Five Round Salute for Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart
February 22, 2011 5:56 PM Subscribe
The Doctor's Brigadeer has died. Nicholas Courtney (Dec. 16, 1929 - Feb. 22, 2011)
io9 obit (in OLD blog format, yourewelcome), 2008 Interview, Nicholas Courtney's Website
io9 obit (in OLD blog format, yourewelcome), 2008 Interview, Nicholas Courtney's Website
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posted by Doktor Zed at 6:47 PM on February 22, 2011
posted by Doktor Zed at 6:47 PM on February 22, 2011
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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
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
"Wonderful chaps . . . all of them."
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posted by Lord Chancellor at 6:49 PM on February 22, 2011 [5 favorites]
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posted by Lord Chancellor at 6:49 PM on February 22, 2011 [5 favorites]
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]
posted by markkraft at 6:53 PM on February 22, 2011 [1 favorite]
It's a mistake, right? Tell me you're talking about the alternate Brigadier with the eye patch.
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posted by Smart Dalek at 7:04 PM on February 22, 2011 [1 favorite]
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posted by Smart Dalek at 7:04 PM on February 22, 2011 [1 favorite]
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posted by lefty lucky cat at 7:09 PM on February 22, 2011
posted by lefty lucky cat at 7:09 PM on February 22, 2011
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
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.
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posted by Blue Jello Elf at 7:30 PM on February 22, 2011
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posted by Blue Jello Elf at 7:30 PM on February 22, 2011
For you, sir, my thousandth favorite. Godspeed.
posted by BeerFilter at 7:34 PM on February 22, 2011
posted by BeerFilter at 7:34 PM on February 22, 2011
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posted by MrBobaFett at 7:53 PM on February 22, 2011
posted by MrBobaFett at 7:53 PM on February 22, 2011
. The Brig
posted by inturnaround at 7:56 PM on February 22, 2011
posted by inturnaround at 7:56 PM on February 22, 2011
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posted by MrBadExample at 8:00 PM on February 22, 2011
posted by MrBadExample at 8:00 PM on February 22, 2011
..... (I pressed those rapidly)
posted by John Kenneth Fisher at 8:05 PM on February 22, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by John Kenneth Fisher at 8:05 PM on February 22, 2011 [1 favorite]
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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
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
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?"
"Probably. I just do the best I can."
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posted by MCMikeNamara at 9:07 PM on February 22, 2011 [3 favorites]
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?"
"Probably. I just do the best I can."
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posted by MCMikeNamara at 9:07 PM on February 22, 2011 [3 favorites]
My heart is broken a little. Brig, you will be missed.
posted by immlass at 9:28 PM on February 22, 2011
posted by immlass at 9:28 PM on February 22, 2011
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posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 11:29 PM on February 22, 2011
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 11:29 PM on February 22, 2011
Christ, Dwayne McDuffie and now the Brig. What a crappy day this turned out to be.
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posted by maqsarian at 1:41 AM on February 23, 2011
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posted by maqsarian at 1:41 AM on February 23, 2011
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.
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posted by fearfulsymmetry at 2:43 AM on February 23, 2011
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posted by fearfulsymmetry at 2:43 AM on February 23, 2011
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Not just a wonderful actor, but a wonderful PERSON.
posted by BZArcher at 5:56 AM on February 23, 2011
Not just a wonderful actor, but a wonderful PERSON.
posted by BZArcher at 5:56 AM on February 23, 2011
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posted by metaquarry at 6:04 AM on February 23, 2011
posted by metaquarry at 6:04 AM on February 23, 2011
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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
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
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posted by Legomancer at 6:42 AM on February 23, 2011
posted by Legomancer at 6:42 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!
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posted by kuppajava at 7:55 AM on February 23, 2011
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posted by kuppajava at 7:55 AM on February 23, 2011
"Chap with wings there, five round rapid."
"Wait, Brigadier, that's St. Peter!"
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posted by Gridlock Joe at 2:20 PM on February 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
"Wait, Brigadier, that's St. Peter!"
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posted by Gridlock Joe at 2:20 PM on February 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
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
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