Famed British voice actor David Graham, a star of 'Peppa Pig,' 'Dr. Who,' and 'Thunderbirds,' dead at 99

By 
 September 27, 2024

A famous British voice actor who entertained multiple generations of children over the decades has sadly passed away.

David Graham, who most recently voiced Grandpa Pig in the "Peppa Pig" animated series, died last week at the age of 99, according to People magazine.

Graham had gained fame decades earlier for voicing multiple puppet characters in the "Thunderbirds" TV series as well as the evil Daleks in the "Dr. Who" TV series.

An actor and WWII radar mechanic

According to The Independent, Graham was born in 1925 in London, England, and knew as a child growing up that he wanted to be an actor and entertainer.

Those plans were disrupted, however, by the outbreak of World War II, during which he served in the British Royal Air Force as a radar mechanic.

Following the end of the war, Graham moved to the United States and studied acting in New York City, after which he returned to the United Kingdom and began to pursue his lifelong passion as a stage actor.

Successful and lengthy acting career

It was with the advent of TV that David Graham found his niche in the entertainment industry, with his first credited appearance coming in 1952 for the TV movie "Portrait of Peter Perowne," according to Graham's IMDb page.

He went on to appear in several other TV shows and films throughout the 1950s but his work as a voice actor that truly gained him fame began in 1960 with dozens of episodes voicing multiple characters for the TV series "Four Feather Falls," which led to more voiceover work for animated and puppet series on TV, even as he continued to play live roles in various other shows and films.

It was in 1965 that Graham first started voicing the villainous Daleks on "Dr. Who," but it was his voice work for multiple characters on "Thunderbirds," especially butler and chauffeur Aloysius Parker, that he became best known for.

Overall, Graham had 137 actor credits to his name -- including live roles in films and on TV as well as voice work for movies, TV shows, and video games -- between 1952 and his eventual retirement in 2023 after he'd become "housebound" by a stroke a year earlier, per The Independent.

Beloved by the "Thunderbirds" creator and family

The official X account of Gerry Anderson, the late creator of the "Thunderbirds" series and subsequent films and reboots, remembered Graham fondly and said, "We’re incredibly sad to confirm the passing of the legendary David Graham. The voice Parker, Gordon Tracy, Brains and so many more."

"David was always a wonderful friend to us here at Anderson Entertainment. We will miss you dearly, David. Our thoughts are with David’s friends and family," the post added.

Condolences were also expressed in an X post by Jaime Anderson, the son and successor of his father Gerry, who wrote of Graham, "Farewell dear David! What heartbreaking news that the legendary David Graham has left us aged 99."

"The last Tracy brother, voice of Parker and so much more. A great actor, iconic voice, and all round lovely man. We’ll all miss him very much," he added.

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