Tom Baker

Tom Baker

Thomas Stewart Baker (born 20 January 1934), who is known professionally by his credited stage name as Tom Baker, is an English character actor and writer. He is perhaps best known for his work by playing the Fourth Doctor in the long-running BBC science fiction television programme, Doctor Who.

Early life

Baker was born in Liverpool. His father was a sailor, and was Jewish. His mother was Roman Catholic. Baker was not very academic and struggled at school. He failed the eleven plus exam. Baker became a monk when he was 15.[1] When he decided to change his life, he first worked in the Royal Army Medical Corps, and then as a construction worker. He took up acting first as a hobby, then professionally.

Career

His first big part was as Grigori Rasputin in the 1971 movie, Nicholas and Alexandra. Baker is best known for playing the Fourth Doctor in the long-running science fiction television series Doctor Who. He played this role from 1974 to 1981. When he got the job, he was working on a building site, because it was hard to find work as an actor.[2]

He is famous for playing the Doctor longer than any other actor. His version of the character is probably the best remembered by many people. As he thought of himself as a role model for children, he would always pretend to be the Doctor in real life, and sign autographs for them. He did not like to see too much violence in Doctor Who. He once changed the script so the Doctor threatened a character with a jelly baby instead of a knife.[3]

He was a narrator for the comedy sketch show Little Britain.

Baker has had many jobs as a voiceover artist. He is very recognized for his voice. In a 2005 survey of British adults, Baker's voice was the fourth most recognisable after the Queen, Tony Blair and Margaret Thatcher.[4]

Works

Movies

Year Title Role Notes
1968 The Winter's Tale The bear
1971 Nicholas and Alexandra Rasputin
1972 The Canterbury Tales Jenkin
1973 Cari Genitori Karl
1973 The Vault of Horror Moore
1973 Luther Pope Leo X Doesn't appear in some versions of the film
1973 Frankenstein: The True Story Sea captain
1973 The Golden Voyage of Sinbad Koura
1974 The Mutations Lynch
1980 The Curse of King Tut's Tomb Hasan
1984 The Passionate Pilgrim Sir Tom Short film
1984 The Zany Adventures of Robin Hood Sir Guy de Gisbourne
1998 Backtime Sarge
2000 Dungeons & Dragons Halvarth
2005 The Magic Roundabout Zeebad
2010 The Genie in the Bottle Narrator Short film
2011 Jacqueline Hill: A Life in Pictures The Doctor
2012 Saving Santa Santa Claus Voice

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1968 Dixon of Dock Green The man Episode: "The Attack"
1968 Market in Honey Lane Doorman Episode: "The Matchmakers"
1968 George and the Dragon Porter Episode: "The 10:15 Train"
1968 Z-Cars Harry Russell Episode: "Hudson's Way"
1968 Dixon of Dock Green Foreman Episode: "Number 13"
1969 Thirty-Minute Theatre Corporal Schabe Episode: "The Victims: Frontier"
1970 Softly, Softly Site foreman Episode: "Like Any Other Friday"
1972 Play of the Month Dr. Ahmed el Kabir Episode: "The Millionairess"
1973 Arthur of the Britons Brandreth / Gavron Episode: "Go Warily"
1974–1981 Doctor Who The Doctor 172 episodes
1975 Jim'll Fix It The Doctor 1 episode
1976 Piccadilly Circus Mark Ambient
1977 Nouvelles de Henry James Mark Ambient
1978 Late Night Story Host 4 episodes[5]
1979 The Book Tower Presenter 22 episodes
1982 The Hound of the Baskervilles Sherlock Holmes
1983 Jemima Shore Investigates Dr. Norman Ziegler Episode: "Dr. Ziegler's Casebook"
1983 Doctor Who The Doctor Episode: "The Five Doctors"
1984 Remington Steele Anatole Blaylock Episode: "Hounded Steele"
1985 Jackanory Storyteller Episode: "The Iron Man"
1986 The Life and Loves of a She-Devil Father Ferguson
1986 Blackadder II Captain Redbeard Rum Episode: "Potato"
1986 The Kenny Everett Television Show Patient
John Thompson
Blu-Tac
Tom
Season 1, Episode 2
1986 Roland Rat: The Series BBC Three presenter
The Doctor
Season 4, Episode 1
1990 The Silver Chair Puddleglum
1990 Tales of Aesop Narrator
1990 Hyperland Software agent
1990 Boom Co-presenter
1991 Selling Hitler Manfred Fischer 4 episodes
1992 Cluedo Professor Plum 6 episodes
1992 Screen Two Sir Lionel Sweeting Episode: "The Law Lord"
1992–1995 Medics Professor Geoffrey Hoyt
1993 Doctor Who The Doctor Episode: "Dimensions in Time"
1994 The Imaginatively Titled Punt & Dennis Show Actor in supermarket Cameo
1998 Have I Got News For You Himself
2000 This Is Your Life Himself
2000 The Canterbury Tales Simpkin Voice
Episode: "The Journey Back"
2000 Max Bear Max Bear Voice
2000–2001 Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) Professor Wyvern 10 episodes
2001 Fun at the Funeral Parlour Quimby Episode: "The Jaws of Doom"
2003 Swiss Toni Derek Asquith Episode: "Cars Don't Make You Fat"
2003 2DTV The Doctor Voice
Series 4, Episode 1
2003 Strange Father Bernard Episode: "Asmoth"
2003 Fort Boyard Captain Baker
2003–2006 Little Britain Narrator 36 episodes
2004 The Little Reindeer Santa Claus Voice
2004–2005 Monarch of the Glen Donald MacDonald 12 episodes
2006 The Secret Show Robert Baron Voice
Episode: "The Secret Room"
2007 Marple Frederick Treves Episode: "Towards Zero"
2007–2008 The Beeps Narrator 45 episodes
2008 Little Britain USA Narrator 6 episodes
2008 Have I Got News For You Himself
2010 Tom Baker: In Confidence Himself Interviewed by Professor Laurie Taylor

Video games

Year Title Role Notes
1997 Destiny of the Doctors The Doctor Voice and likeness
2000 Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future Narrator Voice
2001 Hostile Waters: Antaeus Rising Narrator Voice
2003 Warhammer 40,000: Fire Warrior Narrator Voice
2004 Sudeki Narrator Voice
2005 Heretic Kingdoms: The Inquisition Narrator Voice
2005 MediEvil: Resurrection Death Voice
2006 Cold Winter John Gray Voice
2006 Little Britain: The Game Narrator Voice
2007 Little Britain: The Video Game Narrator Voice

Radio

Year Title Role
1994 The Russia House Barley Blair[6]
1998 Hard Times Josiah Bounderby
1999 Nicholas Nickleby Vincent Crummles
2009 Hornets' Nest The Doctor
2010 Demon Quest The Doctor
2011 Serpent Crest The Doctor

Tom Baker Media

References

  1. "Tom's early years". Archived from the original on 2012-01-28. Retrieved 2012-01-28.
  2. "Tom Baker and the National Theatre". Archived from the original on 2012-01-02. Retrieved 2012-01-28.
  3. "Tom Baker as Dr Who". Archived from the original on 2011-11-01. Retrieved 2012-01-28.
  4. BT Bring in the voice of Baker
  5. screenonline: Late Night Story, 17 January 2008
  6. UPC: 9780563394730

Other websites