Stars have paid tribute to Doctor Who legend William Russell, after his death aged 99.
The actor rose to fame in 1956 in ITV series The Adventures of Sir Lancelot, before his most prominent role as Ian Chesterton opposite Doctor Who’s William Hartnell from the BBC sci-fi show’s first episode until 1965.
Russell also held roles in The Great Escape, 1978 film Superman and as Ted Sullivan in Coronation Street.
He reprised his Doctor Who role in 2022 in special episode The Power of the Doctor, 57 years after his character’s last appearance.
The then-98-year-old broke a world record for the longest gap between TV appearances.
Russell died on June 3, and no cause of death has been confirmed.
Fans have paid tribute to Russell on social media, with Doctor Who star Nicola Bryant, who played Peri Brown between 1984 to 1986, writing: ‘What sad news to say farewell to William Russell. What a wonderful man with a delightful family an extraordinary life & career.
‘The most charming smile and twinkling eyes, he always lit up the room. I hope there will be many celebrations of this beautiful man.’
Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies also paid tribute, writing alongside a selfie with Russell on Instagram: ‘William Russell (1924-2024). What a sad loss, William played the Doctor’s very first companion, Ian Chesterton, back in 1963.
‘A schoolteacher, trapped on the Tardis by a wily old Doctor, unable to get home, whisked off to the Stone Age, Skaro, the Crusades, planet of the Zarbi..! Wonderful!
‘A fine, nimble, witty, heartfelt actor who absolutely sold the truth of those early years.
‘Before that, he’d been Sir Lancelot on the BBC; it’s often undersold what a star booking he was for Doctor Who.
‘He later went on to marry Rita Fairclough as Ted Sullivan on Coronation Street.
‘In the photo, I bumped into him on a train in 2018! I was star-struck! He spoke with so much pride and joy about his son, Alfred Enoch, who I’d seen in King Lear at the Royal Exchange.
‘Absolutely lovely man. A fine, long life. Well done, sir, well played.’
Carol Ann Ford, who starred alongside Russell in Doctor Who, told RadioTimes: ‘Russ was such a dear, lovely man, an outstanding actor who was dedicated to his craft, but with a wonderful sense of humour and a permanent twinkle in his eye.
‘He was always looking out for me when I played Susan — I wanted to leap over things, fight the villains and do more action, and he got so worried that I would get hurt! I cherished working with him, and the many reunions we had over the years.
We’re sad to report the passing of William Russell, a legend in #DoctorWho history – who played one of the first and original companions to the Doctor, Ian Chesterton â¤ï¸â¤ï¸ pic.twitter.com/N91FoSr0yx
— Doctor Who (@bbcdoctorwho) June 4, 2024
Message from Sylvesterâ¦RIP William Russel. We lived near each other and Iâd bump into him. He always gave me a beautiful generous smile of welcome.
— Sylvester McCoy (@4SylvesterMcCoy) June 4, 2024
Sadly no more. pic.twitter.com/oVo6BobhAE
This beautiful funny gentle man #WilliamRussell has sadly find on his awfully big adventure â¥ï¸a wonderful actor, always with such an impish little twinkle in his eye . so grateful to have known him my heartfelt thoughts to his wife Etheline & dear family â¥ï¸ pic.twitter.com/fiCXzwrlIs
— KatyManning Official welcomes you (@ManningOfficial) June 4, 2024
What sad news to say farewell to William Russell. What a wonderful man with a delightful family an extraordinary life & career. The most charming smile and twinkling eyes, he always lit up the room. I hope there will be many celebrations of this beautiful man.#RIPWilliamRussell pic.twitter.com/EgvaHquoOD
— Nicola Bryant ðºð¦ ð» (@thenicolabryant) June 4, 2024
‘Russ had such a rich and full life — television, films, theatre, the lot — and quite rightly received such warmth and affection from everyone who knew him. He will be missed.’
The Seventh Doctor, Sylvester McCoy, paid tribute on X, writing: ‘RIP William Russell. We lived near each other and I’d bump into him. He always gave me a beautiful generous smile of welcome. Sadly no more.’
Jo Grant actress Katy Manning added: ‘This beautiful funny gentle man… So grateful to have known him my heartfelt thoughts to his wife Etheline & dear family.’
Russell is survived by his second wife Etheline, whom he married in 1984, and their son Alfred, as well as his children from his first marriage, Vanessa, Laetitia and Robert, and four grandchildren.
Alfred has followed in his footsteps as an actor, playing Dean Thomas in the Harry Potter movies.
Russell, who was one of the four original cast members of Doctor Who alongside Jacqueline Hill and Carol Ann Ford, later narrated several Doctor Who audiobooks and also appeared as David Copperfield in episodes of Tales From Dickens, in the remake of St Ives in 1960 and played Martin Kennedy in Breaking Point.
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He also played a recurring role as Tom Preston in Harriet’s Back In Town and more recently appeared in an episode of Agatha Christie: Poirot.
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