Doctor Who, the BBC’s flagship science fiction series, has captivated audiences for decades with its imaginative storytelling and the ever-changing face of its central hero, the Doctor. This remarkable longevity was even predicted by the very first Doctor actor, William Hartnell. According to Carole Ann Ford, who played the Doctor’s first companion Susan Foreman, Hartnell foresaw the show’s enduring nature, stating that the Doctor’s ability to regenerate meant “it could go on forever.” He was right. The concept of regeneration has allowed numerous talented actors to step into the role, each bringing their unique interpretation to the Time Lord.
This article delves into the history of Doctor Who by listing every actor who has officially portrayed the Doctor in the BBC canon. It’s important to note that this list focuses on the core BBC series, excluding actors like Peter Cushing who played “Dr. Who” in non-canon films. We will explore these actors in two distinct orders: first, by their production order – the order in which they first appeared on screen – and then chronologically, according to the Doctor Who narrative timeline.
Doctor Who Actors in Production Order
William Hartnell as the First Doctor in Doctor Who
William Hartnell as the First Doctor, the original actor who brought the Time Lord to life in Doctor Who’s debut.
Here are the actors who have embodied the Doctor throughout the history of Doctor Who, presented in the order they took on the role for the beloved BBC series:
- William Hartnell as The First Doctor
- Patrick Troughton as The Second Doctor
- Jon Pertwee as The Third Doctor
- Tom Baker as The Fourth Doctor
- Various as The Morbius Doctors
- Adrian Gibbs as The Watcher
- Peter Davison as The Fifth Doctor
- Richard Hurndall as The First Doctor (in a special appearance)
- Colin Baker as The Sixth Doctor
- Michael Jayston as The Valeyard
- Sylvester McCoy as The Seventh Doctor
- Paul McGann as The Eighth Doctor
- Christopher Eccleston as The Ninth Doctor
- David Tennant as The Tenth Doctor
- David Tennant as The Meta-Crisis Doctor
- Matt Smith as The Eleventh Doctor
- Toby Jones as The Dream Lord
- John Hurt as The War Doctor
- Tom Baker as The Curator (in a special cameo)
- Peter Capaldi as The Twelfth Doctor
- Michael Jones as child First Doctor
- David Bradley as The First Doctor (taking on the role later in the series)
- Jodie Whittaker as The Thirteenth Doctor
- Jo Martin as The Fugitive Doctor
- Evan McCabe as Brendan
- Various as The Timeless Children
- Sacha Dhawan as The Master Doctor (posing as the Doctor)
- David Tennant as The Fourteenth Doctor
- Ncuti Gatwa as The Fifteenth Doctor
This production order highlights the real-world evolution of the Doctor, showing the progression of actors who have graced our screens as the iconic Time Lord.
Doctor Who Actors in Chronological Order by Story
Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor in the TARDIS
Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor, representing the latest chapter in the chronological story of Doctor Who actors.
For those interested in the narrative timeline of Doctor Who, here are the actors listed in chronological order according to the show’s internal story:
- Various as The Timeless Children
- Evan McCabe as Brendan
- Jo Martin as The Fugitive Doctor
- Various as The Morbius Doctors
- Michael Jones as child First Doctor
- William Hartnell, Richard Hurndall, and David Bradley as The First Doctor (across different points in his timeline)
- Patrick Troughton as The Second Doctor
- Jon Pertwee as The Third Doctor
- Tom Baker as The Fourth Doctor
- Adrian Gibbs as The Watcher
- Peter Davison as The Fifth Doctor
- Colin Baker as The Sixth Doctor
- Sylvester McCoy as The Seventh Doctor
- Paul McGann as The Eighth Doctor
- John Hurt as The War Doctor
- Christopher Eccleston as The Ninth Doctor
- David Tennant as The Tenth Doctor
- David Tennant as The Meta-Crisis Doctor
- Matt Smith as The Eleventh Doctor
- Toby Jones as The Dream Lord
- Peter Capaldi as The Twelfth Doctor
- Michael Jayston as The Valeyard
- Jodie Whittaker as The Thirteenth Doctor
- Sacha Dhawan as The Master Doctor
- David Tennant as The Fourteenth Doctor
- Ncuti Gatwa as The Fifteenth Doctor
- Tom Baker as The Curator
However, the Doctor Who timeline took an exciting turn with the introduction of “bigeneration” during the 60th-anniversary special, “The Giggle.” This event saw the Doctor splitting into two separate entities rather than one regenerating into the next. This “Doctor-verse,” as showrunner Russell T Davies describes it, implies that all previous Doctors essentially survived their regenerations in splinter timelines. Davies even playfully suggested that “Sylvester McCoy woke up in a drawer, in a morgue, in San Francisco… and Jon Pertwee woke up on the floor of the laboratory,” highlighting the potentially vast implications of bigeneration.
Doctor Who's bigeneration event
Doctor Who’s bigeneration, a game-changing plot device expanding the universe and possibilities for doctor actors.
This concept is further hinted at in the spin-off series Tales of the TARDIS, where the Seventh Doctor tells Ace, “Time streams are funny things. In some, I regenerate. In others, I don’t. It’s all a matter of perspective.” The possibility of multiple Doctors existing simultaneously opens up exciting new avenues for the show’s future.
With the ever-expanding Doctor-verse, the legacy of Doctor Who and its incredible roster of actors is set to continue for many years to come. The list of actors who have played the Doctor is a testament to the show’s enduring appeal and its unique ability to reinvent itself while staying true to its core.
Doctor Who is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
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