From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

William Russell
William Russell as Ian Chesterton (from the Doctor Who serial Marco Polo)
Birth name	Russell Enoch
Born	November 19, 1924 (1924-11-19) (age 83) Sunderland, England UK
Spouse(s)	Balbina Gutierrez (divorced) and Etheline Lewis Enoch

William Russell (born Russell Enoch on November 19, 1924 in Sunderland, England) is a British actor, mainly known for his television work.

Russell appeared in British films from 1950 onwards, appearing in well-known productions such as The Man Who Never Was (1956) and The Great Escape (1963). He also later had a minor role in Superman: The Movie (1978).

His big break was the title role in The Adventures of Sir Lancelot on ITV in 1956, which for sale to the NBC network in the U.S. became the first British television series to be shot in colour. Following this, he won a role in Doctor Who as one of the Doctor's companions, science teacher Ian Chesterton, appearing in the bulk of the first two seasons of the programme.

He has subsequently played a number of roles in theatre and on television, perhaps the highest-profile being Disraeli, Testament of Youth and the part of Ted Sullivan, the short-lived second husband of Rita Sullivan in Coronation Street. (Ted already had a terminal illness when he married Rita in 1992, and died peacefully while watching a cricket match). He also had a small part in an episode of the first series of Blackadder (1983), as a late replacement for Wilfrid Brambell, who had become impatient with delays to his scene and left the set before shooting it.

In the 1980s, the actor began using his birth name, Russell Enoch, professionally. However, he continues to be credited as William Russell in Doctor Who-related projects, as well as occasionally in other roles. For example, he used the name "William Russell" when appearing as the character of Lanscombe in an episode of the 2005 series of Agatha Christie's Poirot ("After the Funeral").

In 1999 he returned to the role of Ian Chesterton for the video release of the Doctor Who serial The Crusade, from which two episodes are currently missing. Russell provided linking narration to cover the gaps, in character as an aged Ian reminiscing about the events of the story. Since 2002 he has also provided audio commentaries for various Doctor Who DVD releases, read audio book versions of three early Doctor Who novelisations featuring Ian and provided linking narration for CD releases of the fan-recorded off-air soundtracks of serials in which he appeared from which some or all of the episodes are also missing.

From his first marriage to Balbnina Gutierrez a French model (divorced), he had three children Vanessa, Laetitia and Robert. Alfred Enoch, his son from his second marriage to Etheline Lewis Enoch a Brazilian physicist since 1953, plays Dean Thomas in the Harry Potter films. Russell also has three grandchildren Elise, James and Amy.

• William Russell at the Internet Movie Database