William Russell

101, from Sunderland, County Durham, England, UK

Artwork for SupermanImage of William Russell

Biography

William Russell Enoch (born 19 November 1924) is an English actor. He achieved prominence in 1956 when he took the title role in the ITV television series The Adventures of Sir Lancelot (1956–1957). In 1963, he became part of the original lead cast of BBC1's Doctor Who, playing the role of schoolteacher Ian Chesterton opposite William Hartnell from the show's first episode until 1965. Russell's film roles include parts in The Man Who Never Was (1956), The Great Escape (1963) and Superman (1978). On television, he notably appeared as Ted Sullivan in Coronation Street in 1992. In recent years, Russell has maintained his association with Doctor Who; he returned to the show in 2022, making a cameo appearance as Ian in "The Power of the Doctor", 57 years after the character's last television appearance.

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Timeline

2023Aged 99

  • Poster for Doctor Who: The Daleks in Colour

    Ian Chesterton (archive footage)

2022Aged 98

  • Poster for Executive Order

    (Unknown)

  • Poster for William Russell: In Conversation

    Self

2017Aged 93

  • Poster for The Doctors: The William Hartnell Years

    (Unknown)

2013Aged 89

  • Poster for An Adventure in Space and Time

    Harry

2012Aged 88

  • Poster for Vision On

    Ian Chesterton (archive footage)

  • Poster for Don't Lose Your Head: The Making of 'The Reign of Terror'

    Himself

  • Poster for Rediscovering the Urge to Live

    (Unknown)

2010Aged 86

  • Poster for Last Stop White City

    Self

2009Aged 85

  • Poster for Mounting the Rescue

    Self

  • Poster for Dennis Spooner: Wanna Write a Television Series?

    (Unknown)

  • Poster for What Has 'The Romans' Ever Done For Us?

    Self

  • Poster for The Sets of Marinus

    Ian Chesterton (archive footage)

2008Aged 84

  • Poster for The Ties That Bind Us

    Ian Chesterton (archive footage)

2006Aged 82

  • Poster for Masters of Sound

    Ian Chesterton (archive footage)

  • Poster for Inside the Spaceship: The Story of the TARDIS

    Self / Ian Chesterton

  • Poster for Doctor Who: Origins

    Self

  • Poster for Over the Edge: The Story of 'The Edge of Destruction'

    Self / Ian Chesterton

  • Poster for Creation of the Daleks

    Ian Chesterton (archive footage)

2005Aged 81

  • Poster for Tales of Isop

    Self

2003Aged 79

  • Poster for Future Memories: Making 'The Dalek Invasion of Earth'

    Ian Chesterton (archive footage)

2002Aged 78

  • Poster for Remembering 'The Aztecs'

    Ian Chesterton (archive footage)

1997Aged 73

  • Poster for Henry V at Shakespeare's Globe

    King Charles VI of France / Bishop of Ely / Sir Thomas Erpingham

1995Aged 71

  • Poster for The Affair

    Dr. Hastings

1988Aged 64

  • Poster for The Four Minute Mile

    AAA Official

1984Aged 60

  • Poster for Doctor Who: Resurrection of the Daleks

    Ian Chesterton (archive footage) (uncredited)

1981Aged 57

1980Aged 56

  • Poster for Death Watch

    Dr. Mason

  • Poster for Dead Man's Kit

    Senior Officer

1979Aged 55

  • Poster for Terror

    Lord Garrick

  • Poster for Instant Enlightenment Including VAT

    Don

1978Aged 54

  • Poster for Superman

    8th Elder

1976Aged 52

  • Poster for Newsworthy - The Girl Who Saw a Tiger

    Mr Rose

1975Aged 51

  • Poster for Three Men in a Boat

    Doctor

1965Aged 41

  • Poster for Doctor Who: The Rescue

    Ian Chesterton

  • Poster for Doctor Who: The Romans

    Ian Chesterton

  • Poster for Doctor Who: The Web Planet

    Ian Chesterton

  • Poster for Doctor Who: The Crusade

    Ian Chesterton

  • Poster for Doctor Who: The Space Museum

    Ian Chesterton

  • Poster for Doctor Who: The Chase

    Ian Chesterton

1964Aged 40

  • Poster for Doctor Who: The Daleks

    Ian Chesterton

  • Poster for Doctor Who: The Edge of Destruction

    Ian Chesterton

  • Poster for Doctor Who: Marco Polo

    Ian Chesterton

  • Poster for Doctor Who: The Keys of Marinus

    Ian Chesterton

  • Poster for Doctor Who: The Aztecs

    Ian Chesterton

  • Poster for Doctor Who: The Sensorites

    Ian Chesterton

  • Poster for Doctor Who: The Reign of Terror

    Ian Chesterton

  • Poster for Doctor Who: Planet of Giants

    Ian Chesterton

  • Poster for Doctor Who: The Dalek Invasion of Earth

    Ian Chesterton

1963Aged 39

  • Poster for Return to Sender

    Mike Cochran

  • Poster for The Great Escape

    Sorren

  • Poster for Doctor Who: An Unearthly Child

    Ian Chesterton

1962Aged 38

  • Poster for The Share Out

    Mike Stafford

1961Aged 37

  • Poster for Adventure Story

    Hephaestion

1957Aged 33

  • Poster for The Adventures of Hal 5

    (Unknown)

  • Poster for The Big Chance

    Bill Anderson

1956Aged 32

  • Poster for The Man Who Never Was

    Joe

1955Aged 31

  • Poster for One Good Turn

    Alec Bigley

  • Poster for Above Us the Waves

    Ramsey

1954Aged 30

  • Poster for They Who Dare

    Lieutenant Poole

  • Poster for The Gay Dog

    Leslie Gowland

1953Aged 29

  • Poster for Intimate Relations

    Michael

  • Poster for Malta Story

    Officer at Prison

  • Poster for The Saint's Return

    Keith Merton

1952Aged 28

  • Poster for Gift Horse

    Crewman

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