Nicholas Courtney 1929 - 2011

Every so often, you hear a piece of news that you knew was coming but is still a huge shock when it actually happens. Nicholas Courtney was one of the icons of my childhood. I can remember being so envious of my father back in the 1970's when he told me he had met the man. A decade later I had the pleasure of meeting him myself and have seen him many times. Nicholas Courtney was a gentleman, and he will be sadly missed.

He will indeed be missed. Rest in peace, Nick.

This is very sad news. Courtney was a legend in history of Doctor Who, and great man into the bargain. He will be sorely missed.

A very sad day - after all, he appeared in more episodes than some Doctors and was such an important part of the series for so long.

A sad day indeed-- we have Nicholas to thank for giving a performance that, twenty or thirty years later would be remembered as synonymous with the show in the same way that the Daleks or K9 was.

Rest in peace.

A genuine icon of the series - a warm and witty human being. I'll treasure the memory of those times I've spent with him, and continue to count him as a highpoint amongst my Doctor Who experience.

R.I.P. Nick.

Very sad news. He was one of the greatest actors ever to be in DW and seeing him in SJA a few years back was just beautiful. A genuine WHO great who will be missed by all.

Gutted. Having had the privilege of knowing Nick for over 25 years, he was simpy a fantastic bloke. He'll be sorely missed by the whole Who community worldwide.

RIP Nick.

*fires five rounds rapid in tribute*

I believe this may have been Nick's final appearance at a convention. The short clip was taken at Fantom Films "Seventh Heaven" last July. Because of his failing health it had been kept a secret, and as such was a wonderful surprise for all concerned especially as it saw him reunited with Angela Bruce.

You can just feel the love as Nick is introduced.





I should also add that Nick had been Honorary President of the DWAS since 1997, something of which he was very proud.

BBC Obituary.

That's a good middle name - Stone! What a guy - I envy those who've had a drink with him!

Tom Baker pays tribute.

Ed Stradling's video obituary.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2011/feb/23/doctor-who-nicholas-courtney-brigadier

Mr. Courtney was great, as was the character he played. Rest in peace, sir.

Tom's tribute was nice indeed. It's moving looking through the RIP thread on the GB and seeing so many people share their memories of him. He's got fans who often seem to have next to nowt in common united in remembering him.

Zoltar wrote:He's got fans who often seem to have next to nowt in common united in remembering him.

Which only goes to highlight the sheer warmth and class of the gentleman in question. Something that even the Brig written at its most buffoonish, couldn't ever quite disguise.

Sid Seadevil wrote:Which only goes to highlight the sheer warmth and class of the gentleman in question. Something that even the Brig written at its most buffoonish, couldn't ever quite disguise.

Indeed. Just looking at some of the photos that people have posted, you can see he's a lovely man just by his expression. I regret never having had the chance to meet him.

Zoltar wrote: I regret never having had the chance to meet him.

As do I, Zoltar. We've truly been diminished by his passing.

Tom's tribute was very nice. Has there been any comment from Liz Sladen? After all, she was the most recent one to work with him on screen.

Zoltar wrote:Indeed. Just looking at some of the photos that people have posted, you can see he's a lovely man just by his expression. I regret never having had the chance to meet him.

A shame you never got that chance, old fellow. You wouldn't have been disappointed.

I only heard about Nicholas Courtney's passing at tea time today.. I only ever saw him as the Brigadier, and I was always happy when he featured in Doctor Who, definitely one of my favourite characters.. I never met him, but I understand from a few people who have that he was also a great guy.. RIP..

very sad news. i knew he'd been in bad health for a while so glad he's not suffering any more. a genuine icon of the series and a top bloke as well.

hopefully we will have a national eyepatch day in tribute.

Sadly missed.

Michael McManus has penned Nick's Obituary for The Independent. As may be expected, it's really good. In particular this paragraph caught my eye.

When the Doctor Who convention "circuit" took off in the 1980s, he took to the road with verve. Where others shrank away from the fans or regarded them as a necessary nuisance at best, he positively embraced them. He understood their need to belong and operated always on the principle that anyone who treated him with respect deserved respect in return. In so doing, he won much more than the fans' respect. He unequivocally earned their love. It was impossible not to love him, as thousands of people will testify.

I think that quote absolutely nails it.