William Hartnell was born on 8 January 1908, just south of St. Pancras station, in London. Allegedly claiming in press materials in the 1940s to be have a father who was a farmer and then later a stockbroker, it turns out that he was born out of wedlock, as his biography "Who's There?" states. At age 16, he was adopted by Hugh Blaker, a well-known art connoisseur, who helped him to get a job with Sir Frank Benson's Shakespearean Company. He started as a general dogsbody - call-boy, assistant stage manager, property master and assistant lighting director - but was occasionally allowed to play small walk-on parts. Two years later he left Sir Frank Benson's group and went off on tour working for a number of different companies about Britain. He became known as an actor of farce and understudied renowned performers such as Lawrence Grossmith, Ernest Truex, Bud Flanagan and Charles Heslop. He played repertory in Richmond, Harrogate, Leeds and Sheffield and had a successful run as the lead in a touring production of "Charley's Aunt." He also toured Canada in 1928-29, acquiring much valuable experience. On his return to England, Hartnell married the actress Heather McIntyre. Hw starred in the movies "I'm an Explosive" (1933), "The Way Ahead" (1944), "Strawberry Roan" (1944), "The Agitator" (1944), "Murder in Reverse" (1945) and "Appointment with Crime" (1945). His memorable performance on the television series "The Army Game" and the movie "The Sporting Life" (1963) led to him being cast as the Doctor on "Doctor Who" (1963) which he is best remembered for. His son in law is agent Terry Carney. His granddaughter is Judith (stage name Jessica) Carney, who authored a biography of her grandfather, "Who's There?" in 1996.

Always claimed he was born in Seaton, Devon, England, but he was actually born in St. Pancras, London, England.Grandfather of actress Jessica Carney .At one time he shared the same agent as Nicholas Courtney , who later became a regular in "Doctor Who" (1963) as Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart.He was invalided out of the Royal Armoured Corps of the British Army during the Second World War, after suffering a nervous breakdown.He was the only child of an unmarried mother Lucy Hartnell, who was seventeen years old at the time of his birth. He was raised primarily by her elder sister Bessie.One of (as of 2009) eleven actors to play "official" incarnations of TV's Doctor Who. Also as of 2009, the only actor playing the The Doctor to have died in England.Was sacked for being late from In Which we serve.Was offered a role in Doctor Zhivago.