Elisabeth Sladen Gone But Not Forgotten
Non cosmetic Musings ahead….
I’m not entirely sure how old I was when I first seen The Time Warrior. It came out around ’73 and I wasn’t born as of yet. I was probably ten or so when I actually saw it and I can probably, at this point in my geeky existence, recite alot of the parts for you by memory alone.
Actually The Time Warrior isn’t a favorite episode of mine but it was my introduction to Sarah Jane Smith, one of the Doctor’s longest standing companions. It was also to my great joy a Sontaran episode that Sarah Jane became embroiled in because hey, in my youth, alien’s that looked like they had baked potatoes for heads was all kinds of wicked cool.
Sarah Jane was cheeky as hell in some cases but was also very much a boring companion at times, mind you not because of the way Elisabeth played her but because of the way she was written for 1970’s TV.
But I think many people have come to terms with the fact they they were favoring her simply because she accompanied a most beloved and favorite Doctor, the Fourth. It was kinda default that you loved Sarah Jane simply because she was there when the 3rd regenerated and was there again for part of the adventures of the 4th.
Much to delight of fans Sarah Jane returned in 2006 to accompany another most beloved Doctor, Ten. Sarah Jane underwent a bit of a transformation in her old age and she was quite spunky, smart, and well written not that she wasn’t before but she got upgraded so to speak.
Above all else she was played with greatness thanks to Elisabeth Sladen. Her bright smile and her sweet voice made her a joy to watch plus she got to work with the 4th, my absolute hero.
When I was little girl I wanted to be Sarah Jane, all great companion to the 4th thanks to how gorgeous Elisabeth Sladen was.
With great sadness I wish her a fond goodbye as Elisabeth passed away today, at 63, to cancer.
For fans of Who, I console your geeky heartbreak with some of my own sadness.
A sad day indeed but she lives on in time and space.
So sad, and unexpected.
I’m shocked nifty, I didn’t even know she was sick.
We just saw this on the news, very unexpected, didn’t know she was ill either. My eldest is very sad, she loves the Sarah Jane Adventures (the series they made for CBBC (children’s BBC), she’s a big fan. Now there’ll be no more SJ Adventures.
anita I didn’t even know and I keep up to date on all things DW. I didn’t realize she was sick, how very quiet it was. It was shocking to hear she passed away. Noel tweeted it and he didn’t even know if it was truth or rumor…*sad sigh* I can’t believe it. I didn’t really like SJ Adventures ;-D too kiddy for me but I loved the cross over appy with Ten ;-D but it sure was nice having her out there doing some DW cross reference show…so sad…she was young and so vibrant
Who will get custody of K-9?
Shocking! I didn’t even know she was sick, this is such sad news. I too am a long time Dr. Who fan, and still have some of the stuff from the 80’s.
That’s how I’ll remember her.
aw lexi
true. me either…I follow who news and hadn’t a clue she even had cancer, was crazy to hear she had died…wow. It was kinda crushing to hear.
*Sigh*, so sad. I didn’t even know she had cancer ’til my Sister told me she died & what from. She will be sorely missed.
same here Gloria, it was so unexpected!
How utterly sad!! I had no idea she was sick.
Regina hello dear how are you? It’s so nice to see/hear you! Yes
I didn’t know either 
I didn’t even know she was ill! Oh my this was the first news that greeted me this morning and my god I don’t know. Sarah Jane isn’t even my favorite companion for the Fourth Doctor (I’m partial to Romana, both I and II), but Elisabeth Sladen gone in a blink? I just want to remember her as cheeky Sarah Jane, don’t want to think about this anymore. Maybe she’s off to the big blue box in the sky?
I’m VERY partial to Romana II myself but I always had such a soft spot for Elisabeth Sladen, she was just so youthful, pretty, and sweet
It’s very sad Krys…:( I honestly didn’t even know she was sick, it was rather shocking. 
My first thought when I read this was “What will happen to K-9? Who is going to take care of Luke? Are Amy and Rory going to become foster parents?” (I think I need help separating reality from the who-verse.)
I didn’t know Elisabeth Sladen was sick, so to hear she passed is especially sad. I haven’t watched any of the older Dr. Who episodes, but I liked her portrayal of Sarah Jane from the most recent episodes and the season of Sarah Jane Adventures I saw. I definitely would have wanted to be like Sarah Jane when I was younger–I loved how sassy she was.
LOL Kate awwww sniff. It’s so sad. She was actually a cookie cutter in the old series but she still made you want to be the Doctor’s companion ya know? ;-D RTD gave her a little spunk in her old age ;D!
So sad! I really liked her
I wasn’t anywhere near born when she was on the old DW but I did YouTube a few of the old scenes a while back 
I didn’t even know she was sick
me either cj
so sad. I wasn’t either but Tom Baker was my Doctor, I was absolutely obsessed with him as a child ;D SJM came with the deal ;D!
I hadn’t heard! My first doctor was 4 and I fell in love with Who because of Elisabeth Sladen and Tom Baker. I had no idea she was sick. I wonder what will happen to the Sara Jane tv show. I know they’d already shot 1/2 of the next season.
nar same here ;-D my doctor was 4 too, TB was so brilliant ;-D I do too, how very sad!
Oh no
That’s so sad! I loved Sarah Jane when she came back in New Who (I liked her before, too, but older SJ is just so wonderfully snarky). She’ll be missed.
aw very much so maggie, so heartbreaking
This year has sucked for my favorite Who characters. First the Brig, now Sarah Jane. I started crying in my cubicle yesterday when I found out.
awwww sarah *hugs* I was pretty saddened to hear it too
sigh. I guess it was more shocking than anything else, she looked so healthy I had no idea she had cancer!
So sad, I really liked her!, theres something about old hollywood that seems so imposible to achieve now.