So sad to hear this. 
She was always my first and favorite companion, and School Reunion in Nuwho is one of my personal episode favorites.
Too damn young to go at 63, fellow dopers. My heart goes out to her family. First the Brig and now Sarah Jane. Gotta go find me some tissues…
Sadness at the 'Pye household.
We managed to have a relative tape all the (then) available SJA epsides (seasons 1-3) and had a great time watching them together. For those wondering, they’re a simplified version of DW, aimed at a younger audience.
RIP Liz.
I have to admit I teared up a bit earlier today when I heard. Goodbye, Sarah Jane Smith.
I didn’t know she was ill. So this came as a shock.
The Sarah Jane Adventures is squarely aimed at kids, and the first couple of seasons are a little bit dodgy and overly earnest, but it soon finds its feet and last year’s series was excellent fun with some really good bits.
So if you’re willing to give it some leeway for being aimed at ten year olds, it’s worth a watch.
The last story of the last series was called “Goodbye Sarah Jane Smith” which is eerily prophetic.
I absolutely adored Sarah Jane Smith, and I was so happy when she came back with the New Who episodes.
Someone on Twitter said
Now I am very sad. 
RIP, Sarah Jane.
After years of feeling I should finally start checking out Dr. Who, I finally did back in January and have been completely hooked. I knew of Sarah Jane Smith, so I had no trouble keeping up when she reappeared on the show with David Tennant.
I’m only looking forward right now to checking out the old Tom Baker episodes; all that is ahead of me. Still, when I read about Ms. Sladen’s passing, I felt as though I’d been punched in the gut. Still do. Considering the loss I feel, I can only imagine how it’s hitting those of you who grew up watching her. I’m sorry for everyone.
She and Tom Baker were my first Doctor and Companion.
Sadly, I never got to meet Liz Sladen, but the character she played was possibly my favorite companion. None of Tom Baker’s other companions could touch her (possibly Romana II, though she was a Time Lord herself).
…RTD’s reaction:
I always wondered what the motivation was behind the Sarah Jane Adventures: it turns out that It was Elisabeth herself. Good on ya RTD, all is forgiven. RIP Liz.
“A tear, Sarah Jane? No, don’t cry. While there’s life, there’s…”
Bah, there is a whole piece of my childhood gone. The first woman I ever had a crush on…
RIP Liz, you where great.
I wanted to be Sarah Jane when I was a kid. She was my favorite companion by far. Liz always mad her seem real to me. So sad. I’ll miss you, Sarah Jane.
Damn. My first Doctor Who adventures were the ones shown here on PBS. With Tom Baker & Sarah Jane.
The Tin Dog heard from.
Here’s something weird: For a moment, I seriously wondered who was going to take care of K9 now.
Dammit, now I AM crying.
RIP Elisabeth…
My favorite (and first) Dr. Who companion.
Banquet Bear’s link has another link to Tom Baker’s reaction. Really very sweet.
Direct link to Tom Baker’s tribute, as it takes some poking around from the previous link to reach it.
Sarah and Tom were my first Doctor and companion over 25 years ago. I discovered Doctor Who in college, and then a bit later met my future husband through a local DW fanclub. I remember the shock everyone felt when Ian Marter died (had met him at several conventions, lovely man and a talented writer besides). Now Lis is gone, far too young and far too suddenly. She is going to be VERY much missed.
Oh how sad… I loved her in the little bits of Who I saw as a child (my version of multicultural TV was Dr Who…) and I was so happy to see her back on NuWho, and then to get a show of her own… it was just a lovely rebirth of a character.
I never even realized she was in her 60s… she always seemed so alive and vibrant. (Not that 60s are old either, but I thought she was 40s-50s, and it’s a shock to find out I was so off.)
Damn. It had been such a good day until now.
She was my first Companion, too, and I was stunned at the news this morning. Today is turning out to be a horrible day all around.
