Doctor Who's K-9 Voice Actor John Leeson Dies At 83

Published Nov 1, 2026, 4:33 PM EST Jennifer is a TV and Movie News Editor at ScreenRant. She started her journey in entertainment media in 2022 when she first joined Valnet at CBR before coming to ScreenRant. Jennifer loves TV, especially science fiction. She also loves late-night talk shows, due to her insomnia. Alien: Earth is definitely one of her favorite shows, and she jumps on any chance she gets to write about it. Even on her days off, she will claim an Alien Earth article if one is available. Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon are two of her favorite late-night hosts, and Conan O'Brien before he left his show. Her Alien: Earth coverage for ScreenRant is by far the work that she is most proud of so far. She was initially a finance and political editor, but her passion for pop culture convinced her to transition into entertainment journalism. During her off time, she loves to binge-watch cooking shows such as Kitchen Nightmares. Jennifer also loves spending time with her daughter and cherishes every moment of it. Sign in to your ScreenRant account This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.John Leeson, the actor behind one of the most iconic Doctor Who characters, has sadly passed away. Leeson, whose birth name was John Ducker, was best known for providing the voice of K-9, the beloved robotic dog from Doctor Who. The star has unfortunately died at the age of 83. The actor's family confirmed his death on Facebook on Sunday, November 1, 2026, after being ill for quite some time. Leeson's passing was announced by his son, Guy Ducker. According to the social media post, the actor died after experiencing health problems throughout the summer. His son shared the news alongside a heartfelt goodbye that included a reference to William Shakespeare's Hamlet. Leeson first joined Doctor Who in 1977 as a voice actor portraying K-9 in the Fourth Doctor's four-part episode titled "The Invisible Enemy." The plot featured Tom Baker as the Doctor and Louise Jameson as his partner Leela. K-9 was a robotic dog that belonged to Professor Marius, a scientist who was played by Frederick Jaeger. Although K-9 was originally meant to only be a part of one storyline, he was so popular among viewers that he became a recurring character in the series. His intelligence, impact, distinctive voice, and ability to assist the Doctor made him a memorable addition to the TARDIS team. Leeson's performance was praised by audiences and gave the robotic animal a unique personality. He continued voicing K-9 throughout several episodes during Baker's run as the Doctor. However, David Brierley temporarily took on the role during the popular science fiction series' seventeenth season. Leeson returned to the character several times since then, including the 1983 anniversary special The Five Doctors. He even continued portraying the character during the modern era when K-9 appeared alongside David Tennant's Tenth Doctor in the 2006 episode School Reunion. More to come...