Always claimed he was born in Seaton, Devon, England, but he was actually born in St. Pancras, London, England.
At one time he shared the same agent as Nicholas Courtney, who later became a regular in "Doctor Who" (1963) as Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart.
Grandfather of actress Jessica Carney.
He was invalided out of the Royal Armoured Corps of the British Army during the Second World War, after suffering a nervous breakdown.
He was the first actor to play the role of Doctor Who.
He was the oldest actor to play the role of Doctor Who.
He was the only child of an unmarried mother Lucy Hartnell, who was seventeen years old at the time of his birth. He was raised primarily by her elder sister Bessie.
One of (as of 2009) eleven actors to play "official" incarnations of TV's Doctor Who. Also as of 2009, the only actor playing the The Doctor to have died in England.
Was offered a role in Doctor Zhivago.
Was sacked for being late from In Which we serve.