“Doctor Who” Star, Bernard Cribbins Dies at 93

Hollywood veteran actor, Bernard Cribbins, has died at the age of 93, the sad news of the ‘Doctor Who’ star death was revealed earlier Thursday. He left the world months after his wife passed away.

The death of the British-star has devastated relatives, friends and fans.

Oldham-born Mr Cribbins, whose mother was a cotton weaver and father was a champion clog fighter, became one of the most versatile and popular entertainers of his generation, managing to be a favourite on children’s TV while also starring in the bawdy Carry On films.

He worked on CBeebies until recently and was due to appear in the new series of Doctor Who next year after filming for a 60th anniversary show with former Time Lord David Tennant, who was seen pushing him in a wheelchair through north London with Catherine Tate on May 16.

Returning Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies led the tributes today and declared “a legend has left the world” in an Instagram post where he said his friend was as comfortable doing comedy as he was doing sci fi and Shakespeare.

A statement from Gavin Barker Associates said: “Beloved actor Bernard Cribbins OBE has passed away at the age of 93.

“His career spanned seven decades with such diverse work ranging from films like The Railway Children and the Carry On series, hit 60s song Right Said Fred, a notorious guest on Fawlty Towers and narrating The Wombles.

“He worked well into his 90s, recently appearing in Doctor Who and the CBeebies series Old Jack’s Boat. He lost his wife of 66 years, Gill, last year. Bernard’s contribution to British entertainment is without question. He was unique, typifying the best of his generation, and will be greatly missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing and working with him.”

Mr Cribbins, a friend of The Beatles and numerous megastars including David Niven and Peter Sellers, recently put his long life and career down good luck and genes. He was still playing five-a-side football well into his late 80s. And when he turned 90 he said: “It’s just a number” and insisted he would never retire. He joined the Old Rep in Birmingham aged just 14 and enjoyed a 79-year career in showbusiness aside from a spell in the Parachute Regiment after the Second World War.

But last October he was devastated when his wife Gillian, who he married in 1955, died. They walked down the aisle a year before his acting debut in a TV adaptation of David Copperfield. They lived in Surrey and had no children, having suffered the heartbreak of a series of miscarriages.

Bernard said his work on children’s TV and films, especially The Railway Children and Jackanory, gave him a very warm feeling to think of all those who watched it as a child, and helped him cope with the sadness of not being able to have their own. He said of The Railway Children: “If you don’t shed a tear when she shouts, ‘Daddy, my daddy’ you’re made of wood. I always well up when I watch it”.

In later life, he beat prostate cancer and survived triple heart bypass surgery in 1997. He also suffered a spinal injury that left him unable to walk long distances. This is why his much-loved CBeebies series Old Jack’s Boat was filmed with him sat down telling stories of the sea that enthralled young viewers.