William Russell
Born
November 19, 1924
Died
June 3, 2024 (99 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
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.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Doctor Who: The Eight Doctors
Ian Chesterton
2025
Doctor Who: The Daleks in Colour
Ian Chesterton (archive footage)
2023
William Russell In Conversation
Self
2022
Executive Order
2022
The Doctors: The William Hartnell Years
2017
An Adventure in Space and Time
Harry
2013
Rediscovering the Urge to Live
2012
Don't Lose Your Head
Himself
2012
Vision On
Ian Chesterton (archive footage)
2012
The Sets of Marinus
Ian Chesterton (archive footage)
2009
Dennis Spooner: Wanna Write a Television Series?
2009
The Ties That Bind Us
Ian Chesterton (archive footage)
2008
Creation of the Daleks
Ian Chesterton (archive footage)
2006
Doctor Who: Origins
Self
2006
Masters of Sound
Ian Chesterton (archive footage)
2006
Over the Edge: The Story of "The Edge of Destruction"
Self / Ian Chesterton
2006
Inside the Spaceship: The Story of the TARDIS
Self / Ian Chesterton
2006
Remembering 'The Aztecs'
Ian Chesterton (archive footage)
2002
Doctor Who: The Crusade
Ian Chesterton
1999
Myth Makers 43: William Hartnell
1999
Henry V at Shakespeare's Globe
King Charles VI of France / Bishop of Ely / Sir Thomas Erpingham
1997
The Affair
Dr. Hastings
1995
Heartbeat
Gabriel Firth · (1 episode)
1992
Agatha Christie's Poirot
Lanscombe · (1 episode)
1989
Casualty
Mo Meredrew · (1 episode)
1986
Robin of Sherwood
The Duke of Gloucester · (1 episode)
1984
Doctor Who: Resurrection of the Daleks
Ian Chesterton (archive footage) (uncredited)
1984
Blackadder
The Duke of Winchester · (1 episode)
1983
Little Girls Don't
Daddy
1981
Dead Man's Kit
Senior Officer
1980
Death Watch
Dr. Mason
1980
Instant Enlightenment Including VAT
Don
1979
Testament of Youth
(5 episodes)
1979
Shoestring
(1 episode)
1979
Superman
8th Elder
1978
Disraeli
Wyndham Lewis · (2 episodes)
1978
Terror
Lord Garrick
1978
Armchair Thriller
Senior officer (uncredited) · (1 episode)
1978
Armchair Thriller
Senior Officer · (1 episode)
1978
The Professionals
Charles Holly · (1 episode)
1977
BBC2 Play of the Week
Headmaster / Lord Folkestone / Chapman · (1 episode)
1977
Newsworthy - The Girl Who Saw a Tiger
Mr Rose
1976
Three Men in a Boat
Doctor
1975
The Hanged Man
Peter Kroger · (1 episode)
1975
Father Brown
Reverend Wilfred Bohun · (1 episode)
1974
Van der Valk
Rokin · (1 episode)
1972
Justice
Dr. Victor Ainsworth · (1 episode)
1971
Great Performances
(1 episode)
1971
Play for Today
Don · (1 episode)
1970
The Main Chance
Arnold Galbraith · (1 episode)
1969
Breaking Point
(5 episodes)
1966
Doctor Who: The Chase
Ian Chesterton
1965
Doctor Who: The Space Museum
Ian Chesterton
1965
Doctor Who: The Crusade
Ian Chesterton
1965
Doctor Who: Lost in Time
Ian · (2 episodes)
1965
Doctor Who: The Web Planet
Ian Chesterton
1965
Doctor Who: The Romans
Ian Chesterton
1965
Doctor Who: The Rescue
Ian Chesterton
1965
Doctor Who: The Dalek Invasion of Earth
Ian Chesterton
1964
Doctor Who: Planet of Giants
Ian Chesterton
1964
Doctor Who: The Reign of Terror
Ian Chesterton
1964
Doctor Who: The Sensorites
Ian Chesterton
1964
Doctor Who: The Aztecs
Ian Chesterton
1964
Doctor Who: The Keys of Marinus
Ian Chesterton
1964
Doctor Who: Marco Polo
Ian Chesterton
1964
Detective
Bill Cartwright · (1 episode)
1964
Doctor Who: The Edge of Destruction
Ian Chesterton
1964
Doctor Who: The Daleks
Ian Chesterton
1964
Doctor Who: An Unearthly Child
Ian Chesterton
1963
Doctor Who
Ian Chesterton · (77 episodes)
1963
The Great Escape
Sorren
1963
Return to Sender
Mike Cochran
1963
Dr. Finlay's Casebook
(1 episode)
1962
Suspense
John Richards · (1 episode)
1962
The Share Out
1962
Adventure Story
Hephaestion
1961
Coronation Street
Ted Sullivan · (45 episodes)
1960
Sunday-Night Play
Colonel Friedrich Eilers, Leader of a Fighter Squadron · (1 episode)
1960
Sunday-Night Play
Oliver Farrant · (1 episode)
1960
Sunday-Night Play
Lord Bleane · (1 episode)
1960
Sunday-Night Play
John Freeman · (1 episode)
1960
Sunday-Night Play
Charles Hemington · (1 episode)
1960
Sunday-Night Play
Gerald Croft · (1 episode)
1960
Sunday-Night Play
Frank · (1 episode)
1960
Nicholas Nickleby
Nicholas Nickleby · (10 episodes)
1957
The Big Chance
Bill Anderson
1957
The Adventures of Hal 5
1957
The Adventures of Sir Lancelot
Sir Lancelot du Lac · (30 episodes)
1956
Armchair Theatre
Smoky · (1 episode)
1956
The Man Who Never Was
Joe
1956
Lilli Palmer Theatre
Boy · (1 episode)
1955
Above Us the Waves
Ramsey
1955
One Good Turn
Alec Bigley
1955
The Gay Dog
Leslie Gowland
1954
They Who Dare
Lieutenant Poole
1954
The Saint's Return
Keith Merton
1953
Malta Story
Officer at Prison
1953
Intimate Relations
Michael
1953
Gift Horse
Crewman
1952
Sunday Night Theatre
Bill Bolton · (1 episode)
1950
Sunday Night Theatre
Renny · (1 episode)
1950
Sunday Night Theatre
Vicomte de Tournai · (1 episode)
1950