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Jon Pertwee was born John (after the apostle and disciple) Devon (after the county) Roland (after his father) Pertwee (an Anglicised version of the true family name, Perthuis de Laillevault) on 7 July 1919 in the Chelsea area of London.
He was the second son of famous playwright, painter and actor Roland Pertwee, and his actress wife Avice - his writer brother Michael Pertwee being three years his senior. The Pertwee family had a long connection with show business and the performing arts and it was at Wellington House preparatory school in Westgate-On-Sea in Kent that Jon, as a small, rebellious child, was encouraged in his direction.
Later, at Frensham Heights co-educational school, Jon had his first taste of 'real' theatre with real women in the school stage productions of "Twelve Night" and "Lady Princess Stream". In 1936, Jon Pertwee auditioned for, and was accepted by, the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA).
He was later kicked out for refusing to play the part of the wind in a play. Jon Pertwee died on 20 May 1996 of a heart attack. He was survived by his wife Ingeborg Rhoesa, his son Sean Pertwee, a popular and talented actor and his daughter Dariel Pertwee, an accomplished stage actress.
In 1969, Pertwee was selected by producer Peter Bryant to take over as the Doctor from Patrick Troughton in the television series Doctor Who. Pertwee had already applied for the role and was surprised to find he had been shortlisted for it.
He played the Doctor for five seasons from 1970 to 1974, at the time the longest stint of any of the actors who played the part, surpassing predecessors William Hartnell and Patrick Troughton's three years each in the role.
After a stint as the host of the TV game show "Whodunnit!", Pertwee took the starring role in "Worzel Gummidge", based on the books written by Barbara Euphan Todd, which he had read as a child. First aired in 1979 on ITV, the series saw Pertwee as a scarecrow, as well as utilising several comedic voices. The show was an immediate hit and ran on the channel until 1981
Between 1974 and 1978 he hosted the murder mystery quiz programme Whodunnit! for Thames Television. Pertwee also voiced the character of "Spotty" in the 1980s cartoon series SuperTed
Pertwee continued on the convention circuit and with his voice and television acting until his death from a heart attack in Connecticut on 20 May 1996 at the age of 76
| | | VITAL STATS | | Eye color:blue | | Height: 6' 3" (1.91 m) | Nickname(s): The Tall Light Bulb
The Doctor | | Notable feature(s): | Education:Frensham Heights School, & Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA),
| Family:parents Roland & Avice,brother Michael
wife Ingeborg
children Dariel & Sean | | Resides in: born & raised in chelsea and later on lived with his family in london | | Religious affiliations:c of e | | Political affiliation: | | Personal interests/hobbies: | | Charities/Causes:children in need | Other:
Third actor to portray the lead character on the BBC series Doctor Who.
During WW2 he served in the RNVR as an officer. He was appointed to HMS Hood from which he was extremely fortunate to be returned to shore shortly before that vessel was sunk by the Bismarck.
He was the oldest living Doctor from the death of William Hartnell on April 23, 1975 and the earliest living Doctor from the death of Patrick Troughton on March 28, 1987 until his own death on May 20, 1996. With his death, Tom Baker came both the oldest and earliest living Doctor. | | |
