Actor. Born John Devon Roland Pertwee in Chelsea, London, the second son of playwright, painter, and actor Roland Pertwee, and actress Avice Pertwee. He attended Wellington House Preparatory School in Westgate-On-Sea in Kent, and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art from which he was expelled. Prior to World War II, he toured with the Arts League of Service Traveling Theatre. He made his uncredited film debut in 1938's ‘A Yank at Oxford.' He saw service with the Royal Navy during the Second World War. He became known as a comedic actor for such roles as Chief Petty Officer Pertwee in ‘The Navy Lark' and in ‘Waterlogged Spa' on BBC Radio. He also originated the part of Lycus in the initial 1963 London stage production of ‘A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum' although he was demoted to the smaller role of Crassus in the 1966 film version of the play. In 1969 he was recruited by producer Peter Bryant to take over as the Doctor from Patrick Troughton in the cult series ‘Doctor Who.' In a departure from the Doctor's first two incarnations, Pertwee played the character as an interplanetary crusader with a penchant for action. He played the Doctor from 1970 to 1974. In early 1974, Pertwee announced he would step down as the Doctor in order to resume his stage career in ‘The Breadwinner.' His final appearance in the series was in ‘The Planet of the Spiders.' He did, however, reprise his role in 1983 sharing top billing with his fellow incarnations in the 20th Anniversary television film, ‘The Five Doctors' and again in the 1993 charity special, ‘Dimensions in Time.' Pertwee returned to British television in 1979 appearing in the comedy series ‘Worzel Gummidge,' which he claimed was his favorite role. In 1980, he recorded the theme for Worzel Gummidge and 'Worzel's Song' reached 33 on the UK charts and stayed there for seven weeks. His later career was largely taken up by convention, stage, and film appearances. Pertwee campaigned for a radio version of 'Doctor Who' after the television series was put on hiatus. BBC Radio ultimately aired two productions as a result of his efforts, ‘The Paradise of Death' and ‘The Ghosts of N-Space.' He continued his association with the Doctor by appearances at Doctor Who conventions. He died unexpectedly while he and his wife were traveling in the United States only days after the American broadcast of a ‘Doctor Who' television movie. The BBC broadcast of the film was dedicated to Pertwee.