Nicholas Courtney is Dead

The man known to millions as the unflappable, immortal, indestructible Brigadier Lethbridge Stewart has passed away, aged 81. A very sad day. RIP Greyhound, over and out.

I've got so many great memories of watching The Brig with Pertwees Doc back in the day. the programme was such a huge part of my childhood in this era, and Nick Courtney was central in that.

" Chap with wings there. Five rounds rapid"

" I'm fairly sure its Cromer"

" Put the men on standby, Benton"

" I've got the Doctor. As long as he does the job, he can wear what face he wants"

Compare the character as written in the likes of Silurians or Planet Of The Spiders and they were actually two completely different personalities, but he carried off both easily. I'It was nice to see Nick reprise the role in a fairly recent SJA. I'd put him right up there with Pertwee and Letts as another Giant of Who now sadly gone.

RIP Nick. (salute)

He was a huge part of my childhood, too. As I recall, the Army praised his portrayal of the Brig for its authenticity, and you can see why...

"Liberty Hall, Dr Tyler....Liberty Hall"

"but Doctor, it's right up your street. This chap's bright green, apparently. And dead".

"Most of their work's so secret, they don't know what they're doing themselves"


Brig: " We've got company"
Doc : " Good grief, it's a triceratops! Look Brigadier, try to keep it occupied while I'm finishing this off, will you?"

"Good heavens-we could be playing the Game of rassillon at this very moment!"

"Your tone doesn't inspire much confidence, Doctor. I take it we're not expected to win?"

I think for a measure of the man as an actor you don't have to look further than Inferno. Here is someone who to the public at large plays an affible, loyal, sometimes comidic foil to the main prototagonist, switching between roles to play the sadistic, cruel and cowardly Brigade Leader as if he was born to play the role. Nick clearly relishes playing the bad guy for once.

Doc: "But I keep telling you, I don't exist in your world"

Brigade Leader: "Then you won't feel the bullets when they shoot you".

Classic.

I can't remember the last time I was so gutted about the death of someone I've never even met.

I know what you mean. I mean, Pertwee was one thing, but Courtney for some reason has really gotten to me.

Yeah, it's rather upset me too.

Very sad news indeed, the passing of a true Who legend.

I'm glad he got the chance to return to the role in 2008, even if it was in The Sarah Jane adventures (in fact, it was probably a better fit for him than Who would have been at that time).

very sad news. I'm glad that over the years I got to meet Nick at a number of Cons. Conventions just wont be the same again.

Where did you get to meet him, DM? I never did, though i always wanted to.

tony ingram wrote:Where did you get to meet him, DM? I never did, though i always wanted to.

falcon con in Bath over 20 years ago.
Wookey Hole one day con
cult tv festival
memorbillia
stamp center signing
and more.

THEDRUNKENMASTERTWO wrote:

tony ingram wrote:Where did you get to meet him, DM? I never did, though i always wanted to.

falcon con in Bath over 20 years ago.
Wookey Hole one day con
cult tv festival
memorbillia
stamp center signing
and more.

I am suitably envious.

thats some that i remember.

plus the 20th anniversary con at longleat.

THEDRUNKENMASTERTWO wrote:plus the 20th anniversary con at longleat.

I went to that, but never got to meet Nick. My abiding memory is of my dad, moaning because there were too many people...

I met him briefly at Longleat in April 1983. It was the big 20th year celebrations! He was so patient with all the queues of fans (The event was `Jam Packed`)

Just got the DWM mag with very nice tributes to him inside!

It was a beautiful tribute, it's just a shame it was needed. The world of Doctor Who has been sadly diminished this year...