RIP

[tzikeh]

Liz Sladen, known to many of us as Sarah Jane Smith from Doctor Who and The Sarah Jane Adventures, has died of cancer. The news has been confirmed by Nicola Bryant, who played Peri (companion to The Fifth Doctor), and Paul Cornell, who wrote several episodes of New Who, as well as the 2003 mini-series.

Liz was 63.

A very sad day for her family, her friends, and for fandom.

ETA: How very, very bittersweet that the last episodes of The Sarah Jane Adventures that will ever air were titled "Goodbye, Sarah Jane Smith: Parts 1 and 2."

Comments

[jackiekjono.livejournal.com]

Oh, God! I am so sorry to hear this.

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

Yeah. And nowadays, 62 is too young.

[mirandir.livejournal.com]

*crestfallen* Oh, no.

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

I know. It really makes me terribly sad.

[kerri]

D: That is horrible... Was this posted online anywhere? I'm just asking because all I see so far is people asking if it's true.

[brewsternorth.livejournal.com]

Apparently it was posted in a Gallifrey Base forum initially, but it's been corroborated by Doctor Who News and various others.

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

It was posted by both Paul Cornell and Nicola Bryant from their verified Twitter accounts.

[kerri]

Thanks. I hate to ask but there have been so many false rumours in the last couple of years that I feel the need to.

So sad, she was such a lovely person.

[klia.livejournal.com]

Oh, no! I had no idea she was ill. What a huge, huge loss.

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

I didn't know she was ill either. It is an enormous loss. And too young.

[klia.livejournal.com]

Yeah, 63 is way too young. I'm just so bummed.

[jerel.livejournal.com]

I had just heard this and was looking for confirmation from a reputable source (it's not on the BBC.) But I guess Paul Cornell and Nicola count. I am so sad now. :~(

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I think confirmation from people who knew her well professionally is reputable.

SO sad.

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's terrible news. I never saw the original stuff she was in, but I really enjoyed her in the new Who stuff -- I thought she was wonderful.

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

:nod: I'd never met her, but everyone I know who has said she was kind and lovely and warm. Terribly sad.

[laurashapiro.livejournal.com]

I am so shocked and sad to hear about this. I had no idea she was ill, and I'm having one of those "but she was just on my TV the other day!" moments.

):

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

Yes -- I've had those moments too.

In a way, there is... comfort? I guess? In that she brought joy to millions (no over-exaggeration) of people.

[laurashapiro.livejournal.com]

It's true. And "joy" is definitely the word -- not merely pleasure. It's not a small thing.

[unfolded73.livejournal.com]

I'm heartbroken. Older Son saw it on my laptop screen when I gasped out loud, and he's sort of shell-shocked. Sarah Jane was a big part of my boys' TV watching. Now I have to break it to the rest of the family.

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

:nod: It's a sad day, and it's going to get sadder.

Tragic. We feel so close to some of them.

[misachan.livejournal.com]

I am so gobsmacked over this. I had no idea she'd even been ill.

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

Yeah, apparently almost nobody did -- immediate family, and very close friends.

[movies-michelle.livejournal.com]

Oh, man.

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

Indeed.

[lanning.livejournal.com]

Too young. She will be sorely missed.

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

So very much.