And thank you ShawnString for helping me to figure out how to make a friendly link to io9 (where I respect Charlie Jane Adler's writing). Simple howto: add 'ca.' to the beginning and remove the '#!' from before the post number. The only bad news is Gawker Media will get more loggable pageviews this way, and nobody wants to slow Nick Denton's fall. posted by oneswellfoop at 6:18 PM on February 22, 2011
There were all of those episodes with the third and fourth Doctors stuck on Earth and the Brigadier was a regular, but then I'd practically cheer when he'd show up from time to time with the fifth Doctor and onwards. Courtney was a great guy for putting up with rabid Who fans.
(thanks for the warning about Gawker pageviews, did not click) posted by XMLicious at 6:47 PM on February 22, 2011
Let's hope that Greyhound Leader has a long, happy retirement, somewhere in the mountains of Peru. posted by markkraft at 6:53 PM on February 22, 2011 [1 favorite]
Brigadeer? Brigadier? You should know by now that I always have one typo in my MeFi posts, which I do intentionally to protest the lack of a 3-minute edit window. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. posted by oneswellfoop at 7:30 PM on February 22, 2011
He also played a different character in an episode with the first Doctor (wikipedia says it was Space Security Agent Bret Vyon in The Daleks' Master Plane). I always liked the episodes where the Brigadier would show up.
Wow, I read the obit, I didn't know he first appeared in '65 with William Hartnell. But even if he first appeared as the Brigadier in '68, I think that makes him the one recurring character that has endured longer than any other. I can't think of any others.. no I'm not counting daleks etc. posted by charlie don't surf at 8:31 PM on February 22, 2011
Oh, my jaw just dropped. Rest in peace, Mr Courtney. posted by Judith Butlerian Jihad at 8:34 PM on February 22, 2011
It feels like this is the first time we've had an obit thread for somebody I knew. But then I realized I'd never had the honor of meeting him. It only feels like I did.
There's something so special about a lot of the folks behind the scenes from the late 60s and early 70s era of the show -- working writers and actors and directors who went into this slightly daft family sci-fi series because it was a paycheck and who not only did made the programme wonderful because they treated it so with the right amount of seriousness when they made it but also ended up being the best sports about representing the show in "the dark days" but always also reminding you that when asked about Scene X from Episode Y from Season Z that, yes, it was one job of many and by the way, it was over 40 years ago but all the while never making you feel like a fool for asking and always thanking you for caring so much.
And among that crowd, Mr. Courtney was, by all accounts, one of the best. And the fact that I teared up a bit hearing the news of his passing is probably a reflection of that. And if they throw his name up as a tribute during the show this spring, I'll probably tear up all over again.
And now I'm just going to stop writing before I get any more sloppy. And probably treat myself to falling asleep watching an old well watched VHS tape of a third Doctor episode, for definitely not the first time.
"Pitiful. Can this world do no better than you as its champion?"
Over the last few years I've intermittently been playing catch-up with some of the old skool Who stories I missed first time around or just wanted to re-watch. I'd watched 'Mawdryn Undead' - where the retired Brig returns as a teacher - only a few months ago. In the DVD extras for that (and other one's I've watched) Courtney always came across much like his character - a rather splendid chap.
RIP, Brig. You were one of my favorites. Fans should listen to his commentaries on the Jon Pertwee DVDs--funny and charming. posted by orrnyereg at 6:05 AM on February 23, 2011
Thank you, Nicholas Courtney, for creating a lovable military character. Never thought I'd be fond of a military authority, but he played the character so well and gave him subtle, endearing charm and warmth. so sad he will not be around for Who's 50th anniversary. Was rather hoping he'd meet up with 11, or any combination of the previous 10!
Thank you, Nicholas Courtney, for creating a lovable military character. Never thought I'd be fond of a military authority...
By all accounts, to hear Mr. Courtney speak against the war in Iraq (if you shared his view) was to have all your best gut feelings confirmed. I'm not going to argue that it's a bit silly to place importance on an actor who portrayed a character state that said character was be too honorable a military man to stand by during an illegal invasion -- but sometimes a bit of the silly is important. posted by MCMikeNamara at 12:13 PM on February 24, 2011
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posted by oneswellfoop at 6:18 PM on February 22, 2011