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William Russell

Acting · Born November 19, 1924 · Sunderland, County Durham, England, UK

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.

Movies with William Russell

• The Great Escape (1963) — Sorren
• Superman (1978) — 8th Elder
• The Man Who Never Was (1956) — Joe
• Above Us the Waves (1955) — Ramsey
• Death Watch (1980) — Dr. Mason
• An Adventure in Space and Time (2013) — Harry
• Doctor Who: Resurrection of the Daleks (1984) — Ian Chesterton (archive footage) (uncredited)
• They Who Dare (1954) — Lieutenant Poole
• Doctor Who: The Daleks in Colour (2023) — Ian Chesterton (archive footage)
• The Saint's Return (1953) — Keith Merton
• One Good Turn (1955) — Alec Bigley
• Three Men in a Boat (1975) — Doctor

TV shows with William Russell

• Coronation Street (1960) — Ted Sullivan
• Doctor Who (1963) — Ian Chesterton
• The Adventures of Sir Lancelot (1956) — Sir Lancelot du Lac
• Jane Eyre (1963) — St. John Rivers
• Testament of Youth (1979)
• Harriet's Back in Town (1972) — Tom Preston