 20, 2024. He was widely recognized for his role as Grandpa Pig on Peppa Pig, from 2004 to 2021, and as the villainous Daleks in Doctor Who. His illustrious voice acting career also included the character Aloysius Parker in the classic 1960s series Thunderbirds and its sequel films, spanning multiple decades and genres.

The news of David Graham’s passing was confirmed by Gerry Anderson of Anderson Entertainment, the creators of Thunderbirds. He expressed his sorrow on social media, paying tribute to Graham and noting that he was “always a wonderful friend”to everyone at Anderson Entertainment. Gerry added that they would miss Graham “dearly,”reminiscing about the many iconic roles he portrayed.

Born into an Orthodox Jewish family in London in 1925, David Graham later moved to New York after his sister’s marriage. He then enrolled at the Neighbourhood Playhouse School of the Theatre, marking the beginning of his extensive career in theatre.

David Graham’s Passion for Voicing Grandpa Pig and Doctor Who’s Daleks

David Graham gained popularity by voicing numerous characters across various films and TV shows. His first voiceover role was as Grandpa Twink in Four Feather Falls, followed by his work as Dr. Beaker Zarin in Supercar.

As his fame grew, he was offered more significant opportunities, including voicing the notorious Daleks in Doctor Who and lending his voice to the Mechanoids. In Thunderbirds, he portrayed multiple characters over the years, including Gordon Tracy, Aloysius Parker, and Kyrano.

Earning admiration from both older fans and children alike, David was particularly celebrated for voicing Grandpa Pig in Peppa Pig. He portrayed the husband of Grandma Pig and the father of Mummy Pig and Aunt Dottie, while Peppa’s younger brother, George, affectionately referred to him as “Papa Ig.”

David was extremely passionate about his role in Peppa Pig and often articulated this in interviews. In a 2015 interview with Mirror Magazine, he stated that he took this role as seriously as “working at the National Theatre.”

“Just because it’s a cartoon or puppet doesn’t mean you don’t take it seriously. I take it as seriously as working at the National Theatre,” he shared.

Beyond his voiceover work, Graham was a talented actor who appeared in several films, including Crossroads to Crime, K.I.L. 1, Freelance, King David, Stowaways on the Ark, Back in Ten, and The End. His television credits included shows such as The Avengers, The Saint, Stingray, Supercar, and When the Boat Comes In.

In light of his passing, David Graham’s family has not yet released a statement or disclosed the cause of death. Fans are eagerly awaiting updates regarding Graham’s funeral and memorial services.

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