Culture news and discussion on TalkFuse.
Doctor Who actor who voiced K9, John Leeson, dies aged 83
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.
In short
- 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.
Explained simply
Doctor Who is a long-running British science-fiction television series about the Doctor, a time-travelling alien who explores the universe with different companions. K9 is a robotic dog who joined the series in 1977, helping the Doctor and companions with his knowledge and built-in gadgets.
John Leeson trained as an actor and worked in theatre and television as well as voicing K9. He performed the role through the character’s original run on the series and returned to it in later specials, spin-offs and audio dramas.
K9 became one of Doctor Who’s recognisable characters, and Leeson’s voice was central to how audiences knew him. The role connected his work with the series across several generations of viewers.
Read the full article at the source →
Originally published by The Guardian as “John Leeson, voice behind Doctor Who’s K9, dies at 83”.