Pamela Salem Dies: ‘Doctor Who,’ James Bond & ‘The West Wing’ Actress Was 80

Jake Kanter
·2 min read
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

British actress Pamela Salem, who starred in the James Bond film Never Say Never Again and TV’s Doctor Who, died on Wednesday, according to Big Finish Productions. She was 80.

Born in 1944 in India, she played Bond’s secretary Miss Moneypenny in Sean Connery’s 1983 film Never Say Never Again, which is considered an unofficial addition to the Bond canon because it was not produced by Eon Productions.

More from Deadline

Salem made guest appearances in Doctor Who as Professor Rachel Jensen, first appearing in 1988’s Remembrance of the Daleks episodes with Sylvester McCoy’s seventh Doctor.

She reprised the character in Counter-Measures, a Big Finish audio spin-off series. The more recent story in the series, The Dalek Gambit, was released in 2020.

She also guest starred in Big Finish’s The Fourth Doctor Adventures (reunited with Tom Baker) and then reprised the role of Toos in The Robots.

Other screen roles included 1978 crime film The Great Train Robbery and The West Wing, in which she featured as fictional UK prime minister Maureen Graty. ER and Blake’s 7 were also notable credits.

Salem moved to Los Angeles in the 1990s and then lived in Miami.

David Richardson, who produced all Salem’s work at Big Finish, said: “Whenever there was a Big Finish recording for her, she’d fly in from Miami on her own steam, without fuss or fanfare, and appear at the studio armed with the warmest smiles, the biggest hugs and often presents.

“She was a very gentle person – always interested in everyone, from her co-stars to the production team to the guest actors and visitors.”

Karen Gledhill, an actress who worked alongside Salem in Counter-Measures, said: “Pamela was the kindest, most generous actor I have ever worked with.

“Back in the 80s on Remembrance Of The Daleks (my first proper TV job), she took me under her wing and led me through a wonderful but slightly daunting experience. We became friends, and whenever we met were always so pleased to see each other.”

Best of Deadline

Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.