William Russell (November 19, 1924 – June 3, 2024) was a beloved English actor who became a legend of British television, securing a place in pop culture history through two iconic heroic roles. He first rose to prominence as the dashing, chivalrous lead in the popular ITV series The Adventures of Sir Lancelot (1956-1957).
In 1963, he made television history as one of the four original cast members of the BBC’s Doctor Who, playing the resourceful and courageous science teacher Ian Chesterton. As one of the Doctor’s first companions, he helped launch a global phenomenon. In a testament to his enduring legacy, he reprised the role for a cameo appearance in 2022, a remarkable 57 years after his original departure, setting a world record for the longest gap for an actor to return to a character. Russell also maintained a distinguished career in film, with memorable supporting roles in classics like the WWII epic The Great Escape (1963) and the blockbuster Superman (1978).
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Russell_(English_actor)
