Nicholas Courtney 1929 - 2011

This is truly a sad day for Doctor Who fans across the world. Today, the news broke that William Nicholas Stone Courtney (professionally known as Nicholas Courtney) died yesterday after a short illness. He first appeared alongisde William Hartnell in the Daleks' Master Plan as Bret Vyon, agent of Space Security, but most fans remember him as Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge Stewart, beloved companion of the Third Doctor Jon Pertwee.

He first played the role opposite Patrick Troughton as the Second Doctor in the Web of Fear. Originally intended as a one-off character, the Brigadier soon reappeared in the Invasion later that year, and become a main character as of Jon Pertwee's first episode, Spearhead from Space. When Jon Pertwee regenerated into Tom Baker, he appeared in his first serial Robot and then in Terror of the Zygons. Later, he appeared alongside Peter Davison's Fifth Doctor in Mawdryn Undead and the Five Doctors, making him one of only four actors to appear with William Hartnell and Richard Hurndall. After that, he disappeared from Who for several years, not appearing at all with Colin Baker. He returned to the role in 1989's serial, Battlefield, alongside Sylvester McCoy. This was to be his final appearance onscreen on Doctor Who. 


He reprised the role in the non-canon Children in Need Special Dimensions in Time, finally alongside Colin Baker's Doctor, and in the fan-video Downtime and several audio adventures, including two with Paul McGann. He also appeared alongside the Tenth Doctor in the comic The Warkeeper's Crown. In fact, the only Doctors he didn't interacted with in any way were the Ninth and Eleventh Doctor (at least at the time of writing this). Eventually, he did reappear in the official Doctor Who Universe, appearing in the Sarah Jane Adventures episode Enemy of the Bane, alongside Elisabeth Sladen. He was to reappear again, alongside David Tennant, in the third series episode The Wedding of Sarah Jane Smith, but he suffered a small stroke he thankfully recovered from. He appeared one last time in character in Liberty Hall, being interviewed, which was ultimately his final appearance on screen.


During his time as the Brigadier, he battled Daleks, Cybermen, Zygons, Silurians, Autons & Yetis. He also appeared on screen alongside:

-the First Doctor 
-The Second Doctor
-The Third Doctor
-The Fourth Doctor
-The Fifth Doctor
-The Seventh Doctor 

And the Companions: 

-Jamie
-Victoria
-Zoe
-Liz 
-Mike Yates
-John Benton
-Jo 
-Sarah Jane 
-Harry
-Nyssa
-Tegan
-Turlough
-Susan
-Ace
and depending on how you view her, Bessie the Car.


I challenge you to find someone, other then the Doctor Actors themselves, who played more of a role within the series or worked with as many characters as he did.
I know I've only spoken about his time on Doctor Who, but that's the part I know most about him. He had a long and varied career, appearing on many Iconic British sitcoms, information of which can be found here. 

I was due to go to a convention he was attending, but illness prevented me from going, and I will now regret never having met him. 

Wonderful Chap.