Bernard Cribbins was born on December 29, 1928 in Oldham, England, and he found success not only in his acting but also with his singing. Though it appears (in a bit of research) that the #1 hit single spot eluded his best efforts, it still bodes well that he topped out with a solid #9 spot with "Hole In The Ground." And it's Cribbins himself who insists that the acting bug truly took hold on January 4, 1943 when he was offered a job with the Oldham Coliseum.
IMDB.com reports that he amassed an incredible 122 different screen credits across his storied career, but perhaps the one that matters most -- so far as this consumer of media is concerned is his time in the wide, wide universe of Doctor Who.
Some may have missed the fact that Cribbins is the only actor to have appeared in both the Doctor Who screen incarnations as well as the relaunched series on the BBC. In 1966, he joined the great Peter Cushing (as the Doctor) aboard Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 A.D. only to be called back into service an incredible four decades later during the time in which David Tennant kept the keys to the TARDIS.
Alas, none of us lasts forever, and the media reports that he passed at the ripe old age of 93. I'm not seeing any mention of the cause of his passing, but I am aware that there have been stories about his having to excuse himself from projects citing poor health.
May he forever rest in peace.
Thoughts and prayers are extended to the family and friends of Bernard Cribbins.
-- EZ