- Born
- Died
- Birth nameJohn Devon Roland Pertwee
- Nickname
- The Tall Light Bulb
- Height6′ 2½″ (1.89 m)
- Jon Pertwee is best known for his portrayal of the Third Doctor on the BBC's science-fiction television series Doctor Who (1963) from
1970 to 1974. He was also the first to play the role following the transition of BBC One from black and white to colour. His 60-year entertainment career included work in radio,
films and cabaret. This was despite the inauspicious beginning of
having been thrown out of drama school as a young man and told he had
no future as an actor.
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 and rebellious child,
was encouraged in that 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 "Twelfth Night" and "Lady
Princess Stream". In 1936 he 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. The BBC announced his death. 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.- IMDb Mini Biography By: Anonymous
- SpousesIngeborg Pertwee(August 13, 1960 - May 20, 1996) (his death, 2 children)Jean Marsh(April 2, 1955 - August 8, 1960) (divorced)
- Children
- Parents
- RelativesBill Pertwee(Cousin)Michael Pertwee(Sibling)
- Gravelly authoritative voice
- Thick mane of curly grey hair
- Long, crooked nose
- Multitude of comedic voices
- Tall slender frame
- He served alongside James Bond author Ian Fleming in a special division of British Intelligence in World War II. Among others there was future British Prime Minister James Callaghan, who served tea. As a result, Pertwee is rumoured to have been one of the inspirations for James Bond alongside fellow actor Christopher Lee and Fleming's colleague, Sir William Stephenson.
- According to Pertwee's biography, "Moon Boot and Dinner Suits", as a young
boy he played with the son of the gamekeeper on the family estate. The
gamekeeper was A.A. Milne, and his son was Christopher, the inspiration
for Milne's later tales of Christopher Robin and Winnie the Pooh. - Like Patrick Troughton, his predecessor as the Doctor, he died of a heart attack while visiting the United States.
- 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 a lifelong fan of cartoons.
- [when advised to portray the Doctor in Doctor Who (1963) as himself by Shaun Sutton] Who's that?
- I like the best of everything.
- [on why he preferred Doctor Who (1963) stories set on contemporary Earth] There's nothing more alarming than coming home and finding a Yeti sitting on your loo in Tooting Bec.
- [on playing it straight in Doctor Who (1963)] In all my years as an actor, I had never been me - I had always hidden
behind my glasses, mustaches and funny voices. - I decided to leave [Doctor Who (1963)] because Roger
[Roger Delgado] had died, Barry Letts was leaving,
Terrance Dicks was leaving. I thought it looked like the end of
an era and I thought, "Well, I may as well go". Shaun Sutton, the
head of programmes, said, "Would you like to stay on and do another
season?" And I said, "Yeah, yeah, I'll do one more if you pay me a bit
of extra money". He said, "Like what?" I told him and they said, "We're
sorry to see you go."
- Adventures of a Plumber's Mate (1978) - £250
- Carry on Screaming! (1967) - £150
- Carry on Cowboy (1965) - £375
- Carry on Cleo (1965) - £150
- Doctor Who (1963) - 650.00 pounds (a week)
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