William Hartnell
🎂 Jan 8, 1908 — 🕯️ Apr 23, 1975 (67 years)
Saint Pancras, London, England, UK
Working since the 1930s, William Hartnell is an actor from Saint Pancras, London, England, UK. The Doctor in Doctor Who remains one of their most memorable roles. Their work further includes Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor and Doctor Who: The Next Doctor. Their filmography spans 125 films and 8 TV productions across 93 years, working mainly across genres like drama, sci-fi, adventure.
67R.I.P.
90Movies
4Series
67 R.I.P.
R.I.P.
90
Movies
4
Series
Movies
Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor
2013
Doctor Who: The Husbands of River Song
2015
Hell Drivers
1957
An Adventure in Space and Time
2013
The Mouse That Roared
1959
The Way Ahead
1944
Carry On Sergeant
1958
Odd Man Out
1947
The Agitator
1945
Brighton Rock
1948
This Sporting Life
1963
Doctor Who: The Daleks
1964
That's Carry On!
1977
Yangtse Incident: The Story of H.M.S. Amethyst
1957
The Magic Box
1952
Escape
1948
Footsteps in the Fog
1955
Shake Hands with the Devil
1959
Doctor Who: Twice Upon a Time
2017
The Ringer
1952
Doctor Who: Wish World & The Reality War
2025
The Pickwick Papers
1952
Private's Progress
1956
Appointment with Crime
1946
Doctor Who: Resurrection of the Daleks
1984
The Holly and the Ivy
1952
Doctor Who at the Proms
2024
The Hypnotist
1957
Doctor Who: The Rescue
1965
Doctor Who: The Daleks' Master Plan
1965
They Flew Alone
1942
They Drive by Night
1938
Heavens Above!
1963
The Goose Steps Out
1942
Tomorrow at Ten
1963
The Bells Go Down
1943
Doctor Who: An Unearthly Child
1963
Doctor Who: The War Machines
1966
Doctor Who: The Brain of Morbius
1976
The Guv'nor
1935
Doctor Who: The Keys of Marinus
1964
Doctor Who: The Romans
1965
Will Any Gentleman...?
1953
Doctor Who: The Power of the Daleks
1966
Now Barabbas
1949
Doctor Who: The Dalek Invasion of Earth
1964
The Lost People
1949
Suspected Person
1942
The Dark Man
1951
Temptation Harbour
1947
Latest Trailers
Watch Trailer
Doctor Who: Wish World & The Reality War
Full Filmography
Doctor Who: Wish World & The Reality War
Dr. Who (archive footage) (uncredited)
2025
Film
Doctor Who: The Savages
The Doctor (voice)
2025
Film
Doctor Who at the Proms
The Doctor (1) (archive footage)
2024
Film
Doctor Who: The Celestial Toymaker
The Doctor (voice)
2024
Film
Tales of the Tardis
The Doctor
2023–
TV
Mission to the Unknown
Dr. Who
2019
Film
Doctor Who: Twice Upon a Time
The Doctor (1) (archive footage)
2017
Film
Doctor Who: The Husbands of River Song
The Doctor (1) (picture) (uncredited)
2015
Film
Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor
The Doctor (1) (archive footage)
2013
Film
Photos
Frequently Asked Questions
Is William Hartnell still alive?
William Hartnell passed away on April 23, 1975 at age 67.
What are the most famous roles of William Hartnell?
William Hartnell is best known as an actor for Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor, Doctor Who: The Next Doctor, Odd Man Out.
How many movies has William Hartnell been in?
William Hartnell has appeared in 125 movies and 8 TV shows.
What was William Hartnell's first movie?
William Hartnell's first credited film was Follow the Lady (1933).
What is William Hartnell's most recent movie?
William Hartnell's most recent movie is Doctor Who: Wish World & The Reality War (2025).
What are William Hartnell's best movies?
William Hartnell's most acclaimed films include: Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor (2013), Doctor Who: The Next Doctor (2008), Odd Man Out (1947), An Adventure in Space and Time (2013), Doctor Who: The Husbands of River Song (2015).
What TV shows has William Hartnell appeared in?
William Hartnell is known for TV work including: Doctor Who, Tales of the Tardis, Doctor Who: The Doctors Revisited, No Hiding Place.
How long has William Hartnell been working in film?
William Hartnell has been active since 1933 — a career spanning 42 years.
William Hartnell
1908-01-08 · Saint Pancras, London, England, UK
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.