British actor and playwright, Trevor Baxter – best known for his work with Big Finish and Doctor Who – passed away on July 16, 2017. He was 84 years old.
Baxter was born on November 18, 1932 and went on to graduate from both the Dulwich College and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. He made his first appearance on Doctor Who as Professor Litefoot in the 1977 episode “The Talons of Weng-Chiang,” alongside Tom Baker, Louise Jameson, and Christopher Benjamin. Baxter went on to reprise his role as Litefoot in the Big Finish radio series Doctor Who: The Companion Chronicles: The Mahogany Murderers and Jago & Litefoot. The latter series delighted Whovains for years and only recently ended with a final volume released earlier this year.
In addition to radio work, Baxter appeared in films such as Nutcracker, Parting Shots, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, and Van Wilder: The Rise of Taj. Notable stage performances for Baxter include David Mamet’s A Life in the Theatre and touring Shakespeare in South America. As a playwright, Baxter wrote Lies, Office Games, Undertaking, and Ripping Them Off. He also adapted Oscar Wilde’s Dorian Gray and Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime into plays and took them on a national tour in 2003 and 2005, respectively.
“I was lucky enough to have been in on a number of recording sessions on the last few Jago & Litefoot sets, where meeting Trevor was never less than a pleasure and an inspiration. He’d hold court in the Green Room about all sorts of subjects, and it felt like he’d devoured every book there was, often looking at me and asking, ‘Oh, dear boy, have you read...’ and having the tact not to look disappointed when I often said, ‘um... no.’ Indeed, he’d then bring you up to speed with an accuracy most of my university tutors lacked, and welcome you into the conversation. His relationship with Christopher was warm and fun, and they were a double act as much behind the microphone as in front of it, providing many of my happiest Big Finish memories. It’s incredibly sad news that I won’t experience that again. Thank you so, so much Trevor,” Ian Atkins, Producer’s Assistant at Big Finish, said.
