View source for Ex-Time Lord who turned into Worzel Gummidge dies on holiday aged 76

{{obit|Jon Pertwee}}{{article
| publication = The Guardian
| file = 1996-05-21 Guardian 2.jpg
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| date = 1996-05-21
| author = Vhiek Chaudhary 
| pages = 
| language = English 
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| text = 
THE TIME Lord who turned into a scatty scarecrow died of a heart attack yesterday while on holiday in the United States.

Jon Pertwee, aged 76, who became known to millions of viewers as Dr Who and then later spent 10 years as the children's character Worzel Gummidge was taking a break in Connecticut between appearances in his one man tour of Britain, which was due to resume on Thursday. He was with his second wife, Ingeborg.

During a showbusiness career spanning 60 years, Mr Pertwee will best be remembered as a swashbuckling Dr. Who, who loved gadgets and cars. Before that he had been in the popular radio comedy, The Navy Lark, for nine years. 

Travelling in his Tardis, (Time and Relative Dimensions in Space), the blue police box time machine, 
Dr Who took on the Daleks and Cybermen, attempting to save the world from destruction on the cult programme during Saturday teatime.

Mr Pertwee, who was the third Dr Who, played the role for four years, wearing his trademark purple velvet smoking jacket and frilly shirt as he raced through time.

With two hearts, a constant temperature of 60F and the ability to regenerate into a new body, the good doctor first arrived in our time zone and on our television screens in November 1963.

Mr Pertwee's death comes as a feature length special is to be screened by BBC TV on Bank Holiday Monday with Paul McGann as Dr Who.

Susan Shaper, Mr Pertwee's agent, said: "He was a unique performer and much loved by the British public."

Sylvester McCoy, the seventh and final Dr Who in the television series which ended in 1989, said: "When I was a child Jon Pertwee on radio entertained and delighted me, and made me laugh.

"As a young man he amazed and excited me with his performance as Dr Who."

After leaving the Dr Who series and passing on his mantle to Tom Baker, Mr Pertwee continued to attend conventions of the cult series, recounting tales of his epic encounters with foes that threatened the future of the world.

He also continued to present television and radio programmes.

Commenting once on his heavy work load, despite his age, Mr Pertwee once indicated that he would like to go as only a fearless time traveller can.

He said: "Actors don't retire. they fade away, like old generals. I just want to peter out, not rust out. I get desperately bored when I'm not working."

[[A Doctor For All Time|A doctor in his time, page 18]]


Caption: Jon Pertwee, best remembered as a swashbuckling Dr Who in a career spanning 60 years

Caption: Dr Who in his trademark outfit with the police box which doubled as his time machine, the Tardis
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