Doctor Who: What Happened To Each Doctor After They Left The Show?

12. William Hartnell

Last Regular Episode: The Tenth Planet

After his deteriorating health (and clashes with the new production team) forced William Hartnell to depart Doctor Who in 1966, he did a small amount of additional acting before his death in 1975.

He had small roles in TV shows like No Hiding Place and Crime Of Passion - and also returned to Doctor Who in 1972 for the tenth anniversary story The Three Doctors, which was his final piece of work as an actor - but his stint as the Time Lord was by far the biggest thing he ever did in his career.

While Hartnell himself didn't assume the role, the First Doctor did return to our screens during the 1983 anniversary episode The Five Doctors, where Richard Hurndall played the character. The First Doctor was also played by David Bradley in 2013's An Adventure In Space And Time - a drama about the creation of Doctor Who - and 2017 Christmas special Twice Upon A Time.