Former Doctor Who actor Matt Smith’s dad has reportedly died earlier this month at 73 years of age, leaving the family devastated. The 38-year-old TV star is currently filming the Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon, but is said to have been granted “compassionate leave” so that he could mourn.
It is now understood that he has returned to Cornwall to finish shooting the HBO series that will take place around 300 years before the original, where he portrays Prince Daemon Targaryen.
According to the Mail Online, a source told them: “Matt and his family are all devastated.
“David was a rock to them and will be sorely missed.
“They all wanted to be together to mourn as they are a real tight-knit family.”
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Matt also credited David for guiding him through some tough moments in his career, including dealing with being cast as the youngest ever Doctor at the age of 26 in 2009.
He played the role of the 11th incarnation of the Time Lord, appearing in episodes from 2010 to 2013 when he was succeeded by Peter Capaldi.
But his dad encouraged his son to “adapt” after Matt “called him in a panic” full of self-doubt over the role.
Thinking back to that time, Matt recalled: “When I got Doctor Who, I rang him like two months in and I said, ‘I can’t do this’.
