Doctor Who and Emmerdale star Richard Franklin has died. He was 87.
The British actor died “peacefully in his sleep” on Christmas Day, according to the announcement shared to his X (formerly Twitter) account by close friend Líam Rudden.
“It is with great sadness, that the family of Richard Franklin have asked me to share news of his passing, early this morning,” Ridden wrote on Franklin’s account.
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“Richard passed away peacefully in his sleep,” Rudden’s announcement continued.
“Details of funeral arrangements will be shared here when announced. Sleep well Richard. #RIP”.
Rudden also shared a message to his personal X account, writing: ”Devastated. Farewell to a mentor and friend. #RIPRichardFranklin #DoctorWho.”
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Fans of Franklin – who notably portrayed Captain Mike Yates of UNIT in Doctor Who from 1971 to 1974 – quickly followed suit.
“Rest in peace Richard Franklin. Like many [Doctor Who] fans of a similar age to myself, another part of my childhood moves on,” one fan wrote.
“Richard’s Captain Yates was a key part of the success of the Jon Pertwee era, his stories will continue to be enjoyed with much fondness.”
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https://twitter.com/PlanetFranklin/status/1739348573702213778
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Another said: “So sad to hear that Richard Franklin has passed away. He was such a fantastic chap who I always liked to catch up with at Conventions and Doctor Who events.”
Alongside Doctor Who, Franklin is also known for his roles in Emmerdale Farm and Crossroads, however his work on-stage was more prolific.
His love of sci-fi persisted after his role on Doctor Who came to a close, with the late star also penning books based on the show.
Franklin also was the author of the book Forest Wisdom: Radical Reform of Democracy and the Welfare State.