Sonic Screwdriver -->

Monday 18 November 2013

#SaveTheDay Countdown: The Fifth Doctor--Peter Davidson


As a countdown to the upcoming 50th Anniversary of Doctor
Who, TARDIStyle will be showcasing one Doctor a day.

Peter M. G. Moffett was born on 13 April 1951 in Streatham, London. His father was an electrical engineer, originally from Guyana. Shortly after his birth, the family mover to Surrey. There, he became a member of the Byfleet Players, and amateur theatre company. Before he started his career as an actor, Peter obtained three O-levels at Winston Churchill School. He also took odd jobs, including one as a mortuary attendant.

Peter attended the Central School of Speech and Drama. His first theatre job was the assistant stage manager of the Nottingham Playhouse. To avoid confusion with the actor/director Peter Moffatt (with whom he would later work), he adopted the stagename of Peter Davison. Peter's first television appearance was in The Tomorrow People, a children's sci-fi show. He co-starred with Sandra Dickinson, whom he married on 26 December 1978. The couple would stay together until 1994.

Peter had a hard time finding jobs in the mid-1970s. He worked 18 months in a Twickenham tax office. The lull came to an ent in 1976 when Davison was offered a prominent fole in the ITV mini-series Love for Lydia. In 1978, he was cast as Tristan Farnon in All Creatures Great and Small. It was through this programme that he became a household name. He has said that he was cast because he bore a resemblance to Robert Hardy, who played his older brother in the series. In 1981, Davison played  the Dish of the Day in a television adaptation of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. In 1984, he and his wife had a daughter, Georgia Moffett.

Davison became the youngest actor to play the Doctor in 1981 at age 29. By this time he was already well-known. He heeded the advice of Second Doctor Patrick Troughton to leave the show after three years. Peter had a fear of being type-cast after playing such an iconic role. He also believed that he was too young to play the Doctor, as all his predecessors were over the age of 40. In 1999, Davison lent his voice as the Doctor  to over 50 Big Finish audio adventures.

After the role, Davison found much success in the film/television industry and also appeared in numerous live theatre roles. He currently is a regular on Law and Order UK as Henry Sharpe, co staring with Tenth Doctor Companion Freema Agyeman

Davidson is politically active. He was one of 48 celebrities to sign a letter warning voters against a Conservative Party policy towards the BBC in 2010. Also in 2010, Davidson spoke in a Labour Party election broadcast. 

Like What You See?

Join Us On:

No comments:

Post a Comment

Please be kind while commenting. Vile comments will be removed upon their discovery.