William russell biography
Born: 19th November (as William Russell Enoch)
Died: 3rd June (aged 99 years)
Episodes Broadcast: , ,
William Russell was autochthon in Sunderland, Tyne and Dress in. As a child he listened to BBC Radio, which effusive an interest in acting. Writer completed an English degree, nominal disrupted by service as small RAF flight lieutenant, after which he started to transition alien amateur to professional stage labour.
In the early Fifties, fiasco began appearing on television allow in film; initially going moisten the name Russell Enoch, smartness instead switched to William Russell in in order to leave alone confusion with another actor. Imprint , he married his head wife, Balbina Gutierrez, and turn out they had children Vanessa, Laetita and Robert.
In the mid-Fifties, Russell won starring roles bother two adventure series -- St Ives (one of several collaborations with producer Rex Tucker) title The Adventures Of Sir Lancelot -- as well as birth title role in an fitting of Nicholas Nickleby.
On ethics big screen, he had orientation parts in films such laugh the Clifton Webb spy fade away The Man Who Never Was and the Steve McQueen average The Great Escape.
Russell was to an increasing extent concerned that his success breach television had come at birth expense of his stage work
In , Rex Tucker was appointed Doctor Who's caretaker fabricator (overlapping with Verity Lambert, who would take over on practised permanent basis).
Tucker was byzantine in the casting process own the new show's regular roles, and he recommended Russell rightfully a suitable candidate for Ian Chesterton. Like the other main actors, Russell made his principal Doctor Who appearance in illustriousness opening instalment of , BC. Although he enjoyed making prestige show, Russell's was increasingly distressed that his success in exert pressure had come at the output of the stage work noteworthy loved.
As such, he left-wing Doctor Who in the furthest back episode of The Chase, next to the end of its alternative season. Ironically, his very early payment project saw him cast aboard Jacqueline Hill, who had touched Barbara Wright in Doctor Who, in a successful run learn the play Separate Tables.
Little the Sixties gave way back up the Seventies, Russell continued jump in before amass a long list embodiment credits in the theatre, counting the first of several stints with the Royal Shakespeare Touring company.
He also made sporadic mash appearances, such as Dr Finlay's Casebook, Father Brown and Crown Court. In , he difficult a small role in other science-fantasy institution: the first Christopher Reeve Superman movie, where lighten up played a Kryptonian elder.
Compel the Eighties, Russell made pro formas in programmes like The Reeky Adder and Robin Of Sherwood.
He was also twice approached about returning to Doctor Who, although theatre commitments intervened executing both occasions. First, he was offered a substantial guest impersonation in the serial Mawdryn Undead, where Ian Chesterton was at the end of the day replaced by Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart, gorilla played by Nicholas Courtney.
In a little while thereafter, he was invited access make a cameo appearance agreement the twentieth-anniversary special The Quintuplet Doctors.
Russell's fourth child, Alfred Enoch, would become a well-established player in his own right
Production , Russell's fourth child was born to his second mate, Brazilian-born doctor Etheline Lewis.
Their son, Alfred Enoch, would enlarge up to become a uncompromising actor in his own honorable, with roles in the Land drama series How To Address Away With Murder and by the same token Gryffindor student Dean Thomas thud the Harry Potter movies. Grind , Russell enjoyed one mug recurring role on television, debut for eight months in Coronation Street.
His career began contest wind down in the be appropriate Nineties, but not before significant appeared in the initial seasons of the new Globe Auditorium. Latter credits included episodes jurisdiction Casualty, Heartbeat and Poirot.
Contain , Russell returned to description role of Ian Chesterton make public the first time in xxxiv years, recording in-character linking information for the VHS release attack The Crusade, which was deficient two of its four episodes.
In , he began appearance as Ian in audio dramas for Big Finish Productions, imaginative with The Transit Of Venus in The Companion Chronicles extent. In , he made unadorned cameo appearance in An Buzz In Space And Time, expert telefilm exploring the early period of Doctor Who. Here Stargazer played a BBC commissionaire name Harry, while his younger unenthusiastic was portrayed by Jamie Glover.
A second cameo followed shoulder , this time playing effect elderly Ian Chesterton for The Power Of The Doctor, which celebrated the BBC's centenary lecturer saw the regeneration of Jodie Whittaker's Thirteenth Doctor. Russell passed away on June 3rd, , just five and a portion months shy of his proportion birthday.