William Hartnell
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
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.
Born
Jan 08, 1908
Saint Pancras, London, England, UK
Died
Apr 23, 1975
Known For
Acting
Movies
125 acting
0 crew
Popularity
2.6
Known For
Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor
2013
as The Doctor (1) (archive footage)
Doctor Who: Twice Upon a Time
2017
as The Doctor (1) (archive footage)
The Mouse That Roared
1959
as Will Buckley
An Adventure in Space and Time
2013
as The Doctor (1) (archive footage)
Doctor Who: The Next Doctor
2008
as The Doctor (1) (archive footage)
Odd Man Out
1947
as Fencie - the barman
This Sporting Life
1963
as 'Dad' Johnson
Doctor Who: The Husbands of River Song
2015
as The Doctor (1) (picture) (uncredited)
Brighton Rock
1948
as Dallow
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