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William Russell(1924-2024)

  • Actor
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
William Russell
Clip: Katherine finds out she's dying
Play clip2:19
Death Watch
1 Video
13 Photos
William Russell was born William Russell Enoch on 19 November 1924, in Sunderland, County Durham, England, to Eva Compston (Pile) and Alfred James Enoch. He became interested in acting at an early age. He was involved in organizing entertainments during his national service in the Royal Air Force and then, after university, went into repertory theatre. He appeared in "Hamlet" in London's West End and won a number of film roles, usually as a dashing hero. Notable TV work followed in The Adventures of Sir Lancelot (1956) for ITV and Nicholas Nickleby (1957) and David Copperfield in Fredric March Presents Tales from Dickens (1959) for the BBC, shortly after which he was cast as Ian Chesterton in Doctor Who (1963). He later continued a successful acting career, particularly in the theatre, and for a time held a senior post in the actor's union, Equity. In recent years he has been a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company.

His son is actor Alfred Enoch.
BornNovember 19, 1924
DiedJune 3, 2024(99)
BornNovember 19, 1924
DiedJune 3, 2024(99)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank

Photos13

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Known for

Richard Attenborough, Steve McQueen, and James Garner in The Great Escape (1963)
The Great Escape
8.2
  • Sorren
  • 1963
Gene Hackman, Terence Stamp, Ned Beatty, Christopher Reeve, Jackie Cooper, Sarah Douglas, Jeff East, Margot Kidder, Jack O'Halloran, Valerie Perrine, and Susannah York in Superman (1978)
Superman
7.4
  • 8th Elder
  • 1978
William Russell and Judy Matheson in Harriet's Back in Town (1972)
Harriet's Back in Town
7.3
TV Series
  • Tom Preston
St. Ives
TV Series
  • St. Ives

Credits

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IMDbPro

Actor



  • Christopher Eccleston, Peter Capaldi, David Tennant, Matt Smith, and Jodie Whittaker in Doctor Who (2005)
    Doctor Who
    8.5
    TV Series
    • Ian Chesterton
    • 2022
  • Taís Araújo, Alfred Enoch, and Seu Jorge in Executive Order (2020)
    Executive Order
    6.6
    • 2020
  • Susan's War (2020)
    Susan's War
    Podcast Series
    • Ian Chesterton (voice)
    • 2020
  • Doctor Who: The Early Adventures (2014)
    Doctor Who: The Early Adventures
    9.1
    Podcast Series
    • Ian Chesterton
    • The Doctor
    • Narrator (voice)
    • 2014–2016
  • The Visit (2016)
    The Visit
    7.9
    Short
    • Hospital Patient
    • 2016
  • Doctor Who: The Companion Chronicles (2007)
    Doctor Who: The Companion Chronicles
    7.8
    Podcast Series
    • Ian Chesterton
    • Narrator (voice)
    • 2009–2014
  • An Adventure in Space and Time (2013)
    An Adventure in Space and Time
    8.2
    TV Movie
    • Harry - Security Guard
    • 2013
  • Doctor Who: The Light at the End (2013)
    Doctor Who: The Light at the End
    7.1
    Podcast Series
    • The First Doctor
    • Ian Chesterton (voice)
    • 2013
  • Doctor Who: The Lost Stories (2009)
    Doctor Who: The Lost Stories
    7.9
    Podcast Series
    • Ian Chesterton (voice)
    • 2010–2013
  • Doctor Who: Target Novelisation Audiobooks (2005)
    Doctor Who: Target Novelisation Audiobooks
    Podcast Series
    • Narrator (voice)
    • 2005–2012
  • Doctor Who: The Five Companions (2011)
    Doctor Who: The Five Companions
    Podcast Series
    • Ian Chesterton (voice)
    • 2011
  • Doctor Who: Short Trips (1998)
    Doctor Who: Short Trips
    8.0
    Podcast Series
    • Narrator (voice)
    • 2010–2011
  • David Suchet in Poirot (1989)
    Poirot
    8.6
    TV Series
    • Lanscombe
    • 2006
  • Doctor Who: The Monthly Adventures (1999)
    Doctor Who: The Monthly Adventures
    7.9
    Podcast Series
    • Lord Carlisle (voice)
    • 2005
  • Nick Berry in Heartbeat (1992)
    Heartbeat
    6.9
    TV Series
    • Gabriel Firth
    • 2000

Videos1

Death Watch
Clip 2:19
Death Watch

Personal details

Edit
  • Alternative names
    • Russell Enoch
  • Height
    • 6′ 0½″ (1.84 m)
  • Born
    • November 19, 1924
    • Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, England, UK
  • Died
    • June 3, 2024
    • UK
  • Spouses
      Dr. Etheline Margareth Lewis1984 - June 3, 2024 (his death, 1 child)
  • Children
    • Alfred Enoch
  • Other works
    Audio commentary for the DVD release of "Doctor Who: The Aztecs" (1964) with Carole Ann Ford & Verity Lambert. "The Aztecs" consisted of the episodes: The Temple of Evil (1964), The Warriors of Death (1964), The Bride of Sacrifice (1964) and The Day of Darkness (1964).
  • Publicity listings
    • 1 Portrayal
    • 3 Interviews

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    After he left Doctor Who, he was replaced by Peter Purves in the "male companion" role.
  • Quotes
    Acting was something I enjoyed doing as a young boy. I found myself drawn towards it. I kept it up when was in the Air Force and organised entertainments for other people. Then, after I left university, I went into rep and continued from there. I think I was rather typecast at first as the dashing young lieutenant or RAF officer, who always seemed to get killed.

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