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March 30th, 2014 50 comments

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Doctor Who star Kate O’Mara (The Rani) has died

Doctor Who star Kate O’Mara (The Rani) has died

From BBC news…

The British actress was best known for her role as sister to Joan Collins’ Alexis Colby in the US soap.

She also had prominent roles in the ’80s series Howards’ Way and Triangle, and in Doctor Who.

Her agent said she died in a Sussex nursing home following a short illness.

He praised her “energy and vitality” and her “love for theatre and acting”.

“A shining star has gone out and Kate will be dearly missed by all who knew and have worked with her,” said agent Phil Belfield, who labelled the actress “extraordinary”.

O’Mara’s first television roles were in the 1960s, but she came to public attention playing the manipulative Cassandra “Caress” Morrell in Dynasty.

She played a ruthless businesswoman in BBC drama Howards’ Way and was briefly a regular on the North Sea ferry drama Triangle.

She also appeared in Doctor Who, opposite both Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy, as renegade Time Lord The Rani


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50 comments

  • whodom

    March 31st, 2014 - 8:59am

    Can’t believe it such a shock RIP

    Reply
  • Lego sets

    March 30th, 2014 - 11:08pm

    Wish she could just regenerate….

    Reply
  • Anonymous

    March 30th, 2014 - 10:46pm

    Its not just her who died! Derek Martinus also died ๐Ÿ™

    RIP the both of you!

    Reply
  • Sebatron

    March 30th, 2014 - 10:22pm

    I’ve never watched one of her episodes but I know enough about her. RIP Kate O’Mara.

    Reply
  • Dalek the Supreme

    March 30th, 2014 - 8:36pm

    While The Mark of the Rani was a pretty okay story in my opinion, I was never too fond of Time and the Rani or Dimensions in Time. Even still, Kate O’Mara was never at fault, and even was a bonus. She gave a brilliantly snide, superior attitude and a great performance to a great character. It would be fitting if Steven Moffat could get Pip and Jane Baker to write a Rani story for Series 8, in honor of her.

    Reply
    • DOCTOR WHO ONE

      March 31st, 2014 - 8:13am

      I read last year online that Moffat won’t ever bring back the Rani cos he claims he can’t see the point, but now that Kate has sadly passed away, maybe he might change his mind . . for her ๐Ÿ™‚

    • matparks08

      March 31st, 2014 - 10:55am

      Moffat won’t always be in control so maybe the next producer will see things differently.

  • DW2014

    March 30th, 2014 - 8:34pm

    RIP The Rani ๐Ÿ™ So sad what about what about Derek Martinus aswell??? the guy who Directed the following stories: Galaxy 4, Mission To The Unknown, The Tenth Planet, The Evil Of The Daleks, The Ice Warriors and Spearhead From Space?

    well RIP Kate Oโ€™Mara and Derek Martinus we all know your in a special place

    Reply
  • 100000BC

    March 30th, 2014 - 8:21pm

    Such sad news that another brilliant actress from the Classic era has left us; she really excelled in her performances as the Rani.

    Reply
  • Callum Metcalfe

    March 30th, 2014 - 8:07pm

    Extremely sad news.

    Rip Kate, you were a sensational actress

    Reply
  • The Doctor

    March 30th, 2014 - 8:02pm

    RIP Kate You will be in my heart! My mum knew her mum.

    Reply
  • TheWhomobile

    March 30th, 2014 - 7:49pm

    RIP Kate O’Mara

    Reply
  • simon w

    March 30th, 2014 - 7:38pm

    R.I.P Kate O’Mara you will be missed.

    Reply
  • Clayderman

    March 30th, 2014 - 7:36pm

    I never watched any of her stories, just the shorts from them on YouTube. And from those shorts, I had a great impression of a brilliant actress.

    Rest In Peace.

    Reply
  • sammyboi101

    March 30th, 2014 - 7:28pm

    I am going to watch both Rani stories as a tribute.

    RIP

    Reply
  • TheHemsworthDoctor

    March 30th, 2014 - 7:03pm

    She was a great actress, she really brought to life the renegade Time Lord, it’s a sad thought that she never returned as The Rani and will be sadly missed by everyone, young or not, Who fans or not.

    Rest In Peace Kate Oโ€™Mara

    Reply
  • Charliec3po

    March 30th, 2014 - 6:09pm

    rip very sad news

    Reply
  • 11matt

    March 30th, 2014 - 4:58pm

    RIP really good actress wish they had brought her back for at least one last episode

    Reply
  • The Flying Shark

    March 30th, 2014 - 3:49pm

    This is a huge loss, I saw her a few years ago in an Agatha Christie play and she was great in it. May she R.I.P.

    Reply
    • Anonymous

      March 30th, 2014 - 4:04pm

      i am SO SO SO SO SO SO SO sad let her R I P

  • The Holographic Doctor

    March 30th, 2014 - 3:48pm

    RIP

    Reply
  • CG

    March 30th, 2014 - 3:36pm

    RIP, the Rani will always be remembered with you.

    Reply
  • DOCTOR WHO ONE

    March 30th, 2014 - 3:29pm

    Rest in peace Kate. You’ll always be remembered as our Rani ๐Ÿ™‚

    Might be a bit of a fitting tribute if maybe the Rani was brought back to Doctor Who in the upcoming 8th series or a future series of Doctor Who in memory of Kate, after all, I doubt anyone complained about other actors playing the Master after Roger Delgardo who originally played him had passed away tragically by a complete fool of a driver who drove himself and Roger over a cliff in a car.

    I know some of you reading this comment may not like the idea of the Rani returning, and will no doubt say that no one could replace Kate as the Rani, but we all have our different views and opinions, and I for one think it would be a tribute to Kate to her see character back in a new form played by someone else.

    Reply
    • gordon

      March 30th, 2014 - 6:54pm

      dont think it will happen. Pip and Jane baker who wrote the character and own the rights to the character have said the only way they will allow the rani back in Dr who is if they write it.

    • Dalek the Supreme

      March 30th, 2014 - 8:38pm

      It would still be nice for the character to return. I don’t think it would be a bad decision to re-cast the character, since she is a Time Lord (er, Lady) like the Doctor, Borusa, Rassilon, and the Master, all of whom have regenerated, and in the cases of the latter three, off screen.

  • thedaleksdeath

    March 30th, 2014 - 2:56pm

    Very sad news. She was the one who made McCoy my favourite Doctor… R.I.P Kate

    Reply
  • Fez Master

    March 30th, 2014 - 2:52pm

    R.I.P

    Reply
  • Trenzalore

    March 30th, 2014 - 2:46pm

    R.I.P kate o mara,thanks for giving us a good villian and maybe hopefully she will return one day

    Reply
  • sammyboi101

    March 30th, 2014 - 2:30pm

    This is such sad news and a big shock.
    I loved The Rani

    RIP Kate O Mara

    Reply
  • Booboo Jr

    March 30th, 2014 - 2:29pm

    R.I.P

    Reply
  • anon

    March 30th, 2014 - 2:11pm

    Rest in peace another star from the who universe gone.

    Reply
  • matt9982

    March 30th, 2014 - 2:10pm

    R.I.P Kate. My prayers are with you…

    Reply
  • the astronaut of death

    March 30th, 2014 - 2:10pm

    Rip you will be greatly missed and us Dr who fans will never forget both you and the rani

    Reply
  • The Silent Silent

    March 30th, 2014 - 2:10pm

    R.I.P

    Reply
  • matparks08

    March 30th, 2014 - 2:05pm

    Sad news indeed. Am not a fan of either Mark or Time but her performance was very memorable in both. I’m sure one day the Rani will return to the Whoniverse, would have been great if it had been Kate O Mara. RIP

    Reply

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