Doctor Who is a British science fiction television series that has been on the air since 1963. The show follows the adventures of a Time Lord known as the Doctor, who travels through time and space in a time machine called the TARDIS. Over the years, the Doctor has been portrayed by thirteen actors, with Jodie Whittaker being the first woman to play the role. In this article, we will list all the Doctor Who actors in order, from William Hartnell to Ncuti Gatwa, who is set to play the 14th Doctor in the upcoming season.
Here is a table of all the actors who have played the Doctor in Doctor Who, along with the roles they played and their first year of appearance:
| Actor | Doctor | First Appearance |
|---|---|---|
| William Hartnell | First Doctor | 1963 |
| Patrick Troughton | Second Doctor | 1966 |
| Jon Pertwee | Third Doctor | 1970 |
| Tom Baker | Fourth Doctor | 1974 |
| Peter Davison | Fifth Doctor | 1982 |
| Colin Baker | Sixth Doctor | 1984 |
| Sylvester McCoy | Seventh Doctor | 1987 |
| Paul McGann | Eighth Doctor | 1996 |
| John Hurt | War Doctor | 2013 |
| Christopher Eccleston | Ninth Doctor | 2005 |
| David Tennant | Tenth Doctor | 2005 |
| Matt Smith | Eleventh Doctor | 2010 |
| Peter Capaldi | Twelfth Doctor | 2013 |
| Jodie Whittaker | Thirteenth Doctor | 2017 |
| Jo Martin | Fugitive Doctor | 2020 |
| David Tennant | Fourteenth Doctor | 2022 |
| Ncuti Gatwa | Fifteenth Doctor | TBA |
Note that some actors played multiple versions of the Doctor, and there were also other actors who played the Doctor in non-canon productions.
Who are the 14 Doctors in order?
The 14 Doctors in order, as they appeared in the iconic British TV series “Doctor Who,” are:
- William Hartnell – The First Doctor
- Patrick Troughton – The Second Doctor
- Jon Pertwee – The Third Doctor
- Tom Baker – The Fourth Doctor
- Peter Davison – The Fifth Doctor
- Colin Baker – The Sixth Doctor
- Sylvester McCoy – The Seventh Doctor
- Paul McGann – The Eighth Doctor
- John Hurt – The War Doctor
- Christopher Eccleston – The Ninth Doctor
- David Tennant – The Tenth Doctor
- Matt Smith – The Eleventh Doctor
- Peter Capaldi – The Twelfth Doctor
- Jodie Whittaker – The Thirteenth Doctor
Who played the first Doctor in Doctor Who?
The first Doctor in “Doctor Who” was portrayed by actor William Hartnell. He played the role from the series’ inception in 1963 until 1966.
Who played the second Doctor in Doctor Who?
The second Doctor in “Doctor Who” was played by actor Patrick Troughton. He took over the role from William Hartnell in 1966 and portrayed the Doctor until 1969.
Who played the third Doctor in Doctor Who?
The third Doctor in “Doctor Who” was portrayed by actor Jon Pertwee. He played the role from 1970 to 1974.
Who played the fourth Doctor in Doctor Who?
The fourth Doctor in “Doctor Who” was portrayed by actor Tom Baker. He is one of the most iconic Doctors and played the role from 1974 to 1981.
Who played the fifth Doctor in Doctor Who?
The fifth Doctor in “Doctor Who” was portrayed by actor Peter Davison. He took on the role from 1982 to 1984.
Who played the sixth Doctor in Doctor Who?
The sixth Doctor in “Doctor Who” was portrayed by actor Colin Baker. He played the Doctor from 1984 to 1986.
Who played the seventh Doctor in Doctor Who?
The seventh Doctor in “Doctor Who” was portrayed by actor Sylvester McCoy. He played the role from 1987 to 1989 and briefly returned for the 1996 TV movie.
Who played the eighth Doctor in Doctor Who?
The eighth Doctor in “Doctor Who” was portrayed by actor Paul McGann. He appeared in the 1996 TV movie and continued the role in various audio dramas.
Who played the War Doctor in Doctor Who?
The War Doctor in “Doctor Who” was portrayed by actor John Hurt. He was introduced as a previously unknown incarnation of the Doctor in the 50th-anniversary special episode, “The Day of the Doctor,” in 2013.
Who played the ninth Doctor in Doctor Who?
The ninth Doctor in “Doctor Who” was portrayed by actor Christopher Eccleston. He played the role in the series’ revival in 2005.
Who played the tenth Doctor in Doctor Who?
The tenth Doctor in “Doctor Who” was portrayed by actor David Tennant. He played the role from 2005 to 2010.
Who played the eleventh Doctor in Doctor Who?
The eleventh Doctor in “Doctor Who” was portrayed by actor Matt Smith. He took on the role from 2010 to 2013.
Who played the Twelfth Doctor in Doctor Who?
The twelfth Doctor in “Doctor Who” was portrayed by actor Peter Capaldi. He played the role from 2013 to 2017.
Who played the thirteenth Doctor in Doctor Who?
The thirteenth Doctor in “Doctor Who” is portrayed by actress Jodie Whittaker. She has been playing the role since 2017 and continues as of the latest information available.
Who played the fugitive Doctor in Doctor Who?
The Fugitive Doctor, also known as the Timeless Child, was portrayed by Jo Martin. She was introduced as a previously unknown incarnation of the Doctor in a surprise twist in the series.
Who played the fourteenth Doctor in Doctor Who?
As of my last knowledge update in September 2021, the fourteenth Doctor had not been officially revealed. Please check the latest information or announcements from the “Doctor Who” production team for updates on the Fourteenth Doctor.
Who played the fifteenth Doctor in Doctor Who?
As of my last knowledge update in September 2021, there had been no official announcement regarding a fifteenth Doctor. Keep an eye on official sources for any updates on future Doctor casting.
How many actors have played the Doctor in Doctor Who?
As of my last knowledge update, there have been thirteen actors who officially portrayed the Doctor in the television series “Doctor Who.” However, it’s worth noting that John Hurt played a previously undisclosed incarnation known as the War Doctor, and Jo Martin played the fugitive Doctor, adding to the complexity of the Doctor’s timeline.
Who was the first actor to play the Doctor twice?
The first actor to play the Doctor twice was Peter Davison. After his initial tenure as the Fifth Doctor, he returned for a special multi-Doctor story, “The Caves of Androzani,” during Colin Baker’s era as the Sixth Doctor.
Who was the last actor to play the Doctor twice?
As of my last knowledge update in September 2021, the last actor to play the Doctor twice was David Tennant. He returned for the 50th-anniversary special episode, “The Day of the Doctor,” alongside Matt Smith and John Hurt.
Who was the youngest actor to play the Doctor?
David Tennant was the youngest actor to portray the Doctor in the television series. He took on the role at the age of 34 when he became the Tenth Doctor.
Who was the oldest actor to play the Doctor?
The oldest actor to play the Doctor in the television series was William Hartnell, who portrayed the First Doctor. He began his tenure as the Doctor at the age of 55.
Who is the longest-serving actor to play the Doctor?
Tom Baker holds the record as the longest-serving actor to play the Doctor. He portrayed the Fourth Doctor for seven years, from 1974 to 1981.
Who is the shortest-serving actor to play the Doctor?
Paul McGann is the shortest-serving actor to play the Doctor in terms of television episodes. He appeared as the Eighth Doctor in the 1996 TV movie and in audio dramas thereafter.
Who is the most popular actor to play the Doctor?
The popularity of the actors who have played the Doctor varies among fans, and it’s subjective. Each Doctor has their own dedicated fan base, and opinions on the most popular Doctor can vary widely.
Who is the least popular actor to play the Doctor?
Similar to popularity, opinions on the least popular Doctor are subjective and vary among fans. It’s essential to remember that each Doctor brings a unique interpretation to the role, and personal preferences play a significant role in determining popularity.
Who is the most controversial actor to play the Doctor?
The question of the most controversial Doctor is subjective and can depend on various factors, including storylines, character developments, and individual preferences. Different fans may have different opinions on which Doctor generated the most controversy.
Who is the most requested actor to play the Doctor?
Requests for specific actors to play the Doctor can change over time and depend on fan preferences and rumors. As of my last knowledge update in September 2021, there were no widely known or official requests for a specific actor to play the Doctor in the future.
Who is the most likely actor to play the Doctor in the future?
Predicting the future casting of the Doctor is challenging, as it depends on the decisions of the “Doctor Who” production team and the availability and interest of actors. Speculation about future Doctors often abounds, but no official announcements can be made regarding future casting as of my last knowledge update. Stay tuned to official announcements for updates on the next actor to take on the iconic role. Consider reading >>>> Actors Who Died in 2018 to learn more.
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