Jon Pertwee
Birthday:
7 July 1919, Chelsea, London, England, UK
Birth Name:
John Devon Roland Pertwee
Height:
190 cm
Jon Pertwee is best known for his portrayal of the Doctor, on the BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who (1963). He portrayed the Doctor from 1970 to 1974. His 60-year entertainment career included work in radio, films, and cabaret. This was despite the inauspicious beginning of having been thrown out of drama school as a young man and to...
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Jon Pertwee is best known for his portrayal of the Doctor, on the BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who (1963). He portrayed the Doctor from 1970 to 1974. His 60-year entertainment career included work in radio, films, and cabaret. This was despite the inauspicious beginning of having been thrown out of drama school as a young man and told he had no future as an actor. The BBC announced his death. Show less «
[when advised to portray the Doctor in Doctor Who (1963) as himself by Shaun Sutton] Who's that?
[when advised to portray the Doctor in Doctor Who (1963) as himself by Shaun Sutton] Who's that?
I like the best of everything.
I like the best of everything.
[on why he preferred Doctor Who (1963) stories set on contemporary Earth] There's nothing more alarming than coming home and finding a Yeti ...Show more »
[on why he preferred Doctor Who (1963) stories set on contemporary Earth] There's nothing more alarming than coming home and finding a Yeti sitting on your loo in Tooting Bec. Show less «
[on playing it straight in Doctor Who (1963)] In all my years as an actor, I had never been me - I had always hidden behind my glasses, must...Show more »
[on playing it straight in Doctor Who (1963)] In all my years as an actor, I had never been me - I had always hidden behind my glasses, mustaches and funny voices. Show less «
I decided to leave [Doctor Who (1963)] because Roger [Roger Delgado] had died, Barry Letts was leaving, Terrance Dicks was leaving. I though...Show more »
I decided to leave [Doctor Who (1963)] because Roger [Roger Delgado] had died, Barry Letts was leaving, Terrance Dicks was leaving. I thought it looked like the end of an era and I thought, "Well, I may as well go". Shaun Sutton, the head of programmes, said, "Would you like to stay on and do another season?" And I said, "Yeah, yeah, I'll do one more if you pay me a bit of extra money". He said, "Like what?" I told him and they said, "We're sorry to see you go." Show less «
Tom Baker says he's the Doctor. You can't argue with Tom on that one, he did seven years and he always wins the polls.
Tom Baker says he's the Doctor. You can't argue with Tom on that one, he did seven years and he always wins the polls.
Eddie Gray once said to me, "Don't worry, my son, take my advice, say the lines, take the money and go and buy something nice", which is the...Show more »
Eddie Gray once said to me, "Don't worry, my son, take my advice, say the lines, take the money and go and buy something nice", which is the best advice I'd ever heard in my life. Show less «
I hate working in studios. That's why I adored doing Worzel Gummidge (1979), because we shot the whole thing on film, we were outside all th...Show more »
I hate working in studios. That's why I adored doing Worzel Gummidge (1979), because we shot the whole thing on film, we were outside all the time. Show less «
In my opinion, Caroline John didn't fit into Doctor Who (1963). I couldn't really believe in her as a sidekick to the Doctor, because she wa...Show more »
In my opinion, Caroline John didn't fit into Doctor Who (1963). I couldn't really believe in her as a sidekick to the Doctor, because she was so darned intelligent herself. The Doctor didn't want a know-it-all by his side, he wanted someone who was busy learning about the world. Although Caroline and I worked well together, I don't think it did the series any harm when she left. Show less «
The tattoos were a little mistake from younger and more foolish days. I always thought it was quite amusing to have the Third Doctor, who wa...Show more »
The tattoos were a little mistake from younger and more foolish days. I always thought it was quite amusing to have the Third Doctor, who was so preoccupied with being the archetypal gentleman, displaying a nice big piece of arm adornment - and nobody said anything when filming, so they were seen on screen. Perhaps people were frightened of offending me so early on in my time! Show less «
I was very fond of the Ogrons, who were wonderful, because they were so big, even I was terrified of them.
I was very fond of the Ogrons, who were wonderful, because they were so big, even I was terrified of them.
I was delighted to appear in The Five Doctors [Doctor Who: The Five Doctors (1983)] and I thought it was a great shame that Tom [Tom Baker] ...Show more »
I was delighted to appear in The Five Doctors [Doctor Who: The Five Doctors (1983)] and I thought it was a great shame that Tom [Tom Baker] declined to take part. Of course, it would have been nicer to have had a bit more to do, but that was necessarily a problem, considering the amount of characters Terrance Dicks was trying to cram in. Generally, I thought I was done justice, and I told John Nathan-Turner then that I wouldn't mind coming back to do the odd special occasionally. Show less «
Somehow I seem to have been gently bypassed as a serious actor. Too long enjoying life and working in Light Entertainment perhaps.
Somehow I seem to have been gently bypassed as a serious actor. Too long enjoying life and working in Light Entertainment perhaps.
["Radio Times" 3 January 1970] Small children and animals are every actor's nightmare - I have to cope with monsters.
["Radio Times" 3 January 1970] Small children and animals are every actor's nightmare - I have to cope with monsters.
I'm an actor playing Doctor Who. I'm often asked questions about what the Doctor thinks and I say: 'How the hell do I know?' I'm speaking so...Show more »
I'm an actor playing Doctor Who. I'm often asked questions about what the Doctor thinks and I say: 'How the hell do I know?' I'm speaking somebody else's lines. Show less «
I think sci-fi always draws cult followers. You get these other people, the Trekkies, all over the world, who follow Star Trek (1966). There...Show more »
I think sci-fi always draws cult followers. You get these other people, the Trekkies, all over the world, who follow Star Trek (1966). There were only two series of this made [he was mistaken, there were three] and what you see now is endless repeats, but you still get these sci-fi nuts prepared to go anywhere for a convention. Show less «
[shortly before his death] At 76, I'm too old for all the stunts and the Venusian karate - I might find kicking somebody under the chin diff...Show more »
[shortly before his death] At 76, I'm too old for all the stunts and the Venusian karate - I might find kicking somebody under the chin difficult nowadays. Show less «
[on Worzel Gummidge (1979)] It is an actor's dream because the man changes his mind and his head with monotonous regularity. So you go throu...Show more »
[on Worzel Gummidge (1979)] It is an actor's dream because the man changes his mind and his head with monotonous regularity. So you go through all sorts of phases and characters, which appeals to me enormously. Show less «
[on Doctor Who (1963)] I like two things about it. I like the fun of doing it and I like the money.
[on Doctor Who (1963)] I like two things about it. I like the fun of doing it and I like the money.
I like working on stage because of the reaction. I like to play light comedy and hear the laughs.
I like working on stage because of the reaction. I like to play light comedy and hear the laughs.
In all my years as an actor, I had never been me - I had always hidden behind my glasses, mustaches and funny voices.
In all my years as an actor, I had never been me - I had always hidden behind my glasses, mustaches and funny voices.
[on his spy work in WW2] I did all sorts. Teaching commandos how to use escapology equipment, compasses in brass buttons, secret maps in whi...Show more »
[on his spy work in WW2] I did all sorts. Teaching commandos how to use escapology equipment, compasses in brass buttons, secret maps in white cotton handkerchiefs, pipes you could smoke that also fired a .22 bullet. All sorts of incredible things. Show less «
[on being cast as The Doctor] When my agent approached the BBC and that long silence on the phone was over we were told that I was on their ...Show more »
[on being cast as The Doctor] When my agent approached the BBC and that long silence on the phone was over we were told that I was on their short list and had been ever since they wanted a replacement for Patrick Troughton. Show less «
Charles Laughton, the famous actor, said to me 'I understand you were thrown out of RADA.' I said 'Yes' and he said 'you're bound to do well...Show more »
Charles Laughton, the famous actor, said to me 'I understand you were thrown out of RADA.' I said 'Yes' and he said 'you're bound to do well, so was I' Show less «
It never occurred to me that I could ever be remotely considered for the part of the Doctor. When Tenniel Evans, with whom I was playing in ...Show more »
It never occurred to me that I could ever be remotely considered for the part of the Doctor. When Tenniel Evans, with whom I was playing in The Navy Lark, suggested I put myself up for the part, I thought it was an absurd idea. I was widely known as a radio and stage comedy actor and they would never take the suggestion seriously. Show less «
(Concerning the inevitability of his career which he felt later on may have played against him) Because it was the family business I never h...Show more »
(Concerning the inevitability of his career which he felt later on may have played against him) Because it was the family business I never had to struggle to join it I took it for granted which is maybe why I've never taken it seriously enough. Show less «
I saw the Doctor as an interplanetary crusader and it was this dashing Pied Piper image that appealed to me. I could spread my cloak, take t...Show more »
I saw the Doctor as an interplanetary crusader and it was this dashing Pied Piper image that appealed to me. I could spread my cloak, take the Earth under my wing and say, 'It's all right now...I'll deal with this.' Show less «
Jon Pertwee's Photos
Sheriff Albert Earp
Soothsayer
Marcus Licinius Crassus
Doctor Fettle
