William Hartnell1908 - 1975
usually
Actor
Popularity
1.9
Famous
Biography
William Henry Hartnell (8 January 1908 – 23 April 1975), also known as Billy Hartnell or Bill Hartnell, was an English actor. Hartnell played the first incarnation of the Doctor in Doctor Who, from 1963 to 1966. He was also known for his roles as Sergeant Grimshaw, the title character of the first Carry On film, Carry On Sergeant in 1958, and Company Sergeant Major Percy Bullimore in the sitcom The Army Game from 1957 until 1958, and again in 1960. Hartnell entered the theatre in 1925 working under Frank Benson as a general stagehand. He appeared in numerous Shakespearian plays, including The Merchant of Venice (1926), Julius Caesar (1926), As You Like It (1926), Hamlet (1926), The Tempest (1926) and Macbeth (1926). He also appeared in She Stoops to Conquer (1926), School for Scandal (1926) and Good Morning, Bill (1927), before performing in Miss Elizabeth's Prisoner (1928). This play was written by Robert Neilson Stephens and E. Lyall Swete. It featured the actress Heather McIntyre, whom he married during the following year. His first of more than sixty film appearances was in Say It With Music (1932). Hartnell continued to play comic characters until he was cast in the robust role of Sergeant Ned Fletcher in The Way Ahead (1944). From then on his career was defined by playing mainly policemen, soldiers, and thugs. Hartnell's performance in This Sporting Life was noted by Verity Lambert, the producer who was setting up a new science-fiction television series for the BBC entitled Doctor Who; and, mainly on the strength of that performance, Lambert offered him the title role.
Credits
2024
Adventure • Animation • Drama • Science Fiction
as The Doctor (voice)
2023
Adventure • Drama • Science Fiction • TV Movie
as The Doctor (archive footage)
2015
Comedy • Drama • Science Fiction
as The Doctor (1) (picture) (uncredited)
2008
Adventure • Fantasy • Mystery • Science Fiction • TV Movie
as The Doctor (1) (archive footage)
1984
Adventure • Drama • Science Fiction
as The Doctor (1) (archive footage) (uncredited)
1983
Action • Adventure • Science Fiction • TV Movie
as The Doctor (1) (archive footage)
1983
Action • Adventure • Drama • Science Fiction • TV Movie
as The Doctor (1) (archive footage)
1976
Adventure • Drama • Science Fiction
as The Doctor (1) (picture) (uncredited)
1972
Adventure • Drama • Family • TV Movie
as The Doctor (1) (picture) (uncredited)
1966
Adventure • Drama • Science Fiction
as The Doctor in the mirror (uncredited)
1966
Action • Adventure • Drama • Science Fiction • TV Movie
as The Doctor
1966
Action • Adventure • Drama • History • Science Fiction • TV Movie
as The Doctor / Abbot of Amboise
1965
Action • Adventure • Drama • Science Fiction • TV Movie
as The Doctor
1965
Action • Adventure • Drama • History • Science Fiction • TV Movie
as The Doctor
1964
Action • Adventure • Drama • History • Science Fiction • TV Movie
as The Doctor
1964
Action • Adventure • Drama • Science Fiction • TV Movie
as Dr. Who
