Washington: David Graham, the celebrated voice actor, has died at the age of 99, leaving behind a remarkable legacy in animation and entertainment.

Graham is best remembered for his role as Grandpa Pig on the popular animated series Peppa Pig, where he provided the character's voice from 2004 until 2021. He also voiced Aloysius Parker in the classic 1960s series Thunderbirds and gave life to the iconic Daleks in Doctor Who during the 1960s and 70s.

Gerry Anderson, the creator of Thunderbirds, paid tribute to Graham on social media, expressing heartfelt condolences following his passing. "We're incredibly sad to confirm the passing of the legendary David Graham," he shared on X.

"The voice [of] Parker, Gordon Tracy, Brains, and so many more. David was always a wonderful friend to us here at Anderson Entertainment. We will miss you dearly, David. Our thoughts are with David's friends and family," he concluded.

Before starting his voice acting career, Graham served as a radar mechanic in World War II and worked as an office clerk. He later transitioned to theatre, which led to a successful career in voice acting. 

According to People magazine, in an earlier interview, he reflected on how he developed the distinctive voice of the Daleks, stating, "I created it with Peter Hawkins, another voice actor. We adopted this staccato style, then they fed it through a synthesiser to make it more sinister."

His role in Thunderbirds opened doors for him, including an opportunity to perform with the esteemed Laurence Olivier at the National Theatre. He recalled the audition experience fondly, saying, "A wonderful man... I don't know if his children were fans of 'Thunderbirds'."

Later in his life, Peppa Pig introduced Graham’s talents to a new generation, an experience he truly cherished. His contributions to the industry will be remembered by fans young and old.

As per People magazine, he said, "Just because it's a cartoon or puppet doesn't mean you don't take it seriously," he remarked. "I take it as seriously as working at the National [Theatre]."

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