David Graham, the actor known for voicing characters in iconic TV shows such as Peppa Pig, Thunderbirds, and Doctor Who, has passed away at the age of 99.
Graham’s chilling portrayal of the Daleks in Doctor Who left a lasting impression on generations of children from the 1960s through the late ’70s.
He is also remembered for voicing Aloysius Parker, the butler and chauffeur in the 1960s series Thunderbirds and its subsequent film adaptations.
However, for younger audiences today, Graham is most recognizable as the voice of Grandpa Pig in the popular children’s show Peppa Pig.
In the series, Grandpa Pig, married to Granny Pig, is the father of Mummy Pig and Aunt Dottie. His young grandson George affectionately refers to him as “Papa Ig.”
On screen, Graham appeared as an actor in two episodes of the first series of Doctor Who, but his voice work as the emotionless, menacing Daleks became his signature contribution to the show.
Reflecting on his work in a 2015 interview, Graham said, “I created [the Dalek voice] with Peter Hawkins, another voice actor. We used a staccato style, which was then fed through a synthesizer to make it even more sinister.”
In addition to voicing Parker in Thunderbirds, Graham played the characters of Gordon Tracy and Brains, the engineer, during the show’s original run from 1965 to 1966.
He reprised his role as Parker in ITV’s 2015 reboot Thunderbirds Are Go!, where he was the only original cast member to return.
Parker’s famous line, “Yes, m’lady,” became synonymous with his interactions with Lady Penelope, a character voiced in the reboot by Rosamund Pike.
At the time of the reboot, Graham expressed his excitement: “I am triple chuffed to be on board the new series… and reprising my role of dear old Parker with such a distinguished cast. My driving skills are in good nick, and I am delighted to be behind the wheel again with m’lady.”
Graham shared that Parker’s voice was inspired by a real person he met, thanks to Thunderbirds creator Gerry Anderson.
Anderson took him to lunch to meet a wine waiter who had once been a butler to the former Prince of Wales. Graham recalled, “He said, ‘Would you like to see the wine list, sir?’ and that was the birth of Parker. I just made him a bit more villainous. I’m not sure the guy ever knew—he might have demanded a royalty!”
Jamie Anderson, Gerry Anderson’s son, paid tribute to Graham, calling him “always kind and generous with his time and talent.”
He fondly remembered celebrating Graham’s 99th birthday with fans at a Gerry Anderson concert just weeks before his passing.
“From the Daleks to Grandpa Pig and numerous voices for Anderson shows, including Brains, Gordon Tracy, and the iconic Parker, he will be sorely missed,” Jamie said in a statement.
Anderson Entertainment’s official account also shared its condolences on X (formerly Twitter): “David was always a wonderful friend to us here at Anderson Entertainment. We will miss you dearly, David. Our thoughts are with David’s friends and family.”
Graham’s career spanned many decades, beginning with an early love for performance. He told that from a young age, he always wanted to read the story or recite the poem in school, knowing acting was his passion.
His plans were delayed by World War II, during which he served as a radar mechanic. After the war, dissatisfied with his post-war job as an office clerk, Graham moved to New York to join his sister and her husband, where he attended theater school.
Returning to England, Graham worked in repertory theater before landing roles in the first series of *Doctor Who*. He was also a member of Laurence Olivier’s company at the National Theatre.
In addition to his work on Thunderbirds and Doctor Who, Graham voiced characters in Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom, including Wise Old Elf and Mr. Gnome, both shown on Channel 5.
His career also featured appearances in well-known British dramas, such as Coronation Street, The Bill, London’s Burning, Doctors, and Casualty.
David Graham leaves behind a legacy of iconic characters that will be remembered by both older and younger generations alike.
