List of actors who have played the Doctor

Since the beginning of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who in 1963, many actors have played the title character of The Doctor on television and in various BBC-licensed spin-offs on television, stage, radio, film, audio plays and webcasts. The character's ability to periodically regenerate his appearance and personality has facilitated the ability of new actors to take over the role – in both official and unofficial productions – while in most cases maintaining continuity with the television series.

This list does not include Doctors who have appeared in fan films or amateur stage shows and audios. Nor does it include rare occasions where a companion or other character has impersonated the Doctor (such as Mawdryn in the story arc Mawdryn Undead or Clara Oswald in the TV episode "Death in Heaven").

The incumbent is Peter Capaldi, who succeeded Matt Smith in the role at the conclusion of the 2013 Christmas special, "The Time of the Doctor".[1][2]

Television

Series leads

Actor
(role)
TenureFirst regular appearanceLast regular appearance
William Hartnell
(First Doctor)
23 November 1963 – 29 October 1966An Unearthly Child
Episode 1
The Tenth Planet
Episode 4
William Hartnell also played the Doctor in an initial version of "An Unearthly Child". 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.

Patrick Troughton
(Second Doctor)
29 October 1966 – 21 June 1969The Tenth Planet
Episode 4
The War Games
Episode 10
Jon Pertwee
(Third Doctor)
3 January 1970 – 8 June 1974Spearhead from Space
Episode 1
Planet of the Spiders
Part Six
Tom Baker
(Fourth Doctor)
8 June 1974 – 21 March 1981Planet of the Spiders
Part Six
Logopolis
Part Four

Tom Baker appeared as the Curator in The Day of the Doctor. It was implied that he was a future incarnation of the Doctor revisiting "a few of the old favourites" of his past faces, and who had retired from adventuring and was now the curator of the National Gallery in London.[3]

Peter Davison
(Fifth Doctor)
21 March 1981 – 16 March 1984Logopolis
Part Four
The Caves of Androzani
Part Four
Colin Baker
(Sixth Doctor)
16 March 1984 – 6 December 1986The Caves of Androzani
Part Four
The Ultimate Foe
Part Two
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 blond wig.

Paul McGann
(Eighth Doctor)
27 May 1996Doctor Who
Christopher Eccleston
(Ninth Doctor)
26 March – 18 June 2005"Rose""The Parting of the Ways"
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 Doctor's half-human clone in "Journey's End" – 5 July 2008

Matt Smith
(Eleventh Doctor)
1 January 2010 – 25 December 2013The End of Time
Part Two
"The Time of the Doctor"
Peter Capaldi
(Twelfth Doctor)
25 December 2013 – present"The Time of the Doctor"N/A

Other

ActorTitleDatesRole
Adrian GibbsLogopolis28 February – 21 March 1981The Watcher[Note 2]
Castrovalva4 January 1982
Richard HurndallThe Five Doctors23 November 1983Hurndall replaced William Hartnell, who had died in 1975, as the First Doctor for the show's 20th anniversary special.
Michael JaystonThe Trial of a Time Lord6 September – 6 December 1986The Valeyard (an evil version of the Doctor, existing somewhere between his twelfth and final incarnations).
Geoffrey HughesThe Ultimate Foe29 November – 6 December 1986Mr Popplewick (a disguise used by The Valeyard)
Toby Jones"Amy's Choice"15 May 2010The Dream Lord
John GuilorPlanet of Giants DVD20 August 2012The First Doctor's re-dubbed voice work in the reconstruction of the original 3rd and 4th episodes
"The Day of the Doctor"23 November 2013The First Doctor's vocal cameo.
John Hurt"The Name of the Doctor 18 May 2013 The Doctor's incarnation known as the War Doctor,[20] whose actions in the Time War were so drastic that he deemed himself unworthy of the name "Doctor".
"The Night of the Doctor" 14 November 2013
"The Day of the Doctor" 23 November 2013
"The Day of the Doctor" cinema introduction 23 November 2013

Outside the show

ActorTitleDatesRole
Clive DunnIt's a Square World31 December 1963First Doctor
Bernie WintersBig Night Out1964First Doctor
Gerry GrantIce Ray Lollies Advert1967Second Doctor
Don MacleanCrackerjack's Ello My Dalek1974Fourth Doctor
Tony HughesMathshow1975Doctor How
Rod HullEmu's Broadcasting Company's Day of the Dustbins1977Doctor Emu
Fred HarrisEnd of Part One1979Fourth Doctor/Doctor Eyes
Ron BainA Kick Up the Eighties1981Fifth Doctor
Lenny HenryThe Lenny Henry Show1986The Doctor
Ronnie BarkerThe Two Ronnies1986Third Doctor
Ian KrankieThe Krankie's Elektronik Komik1986Seventh Doctor
George LaytonFrench and Saunders deleted scene1987Fourth Doctor
Jim BroadbentVictoria Wood As Seen On TV18 December 1987The Doctor
John PhilpottThe Corridor Sketch1991First Doctor
Rob Sitch"The Late Show (Australian TV Series)" Sketch1992The Doctor
Peter Russell-Clarke"The Late Show (Australian TV Series)" Sketch1992The Next Doctor
Paul BarberU.F.O.10 December 1993The Doctor
Jeremy BeadleBeadle's Hotshots1996Doctor What
Steve VizardFast Forward1996Fourth Doctor/Doctor Hewson
Paul O'GradyThe Lily Savage Show1996Female Doctor
Bob MortimerShooting Stars1996The First Doctor
Matt LucasShooting Stars1996The Second Doctor
Vic ReevesShooting Stars1996The Third Doctor
Mark LamarrShooting Stars1996The Fourth Doctor
Gary BleasdaleHarry Enfield and Chums1996Scouse Doctor
Pauline QuirkeBBC Choice Advert1998The Fourth Doctor
Rowan AtkinsonThe Curse of Fatal Death12 March 1999The Doctor
Richard E. GrantThe Curse of Fatal Death12 March 1999The Quite Handsome Doctor
Jim BroadbentThe Curse of Fatal Death12 March 1999The Shy Doctor
Hugh GrantThe Curse of Fatal Death12 March 1999The Handsome Doctor
Joanna LumleyThe Curse of Fatal Death12 March 1999The Female Doctor[Note 3]
Mark GatissThe Web of Caves13 November 1999Eighth Doctor
Jon CulshawDead Ringers2000–07Fourth Doctor, both radio and television
Les HubbHububb: "Dr Woo and the Kelads"22 February 2001Dr Woo
John FieldGene GeniusAugust 2004Third Doctor
Ethan McKinleyThe Charlotte Church Show2006Tenth Doctor
Todd CartyThe Charlotte Church Show2006Eleventh Doctor
Seth GreenRobot Chicken2006Fourth Doctor
James HurnGina's Laughing Gear2007Tenth Doctor
Justin Lee CollinsSaturday Night Project2007Tenth Doctor
Sylvester McCoyDoctors2008Lollipop Man
Catherine TateSunday Night Project2009Tenth Doctor
Mark PerryDead RingersDecember 2009Second Doctor
Kevin ConnellyDead RingersDecember 2009Seventh Doctor
Phil CornwellDead RingersDecember 2009Ninth Doctor
Jon CulshawDead RingersDecember 2009Tenth Doctor
Harry EnfieldHarry and Paul2010Reg Varney Doctor
Brian DrummondMy Little Pony: Friendship is Magic2011Doctor Whooves
Ian HislopHave I Got News for You Promo2013Fourth Doctor
Paul MertonHave I Got News for You Promo2013Fourth Doctor
Lewis MacleodToast of London2013Fourth Doctor
Will FriedleMad2 September 2013Tenth Doctor
Nolan NorthMad2 September 2013Eleventh Doctor
Tim RothRobot Chicken's Doctor Who Meets the Nerd2014Twelfth Doctor
Phil VischerVeggieTales' Veggies in Space: The Fennel Frontier2014Doctor Who
Lewis MacleodNewzoids2015Twelfth Doctor
Peter NewMy Little Pony: Friendship is Magic2015Doctor Whooves
Tim DannOOglies2015Doctor Rhubarb
Richard McCourtDiddy TV2016Twelfth Doctor

Film

ActorTitleDatesRole
Peter CushingDr. Who and the Daleks23 August 1965Dr. Who
Daleks – Invasion Earth: 2150 A.D.5 August 1966
Kenneth WilliamsCarry on Screaming!1966Dr Watt (Parody of the Doctor however stated as cousin)

Theatre

ActorTitleDatesRole
Trevor MartinThe Seven Keys to Doomsday16 December 1974 – 7 January 1975Alternative Fourth Doctor (shown on stage to be regenerated from the Third Doctor)[Note 4]
Michael SagarThe Seven Keys to Doomsday24 November – 8 December 1984The Doctor (alternate version, possibly Fourth)[Note 5][21]
David BanksDoctor Who – The Ultimate Adventure29 April 1989The Doctor (understudy for Jon Pertwee; performed as the Doctor for two performances when Pertwee fell ill)
Nick ScovellThe Planet of StormsOctober 1996The Doctor[22][Note 6]
The Web of FearJune 2000The Second Doctor[23]
Fury From the Deep27–30 March 2002
Evil of the Daleks25–28 October 2006
The Dalek Masterplan24–27 October 2007The First Doctor[24]
Nicholas BriggsThe Dalek Masterplan24–27 October 2007The Doctor (regenerated from Nick Scovell's Doctor)

Audio

Actor Title Dates Role
Steve HillThe Nightmare FairMay 2003Sixth Doctor
Michael JaystonHe Jests at Scars...September 2003The Valeyard (alternate reality version)
Trial of the Valeyard December 2013The Valeyard
The Sixth Doctor: The Last Adventure August 2015
Geoffrey BayldonAuld MortalityMay 2003Alternative Doctor
A Storm of AngelsJanuary 2005
David WarnerSympathy for the DevilJune 2003Alternative Doctor
Masters of WarDecember 2008
The New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield. Volume Three: The Unbound Universe24 August 2016
David CollingsFull Fathom FiveAugust 2003Alternative Doctor
Ian BrookerFull Fathom FiveAugust 2003Alternative Doctor (uncredited)
Arabella WeirExileSeptember 2003Alternative Doctor
Nicholas BriggsExileSeptember 2003The previous incarnation of Arabella Weir's Doctor.[Note 7]
The Seven Keys to Doomsday23 October 2008The Third Doctor
Joe BassettMasterOctober 2003Child version of the First Doctor heard briefly in a flashback; credited only as "Child".
Jon CulshawThe KingmakerApril 2006The Fourth Doctor[Note 8]
Trevor MartinThe Seven Keys to Doomsday23 October 2008Alternative Fourth Doctor
India FisherSolitaireJune 2010The Eighth Doctor speaking through Charley Pollard
David TroughtonSerpent Crest: The Hexford Invasion/Survivors in SpaceDecember 2011Clone of the Second Doctor
Terry MolloyThe Curse of DavrosJanuary 2012The Sixth Doctor in the body of Davros
Damian LynchGhost in the MachineOctober 2013The Third Doctor
Katy ManningThe Third Doctor in Jo's body
William RussellThe Light at the End23 October 2013The First Doctor
The Doctor's Tale October 2014
The Age of Endurance September 2016[25]
The Fifth Traveller October 2016[26]
Frazer HinesThe Light at the End23 October 2013 The Second Doctor
The Yes MenSeptember 2015
The ForsakenOctober 2015
The Black HoleNovember 2015
The Ios NetworkJanuary 2016
Tim TreloarThe Light at the End23 October 2013The Third Doctor
Prisoners of the Lake September 2015
The Havoc Empire
John BanksTrial of the ValeyardDecember 2013The Hermit / The Thirteenth Doctor (a disguise used by the Valeyard)
Nicola BryantThe Widow's Assassin30 October 2014The Sixth Doctor in the body of Peri Brown
Peter Purves An Ordinary Life December 2014The First Doctor
The Ravelli Conspiracy November 2016[27]
The Sontarans December 2016[28]
Anthony HowellThe End of the LineAugust 2015Tim Hope (a disguise used by the Valeyard)
John Hurt The War Doctor series December 2015- The War Doctor

Webcast

ActorTitleDatesRole
Richard E. GrantScream of the Shalka13 November – 18 December 2003A previously official Ninth Doctor prior to the show's 2005 revival

Notes

  1. This trailer was shown at the end of The Enemy of the World Episode 6, with the Doctor advising younger viewers that the Yeti would be appearing in the next adventure, and would be a little more frightening than their last encounter (The Abominable Snowmen), and if their mummy and daddy were scared to "just get them to hold your hand".
  2. Nyssa comments, "He was the Doctor all the time."
  3. Lumley is the first woman to play the Doctor in an officially licensed production.
  4. At the beginning of the play Martin acted as Jon Pertwee with his face covered and then regenerated.
  5. Porirua Little Theatre production, directed by Brian Hudson. This New Zealand production had approval from writer Terrance Dicks, the BBC (for the use of the Doctor), and Terry Nation (for the use of the Daleks) and did not include a regeneration sequence
  6. Scovell also played the Doctor in the Bedlam Theatre fan video production, The Millennium Trap in 1997.
  7. Briggs had previously played the Doctor in a series of fan-made audio stories for Audio Visuals, including the original version of Minuet In Hell. He appeared in all but the pilot, in which the Doctor was voiced by Stephen Payne. Brigg's Audio Visuals Doctor was the inspiration for a future incarnation of the Doctor that appeared with the Seventh Doctor and Ace, in the Doctor Who Magazine comic adventure “Party Animals” in issue 173. Brigg’s future Doctor made a reappearance in the fourth part of the DWM comic “The Final Chapter” (issue 265), when the Eighth Doctor regenerates into him. This “Ninth Doctor” was revealed to be Shayde acting undercover for the Eighth Doctor in the next story “Wormwood” (DWM issues 266–271).
  8. Culshaw also impersonated the Fourth Doctor, and currently does Tenth Doctor impressions, in the radio and television series Dead Ringers.

See also

References

  1. Tim Masters (1 June 2013). "Matt Smith to leave Doctor Who at the end of year". BBC News Online.
  2. "Doctor Who: Peter Capaldi revealed as 12th Doctor". BBC News Online. 4 August 2013.
  3. "Doctor Who: Tom Baker Returns in 50th Special". 23 December 2013. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
  4. (19 December 2008). "Tom Baker Doctor Who 1979 New season advert". YouTube. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
  5. Howe's Transcendental Toybox: The Unauthorised Guide to "Doctor Who" Collectibles by David J. Howe, Telos Publishing, 2003
  6. "Doctor Who: The Night Of The Doctor Schedule Released For BBC Red Button". Retrieved 16 November 2013.
  7. "The Doctor Who News Page: First "Proper" Trailer Airs, plus Screen Grabs". Gallifreynewsbase.blogspot.com. 15 March 2005. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
  8. Methven, Nicola (6 February 2015). "Christopher Eccleston plays Doctor Who to help a young couple get engaged". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
  9. Jeffery, Morgan (14 December 2015). "Christopher Eccleston plays the ninth Doctor again in a touching video for sick Doctor Who fan". Digital Spy. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
  10. "The Doctor Who News Page: New Trailer Debuts". Gallifreynewsbase.blogspot.com. 3 April 2006. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
  11. British Broadcasting Corporation (11 December 2012). "'It's Showtime!' with Rob Brydon - Episode Two - BBC One Christmas 2012 Trailer". YouTube. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
  12. "BAFTA Celebrates 50 Years of Doctor Who". BBC. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  13. "Doctor Who Trailer to Celebrate the Last 50 Years". BBC. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  14. "#SaveTheDay". Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  15. "The Day of the Doctor: The Clock's ticking". Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  16. "The Day of the Doctor: It's All Been Leading...". Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  17. "The Science of Doctor Who". Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  18. "Doctor Who: The Ultimate Guide". Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  19. British Broadcasting Corporation (1 December 2012). "Sprout Boy meets a galaxy of stars: Trailer - BBC One Christmas 2015". YouTube. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  20. "The Night of the Doctor: A Mini Episode – Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor". BBC. 14 November 2013. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
  21. "The Dalek Invasion of Porirua: 1984". tetrap.com. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
  22. "The Evil of the Daleks Stage Show: The Plays before Evil". www.evilofthedaleks.co.uk. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
  23. "Dalek Links: Evil of the Daleks". dalek links. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
  24. "Dalek Links: The Dalek Masterplan". dalek links. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
  25. https://www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/the-age-of-endurance-1080
  26. https://www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/the-fifth-traveller-1081
  27. https://www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/the-ravelli-conspiracy-1082
  28. https://www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/the-sontarans-1083
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