'Doctor Who' Stars Pay Tribute to Former Companion Deborah Watling, Who Has Died at Age 69

Sad news coming in the midst of all the San Diego Comic-Con excitement: Beloved British actress, Deborah Watling, has died at the age of 69. Watling is best known for her role in Doctor Who as Victoria Waterfield, who starred alongside the second Doctor, Patrick Troughton, as his companion.

Watling played Victoria for a total of forty episodes between the years of 1967 and 1968, most of which were sadly wiped after broadcast—her father, Jack Watling, even starred alongside her in two episodes. Watling's last #DoctorWho appearance was in 1993 for a special Children in Need short Doctor Who: Dimensions in Time.

Speaking about her death, her brother, Giles Watling, said she was "a lovely, lovely girl, bubbly and vibrant," and said she would be "sorely missed".

Deborah Watling's Acting Career

Having previously appeared in television series H.G. Wells' Invisible Man and A Life of Bliss, Watling made her debut appearance in Doctor Who in 1967 in the second episode of the 'Evil of the Daleks' story arc. Episode 2 is the only episode left from that run; the other ones are likely lost forever. Watling went on to appear in a total of six more arcs. However, just two of them still exist today, those being 'Tomb of the Cybermen' and 'The Enemy of the World.'

Watling's star broke out following her time on Doctor Who. After she left the TARDIS, she went onto appearing in The Newcomers, Rising Damp and the World War II drama Danger UXB.

'Doctor Who' Stars Leave Tributes

Past Doctor Who stars have taken to Twitter to leave tributes to Watling. The official Doctor Who Twitter page said "We’re sad to report the death of Deborah Watling."

Companion to the third Doctor, Katy Manning said she was "deeply saddened" to hear Watling had passed away.

Former companion to the fifth and sixth Doctor, Nicola Bryant spoke of the closeness she and Watling shared.

Deborah Watling will be deeply missed by all, but now she is reunited with the late Patrick Troughton, where they can now travel the stars together again.