Patrick Troughton Biography Quotes 4 Report mistakes

Early Life and Training
Patrick George Troughton was born on 25 March 1920 in Mill Hill, Middlesex, England. Drawn to performance from a young age, he trained formally for the stage and entered the profession in the late 1930s. Like many of his generation, he served during the Second World War, returning afterward to a flourishing British theatre scene and to the rapidly developing medium of television. By the early 1950s he was a familiar face in live and recorded drama, becoming one of the medium's early leading character actors.

Stage and Screen Before Doctor Who
In the years before he became internationally known, Troughton built a solid career in repertory theatre and British television, where his versatility allowed him to move easily from historical pieces to thrillers. He was among television's earliest screen Robin Hoods in a 1953 BBC serial, a sign of the trust producers placed in his ability to anchor adventure drama. He moved into films with the same ease, embracing character parts that often left strong impressions despite limited screen time. This path led to notable later appearances such as the priest Father Brennan in Richard Donner's The Omen, where he acted opposite Gregory Peck, Lee Remick, and David Warner. He also played the scholar Melanthius in Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger, collaborating with director Sam Wanamaker and visual effects legend Ray Harryhausen. On ITV he was a commanding presence as the scheming Nasca in The Feathered Serpent, underscoring his gift for vivid, memorable characterizations.

The Second Doctor
Troughton's defining role came in 1966, when he succeeded William Hartnell as the Doctor in the BBC's Doctor Who. Producer Innes Lloyd and story editor Gerry Davis shepherded a daring change of lead actor, and Troughton responded by reshaping the Time Lord into a mercurial, impish figure often nicknamed the cosmic hobo. His Doctor played a recorder, used humor as a feint, and displayed a quicksilver intelligence that could turn stern when danger demanded it. He worked with a strong ensemble: Frazer Hines as Jamie McCrimmon, Deborah Watling as Victoria Waterfield, Wendy Padbury as Zoe Heriot, and earlier Anneke Wills and Michael Craze as Polly and Ben. Under producers and story editors including Peter Bryant and Derrick Sherwin, and with directors such as Douglas Camfield and David Maloney, the series leaned into atmospheric, suspenseful adventures.

His era featured some of the show's most enduring stories: encounters with the Cybermen, co-devised for the series by Kit Pedler and Gerry Davis, became signature battles in The Moonbase, The Tomb of the Cybermen, and The Invasion. Brian Hayles introduced the Ice Warriors, while the Yeti and the Great Intelligence appeared in tales by Mervyn Haisman and Henry Lincoln. Troughton's final regular story, The War Games, written by Malcolm Hulke and Terrance Dicks and directed by David Maloney, revealed the Time Lords in depth and ended with the Doctor's enforced change of appearance, paving the way for Jon Pertwee.

Return Appearances and Later Work
Troughton returned to Doctor Who several times, proof of the affection audiences and colleagues held for his interpretation. He reunited with William Hartnell and Jon Pertwee in The Three Doctors, produced by Barry Letts. He later appeared in The Five Doctors with Peter Davison and Jon Pertwee under producer John Nathan-Turner, and in The Two Doctors with Colin Baker and Frazer Hines, a Robert Holmes script that let Troughton recapture his quick-witted charm. These returns also brought him into close collaboration with writer Terrance Dicks and director Peter Moffatt, reinforcing how central he remained to the series' identity.

Beyond Doctor Who, Troughton kept an active career in television and film. The Omen showcased his ability to lend gravitas to supernatural thrillers, while Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger highlighted his aptitude for fantasy adventure. He continued to appear in British television dramas and family classics, notably the 1984 adaptation of The Box of Delights, in which he gave a warmly remembered performance as the enigmatic Cole Hawlings.

Personal Life
Troughton was a private man who preferred the work to the spotlight, yet he left a strong familial and professional legacy. He was the father of actors David Troughton and Michael Troughton, extending the family's ties to British stage and screen. On set he was known for his collegial approach, particularly with his Doctor Who co-stars Frazer Hines, Deborah Watling, and Wendy Padbury, whom he encouraged to play the series' adventure with energy and humor. Producers such as Innes Lloyd, Barry Letts, and John Nathan-Turner valued his reliability and creativity, and writers like Robert Holmes and Terrance Dicks tailored material to his strengths.

Death and Legacy
Patrick Troughton died on 28 March 1987 in Columbus, Georgia, while attending a fan convention. He was 67. His passing prompted tributes across the industry and from Doctor Who colleagues including Jon Pertwee and Peter Davison, as well as from production figures who had worked closely with him. Many of his original Doctor Who episodes were long thought lost to archival wiping, a circumstance that for years limited access to his work; subsequent recoveries of missing material renewed and deepened appreciation for his era. Later Doctors have frequently cited him as an influence, and his nimble, compassionate interpretation helped establish the flexibility that keeps the role vibrant. Whether in family fantasy, historical drama, or science fiction, Troughton brought a rare mix of warmth, wit, and watchful intelligence, setting a standard that collaborators and audiences continued to celebrate long after his final curtain.

Our collection contains 4 quotes who is written by Patrick, under the main topics: Science - Movie - Nostalgia.

Other people realated to Patrick: Harry Melling (Actor)

• Wikipedia