Richard Franklin Dies: ‘Doctor Who’ Actor Was 87

Rosy Cordero

25 December 2023 at 4:13 pm·2-min read

Richard Franklin, who is best known for his roles in Doctor Who and Emmerdale, died on early Christmas morning at the age of 87.

The news was confirmed by longtime friend Líam Rudden, who shared the news via social media on Monday on behalf of the family.

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“It is with great sadness, that the family of Richard Franklin have asked me to share news of his passing, early this morning. Richard passed away peacefully in his sleep. Details of funeral arrangements will be shared here when announced. Sleep well Richard,” Rudden’s post reads.

It is with great sadness, that the family of Richard Franklin have asked me to share news of his passing, early this morning. Richard passed away peacefully in his sleep. Details of funeral arrangements will be shared here when announced. Sleep well Richard. #RIP
– Líam Rudden pic.twitter.com/TgsSADbQYt
— Richard Franklin (@PlanetFranklin) December 25, 2023

Franklins’ breakout TV role was in the British soap Crossroads in the role of Joe Townsend debuting in 1969. He followed that up with his Doctor Who debut two years later as UNIT Captain Mike Yates in Terror of the Autons while Jon Pertwee starred as the Third Doctor. Following his time in Planet of the Spiders, Franklin continued to play Mike Yates in specials, spinoffs, audio plays and in the novel he wrote, The Killing Stone, with his character serving as the lead of the tale.

Additional TV credits include The Doctors (1970), Little Women (1970), The Pathfinders (1973), Blake’s 7 (1980), The Borgias (1981) and Heartbeat (1997).

Franklin also has multiple big screen credits including his final portraying Death Star Engineer Sirro Argonne in the Gareth Edwards-directed Star Wars film Rogue One.

In addition to his work as an actor, Franklin was also a writer, journalist and political activist.

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