William Russell was born William Russell Enoch on 19 November 1924, in Sunderland, County Durham, England, to Eva Compston (Pile) and Alfred James Enoch. He became interested in acting at an early age. He was involved in organizing entertainments during his national
service in the Royal Air Force and then, after university, went into repertory theatre. He appeared in "Hamlet" in London's West End and won a number of film roles, usually as a dashing hero. Notable TV work followed in
The Adventures of Sir Lancelot (1956) for ITV and
Nicholas Nickleby (1957) and David Copperfield in
Fredric March Presents Tales from Dickens (1959) for the BBC, shortly after which he was cast as Ian Chesterton in
Doctor Who (1963). He later continued a successful acting career, particularly in the theatre, and for a time held a senior post in the actor's union, Equity. In recent years he has been a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company.
His son is actor
Alfred Enoch.
Doctor Who(2005)as Ian Chesterton
Executive Order(2020)
Susan's War(2020)as Ian Chesterton
Doctor Who: The Early Adventures(2014)as Ian Chesterton, The Doctor, Narrator
The Visit(2016)as Hospital Patient
Doctor Who(2023)
Doctor Who Live: The Afterparty(2013)as Self
William Hartnell: The Original(2013)as Self
Doctor Who: Tales from the TARDIS(2013)as Self - Ian Chesterton
The Daleks in Colour(2023)as Ian Chesterton
How the BBC Began(2022)as Ian Chesterton
Whovians(2017)as Ian Chesterton
