Peter Hawkins

Peter John Hawkins (3 April 1924 – 8 July 2006) was a British actor. During the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, he was one of the most sought-after voice artists for radio and television, becoming a regular face and voice around the Soho-based circuit of commercial production studios, and working regularly with actors including Patrick Allen, Edward Judd, and Sir David Jason.

Early life

A policeman's son, Peter John Hawkins was born on 3 April 1924 in Brixton, south London. He made his first stage appearance as a member of the chorus in a musical sketch at school in Clapham. At 14, he wrote, with three friends, a revue entitled The Five Bs. He ran with the Herne Hill Harriers. Hawkins joined the Royal Navy, and survived, though shrapnel pierced his clothing when HMS ''Limbourne'' sank after being torpedoed. While recovering he took part in plays, which resulted in his being taken into Combined Operations Entertainments.

Career

Hawkins worked at the East Riding Theatre, and then did a two-year course at the Central School of Speech and Drama. His first West End appearance was at the Comedy Theatre. Hawkins' association with British children's television began in 1950 voicing the BBC's children's show ''Whirligig'' character Mr Turnip, in 1952 he voiced both Bill and Ben, the ''Flower Pot Men''. In 1955–1956, he voiced Big Ears and Mr. Plod in ''The Adventures of Noddy''. He also provided all the voices for the animated series ''Captain Pugwash'', ''The Family-Ness'', ''The Adventures of Tintin'', '' The Adventures of Sir Prancelot'', and ''Bleep and Booster'', the last of which was a regular feature of the long-running children's magazine series '' Blue Peter'' in the 1960s and early 70s. He was also the narrator for '' SuperTed'' and '' Jimbo and the Jet-Set''.

He voiced several characters on '' Doctor Who'' in the show's early years, especially the Daleks and the Cybermen. He was also the original voice of Zippy on ''Rainbow'' during the first year of its run (1972). Coincidentally his replacement on ''Rainbow'', Roy Skelton, also voiced the Daleks. Hawkins and Skelton also voiced the Cybermen in ''The Tenth Planet''.

He also voiced many male characters including Twink, Buddy Blue, Starlite and the main antagonists Murky Dismal and Lurky in several ''Rainbow Brite'' book and tape sets in the UK in the 1980s.

Hawkins was the original voice for the character of Frankie Mouse in the fourth radio episode of ''The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy'', originally broadcast in March 1978. He also provided the voice of Money, a walking, talking pound sign on the UK adverts for the Access credit card, during the 1980s and 1990s.

Hobbies and collections

Hawkins was the owner of a fine art collection, including works by Monet, Pissarro and Alfred Sisley, Graham Sutherland, Sir Jacob Epstein, and Dame Elisabeth Frink. He also owned a collection of Japanese sword guards and was very keen on Japanese delicacy.

Health issues

In 1992, Hawkins developed a brain tumour which, although successfully treated, left him with short-term memory problems and his retirement from the profession. Due to this he was unable to contribute to any DVD release of ''Doctor Who'' outside of archive footage.

Death

Hawkins died in London, aged 82, on 8 July 2006, coincidentally the same day that the 2006 season finale of '' Doctor Who'', " Doomsday", the first to feature Daleks and Cybermen confronting each other, was transmitted. He had married Rosemary Miller, an actress, in 1956, with whom he had a son, Silas, who is also an actor and voice artist.

Nicholas Briggs, who has voiced the Daleks on television since the revival of ''Doctor Who'' in 2005, paid tribute to him in '' Doctor Who Magazine'', praising him as the best Dalek voice artist, saying "...all of us who've provided Dalek voices over the last 40 years owe him a massive debt. None of us have been as good as Peter, but he supplied our inspiration. He was truly the Emperor of the Daleks."

In 2013, the BBC produced a docudrama depicting the creation and early days of ''Doctor Who'', called ''An Adventure in Space and Time'', screened as part of the programme's fiftieth anniversary celebrations. Hawkins was a small role, played by Nicholas Briggs.

Filmography

Film

Television

References

External links

*
Voice of the Daleks dies at 82
Lester Haines (''The Register'') Thursday 20 July 2006 10:35 GMT
''Daily Telegraph'' obituary

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hawkins, Peter
1924 births
2006 deaths
20th-century English male actors
English male radio actors
English male television actors
English male voice actors
Male actors from London
People from Brixton
Royal Navy personnel of World War II