Curiosidades

During his time on Doctor Who (1963) he began to increasingly suffer from arteriosclerosis, which caused him to often make mistakes while delivering his lines. Due to lack of time and money, scenes were usually filmed using one take, so these mistakes ended up in the finished episodes and are considered among fans to be something of a trademark of Hartnell's performance as the Doctor.

In 1966, due to the actor's health problems, the decision was made to replace Hartnell as the Doctor but continue the series. The story editor of Doctor Who (1963), Gerry Davis, came up with a unique idea: since the Doctor is an alien, he can transform into another man when he dies, thereby renewing himself. Hartnell reportedly approved of the casting of the versatile character actor Patrick Troughton to succeed him, a decision by Innes Lloyd, the then producer of the series. However, his former co-star Peter Purves stated in an interview that Hartnell would almost certainly have felt very hurt that anybody felt he could be replaced in the series because he had become so attached to the part that he had originated.

His was the only version of The Doctor who smoked (In his case, a pipe).

He first took the role of the Doctor to get away from being typecast as gruff military types and to appear in something his grandchildren could watch.

He appeared in 134 episodes during his three years on Doctor Who (1963). This was eventually overtaken by the Fourth Doctor, Tom Baker, who appeared in 172 episodes over seven years. This heavy workload became tough for Hartnell as time went on and his health began to decline.

As of 2017, Hartnell's incarnation of the Doctor is the only version that has also been played by other actors, while still being referred to as the "First Doctor". In the film Dr. Who e a Guerra dos Daleks (1965), the Doctor is played by Peter Cushing; though this was before regeneration had been created. After Hartnell's death, Richard Hurndall played his version of the Doctor in The Five Doctors (1983). In the 2017 Christmas special, Twice Upon a Time (2017), the role of the First Doctor is played by David Bradley.

He was the first actor to play the role of the Doctor in Doctor Who (1963). He accepted the part after Cyril Cusack and Leslie French had turned it down.

His last episode as The Doctor in The Tenth Planet: Episode 4 (1966) was also the first ever appearance of The Cybermen.

His final film role was a cameo in O Abominável Dr. Phibes (1971), but he was cut out of the film entirely.

Throughout his tenure as the Doctor, he wore a wig when playing the part, as the character had long hair, whereas in private life he himself favored the traditional short-back-and-sides. Very few photographs exist of him dressed as the Doctor without the wig.

He was the only child of an unmarried mother Lucy Hartnell, who was seventeen years old at the time of his birth. He was raised primarily by her elder sister Bessie.

He was invalided out of the Royal Armoured Corps of the British Army during the Second World War, after suffering a nervous breakdown.

He was the grandfather of actress Jessica Carney, who also wrote his biography.

He was the oldest actor, starting at the age of 55, to play the Doctor in Doctor Who (1963) until David Bradley was cast to play The First Doctor in 2017's Christmas episode (as well as a small teaser at the end of the previous episode) at the age of 75. Bradley had previously played Hartnell himself in the 2013 BBC biopic Uma Aventura no Espaço e Tempo (2013), including reconstructions of Hartnell in the role of The Doctor. Peter Capaldi was also 55 at the time of his getting the part, but was still younger than Hartnell by a matter of months.

As of 2009, he is one of eleven actors to play "official" incarnations of Doctor Who. Also as of 2009, he is the only actor playing the Doctor to have died in England, as his successors Patrick Troughton and Jon Pertwee died while visiting the USA.

In an extremely rare TV interview from 1966, William Hartnell talked briefly about his time on "Doctor Who" - saying that he didn't like having to act opposite the dalek characters as it seemed ridiculous.

Was apparently very happy to make public appearances for children, dressed as Doctor Who.

He was sacked from Nosso Barco, Nossa Alma (1942) for being late. Some believe that this damaged his subsequent film career and left Hartnell dissatisfied with how his career in films had turned out. Bernard Kay said on the DVD commentary for a later Doctor Who serial, Colony in Space, that Hartnell had been a "bitter" man.

At one time he shared the same agent as Nicholas Courtney, who later became a regular in Doctor Who (1963) as Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart.

By nature, the actor could be slightly cantankerous and austere. According to Jessica Carney in her biography, William Hartnell's exterior was a defense mechanism in order to conceal his deep unhappiness.

He always claimed he was born in Seaton, Devon, England, but he was actually born in St. Pancras, London. This was discovered many years after his death.

Claimed to have enjoyed the adulation he received when playing Doctor Who, especially from children.

Didn't get along with his last "Doctor Who" co-stars Anneke Wills and Michael Craze. They found themselves at odds with Hartnell's political views.

Was disappointed and angry when "Doctor Who" co-stars Jacqueline Hill and William Russell told him they were leaving the series.

Was offered the role of Doctor Who on the strength of his performance in the film O Pranto de um Ídolo (1963).

Enjoyed life in the countryside when not working. His grandchildren would spend some of their school holidays with he and their grandmother.

A former jockey's apprentice before turning to acting.

Such was his shame at being illegitimate, William Hartnell created a fictional biography of himself.

The actor's nervous breakdown during World War II left him with a stammer. Eventually he overcame this.

Fellow actors regarded William Hartnell as a dedicated professional but also someone who didn't suffer fools gladly.

He was a sergeant major in the army and often played one in films and television in particular the TV series of The Army Game (1957).

He got along well with producer Verity Lambert whilst making Doctor Who. However, after she left, Hartnell didn't get on with her successor, John Wiles, and his successor, Innes Lloyd, made the decision soon after joining the series that Hartnell would have to be replaced due to the actor's increasingly bad temper and difficulty in delivering his lines.

Began his film career in low budget comedies during the 1930s.

Possibly due to the strain of committing to a TV series full-time, William Hartnell suffered a second nervous breakdown after leaving "Doctor Who.".

His final theatre appearance was in 1967.

Later in his career, William Hartnell grew concerned about becoming typecast as tough army sergeant characters.

Despite his best efforts, William Hartnell wasn't able to locate his biological father.

The actor was known for being secretive about his background and childhood, even among his family and close friends.

Made an uncredited appearance in the Will Hay comedy Professor Astuto (1942).

Was cast in "The Way Ahead" after director Carol Reed saw Hartnell in a theatre production of "Brighton Rock.".

Away from work, William Hartnell's interests included fishing, horses and gardening.

He died in Maidstone Hospital.

He told co-stars on Doctor Who (1963) that he had been offered a role in Doutor Jivago (1965). Whether this was actually true has been questioned.

Joined Frank Benson's Shakespearean company, upon deciding on an acting career.

Returned to the theatre in the late 1930s, after a failed attempt to be successful in films.

His final theatre performance was in 1967.

Was played by actor David Bradley in the "BBC" TV production, "An Adventure in Space and Time.".

Was a talented singer in his younger days.

To some fans, William Hartnell remains the definitive Doctor Who.

Both he and John Hurt, one of his successors as the Doctor, appeared in film adaptations of Graham Greene's 1938 novel "Brighton Rock": Hartnell played Dallow in O Pior dos Pecados (1948) while Hurt played Phil Corkery in Pior dos Pecados (2010).