Tom Baker is an English actor best known for playing the Fourth Doctor in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who from 1974 to 1981. He is the longest-serving actor in the role, having portrayed the Doctor for seven consecutive seasons, making his incarnation one of the most popular and iconic in the series' history

Early Life and Career

• Born Thomas Stewart Baker on January 20, 1934, in Liverpool, England.
• Raised in a working-class Catholic family; his mother was a cleaner and devout Catholic, and his father was a seaman often away at sea.
• At 15, Baker became a novice monk but left after six years.
• Served in the Royal Army Medical Corps and later in the Merchant Navy.
• Studied acting at Rose Bruford College of Speech and Drama and worked in repertory theatre before breaking into film and television

Doctor Who

• Baker was cast as the Fourth Doctor after producer Barry Letts saw his performance in The Golden Voyage of Sinbad.
• His portrayal is noted for its eccentricity, wit, and warmth, along with his trademark long, colorful scarf and fondness for jelly babies.
• The era under his tenure is celebrated for classic stories such as Genesis of the Daleks and The Robots of Death.
• His time on the show saw a shift to darker, more gothic themes under producer Philip Hinchcliffe, which later softened due to criticism over violence.
• Baker left the role in 1981, having become a beloved figure in the Doctor Who fandom

Later Work

• After Doctor Who , Baker returned to theatre and appeared in various television roles, including Sherlock Holmes and narrations for comedy series like Little Britain.
• Known for his distinctive, sonorous voice, which was voted one of the most recognizable in the UK

Tom Baker remains a legendary figure in British television, especially revered for his contribution to Doctor Who as the Fourth Doctor, a role that defined much of his career and endeared him to generations of fans worldwide