Just a few months after losing his loving wife of over 70 years, legendary actor Bernard Cribbins passed away at the age of 93, it was announced today.
Fans are grieved by the passing of the British actor who appeared in The Railway Children, The Wombles, Jackanory, and Doctor Who.
He recently attributed his lengthy life and successful profession to “good luck and genes” and was set to make an appearance in the next season of Doctor Who the following year. It’s only a number, he commented when he turned 90.
But when his 1955 bride Gillian passed away in October, he was inconsolable. The couple, who resided in Surrey and were barren due to a string of Miscarriages
Bernard claimed that working on children’s TV shows and movies, particularly The Railway Children, gave him “a really nice feeling to think of all those who saw it as a youngster” and helped him get over his loss of his own children.
Gavin Barker Associates released the following statement: “Much-loved actor Bernard Cribbins OBE has gone away at the age of 93.
His career lasted seven decades and included a wide range of projects, including The Railway Children, the Carry On series, Right Said Fred, a hit song from the 1960s, an infamous appearance on Fawlty Towers, and narrating The Wombles.
‘He worked well into his 90s, recently appearing in Doctor Who and the CBeebies series Old Jack’s Boat. He lost his wife of 66 years, Gill, last year. ‘Bernard’s contribution to British entertainment is without question. He was unique, typifying the best of his generation, and will be greatly missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing and working with him.’
Cribbins, an Oldham native, was admired for his flexibility and won over young audiences throughout the nation as the narrator of The Wombles and for more than 100 performances on Jackanory, a hit with kids.
Cribbins spent several years performing on stage before making his film debut in 1957’s Davy. He then collaborated with some of the biggest names in British cinema on movies including Two-Way Stretch, She, Daleks’ Invasion Earth 2150 AD, the 1967 adaptation of Casino Royale, and Frenzy.
He has played roles in the popular TV shows Doctor Who and Coronation Street in addition to various Carry On films.
Off-screen In 1962, the comedic songs Hole In The Ground and Right Said Fred both made it to the top 10 of the UK singles chart, and Cribbins enjoyed a successful musical career.
Possibly one of his most well-known performances was as station worker Albert Perks in the 1970 film The Railway Children.
The story of three children having to relocate from London to Yorkshire because their father was wrongfully imprisoned for allegedly selling state secrets is told in the movie version of E. Nesbit’s novel.
Young Jenny Agutter also acted in the movie, which is most known for its tearjerking moment at the conclusion when Agutter’s character yells out, “Daddy, my daddy,” as they are reunited on a railway station. Cribbins portrayed Albert Perks, the station porter.
He was awarded an OBE in 2011 for his lengthy career’s contributions to theater. He claimed at the investiture ceremony that The Wombles’ writing made it easy to provide voices for characters like Uncle Bulgaria, Tobermory, and Orinoco.
He added, “The writing was structured in such a way that you understood precisely where everyone was socially in that home.”
He continued to make frequent appearances in the Doctor Who TV series as Wilfred Mott, Donna Noble’s grandpa, who was portrayed by Catherine Tate.
13.31 million viewers watched the Christmas Day 2007 broadcast of Voyage Of The Damned to see the then-Doctor, David Tennant, fight to save the crew of an opulent space ship named the Titanic.
Along with other notable guests including Russell Tovey, Geoffrey Palmer, Clive Swift, and Kylie Minogue, Cribbins appeared in the show.
In addition, he starred in the CBeebies program Old Jack’s Boat and provided the narration for the Tufty Fluffytale series of public service announcements on driving safety in the 1960s.
Recent rumours claimed that Cribbins had been seen filming for the 60th anniversary of Doctor Who with Tate and Tennant.