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 Jodie Whittaker, who succeeded Peter Capaldi in the role at the conclusion of the 2017 Christmas special.[1]

Television

Series leads

Actor
(role)
TenureFirst regular appearanceLast regular appearance
William Hartnell
(First Doctor)
23 November 1963 – 29 October 1966
(2 years, 11 months and 6 days)
An Unearthly Child
"An Unearthly Child"
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 1969
(2 years, 7 months and 23 days)
The Power of the Daleks
Episode One
The War Games
Episode Ten
Jon Pertwee
(Third Doctor)
3 January 1970 – 8 June 1974
(4 years, 6 months and 5 days)
Spearhead from Space
Episode One
Planet of the Spiders
Part Six
Tom Baker
(Fourth Doctor)
8 June 1974 – 21 March 1981
(6 years, 8 months and 13 days)
Robot
Part One
Logopolis
Part Four

Tom Baker appeared as the Curator in "The Day of the Doctor" (2013). 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.[2]

Peter Davison
(Fifth Doctor)
21 March 1981 – 16 March 1984
(2 years, 11 months and 24 days)
Castrovalva
Part One
The Caves of Androzani
Part Four
Colin Baker
(Sixth Doctor)
16 March 1984 – 6 December 1986
(2 years, 8 months and 20 days)
The Twin Dilemma
Part One
The Ultimate Foe
Part Two
Sylvester McCoy
(Seventh Doctor)
7 September 1987 – 6 December 1989
(2 years, 2 months and 29 days)
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 2005 – 18 June 2005
(2 months and 23 days)
"Rose""The Parting of the Ways"
David Tennant
(Tenth Doctor)
18 June 2005 – 1 January 2010
(4 years, 6 months and 14 days)
"The Christmas Invasion"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 2013
(3 years, 11 months and 24 days)
"The Eleventh Hour""The Time of the Doctor"
Peter Capaldi
(Twelfth Doctor)
25 December 2013 – 25 December 2017
(4 years)
"Deep Breath""Twice Upon a Time"
Jodie Whittaker
(Thirteenth Doctor)
25 December 2017 – present
(9 months and 17 days)
"The Woman Who Fell to Earth"N/A

Other

ActorTitleDatesRole
Adrian GibbsLogopolis28 February – 21 March 1981The Watcher[Note 2]
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 Doctor18 May 2013The Doctor's incarnation known as the War Doctor,[21] 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
Michael Jones"Listen"13 September 2014The First Doctor as a child; uncredited[22]
David Bradley"The Doctor Falls"1 July 2017The First Doctor. Bradley also portrayed William Hartnell – and consequently the First Doctor – in the docudrama An Adventure in Space and Time (2013).
"Twice Upon a Time" 25 December 2017

Film

ActorTitleDatesRole
Peter CushingDr. Who and the Daleks23 August 1965Dr. Who
Daleks – Invasion Earth: 2150 A.D.5 August 1966

Webcast

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

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 3]
Michael SagarThe Seven Keys to Doomsday24 November – 8 December 1984The Doctor (alternate version, possibly Fourth)[Note 4][23]
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[24][Note 5]
The Web of FearJune 2000The Second Doctor[25]
Fury From the Deep27–30 March 2002
Evil of the Daleks25–28 October 2006
The Dalek Masterplan24–27 October 2007The First Doctor[26]
Nicholas BriggsThe Dalek Masterplan24–27 October 2007The Doctor (regenerated from Nick Scovell's Doctor)

Audio

ActorTitleDatesRole
Steve HillThe Nightmare FairMay 2003Sixth Doctor
Michael JaystonHe Jests at Scars...September 2003The Valeyard (alternate reality version)
Trial of the ValeyardDecember 2013The Valeyard
The Sixth Doctor: The Last AdventureAugust 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
The New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield. Volume Four: Ruler of the Universe20 September 2017
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 6]
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 7]
Peter PurvesThe Early AdventuresDecember 2014 -The First Doctor
Frazer HinesThe Jigsaw WarMay 2012The Second Doctor
The Second Doctor in Jamie's body (The Jigsaw War)
The Lost StoriesDecember 2010 - November 2013
The Light at the End23 October 2013
The Early AdventuresSeptember 2015 -
Trevor MartinThe Seven Keys to Doomsday23 October 2008Alternative Fourth Doctor
William RussellThe Lost StoriesNovember 2010 - September 2013The First Doctor
The Light at the End23 October 2013
The Early AdventuresOctober 2014 -
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
Melvyn HayesThe Scorchies7 March 2013The Third Doctor in Professor Baffle's body
Damian LynchGhost in the MachineOctober 2013The Third Doctor in Benjamin Chikoto's voice
Katy ManningThe Third Doctor in Jo's body
Tim TreloarThe Light at the End23 October 2013The Third Doctor
The Third Doctor Adventures September 2015 -
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 Peri's body
Anthony HowellThe End of the LineAugust 2015Tim Hope (a disguise used by the Valeyard)
Liz WhiteThe Brink of DeathAugust 2015Genesta (a disguise used by the Valeyard)
John HurtThe War Doctor seriesDecember 2015 - February 2017The War Doctor
David Bradley The First Doctor Adventures December 2017 - The First Doctor

Parodies outside the show

ActorTitleDatesRole
Clive DunnIt's a Square World31 December 1963First Doctor ("Doctor Fuzin-gum")
Bernie WintersBig Night Out7 April 1964First Doctor
Gerry GrantSky Ray ice lollies advert1967Second Doctor
Don MacleanCrackerjack's Ello My Dalek1974Fourth Doctor
Tony HughesMathshow21 October 1975 - 15 June 1976Doctor 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
Ronnie BarkerThe Two Ronnies25 December 1983Third Doctor
Lenny HenryThe Lenny Henry Show1986The 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 8]
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

See also

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. At the beginning of the play Martin acted as Jon Pertwee with his face covered and then regenerated.
  4. 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
  5. Scovell also played the Doctor in the Bedlam Theatre fan video production, The Millennium Trap in 1997.
  6. 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).
  7. Culshaw also impersonated the Fourth Doctor, and currently does Tenth Doctor impressions, in the radio and television series Dead Ringers.
  8. Lumley is the first woman to play the Doctor in an officially licensed production.

References

  1. "Doctor Who: Jodie Whittaker is to replace Peter Capaldi in the Time Lord regeneration game". The Telegraph. 16 July 2017. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  2. "Doctor Who: Tom Baker Returns in 50th Special". 23 December 2013. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
  3. (19 December 2008). "Tom Baker Doctor Who 1979 New season advert". YouTube. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
  4. Howe's Transcendental Toybox: The Unauthorised Guide to "Doctor Who" Collectibles by David J. Howe, Telos Publishing, 2003
  5. 1 2 Allen, Ben (4 July 2018). "Doctor Who stars David Tennant and Peter Davison set to join The Muppets live on stage". Radio Times. Immediate Media Company. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
  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. "Christopher Eccleston is back as Doctor Who for fans' wedding video". Radio Times. 10 September 2018. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  11. "The Doctor Who News Page: New Trailer Debuts". Gallifreynewsbase.blogspot.com. 3 April 2006. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
  12. British Broadcasting Corporation (11 December 2012). "'It's Showtime!' with Rob Brydon - Episode Two - BBC One Christmas 2012 Trailer". YouTube. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
  13. "BAFTA Celebrates 50 Years of Doctor Who". BBC. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  14. "Doctor Who Trailer to Celebrate the Last 50 Years". BBC. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  15. "#SaveTheDay". Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  16. "The Day of the Doctor: The Clock's ticking". Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  17. "The Day of the Doctor: It's All Been Leading..." Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  18. "The Science of Doctor Who". Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  19. "Doctor Who: The Ultimate Guide". Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  20. British Broadcasting Corporation (1 December 2012). "Sprout Boy meets a galaxy of stars: Trailer - BBC One Christmas 2015". YouTube. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  21. "The Night of the Doctor: A Mini Episode – Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor". BBC. 14 November 2013. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
  22. Cook, Benjamin (16 November 2017). "Double Bill". Doctor Who Magazine (519): 16.
  23. "The Dalek Invasion of Porirua: 1984". tetrap.com. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
  24. "The Evil of the Daleks Stage Show: The Plays before Evil". www.evilofthedaleks.co.uk. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
  25. "Dalek Links: Evil of the Daleks". dalek links. Archived from the original on 25 July 2011. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
  26. "Dalek Links: The Dalek Masterplan". dalek links. Archived from the original on 25 June 2010. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
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