# Doctor Who actor who voiced K9, John Leeson, dies aged 83

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/john-leeson-voice-behind-doctor-whos-k9-dies-at-83/
- Published: 2026-11-02T09:13:42+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-02T10:32:38+00:00
- Original publisher: The Guardian (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2026/nov/02/john-leeson-doctor-who-k9-dies
- Topics: Culture

## Key points

- John Leeson, K9’s voice in Doctor Who, has died aged 83.
- K9 debuted in 1977 and became a lasting character.
- Leeson continued voicing the robot dog in audio dramas in 2025.

## Summary

John Leeson, the actor best known for voicing K9 in Doctor Who, has died aged 83 after a summer of illness. His death was announced by his son, who said it was peaceful; colleagues remembered Leeson as a kind, talented performer whose distinctive voice helped make the robotic dog a lasting part of the series.

Born John Ducker in 1943, Leeson trained at Rada and worked across stage and television, including Dad’s Army and Rainbow. K9 first appeared in 1977 and remained part of Doctor Who until 1981, with Leeson later reprising the role in anniversary specials and spin-offs. He was still voicing the character in Big Finish audio dramas in 2025.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.