Home> Facts and Trivia > Stars > Patrick Troughton
Patrick Troughton Facts
| Sign | Aries |
| Born |
Mar 25, 1920 London, England |
| Died |
Mar 28, 1987 Columbus, GA |
| Age | Died at 67 |
| Total Facts | 29 |
Along with Nicholas Courtney, he is one of only two actors to play the same character (the Second Doctor) in "Doctor Who" (1963) in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.
Before World War II, he trained as an actor at the Embassy School of Acting in London, UK and at the Leighton Rallius Studio for Actors at the John Drew Memorial Theatre, Long Island, New York in the USA.
Children: Joanna, Jane, David, Michael, Peter and Mark.
Claimed to have had a "whale of a time" playing Dr Who on BBC television.
Died at the age of 67, the same age his Doctor Who predecessor William Hartnell was when he died.
Enjoyed reading philosophy and comparative religion.
Far from the first choice for the lead role as the second incarnation of "Doctor Who" (1963). Geoffrey Bayldon, for the second time; Ron Moody; Michael Hordern; and 'Peter Jeffrey (I)' all turned it down.
Grandchildren: Tierney and Florence Troughton.
He appeared in episodes of three different series with Roger Moore: "Ivanhoe" (1958), "The Saint" (1962) and "The Persuaders!" (1971).
He appeared in two different adaptations of Robert Louis Stevenson's 1883 novel "Treasure Island": Treasure Island (1950) and "Treasure Island" (1977). He played Roach in the former and Israel Hands in the latter.
He performed in regional repertory and with the Bristol Old Vic, the BBC Repertory Company and on the stage at London's West End.
He played Alan Breck in two different adaptations of Robert Louis Stevenson's 1886 novel "Kidnapped": "Kidnapped" (1952) and Kidnapped (1956) (TV).
He played British Prime Ministers in two separate ITV historical drama series: Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881) in "Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill" (1974) and Clement Attlee (1883-1967) in "Edward & Mrs. Simpson" (1978).
He was an excellent swordsman.
He was the earliest living Doctor from the death of William Hartnell on April 23, 1975 until his own death on March 28, 1987. As he predeceased Jon Pertwee, nine months his senior, he was never the oldest living Doctor.
He was the father of David Troughton and Michael Troughton.
He was the first actor to play the legendary folk hero Robin Hood on television, in "Robin Hood" (1953). The series ran for six episodes in March and April 1953 and were broadcast live. Coincidentally, his grandson Sam Troughton plays Much, a trusted friend and ally of the character, in "Robin Hood" (2006).
He was the grandfather of Sam Troughton and Warwickshire and England cricketer Jim Troughton. They are the sons of David Troughton.
He was the grandfather of Harry Melling (his daughter Joanna Troughton Melling's son).
He was the only actor to play the Doctor and his archnemesis in the same story, which was "The Enemy of the World," in which he played a Hispanic dictator named Salamander.
In 1948, he made his feature film debut as a shepherd in Escape (1948). One of the stars of the film was William Hartnell, his predecessor in the role of the Doctor in "Doctor Who" (1963). They had previously appeared in several plays together, one of which involved Troughton acting as Hartnell's understudy.
Of the first four actors to play the Doctor in "Doctor Who" (1963), he had the shortest lifespan at 67 years and three days.
Of the five other actors to play the Doctor during his lifetime, he worked with all of them except for Tom Baker.
Once claimed his favourite role on television had been Daniel Quilp in "The Old Curiosity Shop" (1962).
Patrick Troughton was one of a select few classically trained actors to be cast by Laurence Olivier in his film Hamlet (1948). The young Troughton was also cast in another acclaimed Olivier production, Richard III (1955).
Portrayed Adolf Hitler in the play "Eva Braun" on the stage at Edinburgh's Gateway Theatre. [1950]
Stepchildren: Jill and Graham.
Troughton died while attending a science fiction convention (Magnum Opus Con) in the United States. His successor as the Doctor, Jon Pertwee, also died of a heart attack while visiting the U.S.
When it was announced in 1980 that Peter Davison was to play the Fifth Doctor, he advised the 29-year-old actor to limit his time on the series to three years, as he had done, in order to avoid being typecast. Davison followed this advise. In March 1987, only weeks before Troughton's death, Davison advised Sylvester McCoy, who had been announced as the Seventh Doctor that month, to do likewise.