William Russell

Born: 1924-11-19

William Russell Enoch (19 November 1924–3 June 2024) was 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. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


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as Sorren
Released: 1963-07-03

The Nazis, exasperated at the number of escapes from their prison camps by a relatively small...

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as 8th Elder
Released: 1978-12-14

Mild-mannered Clark Kent works as a reporter at the Daily Planet alongside his crush, Lois Lane....

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Death Watch

as Dr. Mason
Released: 1980-01-23

In a future world where the disease has been finally defeated and everything can be sold, even...

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An Adventure in Space and Time

as Harry
Released: 2013-11-21

Actor William Hartnell felt trapped by a succession of hard-man roles while wannabe producer...

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The Man Who Never Was

as Joe
Released: 1956-04-03

The true story of a British effort to trick the Germans into weakening Sicily's defenses before...

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Executive Order

as uncredited
Released: 2022-04-14

In a dystopian future, the Brazilian government decrees a measure that forces black citizens to...

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They Who Dare

as Lieutenant Poole
Released: 1954-02-02

In Greece during the war a small group of British commandoes and patriots land on an island with...

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Above Us the Waves

as Ramsey
Released: 1955-03-29

In World War II, the greatest threat to the British navy is the German battleship Tirpitz. While...

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Intimate Relations

as Michael
Released: 1953-05-01

Yvonne is seething when her devoted son, Michael, declares his intention to marry Madeleine,...

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Doctor Who: The Romans

as Ian Chesterton
Released: 1965-02-06

The TARDIS crew take up residence near Rome in 64AD, where Ian and Barbara are kidnapped by...

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The Affair

as Dr. Hastings
Released: 1995-10-14

A black soldier in World War II England begins an affair with a white woman whose husband is a...

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Terror

as Lord Garrick
Released: 1978-05-01

The descendants of a witch hunting family and their close friends are stalked and killed by a...

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Doctor Who: The Daleks

as Ian Chesterton
Released: 1964-02-01

The TARDIS brings the Doctor, Susan, Barbara, and Ian to the planet Skaro where they meet two...

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The Doctors: The William Hartnell Years

as uncredited
Released: 2017-06-01

This is the definitive set of interviews with the team of actors who brought the William...

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Gift Horse

as Crewman
Released: 1952-06-01

Compton Bennett's war drama The Gift Horse follows the fortunes of ageing destroyer The...

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Doctor Who: An Unearthly Child

as Ian Chesterton
Released: 1963-11-23

Barbara Wright and Ian Chesterton, two humble teachers during 1963, discover a genius student's...

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The Gay Dog

as Leslie Gowland
Released: 1954-06-01

Jim Gay loves his racing greyhound but, out of town, he finds a dog with a better chance to win....

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Doctor Who: The Edge of Destruction

as Ian Chesterton
Released: 1964-02-15

In this completely TARDIS-based story, the crew find themselves and their ship acting very...

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The Saint's Return

as Keith Merton
Released: 1953-10-12

A private detective goes after the people who murdered his girlfriend.

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Doctor Who: The Aztecs

as Ian Chesterton
Released: 1964-06-13

The TARDIS materialises inside an Aztec tomb. Outside it, the Doctor and his companions soon...

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Doctor Who: The Daleks in Colour

as Ian Chesterton (archive footage)
Released: 2023-11-23

The very first crew of the TARDIS land in a petrified forest on an alien planet. Determined to...

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Malta Story

as Officer at Prison
Released: 1953-06-01

Malta, 1942, during World War II. While the German air force is relentlessly bombing the island,...

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Doctor Who: The Rescue

as Ian Chesterton
Released: 1965-01-09

On the planet Dido, the Doctor, Ian and Barbara meet two survivors from a crashed spaceship who...

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Doctor Who: The Web Planet

as Ian Chesterton
Released: 1965-03-20

On the planet Vortis, the Doctor and his companions aid the butterfly-like Menoptra in their...

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Doctor Who: The Dalek Invasion of Earth

as Ian Chesterton
Released: 1964-12-26

The TARDIS arrives in a desolate future London, where the Doctor discovers his old enemies the...

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One Good Turn

as Alec Bigley
Released: 1955-01-04

Norman is the oldest orphan at Greenwood Children's Home and now acts as their caretaker. All...

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Myth Makers 43: William Hartnell

as uncredited
Released: 1999-06-02

As the very first Doctor, William Hartnell created the character that made Doctor Who a success....

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Doctor Who: The Keys of Marinus

as Ian Chesterton
Released: 1964-05-16

The TARDIS arrives on the planet Marinus on an island of glass surrounded by a sea of acid. The...

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Dead Man's Kit

as Senior Officer
Released: 1980-09-30

After shore-leave in Lisbon for the crew of HMS Diana, Master-at-Arms 'Toby' Toberman makes an...

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Doctor Who: Planet of Giants

as Ian Chesterton
Released: 1964-11-14

When the TARDIS malfunctions, it and its travellers land on Earth at the size of insects. They...

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Doctor Who: Origins

as Self
Released: 2006-01-30

A 55-minute documentary, detailing the creation of Doctor Who, including a rare interview with...

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Three Men in a Boat

as Doctor
Released: 1975-12-31

One hot June day, three friends decide there is nothing they would like to do more than to get...

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Henry V at Shakespeare's Globe

as King Charles VI of France / Bishop of Ely / Sir Thomas Erpingham
Released: 1997-11-05

A documentary about Shakespeare's Globe opening performance of "Henry V" in 1997. The...

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Doctor Who: Marco Polo

as Ian Chesterton
Released: 1964-04-04

The TARDIS crew lands in the Himalayas of Cathay in 1289, their ship badly damaged, and are...

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Don't Lose Your Head

as Himself
Released: 2012-01-28

Don't Lose Your Head was a DVD documentary concerning Doctor Who that was released on 28 January...

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Doctor Who: The Sensorites

as Ian Chesterton
Released: 1964-08-01

The Doctor, Ian, Barbara and Susan arrive in the TARDIS on board a spaceship. Their initial...

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Creation of the Daleks

as Ian Chesterton (archive footage)
Released: 2006-01-31

Featured on the "Doctor Who: The Beginning" box set and tells the story of the Creation of the...

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The Share Out

as uncredited
Released: 1962-02-01

A gang of high class corporate thieves use blackmail to induce their victims to sell property at...

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Newsworthy - The Girl Who Saw a Tiger

as Mr Rose
Released: 1976-11-18

Quiet Devonshire school girl Joanna's claim that she saw a tiger in Barrow Woods soon takes...

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Doctor Who: The Reign of Terror

as Ian Chesterton
Released: 1964-09-12

The TARDIS materialises not far from Paris in 1794 — one of the bloodiest years following the...

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Doctor Who: The Chase

as Ian Chesterton
Released: 1965-06-26

The Doctor and his companions are pursued through time and space by the Daleks on the desert...

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Over the Edge: The Story of "The Edge of Destruction"

as Self / Ian Chesterton
Released: 2006-01-30

Documents the making of the Doctor Who Serial, "The Edge of Destruction". It was released on the...

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Return to Sender

as Mike Cochran
Released: 1963-03-01

A fraudster is arrested for stealing a large sum of money from his partners. When he learns that...

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The Big Chance

as Bill Anderson
Released: 1957-09-01

A clerk sees his big chance to escape a humdrum existence, but his resolve is tested as many...

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Vision On

as Ian Chesterton (archive footage)
Released: 2012-01-23

Vision On was a documentary of Clive Doig discussing the role of the vision mixer in making...

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Doctor Who: The Crusade

as Ian Chesterton
Released: 1965-04-17

In 12th century Palestine, the Doctor and his friends are drawn into the holy war between the...

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Doctor Who: The Space Museum

as Ian Chesterton
Released: 1965-05-15

On the planet Xeros, the TARDIS crew discover their own future selves frozen in time as exhibits...

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Adventure Story

as Hephaestion
Released: 1961-06-12

The story of Alexander the Great.

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Remembering 'The Aztecs'

as Ian Chesterton (archive footage)
Released: 2002-10-21

The guest actors of the 1964 "Doctor Who" (1963) story, "The Aztecs", reminisce about their time...

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Masters of Sound

as Ian Chesterton (archive footage)
Released: 2006-01-30

Documentary on the sound effects of Doctor Who in the 1960s.

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Inside the Spaceship: The Story of the TARDIS

as Self / Ian Chesterton
Released: 2006-01-30

A feature on Doctor Who: The Beginning box set which tells the stories of the Doctor's time...

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The Sets of Marinus

as Ian Chesterton (archive footage)
Released: 2009-09-21

The Sets of Marinus is a BBC documentary looking at set design for the Doctor Who story The Keys...

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Instant Enlightenment Including VAT

as Don
Released: 1979-11-22

BBC Play for Today. Maximillian Schreiber runs a series of gruelling motivational courses - all...

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Doctor Who

as Ian Chesterton
First aired: 2005-03-26

The Doctor is a Time Lord: a 900 year old alien with 2 hearts, part of a gifted civilization who...

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Casualty

as Mo Meredrew
First aired: 1986-09-06

Drama series about the staff and patients at Holby City Hospital's emergency department,...

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Doctor Who

as Ian Chesterton
First aired: 1963-11-23

The adventures of The Doctor, a time-traveling humanoid alien known as a Time Lord. He explores...

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Heartbeat

as Gabriel Firth
First aired: 1992-04-10

Set during the 1960s in the fictional North Yorkshire village of Aidensfield, this enduringly...

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The Professionals

as Charles Holly
First aired: 1977-12-30

The lives of Bodie and Doyle, top agents for Britain's CI5 (Criminal Intelligence 5), and their...

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Dr. Finlay's Casebook

as uncredited
First aired: 1962-08-16

Dr Finlay's Casebook is a television series that was broadcast on the BBC from 1962 until 1971....

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Robin of Sherwood

as The Duke of Gloucester
First aired: 1984-04-28

Robin of Sherwood was a British television series, based on the legend of Robin Hood. Created by...

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Justice

as Dr. Victor Ainsworth
First aired: 1971-10-08

Justice is a British drama television series which originally aired on ITV in 39 hour-long...

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Van der Valk

as Rokin
First aired: 1972-09-13

Van der Valk is a British television series that was produced by Thames Television for the ITV...

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The Main Chance

as Arnold Galbraith
First aired: 1969-06-18

The Main Chance was a British television series which first aired on ITV between 1969,1970,1972...

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Shoestring

as uncredited
First aired: 1979-09-30

Shoestring was a BBC television show set in Bristol. It featured a private detective with his...

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The Adventures of Sir Lancelot

as Sir Lancelot du Lac
First aired: 1956-09-15

The Adventures of Sir Lancelot is a British television series first broadcast in 1956, produced...

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Father Brown

as uncredited
First aired: 1974-09-26

Father Brown was a Catholic priest who doubled as an amateur detective in order to solve mysteries.

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Disraeli

as Wyndham Lewis
First aired: 1978-09-05

Disraeli is a British four part serial about the great statesman and Prime Minister of the...

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Testament of Youth

as uncredited
First aired: 1979-11-04

A dramatization of Vera Brittain's 1933 autobiography Testament of Youth—a memorial to a...

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The Hanged Man

as Peter Kroger
First aired: 1975-02-15

After surviving a series of attempts on his life, successful businessman Lew Burnett decides to...

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Doctor Who: Lost in Time

as Ian
First aired: 1965-03-27

A digitally restored collection of rare 1960s Doctor Who episodes, from stories which no longer...

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