John Devon Roland Pertwee (July 7, 1919–May 20, 1996), better known as Jon Pertwee, was a British actor. He is best known for his roles in the science fiction television series Doctor Who, where he played the third incarnation of the Doctor from 1970 to 1974, and as the title character in the series Worzel Gummidge.

Jon Pertwee as the Third Doctor

He was also a talented comedian, his most famous comedy role being the conniving Officer Pertwee in The Navy Lark on BBC Radio and in another radio comedy series "Waterlogged Spa". He also appeared in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1966) and four of the Carry On films: Carry on Cleo (1964), Carry On Screaming! (1966), Carry On Cowboy (1965) and Carry On Columbus (1993).

He made a guest appearance in the "Lords and Ladies" episode of the BBC Radio 4 comedy series "Harry Hill's Fruit Corner" – playing a Time Lord of course. He returned to the role of the Doctor in the 1983 20th Anniversary television movie The Five Doctors and in the 1993 charity special Dimensions in Time.

He was married twice, first to Jean Marsh (1955-1960), whom he divorced, and then to Ingebourg Rhoesa, by whom he had two children, Sean and Dariel .

Pertwee would continue to act in films and television as well as make appearances worldwide in support of Doctor Who until his death from a heart attack whilst on holiday in the American state of Connecticut on May 20, 1996. He passed away only days after the American broadcast of the Doctor Who television movie which used in its opening credits a logo based on the one from his era of the television series. He was 76 years old.

His last association with the series was posthumous. With the approval of his widow, Ingeborg, his voice was utilised as part of the plot of the Big Finish Productions 40th Anniversary Doctor Who audio drama, Zagreus. Pertwee's voice was culled from a fan-produced Doctor Who film, "Devious", portions of which were recorded prior to his death.

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