Longtime broadcaster Doc Harris, who had a radio career spanning five decades, has passed away at age 76.
Harris passed away in Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) Saturday morning, following what was reported as minor surgery last month.
Born Gilbert Auchinleck, Harris used several monikers on-air over the years, starting his broadcasting career in 1966 as “Gil Harris” at CKDA and CFMS-FM Victoria. From there, stops at CJAT Trail, BC, CKOM Saskatoon, CKSO Sudbury and CHAM Hamilton followed.
He made his on-air debut in Toronto on CFTR as “Doc Holiday” in 1971, before returning to the West Coast and CKLG Vancouver in 1973, where he initially was heard as “Gil” and by 1976, “Doc Harris.” Holding roles across programming, music direction, and helming the morning show, after an 11-year run with the station, Harris moved on to CFMI-FM Vancouver in 1984, followed by CKKS-FM, CFUN, and an almost decade-long stint doing fill-in on CKNW. Harris was last heard in various dayparts on CISL Vancouver, up until 2007, and as the co-host of weekly feature Dan Gardener’s Automotive Intelligence.
Concurrently, he lent his voice to animated series like Dragon Ball Z, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Monster Rancher, and John Candy vehicle Camp Candy, as well as video games, including Hulk and Aegis Defenders.