William Hartnell

Acting

William Hartnell

Born January 8, 1908 · Saint Pancras, London, England, UK

Died April 23, 1975 · aged 67

William Henry Hartnell (8 January 1908 – 23 April 1975), also known as Billy Hartnell or Bill Hartnell, was an English actor. Hartnell played the first incarnation of the Doctor in Doctor Who, from 1963 to 1966. He was also known for his roles as Sergeant Grimshaw, the title character of the first Carry On film, Carry On Sergeant in 1958, and Company Sergeant Major Percy Bullimore in the sitcom Th…

Known For

Doctor Who: The Day of the DoctorDoctor Who: The Day of the Doctor · 2013
Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor
8.22013
MovieScience FictionAdventure
In 2013, something terrible is awakening in London's National Gallery; in 1562, a murderous plot is afoot in Elizabethan England; and somewhere in space an ancient battle reaches its devastating conclusion. All of reality is at stake as the Doctor's own dangerous past comes back to haunt him.
Doctor Who: The Husbands of River SongDoctor Who: The Husbands of River Song · 2015
Doctor Who: The Husbands of River Song
8.02015
MovieDramaScience Fiction
It’s Christmas Day on a remote human colony and the Doctor is hiding from Christmas Carols and Comedy Antlers. But when a crashed spaceship calls upon the Doctor for help, he finds himself recruited into River Song’s squad and hurled into a fast and frantic chase across the galaxy. King Hydroflax is furious, and his giant Robot bodyguard is out-of-control and coming for them all! Will Nardole survive? And when will River Song work out who the Doctor is? All will be revealed on a starliner full of galactic super-villains and a destination the Doctor has been avoiding for a very long time.
The Mouse That RoaredThe Mouse That Roared · 1959
The Mouse That Roared
6.41959
MovieComedy
The Duchy of Grand Fenwick decides that the only way to get out of their economic woes is to declare war on the United States, lose and accept foreign aid. They send an invasion force (in chain mail, armed with bows and arrows) to New York and they arrive during a nuclear drill that has cleared the streets.
This Sporting LifeThis Sporting Life · 1963
This Sporting Life
7.01963
MovieDrama
In early 1960s Northern England, Frank Machin is mean, tough and ambitious enough to become an immediate star in the rugby league team run by local employer Weaver.
Odd Man OutOdd Man Out · 1947
Odd Man Out
7.31947
MovieCrimeDrama
Belfast police conduct a door-to-door manhunt for an IRA gunman wounded in a daring robbery.
Doctor Who: Twice Upon a TimeDoctor Who: Twice Upon a Time · 2017
Doctor Who: Twice Upon a Time
8.02017
MovieScience FictionAdventure
As the Twelfth Doctor nears regeneration, he stumbles on his first incarnation, also refusing to change. It takes a captain, a glass avatar and a familiar face to convince the Doctors the universe still needs them.
Carry On SergeantCarry On Sergeant · 1958
Carry On Sergeant
6.41958
MovieComedyWar
Sergeant Grimshawe wants to retire in the flush of success by winning the Star Squad prize with his very last platoon of newly called-up National Servicemen. But a motley bunch they turn out to be, and it's up to Grimshawe to put the no-hopers through their paces.
Hell DriversHell Drivers · 1957
Hell Drivers
6.71957
MovieThrillerDrama
An ex-con trying to go clean ends up working for a crooked trucking company swindling money.

Filmography

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Ghost SquadGhost Squad · 1961
Ghost Squad
6.01961
SeriesCrimeDrama
Ghost Squad, known as G.S.5 for its third series, was a crime drama series about an elite division of Scotland Yard that ran between 1961 and 1964. Each episode the Ghost Squad would investigate cases that fell outside the scope of normal police work. Despite the show and characters being fictional, an actual division did exist within the Metropolitan Police Service at the time. Inspiration for the series was taken from a book of the same name, written by John Gosling — a retired police officer and former member of the team. Although the real-life squad only operated in London, the fictionalised team travelled internationally; however — as was typical of the time — most foreign locations were actually a combination of stock footage and sets at Independent Artists Studio at Beaconsfield and Elstree Studios. Music was by Philip Green. The show was produced by ITC Entertainment, along with Rank Organisation TV and ATV. It was the first ITC show filmed to fit the one hour time-slot — setting the trend for the majority of ITC's future output. Another common ITC trait was to feature an American, in this case Michael Quinn, in a leading role so as to increase the chances of international sales. At 6' 3", Quinn often towered over his co-workers. This was especially noticeable in the first series title sequence showing him walking through a crowd walking in the opposite direction. He frequently smoked in the show as did many others. The second series had a different title sequence and Neil Hallett sometimes replaced Quinn. Hallett looked more like a spy while Quinn looked a bit like a playboy. Quinn was replaced by Australian actor, Ray Barrett in the third series. Ray Austin played Billy Clay in and was also Stunt Director on all series bringing the action to life. Austin went on to become a renowned TV director in Hollywood and the UK.