William Hartnell

William Hartnell
Hartnell in 1946
Born
William Henry Hartnell

(1908-01-08)8 January 1908
London, England
Died23 April 1975(1975-04-23) (aged 67)
Marden, Kent, England
Alma materItalia Conti Academy
Years active1925–1973
Known forFirst Doctor in Doctor Who
Spouse
Heather McIntyre
(m. 1929)
Children1
RelativesNorman Hartnell (second cousin)

William Henry Hartnell (/ˈhɑːrtnəl/; 8 January 1908 – 23 April 1975) was an English actor, who is best known for portraying the first incarnation of the Doctor, in the long-running British science-fiction television series Doctor Who from 1963 to 1966; he reprised the role in 1972–1973. In film, Hartnell notably appeared in Brighton Rock (1949), The Mouse That Roared (1959) and This Sporting Life (1963). He was associated with military roles, playing Company Sergeant Major Percy Bullimore in the ITV sitcom The Army Game (1957, 1961) and Sergeant Grimshaw, the title character in the first Carry On film Carry On Sergeant (1958).