15 Doctor Who Actors Who Died In 2021
From cameos to recurring players, let's remember some of the Doctor Who actors we lost in 2021.
There's a lot of positivity around Doctor Who right now. On top of exciting events and announcements that are arriving in the not-too-distant future (the Fourteenth Doctor, the BBC centenary special, the return of Russell T Davies), we're fresh off the crazy ride that was Doctor Who: Flux, and though the final episode didn't quite stick the landing, it was undoubtedly Chris Chibnall and Jodie Whittaker's best series to date.
But while it's important to celebrate all the good things that are happening around the show, it's also important to acknowledge the passing of some of the actors who made it what it is. After all, whether they had a small cameo or a major supporting role, Doctor Who simply wouldn't be the same without their contributions.
So, let's acknowledge them. We've lost so many Whoniverse actors in 2021, from both the classic and modern eras - actors who played lovable heroes, devious villains, wacky aliens, and ordinary citizens caught up in the sci-fi madness.
And while it's deeply saddening that they're gone, their Doctor Who characters will live forever thanks to the sheer size and passion of the Doctor Who fandom. As a certain Time Lord once said "Nothing is ever forgotten... not completely."
15. Mark Eden
Mark Eden didn't just play any old character in Doctor Who - he played one of the most famous historical figures of all time.
He portrayed the title character in the 1964 First Doctor serial Marco Polo, which, regrettably, is still missing from the BBC archives. Fingers crossed for an animated reconstruction one day, although, apparently, that isn't looking too likely.
Technically, Eden also has a second role in Doctor Who, albeit a wildly different one: he popped up in the 2013, Mark Gatiss-scripted docu-drama An Adventure In Space And Time, where he played BBC One Controller Donald Baverstock.
Baverstock was in charge of the BBC's television output when Doctor Who was created, making him a relatively unsung figure in the history of the show.
Away from Doctor Who, Eden is best known for playing the recurring character Alan Bradley on Coronation Street. He passed away on 1 January, at 92 years of age.