Who Played Doctor Who? The Real History of Time Lords and Regenerations

It’s the most famous job in British television. Honestly, maybe the most famous job in sci-fi history. Since 1963, a single character has changed faces, personalities, and wardrobes more times than most people change their tires. When people ask about actors who have played Doctor Who, they usually expect a simple list. But it's never that simple with a 900-year-old (or several thousand-year-old) Time Lord.

The show started because of a practical problem. William Hartnell, the original Doctor, was becoming ill and struggling to remember his lines. Instead of cancelling a hit, the BBC came up with "renewal"—later called regeneration. It was a stroke of genius that allowed the show to survive for over sixty years.

The Classics: From Grumpy Grandpas to Cosmic Hobos

William Hartnell was the first. He wasn't the heroic figure we see today. He was a bit abrasive. A bit mysterious. He traveled with his granddaughter, Susan, and basically kidnapped two schoolteachers. He set the template: a high-collared Victorian look and a sharp tongue. When he left in 1966, Patrick Troughton took over. Troughton was a massive shift. He played the Second Doctor as a "Cosmic Hobo." He wore baggy trousers and played a recorder. This was the first time fans realized the Doctor could be anyone.

Then came the 1970s. Jon Pertwee brought a dash of James Bond to the role. He was the Third Doctor, stuck on Earth, driving a vintage car named Bessie and practicing "Venusian Aikido." He was suave. He wore velvet capes. But if you ask anyone over the age of fifty who the "real" Doctor is, they’ll probably say Tom Baker.

Tom Baker's Fourth Doctor is the icon. The scarf. The jelly babies. The wild eyes. He stayed for seven seasons, the longest tenure of any actor in the role. He defined the character's eccentricities in a way that still influences the show today. After him, things got a bit more experimental. Peter Davison brought a youthful, vulnerable energy as the Fifth Doctor (and a piece of celery on his lapel). Colin Baker took it to the extreme with a technicolor dreamcoat and a much more arrogant persona. Finally, Sylvester McCoy closed out the original run as the Seventh Doctor, starting as a clown and ending as a dark, manipulative chess player.

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The Wilderness Years and the TV Movie

For a long time, the show was dead. Or "on hiatus," as the BBC liked to say. In 1996, Paul McGann stepped in for a single TV movie. He was brilliant. He was romantic. He wore a wig because his actual hair wasn't "Doctor-y" enough. Even though he only had one outing on screen for decades, he became a legend through audio dramas. He proved the character could work with modern production values.

The Modern Era: Why New Who Changed Everything

When Russell T Davies brought the show back in 2005, he needed someone grounded. Enter Christopher Eccleston. He wore a leather jacket. He had a northern accent. "Lots of planets have a North!" he famously barked. He only stayed for one season, but he saved the franchise.

Then came the explosion. David Tennant’s Tenth Doctor turned the show into a global phenomenon. He was the "Time Lord Victorious," a man who loved too much and stayed too long. His chemistry with Billie Piper’s Rose Tyler redefined the show for a new generation. When Matt Smith took over as the Eleventh Doctor, he had huge shoes to fill. He played the role like an old man trapped in a young man’s body—all flailing limbs and "bow ties are cool."

Peter Capaldi followed, bringing back a more "classic" feel. He was grumpier, more Scottish, and played a mean electric guitar. He was a fan of the show since he was a kid, even writing letters to the BBC as a teenager. That passion showed.

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Breaking the Glass Ceiling and Modern Shifts

Jodie Whittaker made history as the first woman to officially play the role. Her Thirteenth Doctor was full of "hope and help," though her era was often bogged down by complex lore changes like the "Timeless Child" twist. This revealed the Doctor wasn't actually from Gallifrey, but a being from another dimension with infinite regenerations.

Jo Martin also appeared during this time as the Fugitive Doctor, the first Black actor to play a version of the character, predating Ncuti Gatwa.

Speaking of Ncuti Gatwa, his Fifteenth Doctor is a total breath of fresh air. He’s stylish. He’s emotional. He’s not afraid to cry or dance. He represents the "soft reboot" of the show under the new Disney+ partnership. And we can't forget the 60th Anniversary special, where David Tennant actually returned as the Fourteenth Doctor. It was a "bi-generation," a weird new mechanic where the old Doctor and new Doctor both existed at once.

The Ones Who Don't Have a Number

If you’re counting actors who have played Doctor Who, you can’t just look at the numbered ones. There’s John Hurt. He played the War Doctor in the 50th Anniversary special. He was the "secret" incarnation who fought in the Time War. He didn't want the name "Doctor" because he was a soldier, not a healer.

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There are others, too.

• Peter Cushing played "Dr. Who" in two 1960s films, but these aren't considered canon. He was a human inventor, not an alien.
• Richard Hurndall played the First Doctor in "The Five Doctors" because William Hartnell had passed away.
• David Bradley has since taken over the First Doctor role in several specials, including "Twice Upon a Time."
• Michael Jayston played The Valeyard, an evil amalgamation of the Doctor's darker sides.

Why the Casting Always Causes a Fight

Every time a new Doctor is announced, the internet loses its mind. People said Matt Smith was too young. People said Daniel Craig (who was rumored once) was too "action-movie." People said a woman couldn't play the part.

The reality? The show thrives on change. If it didn't change, it would have died in 1966. The "Doctor" isn't a set personality; it's a set of values. Kindness. Curiosity. A hatred of bullies. As long as those stay, the actor's face doesn't actually matter that much.

Key Takeaways for Fans

If you're trying to keep track of the timeline, remember that the numbers are mostly for the fans. In the show, the Doctor often loses count.

1. The "Main" Line: Hartnell, Troughton, Pertwee, T. Baker, Davison, C. Baker, McCoy, McGann, Eccleston, Tennant, Smith, Capaldi, Whittaker, Tennant (again), Gatwa.
2. The Outliers: John Hurt (War Doctor) and Jo Martin (Fugitive Doctor) are essential to the modern lore.
3. The "Morbius Doctors": An old 1970s episode suggested there were many Doctors before Hartnell, a plot point that was ignored for 40 years until the Jodie Whittaker era brought it back.
4. Watch the Specials: Many of the most interesting "extra" Doctors appear in anniversary specials or one-off events.

To truly understand the legacy of these actors, your next step is to watch the 50th Anniversary special, "The Day of the Doctor." It features three different versions of the character interacting at once and perfectly explains how the different personalities coexist within one soul. After that, seek out the "Power of the Doctor" to see how the show pays tribute to the legends of the past while sprinting toward the future.