Elisabeth Sladen – 1948 – 2011

Elisabeth Sladen, best known as Sarah Jane Smith from years of work on Doctor Who, has died, according to the BBC, as well as other sources.  She was born February 1, 1948, and played The Doctor’s arguably most well-known companion for over eighty episodes of the original series, several appearances in the 2005 revival, as well as starring in the children’s show “Sarah Jane Adventures” for four seasons (a fifth is reportedly slated to air on CBBC this year, according to Wikipedia).

The BBC is reporting that she had been battling cancer for a while, although the official cause of death has not been announced.

When the news first appeared on my Twitter feed, I had to think for a second.  “Elisabeth Sladen… that name sounds famil — oh, no.”   I didn’t grow up watching “Doctor Who” on PBS, nor did I watch the 2005 revival until several years after it started.  However, over the past few years I’ve learned more about The Doctor and Sarah Jane, and I understand the love millions of fans have for her.  To many, she is The Companion, the one by which all others will be compared.

ASM would like to pass along our deepest condolences to her family and to all who mourn her.