Original Doctor Who cast member dies aged 99

One in all Physician Who’s 4 authentic forged members, William Russell, has died aged 99.

His dying was confirmed and introduced on Tuesday by the Guardian newspaper.

Russell performed schoolteacher Ian Chesterton within the first two collection of the BBC’s sci-fi present and was the Physician’s first companion.

He left the present in 1965, however in 2022 he reprised his function and made a cameo in Jodie Whittaker’s ultimate episode, The Energy of The Physician.

The actor broke a Guinness World Report for the longest hole between TV appearances.

Within the first ever episode, An Unearthly Little one, which aired in 1963, Russell’s character meets the Physician, performed by William Hartnell.

Russell’s character mistakenly calls him Physician Foreman, earlier than Hartnell then replies “Physician Who?”

Russell left the present in 1965 however later went on to relate numerous the audiobooks within the Nineties.

His different TV appearances included the title function of ITV’s 1956 drama, The Adventures of Sir Lancelot and as Ted Sullivan in Coronation Avenue.

He appeared in movies akin to The Man Who By no means Was in 1956, struggle basic The Nice Escape in 1963 and 1978’s Superman.

Sharing a tribute on Instagram, Physician Who author Russell T Davies mentioned it was a “unhappy loss” and mentioned Russell was a “positive, nimble, witty, heartfelt actor who completely bought the reality of these early years”.

Actor and writer Nicholas Pegg wrote on X: “Elevating a glass to William Russell, who has left us just some months shy of his one hundredth birthday.”

He added that Russell was a “positive actor and a stunning man”.

Physician Who actress Nicola Bryant, who performed the Physician’s companion, Peri Brown from 1984 to 1986 additionally shared a tribute on X.

“What an exquisite man with a pleasant household a unprecedented life & profession. Probably the most charming smile and twinkling eyes, he at all times lit up the room. I hope there will probably be many celebrations of this lovely man,” she wrote.

Artist Stuart Humphryes also praised Russell and mentioned he was “the primary and the best of all the various companions”.

Russell, who was born in Sunderland in 1924, had 4 kids together with Alfred Enoch who’s finest recognized for taking part in Dean Thomas within the Harry Potter collection and Wes Gibbins in authorized thriller, How you can Get Away with Homicide.