Simon Fisher Becker, the British character actor best known for his small and memorable roles in the “Harry Potter” and “Doctor Who” franchises, passed away on Sunday. He was 63 years old.
His death was announced on social media by her husband Anthony Dougdale. No cause was given.
Fisherbecker is a versatile character actor spanning his career, film, theatre and television, with a special focus on comedy and drama. In the 2001 film Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Fisher Becker played Fat Frier, a cheerful, resident ghost in Halfpuff's house who welcomed students to Hogwarts. But it was part of Dryum Maldoval, the big blue-skinned alien from the beloved BBC science fiction show “Doctor Who,” which changed his career, Fisher Becker said in an interview.
“I've been a job actor for many years, but Maldoval has changed everything,” Fisher Becker told the Lancashire Telegraph in 2014.
Simon Fisher Becker was born in London on November 25th, 1961 and grew up in the area. He was interested in music as a child, but discovered the acting after being cast as Mr. Bumble in the production of the school's “Oliver Twist.”
“I realized I enjoyed the process,” he said.
However, after being fired from government jobs and decided to take a drama course, Fisher Becker wasn't serious about acting professionally until a few years later. He worked as a theatre manager and human resources manager while pursuing acting, he said in a 2023 interview.
In March 2009, Fisherbecker was attacked at a gas station. The gas station sidelined him from his work in musical stage comedy, but released him to Dryum Maldoval's December audition on the BBC's “Doctor Who.” He grew up watching “Doctor Who” with his family began airing on the BBC in 1963. “I never imagined that I would be in 'Doctor Who' someday,” he told the Telegraph.
Initially, Fisherbecker was cast to appear only in one scene in the episode. However, Dorium Maldovar was soon a fan favorite, and he returned to appear in two more episodes.
Fisherbecker has appeared in dozens of television shows and films throughout his career. His credits also include Afterlife, a British supernatural drama. “Getting” is a British comedy based on the elderly ward of a government hospital. “Puppy Love,” a British comedy about dog training. And then there is an ensemble of the 2012 Lesbian Micerables film, with the figures called “Master of the House.”
The list of survivors was not immediately available.
In an interview, Fisher Beck recalls the unpredictable nature of acting and landing roles, saying, “You're always auditioning away from something that will change your life.”
