- 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 told several times when he was young that he would never become a successful actor, due to such problems as a partial lisp and a close resemblance to the American actor Danny Kaye - whom he would actually double in the London location work for Knock on Wood (1954).
- [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 (2020) - £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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