John Leeson, Voice of Doctor Who’s K9, Dies at 83

Leeson’s son, Guy Ducker, announced that his father had died peacefully at 3:03 p.m. on November 1, following months of illness. Leeson was 83. Born John Ducker in Leicester in 1943, he trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and adopted Leeson as his stage name.

He first voiced the Doctor’s robotic dog K9 in 1977, during Tom Baker’s time as the Doctor. Leeson reprised the role in later Doctor Who appearances, including the 2006 revival with David Tennant, as well as spin-offs and audio dramas. K9’s appearances included the series The Sarah Jane Adventures and the 1981 television special K-9 and Company.

Doctor Who writer and former showrunner Russell T Davies praised Leeson’s performance and his long commitment to the character, describing him as “a true gent.” Tennant said Leeson gave K9 a personality that special effects could not provide. Leeson also voiced Bungle on the children’s show Rainbow and appeared in Dad’s Army, Blake’s 7 and The Bill. Earlier in 2026, he reunited with Baker for an audio drama, playing Dr. Watson opposite Baker’s Sherlock Holmes.