WILLIAM RUSSELL (ACTOR)

'William Russell' (born 'Russell Enoch' on November 19, 1924 in Sunderland, England) is a British actor, mainly known for his television work.
Russell appeared in British films from 1950 onwards, appearing in well-known productions such as ''The Man Who Never Was'' (1956) and ''The Great Escape'' (1963). He also later had a minor role in ''Superman: The Movie'' (1978).
His big break was the title role in ''The Adventures of Sir Lancelot'' on ITV in 1956, which for sale to the NBC network in the U.S. became the first British television series to be shot in colour. Following this, he won a role in ''Doctor Who'' as one of the Doctor's companions, science teacher Ian Chesterton, appearing in the bulk of the first two seasons of the programme.
He has subsequently played a number of roles in theatre and on television, perhaps the highest-profile being ''Disraeli'', ''Testament of Youth'' and the part of Ted Sullivan, the short-lived second husband of Rita Sullivan in ''Coronation Street''. (Ted already had a terminal illness when he married Rita in 1992, and died peacefully while watching a cricket match). He also had a small part in an episode of the first series of ''Blackadder'' (1983), as a late replacement for Wilfrid Brambell, who had become impatient with delays to his scene and left the set before shooting it.
In the 1980s, the actor began using his birth name, Russell Enoch, professionally. However, he continues to be credited as William Russell in ''Doctor Who''-related projects, as well as occasionally in other roles. For example, he used the name "William Russell" when appearing as the character of Lanscombe in an episode of the 2005 series of ''Agatha Christie's Poirot'' ("After the Funeral").
In 1999 he returned to the role of Ian Chesterton for the video release of the ''Doctor Who'' serial ''The Crusade'', from which two episodes are currently missing. Russell provided linking narration to cover the gaps, in character as an aged Ian reminiscing about the events of the story. Since 2002 he has also provided audio commentaries for various ''Doctor Who'' DVD releases, read audio book versions of three early ''Doctor Who'' novelisations featuring Ian and provided linking narration for CD releases of the fan-recorded off-air soundtracks of serials in which he appeared from which some or all of the episodes are also missing.
He has been married to Balbina Lewis, a Brazilian physicist since 1953. They have three children. His son, Alfred Enoch, plays Dean Thomas in the ''Harry Potter'' films.

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