William Hartnell
Known for
Acting
Born
January 8, 1908
Birthplace
Saint Pancras, London, England, UK
Died
April 23, 1975 (aged 67)
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...
Best known work
Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor
2013
Doctor Who
1963
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
The Mouse That Roared
1959
Brighton Rock
1948
Doctor Who: Twice Upon a Time
2017
This Sporting Life
1963Filmography
2025
Doctor Who: Wish World & The Reality Waras Dr. Who (archive footage) (uncredited)
2025
Doctor Who: The Savagesas The Doctor (voice)
2024
Doctor Who at the Promsas The Doctor (1) (archive footage)
2024
Doctor Who: The Celestial Toymakeras The Doctor (voice)
2023
Doctor Who: The Daleks in Colouras The Doctor (archive footage)
2023
Talking Doctor Whoas Self / The Doctor (1) (archive footage)
2023
2021
Doctor Who: Galaxy 4as The Doctor (voice)
2021
2017
Doctor Who: Twice Upon a Timeas The Doctor (1) (archive footage)
2015
Doctor Who: The Husbands of River Songas The Doctor (1) (picture) (uncredited)
2013
Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctoras The Doctor (1) (archive footage)
2013
An Adventure in Space and Timeas The Doctor (1) (archive footage)
2013
2012
Don't Lose Your Head: The Making of 'The Reign of Terror'as The Doctor (archive footage)
2012
Vision Onas The Doctor (archive footage)
2009
The Sets of Marinusas The Doctor (archive footage)
2009
Mounting the Rescueas The Doctor (1) (archive footage)
2008
Doctor Who: The Next Doctoras The Doctor (1) (archive footage)
2008
The Ties That Bind Usas The First Doctor (archive footage)
2006
Creation of the Daleksas The Doctor (archive footage)
2006
Masters of Soundas The Doctor (archive footage)
2006
Inside the Spaceship: The Story of the TARDISas The Doctor (archive footage)
2006
Doctor Who: Originsas The Doctor (archive footage)
2003
Future Memories: Making 'The Dalek Invasion of Earth'as The Doctor (1) (archive footage)