Born: January 1935 (as David Alfred Brierly)
Died: 10th June 2008 (aged 73 years)
Episodes Broadcast: 1979-1980

Yorkshire-born David Brierly originally planned to train as a ballet dancer. However, he had to pass up a scholarship to Sadler's Wells when he suffered a leg injury, and he instead began to work in theatre, as both a stage manager and an actor. During the Fifties, Brierly began to work in radio and television as well, including editions of Saturday Playhouse and BBC Sunday-Night Theatre; his surname was often credited as “Brierley”. His first film appearance came in 1957's Noddy In Toyland. During the Sixties, Brierley played the first of three Coronation Street characters. He could also be seen in programmes such as Emergency -- Ward 10, Moonstrike and Walter And Connie Reporting, plus the movie Calculated Risk.

Brierley's television appearances became more sporadic in the Seventies, and included an episode of Arthur Of The Britons. Amongst his film credits were On The Game and Escort Girls. In 1978, Brierley reluctantly allowed Doctor Who producer Graham Williams and director Christopher Barry to persuade him to become the new voice of K·9, following the departure of John Leeson, the original actor to portray the robot dog. Brierley made his debut in The Creature From The Pit, but his time as K·9 would encompass just two further televised stories. First Shada, the planned 1979-80 season finale, was cancelled due to industrial action. Then, new producer John Nathan-Turner declined Brierley's request for an on-camera appearance as a condition of his returning for a second year. Brierley instead left Doctor Who, with Leeson rejoining the show's cast.

During the Eighties, Brierley appeared in programmes such as The Tripods, Howards' Way, and the telefilm Threads. He was finally given the opportunity to record K·9's dialogue for Shada when its extant scenes were released by BBC Video in 1992. Brierley succumbed to cancer on June 10th, 2008.