List of Actors Who Have Played The Doctor - Actors in The Official Television Continuity

Actors in The Official Television Continuity

Actor
(role)
Tenure First appearance Last appearance
William Hartnell
(First Doctor)
23 November 1963 – 29 October 1966 An Unearthly Child
Episode 1
The Tenth Planet
Episode 4

William Hartnell played the Doctor in "An Unearthly Child" also known as 'The Pilot Episode'. This was the first attempt at the first episode of the original series filmed in September 1963, and first released on The Hartnell Years VHS in 1990.

Other appearances:

  • Television: The Power of the Daleks – 5 November 1966 (appears briefly as an image in a mirror the newly regenerated Second Doctor looks into)
  • Television: The Claws Of Axos - 13 March 1971 (Image partially shown flickering on screen as the Doctor enters Axos for the first time in episode 1)
  • Television: Day of the Daleks (Images shown on screen when the Daleks' extract the Doctor's identity with a “mind probe”) – 15 January 1972 (reprised – 22 January 1972)
  • Television: The Three Doctors – 30 December 1972 – 20 January 1973
  • Television: The Brain of Morbius (Image shown during the Doctor's mind bending battle with Morbius) – 24 January 1976
  • Television: Earthshock (archive footage) – 10 March 1982
  • Television: Mawdryn Undead (archive footage) – 2 February 1983
  • Television: The Five Doctors (archive footage in the pre-credits sequence) – 23 November 1983
  • Television: Resurrection of the Daleks (archive footage) – 15 February 1984
  • Television: "The Next Doctor" (archive footage) – 25 December 2008
  • Television: "The Eleventh Hour" (archive footage) – 3 April 2010
  • Television: "The Vampires of Venice" (photograph) – 8 May 2010
  • Television: "Vincent and the Doctor" (archive footage) – 5 June 2010
  • Television: "The Lodger" (archive footage) – 12 June 2010
  • Television: The Sarah Jane Adventures serial Death of the Doctor (archive footage) – 26 October 2010
Patrick Troughton
(Second Doctor)
29 October 1966 – 21 June 1969 The Tenth Planet
Episode 4
The War Games
Episode 10

Other appearances:

  • Television: Viewer advisory announcement for The Web of Fear – 27 January 1968
  • Television: The Claws Of Axos - 13 March 1971 (Image partially shown flickering on screen as the Doctor enters Axos for the first time in episode 1)
  • Television: Day of the Daleks (Images shown on screen when the Daleks' extract the Doctor's identity with a “mind probe”) – 15 January 1972 (reprised – 22 January 1972)
  • Television: The Three Doctors – 30 December 1972 – 20 January 1973
  • Television: The Brain of Morbius (Image shown during the Doctor's mind bending battle with Morbius) – 24 January 1976
  • Television: Earthshock (archive footage) – 10 March 1982
  • Television: Mawdryn Undead (archive footage) – 2 February 1983
  • Television: The Five Doctors – 23 November 1983
  • Television: Resurrection of the Daleks (archive footage) – 15 February 1984
  • Television: The Two Doctors – 16 February – 2 March 1985
  • Television: "The Next Doctor" (archive footage) – 25 December 2008
  • Television: "The Eleventh Hour" (archive footage) – 3 April 2010
  • Television: "Vincent and the Doctor" (archive footage) – 5 June 2010
  • Television: "The Lodger" (archive footage) – 12 June 2010
  • Television: The Sarah Jane Adventures serial Death of the Doctor (archive footage) – 26 October 2010
Jon Pertwee
(Third Doctor)
3 January 1970 – 8 June 1974 Spearhead from Space
Episode 1
Planet of the Spiders
Part Six

Other appearances:

  • Stage: Seven Keys to Doomsday (filmed regeneration sequence) – 16 December 1974 – January 1975
  • Television: Robot (Reprise from "Planet of the Spiders") – 28 December 1974
  • Television: The Brain of Morbius (Image shown during the Doctor's mind bending battle with Morbius) – 24 January 1976
  • Television: Mawdryn Undead (archive footage) – 2 February 1983
  • Television: The Five Doctors – 23 November 1983
  • Television: Resurrection of the Daleks (archive footage) – 15 February 1984
  • Television: Timelash (Picture they find behind a wall) - 16 March 1985
  • Stage: Doctor Who - The Ultimate Adventure – 23 March – 3 June 1989
  • Radio: The Paradise of Death – 27 August – 24 September 1993
  • Television: Dimensions in Time – 26–27 November 1993
  • Radio: The Ghosts of N-Space – 20 January – 24 February 1996
  • Computer game: Destiny of the Doctors (archive recordings of voice) – 5 December 1997
  • Audio: Zagreus (archive recording) – November 2003
  • Television: "The Next Doctor" (archive footage) – 25 December 2008
  • Television: The Sarah Jane Adventures serial The Mad Woman in the Attic (archive footage) – 23 October 2009
  • Television: "The Eleventh Hour" (archive footage) – 3 April 2010
  • Television: "The Lodger" (archive footage) – 12 June 2010
  • Television: The Sarah Jane Adventures serial Death of the Doctor (archive footage) – 25 and 26 October 2010
Tom Baker
(Fourth Doctor)
8 June 1974 – 21 March 1981 Planet of the Spiders
Part Six
Logopolis
Part Four

Other appearances:

  • LP: The Pescatons – July 1976
  • Radio: Exploration Earth, Episode 3: "The Time Machine" – 4 October 1976
  • Television commercial: Doctor Who Season 17 Trailer – August 1979
  • LP: Genesis of the Daleks – October 1979 (audio version of serial with new narration performed in-character)
  • Television commercials: Keep Australia Beautiful – 1979
  • Television commercials: Prime Computers – 1979–1980
  • Television: Earthshock (archive footage) – 10 March 1982
  • Television: Mawdryn Undead (archive footage) – 2 February 1983
  • Television: The Five Doctors (archive footage) – 23 November 1983
  • Television: Resurrection of the Daleks (archive footage) – 15 February 1984
  • Cassette: The Evil of the Daleks – 6 July 1992 (audio version of serial with new narration performed in-character)
  • Cassette: The Power of the Daleks – 2 August 1993 (audio version of serial with new narration performed in-character)
  • Cassette: Fury From the Deep – 4 October 1993 (audio version of serial with new narration performed in-character)
  • Television: Dimensions in Time – 26–27 November 1993
  • Television commercials: New Zealand Superannuation Services – 1996
  • Computer game: Destiny of the Doctors – 5 December 1997
  • Television: "The Next Doctor" (archive footage) – 25 December 2008
  • Audio: Hornet's Nest – 3 September 2009 – 3 December 2009
  • Television: The Sarah Jane Adventures serial The Mad Woman in the Attic (archive footage) – 23 October 2009
  • Television: "The Eleventh Hour" (archive footage) – 3 April 2010
  • Television: "The Lodger" (archive footage) – 12 June 2010
  • Audio: Demon Quest – 2 September 2010 – 2 December 2010
  • Television: The Sarah Jane Adventures serial Death of the Doctor (archive footage) – 25 and 26 October 2010
  • Television: "The Almost People" (archive recording of voice) - 28 May 2011
  • Audio: Serpent Crest - 8 September 2011 - 8 December 2011
  • Audio: Big Finish Productions – 9 January 2012 onwards (first story Destination Nerva)
Peter Davison
(Fifth Doctor)
21 March 1981 – 16 March 1984 Logopolis
Part Four
The Caves of Androzani
Part Four

Other appearances:

  • Television: Dimensions in Time – 26–27 November 1993
  • Computer game: Destiny of the Doctors – 5 December 1997
  • Audio: Big Finish Productions – 19 July 1999 onwards (first story The Sirens of Time)
  • Television: Children in Need special episode, "Time Crash" – 16 November 2007
  • Television: "The Next Doctor" (archive footage) – 25 December 2008
  • Television: "The Eleventh Hour" (archive footage) – 3 April 2010
  • Television: "The Lodger" (archive footage) – 12 June 2010
Richard Hurndall
(First Doctor)
23 November 1983 The Five Doctors

Hurndall replaced William Hartnell, who had died in 1975, as the First Doctor for the show's 20th anniversary special.

Colin Baker
(Sixth Doctor)
16 March 1984 – 6 December 1986 The Caves of Androzani
Part Four
The Ultimate Foe
Part Two

Other appearances:

  • Television: Jim'll Fix ItA Fix with Sontarans – 23 February 1985
  • Radio: Slipback – 25 July – 22 August 1985
  • Stage: Doctor Who - The Ultimate Adventure – 5 June – 19 August 1989
  • Television: Dimensions in Time – 26–27 November 1993
  • Computer game: Destiny of the Doctors – 5 December 1997
  • Audio: Big Finish Productions – 19 July 1999 onwards (first story The Sirens of Time)
  • Webcast: Real Time – 2 August – 6 September 2002
  • Television: "The Next Doctor" (archive footage) – 25 December 2008
  • Television: "The Eleventh Hour" (archive footage) – 3 April 2010
  • Television: "The Lodger" (archive footage) – 12 June 2010
Sylvester McCoy
(Seventh Doctor)
7 September 1987 – 6 December 1989
27 May 1996
Time and the Rani
Part One
Doctor Who

Sylvester McCoy also briefly played the Sixth Doctor in Time and the Rani, during the regeneration scene, wearing a curly blonde wig.

Other appearances:

  • Television: Search Out ScienceSearch Out Space – 21 November 1990
  • Pinball machine: Doctor Who – September 1992
  • Television: Dimensions in Time – 26–27 November 1993
  • Computer game: Destiny of the Doctors – 5 December 1997
  • Audio: Big Finish Productions – 19 July 1999 onwards (first story The Sirens of Time)
  • Webcast: Death Comes to Time – 12 July 2001 – 30 May 2002
  • Television: "The Next Doctor" (archive footage) – 25 December 2008
  • Television: "The Eleventh Hour" (archive footage) – 3 April 2010
  • Television: "The Lodger" (archive footage) – 12 June 2010
Paul McGann
(Eighth Doctor)
27 May 1996 Doctor Who Doctor Who

Other appearances:

  • Audio: Big Finish Productions – 22 January 2001 onwards (first story Storm Warning)
  • Webcast: Shada – 2 May – 6 June 2003
  • Radio: BBC7 plays – 31 December 2006 – 18 February 2007 (first story Blood of the Daleks Part 1, last story Human Resources Part 2)
  • Television: "The Next Doctor" (archive footage) – 25 December 2008
  • Television: "The Eleventh Hour" (archive footage) – 3 April 2010
  • Television: "The Lodger" (archive footage) – 12 June 2010
Christopher Eccleston
(Ninth Doctor)
26 March – 18 June 2005 "Rose" "The Parting of the Ways"

Other appearances:

  • Television commercial: Doctor Who (series 1) Trailer “A trip of a lifetime” – 15 March 2005
  • Television: "Children in Need special" (reprise from "Parting of the Ways") – 18 November 2005
  • Television: "Army of Ghosts" (archive footage) – 1 July 2006
  • Television: "The Next Doctor" (archive footage) – 25 December 2008
  • Television: "The Eleventh Hour" (archive footage) – 3 April 2010
  • Television: "The Lodger" (archive footage) – 12 June 2010
David Tennant
(Tenth Doctor)
18 June 2005 – 1 January 2010 "The Parting of the Ways" The End of Time
Part Two

David Tennant also played the half-human Doctor in "Journey's End" – 5 July 2008

Other appearances:

  • Television: "Children in Need special" – 18 November 2005
  • Interactive game: "Attack of the Graske" – 25 December 2005
  • Television commercial: Doctor Who (series 2) Trailer – 1 April 2006
  • Television: The Infinite Quest – 2 April – 30 June 2007
  • Television: Children in Need special episode, '" Time Crash" – 16 November 2007
  • Stage/Radio: "Music of the Spheres" – 27 July 2008
  • Television: The Sarah Jane Adventures serial Secrets of the Stars (archive footage) – 20 October 2008
  • Television: The Sarah Jane Adventures serial, The Wedding of Sarah Jane Smith – 29 and 30 October 2009
  • Red Button Service/Television: Dreamland – 21–26 November 2009
  • Television commercials: BBC One 2009 Christmas ident – 2 December 2009
  • Television: "The Eleventh Hour" (archive footage) – 3 April 2010
  • Television: "The Lodger" (archive footage) – 12 June 2010
  • Television: The Sarah Jane Adventures serial Death of the Doctor (archive footage) – 25 and 26 October 2010
  • Television: "The Almost People" (archive recording of voice) - 28 May 2011
  • Television: The Sarah Jane Adventures serial The Man Who Never Was (archive footage) - 18 October 2011
Matt Smith
(Eleventh Doctor)
1 January 2010 – present The End of Time
Part Two
Present

Other appearances:

  • Online/Television commercial: Doctor Who (series 5) “3D Vortex” trailer – 20 February 2010
  • Television commercial: ABC1 (Australia) coming up next spot – 18 April 2010
  • Video games: "Doctor Who: The Adventure Games" – 5 June 2010 – 31 October 2011 (first story "City of the Daleks", last story "The Gunpowder Plot")
  • Stage/Radio: Doctor Who Prom (2010) – 24–25 July 2010
  • Stage/Arena: Doctor Who Live (filmed sequences) – 8 October – 7 November 2010
  • Television: The Sarah Jane Adventures serial Death of the Doctor – 25 and 26 October 2010
  • DVD Extras: Meanwhile in the TARDIS (two scenes set between The Eleventh Hour & The Beast Below and Flesh and Stone & The Vampires of Venice included in the Complete Fifth Series box set) - 8 November 2010
  • Video game: Nintendo DS Evacuation Earth – 12 November 2010
  • Video game: Nintendo Wii Return to Earth – 19 November 2010
  • Video game: iPod The Mazes of Time - 16 December 2010
  • Television/online commercial: BBC America Series 6 Promo – 25 December 2010
  • Television: ITV1 16th National Television Awards opening scene – 26 January 2011
  • Exhibition/3D Video: Doctor Who Experience (filmed 3D sequences) – 20 February 2011
  • Television: Comic Relief special episodes Space Time – 18 March 2011
  • Stage: The Crash of the Elysium (filmed sequences) – 1-17 July 2011 (appeared live in character on 16 July 2011)
  • Web: Let's Kill Hitler Prequel - 15 August 2011
  • Television: Doctor Who Confidential: Death Is the Only Answer - 1 October 2011
  • Children in Need auction promotional video - 18 November 2011
  • DVD Extras: Night and the Doctor (five mini-episodes included in the Complete Sixth Series box set) - 21 November 2011
  • Web: The Doctor, The Widow and the Wardrobe prequel - December 2011
  • Web: Promotion for Blue Peter-sponsored Script to Screen competition - 12 January 2012
  • Video game: PlayStation Network The Eternity Clock - May 2012
  • Television: Blue Peter special mini-episode, Good as Gold - 24 May 2012
  • Web: Pond Life five-part prequel - 27-31 August 2012
  • Web: P.S. (reprise from The Power of Three) - 11 October 2012
  • Television: Children in Need The Great Detective - 16 November 2012

Read more about this topic:  List Of Actors Who Have Played The Doctor

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