Peter Davison facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Peter Davison
Davison in 2016
Born	Peter Malcolm Gordon Moffett (1951-04-13) 13 April 1951 (age 74) Streatham, London, England
Alma mater	Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1975–present
Spouse(s)	Diane J. Russell ​ ​ (m. 1973; div. 1975)​ Sandra Dickinson ​ ​ (m. 1978; div. 1994)​ Elizabeth Morton ​ (m. 2003)​
Children	3, including Georgia Tennant
Relatives	David Tennant (son-in-law) Ty Tennant (grandson)
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Peter Malcolm Gordon Moffett (born on April 13, 1951), known as Peter Davison, is a famous English actor. He first appeared on TV in 1975. He became well-known in 1978 for playing Tristan Farnon in the BBC show All Creatures Great and Small.

Later, he played the Fifth Doctor in the popular science fiction series Doctor Who from 1981 to 1984. Peter Davison has also starred in other TV shows. These include the comedies Holding the Fort and Sink or Swim. He also played Dr. Stephen Daker in A Very Peculiar Practice. Another role was Albert Campion in Campion. More recently, he was David Braithwaite in At Home with the Braithwaites. He also played "Dangerous" Davies in The Last Detective. From 2011 to 2014, he was Henry Sharpe in Law & Order: UK.

Peter Davison's Early Life

Peter Davison was born in Streatham, London. His parents were Claude and Sheila Moffett. His father, Claude, was from British Guiana. He worked as a radio engineer. Later, he opened a grocery shop. Sheila worked in intelligence during World War II. She then became a housewife.

Peter had three sisters: Shirley, Pamela, and Barbara. He went to Granton Primary School in Streatham. His family later moved to Knaphill in Surrey. While living there, Peter joined an amateur theatre group. They were called the Byfleet Players.

Before becoming an actor, Peter had different jobs. He worked as a mortuary attendant for a short time. He also operated a Hoffman Press machine. He had thought about becoming a teacher. His father wanted him to work at a building society. But Peter chose acting instead.

Peter studied acting at the Central School of Speech and Drama. His first acting job was at the Nottingham Playhouse. He was an actor and an assistant stage manager. He chose the stage name Peter Davison. This was to avoid being confused with another actor, Peter Moffatt. He only uses Davison for his acting career.

Peter Davison's Acting Career

Peter Davison's first TV appearance was in 1975. It was an episode of The Tomorrow People. This was a children's science fiction show. He acted alongside Sandra Dickinson. They later married on December 26, 1978. Peter played an alien named Elmer. Elmer came to Earth with his sister and mother.

In the mid-1970s, Peter worked in a tax office. This was during a quiet time in his acting career. In 1976, he got a big role. It was in the TV series Love for Lydia. He starred opposite Jeremy Irons. The show aired on ITV the next year.

Peter has also been in several British sitcoms. These include Holding the Fort (1980–82). He also starred in Sink or Swim (1980–82). He has also played many serious roles.

Becoming Tristan Farnon

In 1978, Peter Davison became very famous. He played the fun-loving Tristan Farnon. This was in the show All Creatures Great and Small. The show made him a household name.

Peter was not in some episodes of the show. This was because he had other acting jobs. He explained in 2016 that he never wanted to leave. He just wanted to do other programs. He missed parts of series 5 and 6 for other shows. These included A Very Peculiar Practice and Campion. He felt lucky to get these new roles. He was always happy to return to All Creatures Great and Small.

Playing the Doctor

In 1980, Peter Davison signed a contract. He would play the Fifth Doctor in Doctor Who. He took over from Tom Baker. Peter was 29 years old at the time. This made him the youngest actor to play the Doctor. He held this record for almost 30 years. Matt Smith became the youngest in 2009 at age 26.

Getting Peter Davison was a big deal for Doctor Who. It was also a big role for him. But he decided not to stay for more than three years. He was worried about being typecast. This means only being known for one type of role. Patrick Troughton, who played the Second Doctor, advised him to leave after three years. Peter followed this advice. The Fifth Doctor faced many famous enemies. These included the Cybermen and the Daleks. He also met Davros.

Davison and Kate O'Mara at the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Celebration Weekend in 2013

Peter has returned to Doctor Who many times since leaving. He hosted a video documentary in 1993. It was called Daleks – The Early Years. He also played the Fifth Doctor again. This was in the 1993 charity special Dimensions in Time. He also appeared in the 1997 video game Destiny of the Doctors.

Since 1999, he has voiced the Fifth Doctor in many audio dramas. These are made by Big Finish Productions. He also returned as Omega in an audio drama. In 2007, he was in a special episode called "Time Crash". The Fifth Doctor met the Tenth Doctor. The Tenth Doctor was played by David Tennant. David later became Peter's son-in-law. David Tennant also hosted a documentary about Peter's time as the Doctor.

In 2012, Peter wanted to return for the 50th anniversary special. He did not appear in the main special. But he wrote and directed The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot. This was a funny story about himself and other Doctors trying to get roles. Many Doctor Who actors and fans made guest appearances. In 2018, Peter played the Doctor again. This was at a live show called "The Muppets Take the O2".

Peter has said he likes the modern Doctor Who series. He returned to TV as the Doctor in 2022. This was in "The Power of the Doctor". He also reprised the role in Tales of the TARDIS.

Other Roles Since 1984

After leaving Doctor Who in 1984, Peter acted in Anna of the Five Towns. This was a period drama. In 1985, he was in an All Creatures Great and Small Christmas special. He also appeared in an episode of the American show Magnum, P.I..

Peter played Dr Stephen Daker in A Very Peculiar Practice (1986–88). This show was about a university health center. Peter's character was the only good doctor there. He also appeared in an episode of Miss Marple in 1986.

Peter returned as Tristan Farnon in All Creatures Great and Small from 1988 to 1990. He also played the main role in Campion. This series was based on mystery novels. He was in the comedies Fiddlers Three (1991) and Ain't Misbehavin' (1993, 1995).

Davison in 2004

In 1994, Peter voiced Mole in The Wind in the Willows special. He also played Squire Gordon in the 1994 film Black Beauty. Peter hosted Heavenly Bodies in 1995. This was a series about astronomy. He was a guest star in Jonathan Creek in 1998. In 1999, he was a head teacher in Hope and Glory.

In 2000, Peter took on another big role. He played David Braithwaite in At Home with the Braithwaites. He has said this is his favorite role. He also played Inspector Christmas in The Mrs Bradley Mysteries. He starred as Dangerous Davies in The Last Detective (2003–2007). He was also Dr Bill Shore in Distant Shores (2005–2008).

Davison at London Comic Con in 2016

In 2007, he played Martin Chadwick in Fear, Stress and Anger. His daughter, Georgia Tennant, also starred in this show. Later in 2007, he was in an episode of Agatha Christie's Marple.

In 2009, Peter appeared in Unforgiven. He played a lawyer named John Ingrams. He also made a guest appearance in Midsomer Murders. He was a teacher in the comedy Miranda. He had a small role in Micro Men, a drama about early computers. In 2009, he played Denis Thatcher in The Queen.

From 2011 to 2014, Peter was Henry Sharpe in Law & Order: UK. He appeared in an episode of New Tricks in 2011. In 2013, he was in the comedy series Pat and Cabbage. He also appeared in an episode of Lewis.

In 2017, Peter was in an episode of Grantchester. He played a solicitor who loved cricket. In 2018, Peter and Christopher Timothy starred in Great British Car Journeys. They traveled in a Morgan 4/4 car. Peter also narrated the show The Yorkshire Vet. This show follows veterinarians.

Radio Work

Peter Davison has been in several radio shows. These include the comedy drama King Street Junior (1985) on BBC Radio 4. He also appeared in Change at Oglethorpe (1995). In 1996, he played Richard Stubbs in Minor Adjustment.

He played Dr Anthony Webster in the comedy Rigor Mortis (2003, 2006). In 2006, he was in Nebulous. In 2008, he voiced Simon Draycott in The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul. From 2012 to 2013, he played Richard Lyons in Welcome to Our Village, Please Invade Carefully.

Theatre Roles

Peter Davison has performed in many plays. In 1984, he was in Barefoot in the Park with his wife, Sandra Dickinson. In 1991, he appeared in Arsenic and Old Lace. Other plays in the 1990s include The Last Yankee and An Absolute Turkey. In 1996, he played Tony Wendice in Dial M for Murder.

He played Amos Hart in Chicago in 1999. In 2001, he was Dr Jean-Pierre Moulineaux in Under the Doctor. From 2007 to 2008, Peter played King Arthur in the London show Spamalot. From 2010 to 2011, he was Professor Callahan in Legally Blonde.

In 2014, Peter played Oliver Lucas in The Vertical Hour. In 2015, he joined the cast of Gypsy. He played Herbie alongside Imelda Staunton. In 2024, Peter joined the musical Kiss Me, Kate. He played the part of the General.

Other Projects

Peter Davison and his wife, Sandra Dickinson, wrote music together. They composed the theme tunes for Button Moon, a children's show. They also wrote the theme for Mixed Blessings. Peter later appeared with Sandra in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy in 1981.

Peter was featured on This Is Your Life in 1982. This is a TV show where a person's life is celebrated. He was surprised by the host while filming for Doctor Who.

Peter also lent his name to two science fiction books. They were called Peter Davison's Book of Alien Monsters (1982) and Peter Davison's Book of Alien Planets (1983).

Peter Davison's Personal Life

Peter Davison has been married three times. His first marriage to Diane J. Russell ended in 1975.

On December 26, 1978, he married actress Sandra Dickinson. They divorced in 1994. Peter has a daughter from this marriage, Georgia Tennant. She is also an actress. In 2011, Georgia married actor David Tennant. David played the Tenth and Fourteenth Doctors in Doctor Who.

Peter married his third wife, Elizabeth Morton, in 2003. They live in Twickenham. They have two sons, Louis (born 1999) and Joel (born 2001). Both sons appeared as themselves in The Five(ish) Doctors. Louis Moffett started acting professionally at age 14. He used his father's stage name, Louis Davison. Joel also started acting at age 13. Louis has appeared in Holby City and Vikings: Valhalla.

Peter Davison's autobiography, Is There Life Outside the Box?: An Actor Despairs, was published in 2016.

Political Views

In April 2010, Peter Davison supported the Labour Party. This was for the general election. He narrated one of their election broadcasts. Peter was also one of many celebrities who signed a letter. The letter warned voters about the Conservative Party's plans for the BBC.

Peter publicly supported the UK staying in the European Union. This was during the 2016 EU referendum.

Filmography

Film

Television

Non-Acting Television

Theatre

Radio and Audio Drama

Video Games

See Also

In Spanish: Peter Davison para niños