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Sylvester McCoy

Acting Born Aug 20, 1943 Dunoon, Argyll and Bute, Scotland, UK 138 credits
138
Total Credits
2025
63 Years Career Span
23
Vault Titles
10
Key Co-Stars

Biography

Sylvester McCoy is a Scottish actor and physical comedian. He was born Percy James Patrick Kent-Smith. McCoy is known for his work in the science fiction television series Doctor Who, where he played the seventh incarnation of the Doctor from 1987 to 1989. He also made a brief return in a television film in 1996. Additionally, McCoy appeared in The Hobbit film series as Radagast from 2012 to 2014.

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Known for

Film

Jackpot

as The Doctor
Film

The Owners

as Richard Huggins

Thunderbirds Are Go!

as Aezethril the Wizard (voice)
Film

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

as Radagast the Brown

Father Brown

as Dr. Angus McClurgy
Film

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

as Radagast the Brown
Film

Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor

as The Doctor (7) (archive footage)

The Loyalty of Yue Fei

as Radagast the Brown

Pointless Celebrities

as Self

Doctor Who Confidential

2005

Still Game

2002
Film

Doctor Who

as The Doctor

Frequent co-stars

David Tennant 3 shared titles
Jenna Coleman 2 shared titles
Mark Gatiss 2 shared titles
Ian McKellen 2 shared titles
Martin Freeman 2 shared titles
Richard Armitage 2 shared titles
Lee Pace 2 shared titles
Ken Stott 2 shared titles
James Nesbitt 2 shared titles
Aidan Turner 2 shared titles

Career timeline

The HeartsmithDead Before They WakeDoctor Who: Wish World & The Reality War
Doctor Who at the PromsThe Apocalypse Box
Tales of the TardisNecronomiconTalking Doctor WhoThe Adventures of Sleepy The Magical Bear: The MovieSylvester McCoy Uncut
The MunstersThe Munsters: Return to Mockingbird LaneBug-Eyed Monsters Invade the Earth!
Doctor Who: 24 CaratIn Conversation: Sylvester McCoyChristmas with Strangers
The OwnersThe Big Night InConjuring: The Book of the DeadLost at Christmas
The CircuitThe Doctors: The Sylvester McCoy Years
Doctor Who: Behind the SofaBeautyHangover in Death ValleyThe Doctors: Monsters!
Slumber
The Real Marigold HotelPunk Strut: The Movie
Thunderbirds Are Go!Doctor Who: The Husbands of River Song
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five ArmiesThe Seventeenth KindDoctor Who: The Ultimate Time Lord with Peter Davison
Father BrownThe Hobbit: The Desolation of SmaugDoctor Who: The Day of the DoctorDoctor Who: The Doctors RevisitedDoctor Who: Tales from the TARDIS
The Hobbit: An Unexpected JourneyEldoradoThe Inspector Chronicles
Pointless CelebritiesDoctor Who: Tales Lost in Time
The Last Chance SaloonThe Name'sh McCoy Shylveshter McCoy
King LearDoctor Who: The Next Doctor
Doctor Who: EndgameDavros Connections
Manilla EnvelopesMayo
Doctor Who ConfidentialDoctor Who: A New Dimension
The Story of Doctor Who
Still GameMy Doctor Who DiaryDoctor Who: Death Comes to Time
Do You Have a Licence to Save this Planet?Then & Now
You: Story and Glory of a MasterpieceThe Mumbo Jumbo
Adventures in Space and Time
Where on Earth Is Katy Manning?
The History of Tom Jones: A FoundlingSpace CadetsBeyond Fear
Doctor WhoSpellbreaker: Secret of the LeprechaunsBidding Adieu: A Video DiaryBidding Adieu: A Video Diary · DirectorBidding Adieu: A Video Diary · Camera Operator
Leapin' LeprechaunsStranger than Fiction 2: From Script to ScreenThe Doctors: 30 Years of Time Travel and Beyond
PROBE: The Zero ImperativeStranger than Fiction

Full Filmography

138 titles
  • The Heartsmith (2025) as Umbrella Man
  • Dead Before They Wake (2025) as Evan
  • Doctor Who: Wish World & The Reality War (2025) as The Doctor (archive footage) (uncredited)
  • Doctor Who at the Proms (2024) as The Doctor (7) (archive footage)
  • The Apocalypse Box (2024) as Peter Mann
  • Tales of the Tardis (2023) as The Doctor
  • Necronomicon (2023) as Book Seller (archive footage)
  • Talking Doctor Who (2023) as Self / The Doctor (7) (archive footage)
  • The Adventures of Sleepy The Magical Bear: The Movie (2023) as Knibbles the Beaver (voice)
  • Sylvester McCoy Uncut (2023) as Himself
  • Doctor on Display: Blackpool 2 (2023) as Self
  • The Munsters (2022) as Igor
  • The Munsters: Return to Mockingbird Lane (2022) as Igor / Self
  • Bug-Eyed Monsters Invade the Earth! (2022) as Klakk (voice)
  • Doctor Who: 24 Carat (2021) as The Doctor
  • In Conversation: Sylvester McCoy (2021) as Self
  • Christmas with Strangers (2021) as Self
  • The Owners (2020) as Richard Huggins
  • The Big Night In (2020) as Self
  • Conjuring: The Book of the Dead (2020) as Book Seller (archive footage)
  • Lost at Christmas (2020) as Ernie
  • The Circuit (2019)
  • The Doctors: The Sylvester McCoy Years (2019)
  • Doctor Who: Behind the Sofa (2018) as Self
  • Beauty (2018) as Henry
  • Hangover in Death Valley (2018) as General Zwick (archive footage)
  • The Doctors: Monsters! (2018)
  • Slumber (2017) as Amado
  • The Real Marigold Hotel (2016) as Self
  • Punk Strut: The Movie (2016) as DJ
  • Thunderbirds Are Go! (2015) as Aezethril the Wizard (voice)
  • Doctor Who: The Husbands of River Song (2015) as The Doctor (7) (picture) (uncredited)
  • The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014) as Radagast the Brown
  • The Seventeenth Kind (2014) as Rusty
  • Doctor Who: The Ultimate Time Lord with Peter Davison (2014) as Self
  • Father Brown (2013) as Dr. Angus McClurgy
  • The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013) as Radagast the Brown
  • Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor (2013) as The Doctor (7) (archive footage)
  • Doctor Who: The Doctors Revisited (2013) as Self
  • Doctor Who: Tales from the TARDIS (2013) as Self
  • The Christmas Candle (2013) as Edward Haddington
  • The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot (2013) as Self
  • Doctor Who Explained (2013) as Self
  • Doctor Who Live: The Afterparty (2013) as Self
  • The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) as Radagast the Brown
  • Eldorado (2012) as General Zwick
  • The Inspector Chronicles (2012) as Uncle Roderick
  • Pointless Celebrities (2011) as Self
  • Doctor Who: Tales Lost in Time (2011)
  • The Last Chance Saloon (2010)
  • The Name'sh McCoy Shylveshter McCoy (2010)
  • King Lear (2008) as The Fool
  • Doctor Who: The Next Doctor (2008) as The Doctor (7) (archive footage)
  • Doctor Who: Endgame (2007) as Self
  • Davros Connections (2007) as (archival footage)
  • Manilla Envelopes (2006) as Duncan
  • Mayo (2006) as Reverend Beaver
  • Doctor Who Confidential (2005)
  • Doctor Who: A New Dimension (2005) as Self
  • The Story of Doctor Who (2003)
  • Still Game (2002)
  • My Doctor Who Diary (2002)
  • Doctor Who: Death Comes to Time (2002) as The Doctor
  • Do You Have a Licence to Save this Planet? (2001) as The Foot Doctor
  • Then & Now (2001)
  • You: Story and Glory of a Masterpiece (2000) as Museum attendant / Vasilij Grossman
  • The Mumbo Jumbo (2000) as Mr. Tallman
  • Adventures in Space and Time (1999) as Himself
  • Where on Earth Is Katy Manning? (1998)
  • The History of Tom Jones: A Foundling (1997) as Mr, Dowling
  • Space Cadets (1997) as Self
  • Beyond Fear (1997) as Michael Samms
  • Doctor Who (1996) as The Doctor
  • Spellbreaker: Secret of the Leprechauns (1996) as Flynn
  • Bidding Adieu: A Video Diary (1996) as Self
  • Bidding Adieu: A Video Diary (1996) Director
  • Bidding Adieu: A Video Diary (1996) Camera Operator
  • Ghostlands (1996) as Edward Parfitt
  • I Was a Doctor Who Monster! (1996) as Presenter
  • Leapin' Leprechauns (1995) as Flynn
  • Stranger than Fiction 2: From Script to Screen (1995)
  • The Doctors: 30 Years of Time Travel and Beyond (1995)
  • PROBE: The Zero Imperative (1994) as Dr. Colin Dove
  • Stranger than Fiction (1994)
  • GMTV (1993) as Self
  • Frank Stubbs Promotes (1993) as Angus
  • I Was That Monster (1993) as Himself
  • The Airzone Solution (1993) as Anthony Stanwick
  • Doctor Who: Dimensions in Time (1993) as The 7th Doctor
  • 30 Years in the TARDIS (1993) as Himself
  • Police 5: The Master (1993) as The Doctor (archive footage)
  • The Children's Royal Variety Performance (1992) as The Wizard
  • The PanoptiCon Tapes Vol 1 - The Main Event (1991)
  • Doctor Who: The Hartnell Years (1991) as Self - Presenter
  • Thrill Kill Video Club (1991) as Spoons
  • The PanoptiCon Tapes IV (1990)
  • The PanoptiCon Tapes V (1990)
  • The PanoptiCon Tapes II (1990)
  • The PanoptiCon Tapes III (1990)
  • Search Out Space (1990) as The Doctor
  • Doctor Who: Battlefield (1989) as The Doctor
  • Doctor Who: The Curse of Fenric (1989) as The Doctor
  • Doctor Who: Ghost Light (1989) as The Doctor
  • Doctor Who: Survival (1989) as The Doctor
  • Doctor Who: Silver Nemesis (1988) as The Doctor
  • Doctor Who: Remembrance of the Daleks (1988) as The Doctor
  • The Making of Doctor Who: Silver Nemesis (1988)
  • Doctor Who: The Greatest Show in the Galaxy (1988) as The Doctor
  • Doctor Who: The Happiness Patrol (1988) as The Doctor
  • Going Live! (1987) as Self
  • Doctor Who: Paradise Towers (1987) as The Doctor
  • Doctor Who: Dragonfire (1987) as The Doctor
  • It's Wicked (1987)
  • Doctor Who: Delta and the Bannermen (1987) as The Doctor
  • Doctor Who: Time and the Rani (1987) as The Doctor
  • Three Kinds of Heat (1987) as Harry Pimm
  • Doctor Who Then & Now (1987) as Doctor Who
  • Casualty (1986) as Kev the Rev
  • Casualty (1986) as Ashley Millington
  • The PanoptiCon Tapes VI (1986)
  • The Last Place on Earth (1985) as Lt. 'Birdie' Bowers
  • The Bill (1984)
  • Dramarama (1983) as Donald
  • Big Jim and the Figaro Club (1981) as Turps
  • Electric in the City (1980) as Kerwin
  • Dracula (1979) as Walter
  • The Secret Policeman's Ball (1979) as Various Roles
  • Big Jim and the Figaro Club (1979) as Turps
  • An Audience with... (1978) as Self
  • For the Love of Albert (1977)
  • Playhouse (1974) as Kerwin
  • Tiswas (1974)
  • The Ken Campbell Roadshow (1971) as Self
  • Vision On (1964)
  • Doctor Who (1963) as The Doctor
  • Bananacide as Dr. Brunswick
  • Sylvester: Who's the Real McCoy? as Self
  • Sylvester: Who's the Real McCoy? Executive Producer

Frequently Asked Questions

What movies or TV shows is Sylvester McCoy best known for?

Sylvester McCoy is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Jackpot (1993), The Owners (2020), Thunderbirds Are Go! (2015), The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014).

When and where was Sylvester McCoy born?

Sylvester McCoy was born on August 20, 1943 in Dunoon, Argyll and Bute, Scotland, UK.

How many credits does Sylvester McCoy have?

Sylvester McCoy has accumulated over 138 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1963 to 2025.

What is Sylvester McCoy's background in cinema and television?

Sylvester McCoy is a Scottish actor and physical comedian. He was born Percy James Patrick Kent-Smith. McCoy is known for his work in the science fiction television series Doctor Who, where he played the seventh incarnation of the Doctor from 1987 to 1989. He also made a brief return in a television film in 1996. Addit...