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Nicholas Courtney 1929-2011
Today one of my childhood heroes has died.
As a boy growing up in the 70’s in the UK Doctor Who was always one of my favourite shows – my first Doctor was Jon Pertwee and with him came a supporting cast that remains one of the best ever. His tenure stuck on Earth was improved and enhanced by the presence of U.N.I.T and at the very heart of that grouping was Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart. A man to whom no alien incursion was a problem – he was a calm, pragmatic, military man with military solutions and in many ways he was the perfect foil to the Doctor. Watson to his Holmes, Jim Gordon to his Batman.
The Brigadier, along with Benton and Yates made the transition from Pertwee to Tom Baker something that my seven year old mind could handle and I always yearned for a return to UNIT as Tom Baker continues his travels through time and space, but it never really happened.
Nicholas Courtney appeared with Hartnell, Troughton, Pertwee, Tom Baker, Peter Davison and Sylvester McCoy in the series proper and was always a joy to watch. His portrayal of Lethbridge-Stewart showed depth, integrity and an amazingly fine tuned comedic timing.
He was someone who had fallen into the grinding machine that was ITC in the 60’s appearing in The Champions, Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased), The Avengers and The Saint and would possibly have remained as one of those character actors that you continued to see throughout the seventies and eighties – always dependable but never quite a star. However he was cast in a Hartnell story ‘Dalek Master Plan’ and so impressed that he was cast with Troughton in Web of Fear as Colonel Leth-Bridge Stewart and from there he became as important a part of Doctor Who as anyone or anything else. My only real gripe with the new series is that they never got him to appear, though he did appear in the Sarah Jane Adventures and was name checked on a number of occasions in New Era Who. And in many ways it’s good that he is the quintessential old soldier and that the dream of many ‘new fans’ of seeing the Brigadier die on screen never happened.
Old soldiers never die after all.
It might be true that he made a career out of Doctor Who, appearing in fan made productions, Big Finish audios etc and never quite managed to recapture that magic that made him such a household name but when someone plays the part so well then it is never anything less than a joy to see or hear them doing it again and it was nice to hear or see him appear with every actor who played the Doctor apart from Christopher Eccleston and Matt Smith.
An actor of great warmth and generosity (he was the only Doctor Who cast member to attend the funeral of Anthony Ainley) and someone that I will miss.
It is not everyone that can sell lines such as the famous “Chap with wings, five rounds rapid” while wearing a false moustache and facing a BBC stuntman in a grey leotard with false wings and a gargoyle mask but the late Nicholas Courtney could.
Cushing1967
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That photo brings back very happy memories. I'm sorry to hear the Brigadier's gone, but he'll never be forgotten. Rest in peace, Mr. Courtney.
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Good memories, RIP sir..
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Probably doing his double act with his chum Michael Sheard somewhere in the ether.
RIP Sir, see you earlier. -
..The Reapers really looking to hurt us today..
Damn. He was one classy gent. Love that line he had in The Five Doctor's- "...splendid chaps, all of them!.."
Indeed.
I didn't even know he was in a episode of the SJA. I'm gonna have to go seek it now now..
RIP Mr Courtney. You shall be missed..
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Met him a few times, always the consummate gentleman.
He’s going to be sorely missed.
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I appreciate that Nicholas Courtney and the character of the Brigadier may not be too well known in the US, but here in the UK and especially for those of us old enough to watch classic Who, he was ingrained as part of our growing up.
The comparison to Jim Gordon is a very apt one. The Brigadier had the Doctor's grudging respect and wasn't afraid to stand up to him or tell him he was wrong. He will be remembered fondly and will live on thanks to new Who introducing new fans to classic stories and that's thanks mostly to Nicholas Courtney's portrayal.
My thoughts are with his friends and family. -
You will be missed.
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I was gutted to hear this yesterday as I'd always hoped to see the Brigadier side by side with Smith's Doctor... I guess that's a pairing we'll just have to have in our imaginations, now. My thoughts go out to his family and to his legions of fans who are saddened by his loss today. My evening will be spent on NETFLIX watching some old episodes... what's everyone's favourite episodes with The Brigadier in them? And why? I'llhave to mull that one over for a few hours before I decide. THANKS for posting this AICN.
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Had been hoping that he'd get an appearance in the new series, but I figured time was short after seeing how he looked in SJA.
Met him at a con many, many years ago. Wonderful guy, very friendly, very generous with his time.
So long, Mr. Courtney. -
I didn't expect a tribute on this site to the great Nicholas Courtney and it's wonderful to see it here. As a big fan of both old and new WHO, it's a sad day indeed because Lethbridge-Stewart is as much a part of the show as the Sonic Screwdriver, the infamous blue box, Gallifrey and regenerations.
He brought a touch of warmth and humanity to the character, and enhanced every scene he appeared in.
And he will be sorely missed.
RIP Brigadier. -
I had the pleasure of meeting him back in 2003, a real gent. Farewell Brigadier.
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I'm dreading tomorrow. Please don't take any more geek icons, God.
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Feb 23, 2011 2:42:18 PM CST
Old soldiers never die, just keep battling rubber monsters forever...
by burnhollywood
...On BBC repeats, DVDs, etc.
RIP Brig. -
thinking about how cool it would be if he was in the new series yesterday.
Sad news. -
I echo the sentiments above. Thank you AIC for marking the death of Nicholas Courtney. The Brigadier was by far my favourite character in Dr Who, representing stoical 'Britishness' in the face of absurdity. He was a true part of my childhood and I would have loved to have seen him return to Dr Who in some way, bar passing references in the script.
To see Courtney have true fun with his character I suggest watching 'Inferno', where he gets to play a 'bad' Brigadier in an alternative universe.
RIP. -
Two questions for you Dr Who fans:
What was the name of the good looking blonde girl companian? I think it was Romana or something like that.
What Dr. was she a companian of?
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god what a hero. I bloody love that guy and have done so for a very long time.
love sea devils and daemons. "Chap with wings..." is indeed seminal.
love all his little bits of business on pertwee eps, always putting his back into it even when in very, very background.
love his face.
loved battlefield. always sad he never cropped up in new who.
bloody brilliant chap. love him to bits.
and why? coz he's the Brig. -
First off, I called AICN out earlier today for not mentioning Nicholas Courtney's death. So I'm apologizing here.
Very, very sad day. I've been a Who fan for 30 years, and I always thought the Brigadier was one of the best characters in the show's history. And that's because of Nicholas Courtney's performance, which was never flashy, or campy. It was exactly what it needed to be.
From everything I've read about Courtney, he was a great man who genuinely loved the show and the effect it had on his career.
RIP, sir.
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"...and when I arrived at the Pearly Gates, there they all were, wearing eye-patches!"
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He WAS in some of the SARAH JANE ADVENTURES, which is a bit more kiddy than DR. WHO, but still pretty entertaining for family fair.
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The 7th Doctor story "Battlefield" focuses on Nicholas Courtney as Lethbridge-Stewart more than any other Dr. Who TV story. Although this wasn't his last appearance, it is written to bring closure to his character in semi-retirement.
See it at that tiny url /4nb6odj -
Surprised to see this on the site. Glad it is.
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Funny, I was just thinking about him the other day, fondly remembering him in Who eps I'd seen as a kid and wondering if he'd show up on New Who.
Such a shame. RIP to a talented actor and, by all accounts, a kind man. Condolences to his family too. -
I am greatly saddened to hear of this. I'd hoped he would make an appearance in the new series, especially after getting a tangential mention in the Sontaran episode. Watching the Pertwee episodes again, I was struck by his comedic timing and how much he made you like the character even when you didn't agree with what the Brig was doing. And seeing him play off of Jon Pertwee was always fun as well. RIP Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge Stewart.
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But thanks for the write-up. A big part of my childhood, right there.
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Romana was played by two actresses, both pretty hot: Mary Tamm and Lalla Ward. Both acted along side Tom Baker. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romana
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Feb 23, 2011 4:15:52 PM CST
Wow, Dwyane McDuffie passes yesterday and now Nicholas Courtney.
by elgato73
Not a good week for geekdom. Courtney was name checked so many times in nu Who that I really, really thought David or Matt would get to share screentime with him. Very sad.
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I really appreciate you running this - when I submitted it I wasn't sure that Nicholas Courtney would be important enough to warrant an obit on here.
I mean, yes, he was important to everyone who loved Doctor Who but he wasn't a hugely prolific star.
It's odd, you get to be almost 44 and think that you are immune to actors deaths. After all you didn't know them and what relationship you had was with their characters etc.
However I haven't been so genuinely sad about the death of an actor or celebrity since Eric Morecambe passed away nearly 30 years ago.
I still have, somewhere in my attic my action man with a moustache painted on (so I could play UNIT games), I still have my badly written and badly drawn "Men of U.N.I.T" home made comic somewhere. (In the 70's a Men of UNIT spin off was talked about)
I was sad when both Jon Pertwee and Patrick Troughton died - but losing the Brigadier has been a real emotional blow, for me moreso than the Doctors. Maybe because he was such a constant.
And now I think - no more Big Finishes, no chance of an appearence with Matt Smith, no more Scarifyers (I urge people to track these audio productions down - Nicholas Courtney and Terry Molloy in period occult adventures with just a hint of Palin's Ripping Yarns about them).
Someone who has been entertaining me for most of my life has gone and thank you for allowing me to honour that passing in some small way. -
But I have to say,
These AICN obits have become cliche.
Every one of them starts with "_______ had a profound impact on my life growing up."
They can't ALL have.
It's the same with the Behind the Scenes posts. I love them, but they didn't all touch you in the happy memory place.
Just say this is a cool pic. Boom.
or, in this case:
This guy was a great actor. Tough loss. Boom done. No hyperbole, no phoney-sounding melodrama.
Non'that. -
I have to agree with you: the loss of the Brigadier is much harder than previous Doctors. It is probably absurd but to me it is because the Doctor is a character that can never really die, so even though actors pass the character will still exist whereas Courtney was the one and only Brigadier. Sad Day.
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Feb 23, 2011 4:46:16 PM CST
A great actor. One of the best characters ever. Check out the Scarifiers for more of his brilliance
by ecto-1
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Whilst what you said may have some merit, it's unfortunate that you would write that straight after the author of the orbit posted about how much this actor and his character had genuinely touched him...
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I watched a whole bunch of third and fourth doctor stuff over the holidays would definitely have been in favour of the bridgadier coming back on the new show
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He will be missed.
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So many happy memories, thanks Mr Courtney.
Should've been in the new series. -
I've no idea how old you are or whether you watched Dr Who in the Seventies, but sometimes the death of an actor genuinely touches people. Nicholas Courtney is one of those. Dr Who was such a staple of children's entertainment then, as it has become again.
I don't know about anyone else, but having The Brigadier along on any of the Dr's adventures was like having your dad along with you. His presence was a reassuring hand on the shoulder, and his matter of fact, down to Earth approach to things made everything that much more convincing.
There's a great little tribute from Dr Who Online on YouTube:
http://tinyurl.com/6xayogb
Thanks Cushing1967 -
I too grew up with the Brigadier. He was always a joy to watch. It is a shame they never got him on the new Who, other than mentioning him...
Today is a sad day... -
You lived a long life. Many thanks for the countless hours of pleasure you've given so many fans with your acting. :)
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Nicholas Courtney, The Brig, will indeed be forever missed, and forever remembered, by classic Doctor Who fans everywhere. Including this one right here.
A very sad day indeed.
Oh, and read his memoirs (and/or get the audio versions from Big Finish), they're fantastic. Just as he was, is, and ever shall be.
Rest in peace sir, you've more than earnt it.
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The man should have a full, state funeral. He deserved a knighthood (far more deserving than most of the rich businessmen who get them).
the_skook, I had just started watching Inferno last night (although I have seen it before). Then today we get this terrible news.
As the Brig might have said "he had a good innings". He can certainly be proud of his contribution to a much-loved British institution
Set all flags to half-mast. He shall live on in our hearts. -
None of that American white trash "RIP" screeching.
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He once said something along the lines of: "Actors don't have time for syncophantic succubi" to my mother when she asked for an autograph. Then again, he could have just been having a bad day.
See ya, Nicholas Courtney! To quote George Harrison, you were a man with a very "stiff upper head." -
Tom Baker was my 'first' Doctor, but it was Pertwee that got me interested in the show. This is truly sad to hear..
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Rest easy Brigadier
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Rest in Peace, Sir! I'm one of the many fans who hoped the Brigadier would show up on the new Who. Battleground was one of my personal favorite eps for him.
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But rest in peace, good man.
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R.I.P
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My first Doctor was Pertwee, and so I initially assumed that all Doctor Who was based on Earth and involved the Brigadier. As the show moved on and that didn't happen, I also always felt a little sadness of the loss of the character of the Brigadier. He was as much a part of Doctor Who to me as any companion and was probably the Doctor's most intriguing counterbalance personality on the series as a whole.
You were missed when the show changed, sir, and you will certain be missed now. -
Feb 24, 2011 1:08:05 AM CST
He was on the Sarah Jane Adventures as Lethbridge-Stewart
by kravmaguffin
A couple of years ago.
RIP Sir. -
Thatis the excuse they used when the Brigadier was not able to make the show (or Nicholas Courtney was unavailable) He apeared with most of the Doctors and was a star whenever he appeared. also unlike most companions as the people who travel with the Doctor we got to see him thouth the lice of Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart.
He first appeared as Col. Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart in The Web of Fear, Promoted to Brigadier in charge of a new Army section UNIIT in The Invasion, We saw some of his UNIT career with the Third Doctor (the late Jon Pertwee) and learned he was dating a woman called Doris. He retired from UNIT in The Five Doctors where the second Doctor(Patrick Troughton) 'bends the laws of time' to attend after seeing the report of the retirement in the Times, Tomorrows Times. He goes on to teach in a school in Mawdryn Undead but return to UNIT service in Battlefield where we finally meet his wife Doris. and he played his final turn as Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart in The Sarah Jane Adventures. In the two-part story, Enemy of the Bane. Though at some point he was Knighted and frefered though not seen as Sir alistair. A great actor and a sad Day for fans of Doctor Who. -
Feb 24, 2011 3:37:54 AM CST
On behalf of all of the Doc-Backers, Thank you, sir....RIP.
by sam jacksons wig
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Where are all our 'Doc Backers'? I know Frozen_01 posted a tribute on her facebook... where;s our 'fearless leader'?
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And had him on new Who even just once, they only had 5 years in which to do it.
He will be missed by us fans of Classic Who. -
Nicholas Courtney was awesome. Sad news.
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Wonderful, charming man - I met Mr. Courtney once, and he was always very appreciative of his fans. Thanks AICN, for putting this on the main page.
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They should really have a tribute episode to The Brigiader, he totally deserves an episode by having the doctor go to the future to visit him. but turns out that the brigidaier has passed away in that point in time, in fact his funeral is the next day. Some monster alien shows up from time to time and the doctor saves the day by following clues that the brigader has left before his passing hoping that the doctor show ups. :D the doctor in the end talks amy & rory about how great of a companion the brigidear has been to him..
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Met him a couple of times. Very charming fellow. Very patient. Love his Pertwee ep's and also Mawdryn Undead. He does really good work in that one.
For a fav ep, I'd go with Inferno or Silurians.
RIP. -
I really like your story suggestion. Maybe you should write the BBC folk with that idea?
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I actually tried but I couldn't have over a thousand words, so I think I need a different email adress. I went tobbcamerica and tried "contact us". Do you know of any other emails for the bbc?
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His character , when on screen, kept Dr. Who form getting too silly. Tom Baker was my first Dr. , but seeing the early episodes with the others later on made me realize what talented actors they had. Wish he could have been in the new Who.
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I've been a fan of Nicholas Courtney's ever since Doctor Who arrived on America's shores back in '78. Along w/Tom Baker, & Lis Sladen, Nick helped to introduce me to the world of Who via his wonderful performance in the role of the Brig. He has been that one constant - besides the Tardis - that's always been there throughout the series, so this is truly a sad day for Whovians everywhere. I echo the chorus who wished for his appearance alongside the Doctor once again in the new series...sad that they could never make it happen. I Look forward to seeing the SJAs he appeared in if & when they ever air them over here. RIP Mr. Courtney, & thanks for all the years of entertainment!
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I agree with the sentiment above that Courtney played the Brigadier so well that even when you didn't agree with him (ie even when he did pretty terrible and boneheaded things to aliens) you couldn't help but like him.
The Brigadier is one of my all-time favorite recurring characters from TV. Courtney really breathed life into what could have easily been a stock character. Put the role in the hands of a lesser actor who couldn't throw proper curveballs and the Brigadier character would likely either be total camp or completely forgettable.
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