Jon Pertwee

Born

July 7, 1919

Died

1996

From

Chelsea, London, England, UK·Timber Lake, Connecticut, USA

Also:
Writer
Music Department

Credits on file

Decades active

In short · Acted for nine decades — 66 credits.

Remembered for

Ranked by community engagement + sustained interest across this person's credits in our database.

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Biography

Jon Pertwee is best known for portraying the Third Doctor on the BBC science‑fiction series *Doctor Who* from 1970 to 1974; he was the first actor to play the role after BBC One’s transition from black and white to colour. His sixty‑year entertainment career encompassed radio, film and cabaret work, despite an early setback when he was expelled from drama school and told he had no future as an actor. He was born John Devon Roland Pertwee on 7 July 1919 in Chelsea, London; his given names honoured the apostle, the county of Devon and his father. He was the second son of playwright, painter and actor Roland Pertwee and actress Avice Pertwee, with an older brother, writer Michael Pertwee, three years his senior. The Pertwee family had long ties to show business, and at Wellington House preparatory school in Westgate‑On‑Sea, Kent, Jon was encouraged toward the performing arts. At Frensham Heights co‑educational school he appeared in stage productions of *Twelfth Night* and *Lady Princess Stream*. In 1936 he auditioned for and was accepted by the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, but was later expelled for refusing to play a wind role. Jon Pertwee died of a heart attack on 20 May 1996; the BBC announced his death. He was survived by his wife Ingeborg Rhoesa, his son Sean Pertwee, an actor, and his daughter Dariel Pertwee, a stage actress.