
William Russell
Known for Acting · 98 credits
- Born
- 1924-11-19
- Died
- 2024-06-03
- Place of birth
- Sunderland, County Durham, England, UK
- Also known as
- William Russell Enoch · Enoch Russell · William Russel · Russel Enoch · Russell Enoch · ویلیام راسل
Biography
William Russell Enoch (19 November 1924–3 June 2024) was an English actor. He achieved prominence in 1956 when he took the title role in the ITV television series The Adventures of Sir Lancelot (1956–1957). In 1963, he became part of the original lead cast of BBC1's Doctor Who, playing the role of schoolteacher Ian Chesterton opposite William Hartnell from the show's first episode until 1965. Russell's film roles include parts in The Man Who Never Was (1956), The Great Escape (1963) and Superman (1978). On television, he notably appeared as Ted Sullivan in Coronation Street in 1992. In recent years, Russell has maintained his association with Doctor Who; he returned to the show in 2022, making a cameo appearance as Ian in "The Power of the Doctor", 57 years after the character's last television appearance.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Known For
TV Shows (33)

Coronation Street
1960
as Ted Sullivan

Agatha Christie's Poirot
1989
as Lanscombe

Doctor Who
1963
as Ian Chesterton

Casualty
1986
as Mo Meredrew

Play for Today
1970
as Don

Great Performances
1971

Heartbeat
1992
as Gabriel Firth

The Professionals
1977
as Charles Holly

Blackadder
1983
as The Duke of Winchester

ITV Playhouse
1967
as Frank / Daddy

Sunday Night Theatre
1950
as Bill Bolton / Renny / Vicomte de Tournai

Dr. Finlay's Casebook
1962

BBC2 Play of the Week
1977
as Headmaster / Lord Folkestone / Chapman

Justice
1971
as Dr. Victor Ainsworth

Robin of Sherwood
1984
as The Duke of Gloucester

Van der Valk
1972
as Rokin
Sunday-Night Play
1960
as Colonel Friedrich Eilers, Leader of a Fighter Squadron / Oliver Farrant / Lord Bleane / John Freeman / Charles Hemington / Gerald Croft / Frank

The Main Chance
1969
as Arnold Galbraith

Shoestring
1979
as David Carn

Strangers
1978
as Bamford Harker

Detective
1964
as Bill Cartwright

Suspense
1962
as John Richards

The Adventures of Sir Lancelot
1956
as Sir Lancelot du Lac

Father Brown
1974
as Reverend Wilfred Bohun

Lilli Palmer Theatre
1955
as Boy

Armchair Thriller
1978
as Senior Officer

Armchair Theatre
1956
as Smoky

Testament of Youth
1979
The Hanged Man
1975
as Peter Kroger

Disraeli
1978
as Wyndham Lewis
Breaking Point
1966

Doctor Who: Lost in Time
1965
as Ian
Nicholas Nickleby
1957
as Nicholas Nickleby
Movies (65)

Superman
1978
as 8th Elder

The Great Escape
1963
as Sorren

An Adventure in Space and Time
2013
as Harry

Death Watch
1980
as Dr. Mason

The Man Who Never Was
1956
as Joe

They Who Dare
1954
as Lieutenant Poole

Malta Story
1953
as Officer at Prison

Above Us the Waves
1955
as Ramsey

The Affair
1995
as Dr. Hastings

Terror
1979
as Lord Garrick

Gift Horse
1952
as Crewman

Doctor Who: The Daleks in Colour
2023
as Ian Chesterton (archive footage)

The Ties That Bind Us
2008
as Ian Chesterton (archive footage)

Executive Order
2022

The Saint's Return
1953
as Keith Merton

One Good Turn
1955
as Alec Bigley

Doctor Who: Resurrection of the Daleks
1984
as Ian Chesterton (archive footage) (uncredited)

Doctor Who: The Edge of Destruction
1964
as Ian Chesterton

Doctor Who: Origins
2006
as Self

Doctor Who: The Crusade
1965
as Ian Chesterton

Doctor Who: The Romans
1965
as Ian Chesterton

Doctor Who: The Dalek Invasion of Earth
1964
as Ian Chesterton

Doctor Who: The Daleks
1964
as Ian Chesterton

The Big Chance
1957
as Bill Anderson

Doctor Who: The Web Planet
1965
as Ian Chesterton

Over the Edge: The Story of 'The Edge of Destruction'
2006
as Self / Ian Chesterton

Doctor Who: The Keys of Marinus
1964
as Ian Chesterton

Three Men in a Boat
1975
as Doctor

The Four Minute Mile
1988
as AAA Official

Doctor Who: Marco Polo
1964
as Ian Chesterton

The Gay Dog
1954
as Leslie Gowland
Little Girls Don't
1981
as Daddy

Doctor Who: The Sensorites
1964
as Ian Chesterton

Doctor Who: The Chase
1965
as Ian Chesterton

The Sets of Marinus
2009
as Ian Chesterton (archive footage)

Doctor Who: An Unearthly Child
1963
as Ian Chesterton

Doctor Who: Planet of Giants
1964
as Ian Chesterton

Instant Enlightenment Including VAT
1979
as Don

Dead Man's Kit
1980
as Senior Officer

Henry V at Shakespeare's Globe
1997
as King Charles VI of France / Bishop of Ely / Sir Thomas Erpingham

Doctor Who: The Space Museum
1965
as Ian Chesterton

Doctor Who: The Aztecs
1964
as Ian Chesterton

What Has 'The Romans' Ever Done For Us?
2009
as Self

Tales of Isop
2005
as Self

The Doctors: The William Hartnell Years
2017

Adventure Story
1961
as Hephaestion

Don't Lose Your Head: The Making of 'The Reign of Terror'
2012
as Himself

Doctor Who: The Reign of Terror
1964
as Ian Chesterton

William Russell: In Conversation
2022
as Self

Creation of the Daleks
2006
as Ian Chesterton (archive footage)

Doctor Who: The Rescue
1965
as Ian Chesterton

Remembering 'The Aztecs'
2002
as Ian Chesterton (archive footage)

Dennis Spooner: Wanna Write a Television Series?
2009

Intimate Relations
1953
as Michael

The Share Out
1962
as Mike Stafford

Mounting the Rescue
2009
as Self

The Adventures of Hal 5
1957

Inside the Spaceship: The Story of the TARDIS
2006
as Self / Ian Chesterton

Rediscovering the Urge to Live
2012

Masters of Sound
2006
as Ian Chesterton (archive footage)

Future Memories: Making 'The Dalek Invasion of Earth'
2003
as Ian Chesterton (archive footage)

Return to Sender
1963
as Mike Cochran

Last Stop White City
2010
as Self

Newsworthy - The Girl Who Saw a Tiger
1976
as Mr Rose

Vision On
2012
as Ian Chesterton (archive footage)
About William Russell
William Russell Enoch (19 November 1924–3 June 2024) was an English actor. He achieved prominence in 1956 when he took the title role in the ITV television series The Adventures of Sir Lancelot (1956–1957). In 1963, he became part of the original lead cast of BBC1's Doctor Who, playing the role of schoolteacher Ian Chesterton opposite William Hartnell from the show's first episode until 1965. Russell's film roles include parts in The Man Who Never Was (1956), The Great Escape (1963) and Superman (1978). On television, he notably appeared as Te… With 98 credits spanning from 1950 to 2023, William Russell has appeared in 65 films and 33 TV shows.
Fans searching for William Russell movies, William Russell filmography, or the latest projects starring William Russell can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular William Russell Movies
- Superman (1978) — as 8th Elder
- The Great Escape (1963) — as Sorren
- An Adventure in Space and Time (2013) — as Harry
- Death Watch (1980) — as Dr. Mason
- The Man Who Never Was (1956) — as Joe
Where to Watch William Russell Films
Most William Russell movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring William Russell, check our movies catalogue and browse page.