R.I.P. William Russell (1924 - 2024)
Sad news in the British entertainment industry and the world of Doctor Who.
Actor William Russell died on June 3rd at the age of 99.
William Russell Enoch (19 November 1924 - 3 June 2024) was an English actor, whose career on stage and screen spanned over seven decades. He achieved prominence 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 appeared as Ted Sullivan in Coronation Street in 1992. In his later years, he continued his association with Doctor Who and returned as Ian for a 2022 cameo in "The Power of the Doctor", 57 years after the character left, which won him a Guinness World Record for the longest gap between TV appearances.
I first encountered William Russell in several episodes of The Adventures of Sir Lancelot, but it was with his role as Ian Chesterton in Doctor Who that I came to appreciate the actor and always felt safe watching the series when Chesterton came on the screen. Already a star when he became a crucial part of Doctor Who's genesis, his long and remarkable career embraced everything from Shakespeare to Blackadder. But he will always be remembered as the first male companion of the Doctor, the first of the true Heroes and action men in Doctor Who, the love of Barbara Wright's life. He gave the show much of its heart and soul in those early days in 1963, and without that who knows how long the series might have lasted.
From my understanding, William Russell was a kind, understanding, gentle man, who in 1963 had this to say about Doctor Who: "We thought, this will last about six weeks!" In part, thanks to him, it will last forever.
R.I.P. Sir Ian Chesterton, Knight of Jaffa. Farewell, William Russell. May you and Jacqueline Hill be happily reunited now in that lovely Roman villa forever more.
Actor William Russell died on June 3rd at the age of 99.
William Russell Enoch (19 November 1924 - 3 June 2024) was an English actor, whose career on stage and screen spanned over seven decades. He achieved prominence 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 appeared as Ted Sullivan in Coronation Street in 1992. In his later years, he continued his association with Doctor Who and returned as Ian for a 2022 cameo in "The Power of the Doctor", 57 years after the character left, which won him a Guinness World Record for the longest gap between TV appearances.
I first encountered William Russell in several episodes of The Adventures of Sir Lancelot, but it was with his role as Ian Chesterton in Doctor Who that I came to appreciate the actor and always felt safe watching the series when Chesterton came on the screen. Already a star when he became a crucial part of Doctor Who's genesis, his long and remarkable career embraced everything from Shakespeare to Blackadder. But he will always be remembered as the first male companion of the Doctor, the first of the true Heroes and action men in Doctor Who, the love of Barbara Wright's life. He gave the show much of its heart and soul in those early days in 1963, and without that who knows how long the series might have lasted.
From my understanding, William Russell was a kind, understanding, gentle man, who in 1963 had this to say about Doctor Who: "We thought, this will last about six weeks!" In part, thanks to him, it will last forever.
R.I.P. Sir Ian Chesterton, Knight of Jaffa. Farewell, William Russell. May you and Jacqueline Hill be happily reunited now in that lovely Roman villa forever more.