Summary

  • Doctor Who has had 15 official incarnations played by 14 actors, each bringing their own personality, face, and costume to the iconic Time Lord.
  • The character of the Doctor has evolved over the years, with each version leaving their own mark on the role and the show.
  • From the stern and proper First Doctor to the goofy and childlike Eleventh Doctor and beyond, the range of performances has made Doctor Who a legendary television character.

the process of bi-generation, with Ncuti Gatwa being the latest actor to fly the TARDIS. While this new Doctor is still cooking, it's worth considering how each previous actor melded the character.

As of 2023, there have been Doctor Who season 14 is sure to see a brilliant new Doctor, it's important to note how the character has already evolved over the years since debuting in 1963.

15 The First Doctor (William Hartnell)

1963 - 1966

The Doctor points something out to Ping-Cho something off-screen

The first ever Doctor, portrayed by William Hartnell, kickstarted what would become one of television's most legendary characters. While the First Doctor was considerably stern and proper, he did have some rather dry, comedic moments. Hartnell's performance was the starting point for every other regeneration after him, and his on-screen chemistry with Carol Ann Ford, who played the Doctor's granddaughter, Susan, made the relationship even more believable. It's worth noting that the First Doctor's characterization was also reflective of its time, with the show airing its first episode back in 1963, but his grand knowledge and unique quirkiness set a precedent for each future version.

14 The Second Doctor (Patrick Troughton)

1966 - 1969

Patrick Troughton as the Second Doctor holds a sonic screwdriver in Doctor Who

While it's no longer unusual to see the Doctor regenerate, the first instance of this process was a huge shock. Patrick Troughton took over the role and became the Second Doctor, following Hartnell having to depart Doctor Who due to health issues. Troughton's portrayal of the Time Lord was a lot more laid back than his predecessor, and his use of humor was more approachable and friendly — at times, almost clown-like. The Second Doctor saw a shift in personality too, which is why the regeneration process in Doctor Who is so interesting, and Troughton's performance was delightfully refreshing, offering a charm that differed from Hartnell's.

13 The Third Doctor (Jon Pertwee)

1970 - 1974

The Doctor peers round a door looking down a fire escape in Doctor Who's "Spearhead from Space"

Jon Pertwee followed as the Third Doctor, bringing with him a more suave and traditionally charming appeal. This could have been heightened even more by the arrival of Doctor Who in color in 1970, with Pertwee's first full episode "Spearhead from Space," although this could also be put down to his already decorated career in the West End. By this point, Doctor Who had really found its feet in the sci-fi world.

Doctor Who established this new version of the Doctor with some unusual but unique personality traits. Unlike his predecessors, the Third Doctor is best ed for his martial arts knowledge, and for also being a rather snappy dresser. This Doctor also spent a lot of time on Earth, which really, fully cemented his relationships with the likes of the Brigadier (Nicholas Courtney), Jo Grant (Katy Manning), and later on, Sarah Jane Smith (Elisabeth Sladen).

12 The Fourth Doctor (Tom Baker)

1974 - 1981

Lalla Ward as Romana and Tom Baker as the 4th Doctor laughing outside the Louvre art gallery in Paris

Tom Baker's Fourth Doctor is best ed for his famous catchphrase, "Would you like a jelly baby?" and iconic scarf, which has been continuously referenced in the show to this day. Baker's portrayal of the Time Lord was laced with silliness and seriousness, with the ability to switch tones at the drop of a hat. Although his change in tone was sometimes jarring, it also made the Doctor more interesting. More so than previous incarnations, this Doctor was the most alien version of the character. Tom Baker, as of 2023, was the longest-running Doctor of the show, playing the role for seven years and as many seasons.

11 The Fifth Doctor (Peter Davison)

1982 - 1984

Peter Davison as the Fifth Doctor with his chin in his hand looking at Kamelion in Doctor Who

Tom Baker was succeeded by Peter Davison, whose performance of the Fifth Doctor brought a more humane aspect to the otherwise alien character. Over the various incarnations, the Doctor became more tolerant of humans, but this version of the Time Lord was truly the most humanity-friendly. At the time, Davison was the youngest person to play the Doctor, at only 29 years old. This Doctor was subtler, too, and while still headstrong, was also more of a thorough thinker. His emotional moments were also beautifully impactful, a notable example being the Fifth Doctor's solemn but heartbreaking reaction to the death of his companion Adric (Matthew Waterhouse).

The Lone Cyberman and Adric's death in Doctor Who
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10 The Sixth Doctor (Colin Baker)

1984 - 1986

The Sixth Doctor (Colin Baker) stands next to the Tardis controls in Doctor Who

The Sixth Doctor saw Colin Baker take over the role. The second Baker to play the Time Lord, he brought with him a loud and bright portrayal, both in personality and costuming. While the change in pace for the Doctor saw some mixed reception from viewers, it allowed for a new angle on him that hadn't been fully explored previously. The Sixth Doctor was rather blunt and bordered on rude at times, which affected his relationship with Peri (Nicola Bryant), whom he'd been close with in his Fifth incarnation.

Peri's time with the Sixth Doctor as he settled into his new body was quite strained to start, especially as Baker's first episode saw him strangling his companion. Over time, Peri eventually got used to his new personality, and he slowly softened a bit. While the Sixth Doctor stood out for his abrasiveness, Baker's portrayal of the Time Lord was unique for its own reasons, much like his predecessors.

9 The Seventh Doctor (Sylvester McCoy)

1987 - 1989, 1996

Doctor Who: Sylvester McCoy as the Doctor, Bonnie Langford as Mel Bush, Kate O'Mara as the Rani

For the Doctor's seventh incarnation, the role was handed over to Sylvester McCoy. His interpretation of the Doctor saw him take a teacher-like role, especially with companion Ace (Sophie Alred). He also had a brilliant way of using slapstick humor, and while this Doctor was rather comedic, he was able to use that in his favor. When he needed to be, the Seventh Doctor could be quite calculating, and his quirky personality was a brilliant cover for those moments. Out of all the Doctors, this version is easily the one that villains underestimated the most, which could be because of his interesting appearance, almost always armed with an umbrella.

8 The Eighth Doctor (Paul McGann)

1996, 2013

Paul McGann as Eighth Doctor and Daphne Ashbrook as Grace in the 1996 Doctor Who movie

While the Eighth Doctor, played by Paul McGann, only starred in the Doctor Who 1996 movie, his portrayal of the Time Lord is just as important as any other. Seven years after the show's cancelation in 1989, McGann's Doctor replaced McCoy, who made a brief cameo in the movie. In McGann's first appearance, the Doctor was half-human, but this was retconned, and the Time Lord filled more of the traditional hero role.

This was also the first instance where the Doctor was properly acknowledged as a romantic being, something that was seen a lot more in the post-2005 reboot. Although the movie wasn't the most successful, the Eighth Doctor featured in many of the Big Finish audio dramas. McGann also reprised his role for the 50th-anniversary prequel short "The Night of the Doctor," which saw him regenerate in anticipation of his role in the Time War.

David Tennant as Tenth Doctor and Paul McGann as Eighth Doctor in Doctor Who
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7 The Ninth Doctor (Christopher Eccleston)

2005

Christopher Eccleston as the Ninth Doctor looking concerned in Doctor Who

After Doctor Who was rebooted in 2005, Christopher Eccleston played the Ninth Doctor. Although he only stuck around for one season, his performance was brilliant and impactful. The Ninth Doctor had a brilliant blend of silly and serious, although overall it was a relatively grounded interpretation of the Time Lord. Much like Tom Baker, Eccleston's character quickly shifted in tone, which could be put down to the Doctor being traumatized post-Time War. Even though he was quite jaded at times, opening his hearts back up to the likes of companions Rose (Billie Piper) and Jack (John Barrowman) allowed the Doctor to see the beauty in the universe once again.

6 The Tenth & Fourteenth Doctors (David Tennant)

2005 - 2010, 2013, 2023

David Tennant was the Time Lord Victorious. Tennant's Tenth Doctor can easily be considered one of the best versions of the Time Lord, so much so that he also appeared in a two-part story in the spinoff The Sarah Jane Adventures and returned for the 50th-anniversary special "The Day of the Doctor."

Tennant then also returned to play the Fourteenth Doctor for the Doctor Who 60th-anniversary specials, and while similar to Ten, he had his own differences. The Fourteenth Doctor was a little more stern and put together, which was mainly because he reflected on the past, and the friends he had lost since he'd last been in that body. However, the two did have their similarities, such as their comedic tone, as well as their ability to brood and dwell on their previous lives a little too much.