Jon Pertwee

John Devon Roland Pertwee (July 7, 1919–May 20, 1996), better known as Jon Pertwee, was a British actor. more...

He is best known for his roles in the science fiction television series Doctor Who, where he played the third incarnation of the Doctor from 1970 to 1974, and as the title character in the series Worzel Gummidge. He also hosted the murder mystery quiz programme Whodunnit! between 1974 and 1978.

Pertwee was also a comic actor, with roles such as the conniving Officer Pertwee in The Navy Lark on BBC Radio and in another radio comedy series Waterlogged Spa. He also played the part of Lycus in the 1963 London stage production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and appeared in the smaller role of Crassus in the 1966 film version. He appeared in four Carry On films: Carry on Cleo (1964), Carry On Screaming! (1966), Carry On Cowboy (1965) and Carry On Columbus (1992). He also guest starred in the British comedy television series The Goodies in the episode "Wacky Wales".

In 1972 he released a vocal version of the programme's celebrated theme tune entitled "Who is the Doctor", and in 1980 he released a novel track based on Worzel Gummidge entitled "Worzel's Song". He returned to the role of the Doctor in the 1983 20th-Anniversary television movie The Five Doctors and in the 1993 charity special Dimensions in Time. He also performed in two radio spin-offs: The Paradise of Death and The Ghosts of N-Space. During the 1990s he made a guest appearance in the "Lords and Ladies" episode of the BBC Radio 4 comedy series Harry Hill's Fruit Corner, playing a Time Lord.

Pertwee was an officer in the Royal Navy, spending some time working in naval intelligence during the Second World War. He was a crew member of HMS Hood and was transferred off the ship shortly before it was sunk, losing all but three men. He was married twice, first to Jean Marsh (1955–1960), whom he divorced, and then, on August 13, 1960, to Ingeborg Rhoesha, by whom he had two children, Sean and Dariel. He was a cousin of actor Bill Pertwee.

Pertwee would continue to act in films and television as well as make appearances world-wide in support of Doctor Who. Eventually, he became more aggressive in boosting projects that he favoured. Early success in persuading Doctor Who actors such as Patrick Troughton to appear as guests at American science fiction conventions inspired Pertwee to lobby for a radio version of the series after it was put on hiatus. Additionally, he vigorously canvassed British producers on behalf of Worzel Gummidge.

Ultimately, Pertwee was successful in seeing the Third Doctor return to the airwaves with two audio productions for BBC Radio, The Paradise of Death and The Ghosts of N-Space.Worzel Gummidge was eventually picked up for production on Australian television.

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