93-year-old British actor Bernard Cribbins, a beloved figure in British cinema, has died. Of his numerous famous performances, his most well-known are those in the films The Railway Children and Doctor Who. Deadline received the following statement from the agency of Bernard Cribbins: “Loved actor Bernard Cribbins OBE has died at the age of 93. Seven decades of eclectic employment, from films like The Railway Children and the Carry On series through Right Said Fred and Fawlty Towers, and narrating The Wombles.” “Bernard’s influence to British entertainment is unquestionable,” the statement concluded.
In his generation, he was one of the finest examples of his kind, & will be deeply missed by everyone who had the opportunity to know and work with him.” Born in 1928, Cribbins was raised in Lancashire. He has been in a number of important films, including Alfred Hitchcock’s Frenzy from the early 1970s. In addition, he is arguably best remembered for his part as Wilfred Mott, the grandfather of Donna Noble, one of the Doctor’s numerous companions and one of the show’s most popular characters throughout its rebooted run.
Dr. Who co-creator Russell T. Davies presided over the ceremony honouring Cribbins’ legacy as a leading British actor.
For his friend, Davies wrote a simple and heartfelt homage to him on Instagram “I’m in love with this guy. He’s the best.” According to Cribbins, “that’s him as Snout in A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” referring to a shot of Cribbins peeking out from behind a cut-out brick wall. “He seemed to know everyone! He’d ramble on and on about the Beatles and David Niven, among other topics of conversation.”
Davis recounted his fondness for Cribbins’ portrayal of the Time Lord in the renowned Doctor Who series “[h]e had a great time on the show. Children are referring to him as ‘grandad’ on the street, he said.”
When speaking about Davies, he recalled many heartwarming stories about the actor, complimenting both his ingenuity and kindness—a quality that was evident in his work, particularly in the role of Wilfred Mott, a character that sticks out in a sea of Doctor Who’s supporting cast. His acting career lasted seven decades and included several notable parts in cinema, television, and the theatre. Gill Cribbins, Cribbins’ wife, died a year ago, predeceasing him. A heartfelt homage to Cribbins by Russell T. Davies may be seen in the video below. At this difficult moment, our thoughts & prayers are with his loved ones.