Ian Marter
Encyclopedia
Ian Don Marter was an English
actor
and writer
, perhaps best known for his role as Harry Sullivan
in the BBC
television science-fiction
series Doctor Who
, from December 1974 to September 1975 as a regular, with a one story return in November and December 1975. He sometimes wrote under the pen name
Ian Don.
After graduating from Oxford University in 1969, Marter initially worked at the Bristol Old Vic
theatre, where he was a stage manager as well as acting in various minor roles. To support his low actor's wages, he also worked for a time as a milkman
and a schoolteacher.
In 1971 he auditioned for the regular role of Captain Mike Yates
in the eighth season of Doctor Who, and although he did not win the part, he sufficiently impressed the production team to be kept in mind and cast in a supporting role in the 1973 story Carnival of Monsters
, broadcast as part of the tenth season of the programme.
The following year, he was cast in the role of Harry Sullivan, a character developed by the production team when they planned that the incoming Fourth Doctor
would be portrayed by an older actor, and thus would not be able to handle the more physical action scenes (This was similar to the original TARDIS crew when the Ian Chesterton
character was written to handle the more physical scenes over William Hartnell
). However, after forty year-old Tom Baker
was cast, this was no longer an issue and Harry was written out after only one season.
Marter remained involved with Doctor Who after his departure from the cast. He co-wrote the script for a potential feature film
version, provisionally titled Doctor Who Meets Scratchman, also known as Doctor Who and the Big Game, in collaboration with Baker and film director James Hill
, although this never came to fruition. The intention was to have Baker's Doctor
come face to face with Scratchman (an ancient term for the devil
). The finale of the film was to have taken place on a giant pinball table, the holes in the table being portals to other dimensions. The project fizzled out due to lack of funding.
He later became involved with the writing of novelisations of Doctor Who television stories for Target Books
, penning nine adaptations in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Marter's novelisations were somewhat controversial, most notably for his use of the word 'bastard' in his novelization of the 1967 story The Enemy of the World
.
The last of Marter's Doctor Who novelisations was The Rescue, which had to be completed by range editor Nigel Robinson
due to Marter's unexpected death. Marter was one of a small group of Doctor Who actors to write licensed fiction based upon the series.
He also wrote an original spin-off novel for Target, Harry Sullivan's War, starring the character he had played on screen, which was published in 1985 (considered the first original Doctor Who-related novel). Marter was planning both a sequel to this and an adaptation of the unused Doctor Who Meets Scratchman script at the time of his death. In addition to his Doctor Who novelizations, he wrote adaptations of several 1980s American
films such as Splash
and Down and Out in Beverly Hills
for Target and their Star Books imprint. Some of these books were published under the pen name 'Ian Don'.
Marter's acting career outside of Doctor Who consisted mainly of guest roles in episodes of series such as the BBC's Bergerac
(in 1981) and Granada Television
's The Return of Sherlock Holmes
(in 1986). He also had minor roles in several films, such as The Abominable Dr. Phibes
(1971) and The Medusa Touch
(1978). He lived and worked in New Zealand in the early 1980s, appearing in the New Zealand soap opera Close to Home from 1982.
Marter was married, and had two sons. He died suddenly at his home in London
on his forty-second birthday in 1986, after suffering a heart attack
brought on by complications of diabetes
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
and writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, perhaps best known for his role as Harry Sullivan
Harry Sullivan
Harry Sullivan is a fictional character from the British science-fiction television series Doctor Who and is a companion of the Fourth Doctor...
in the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
television science-fiction
Science fiction on television
Science fiction first appeared on a television program during the Golden Age of Science Fiction. Special effects and other production techniques allow creators to present a living visual image of an imaginary world not limited by the constraints of reality; this makes television an excellent medium...
series Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
, from December 1974 to September 1975 as a regular, with a one story return in November and December 1975. He sometimes wrote under the pen name
Pen name
A pen name, nom de plume, or literary double, is a pseudonym adopted by an author. A pen name may be used to make the author's name more distinctive, to disguise his or her gender, to distance an author from some or all of his or her works, to protect the author from retribution for his or her...
Ian Don.
After graduating from Oxford University in 1969, Marter initially worked at the Bristol Old Vic
Bristol Old Vic
The Bristol Old Vic is a theatre company based at the Theatre Royal, King Street, in Bristol, England. The theatre complex includes the 1766 Theatre Royal, which claims to be the oldest continually-operating theatre in England, along with a 1970s studio theatre , offices and backstage facilities...
theatre, where he was a stage manager as well as acting in various minor roles. To support his low actor's wages, he also worked for a time as a milkman
Milkman
A milkman is a person, traditionally male, who delivers milk in milk bottles or cartons. Milk deliveries frequently occur in the morning and it is not uncommon for milkmen to deliver products other than milk such as eggs, cream, cheese, butter, yogurt or soft drinks...
and a schoolteacher.
In 1971 he auditioned for the regular role of Captain Mike Yates
Captain Mike Yates
Captain Mike Yates is a fictional character in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, played by Richard Franklin. He was adjutant of the British contingent of UNIT , an international organisation that defends the Earth...
in the eighth season of Doctor Who, and although he did not win the part, he sufficiently impressed the production team to be kept in mind and cast in a supporting role in the 1973 story Carnival of Monsters
Carnival of Monsters
Carnival of Monsters is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from 27 January to 17 February 1973....
, broadcast as part of the tenth season of the programme.
The following year, he was cast in the role of Harry Sullivan, a character developed by the production team when they planned that the incoming Fourth Doctor
Fourth Doctor
The Fourth Doctor is the fourth incarnation of the protagonist of the long-running BBC British television science-fiction series Doctor Who....
would be portrayed by an older actor, and thus would not be able to handle the more physical action scenes (This was similar to the original TARDIS crew when the Ian Chesterton
Ian Chesterton
Ian Chesterton is a fictional character in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who and a companion of the First Doctor. He was played in the series by William Russell, and was one of the members of the programme's very first regular cast, appearing in the bulk of the first two...
character was written to handle the more physical scenes over William Hartnell
William Hartnell
William Henry Hartnell was an English actor. During 1963-66, he was the first actor to play the Doctor in the long-running BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who.-Early life:...
). However, after forty year-old Tom Baker
Tom Baker
Thomas Stewart "Tom" Baker is a British actor. He is best known for playing the fourth incarnation of the Doctor in the science fiction television series Doctor Who, a role he played from 1974 to 1981.-Early life:...
was cast, this was no longer an issue and Harry was written out after only one season.
Marter remained involved with Doctor Who after his departure from the cast. He co-wrote the script for a potential feature film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
version, provisionally titled Doctor Who Meets Scratchman, also known as Doctor Who and the Big Game, in collaboration with Baker and film director James Hill
James Hill
James Hill may refer to:*James Hill , former professional American football tight end*James Hill , British film and television director...
, although this never came to fruition. The intention was to have Baker's Doctor
Doctor (Doctor Who)
The Doctor is the central character in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who, and has also featured in two cinema feature films, a vast range of spin-off novels, audio dramas and comic strips connected to the series....
come face to face with Scratchman (an ancient term for the devil
Devil
The Devil is believed in many religions and cultures to be a powerful, supernatural entity that is the personification of evil and the enemy of God and humankind. The nature of the role varies greatly...
). The finale of the film was to have taken place on a giant pinball table, the holes in the table being portals to other dimensions. The project fizzled out due to lack of funding.
He later became involved with the writing of novelisations of Doctor Who television stories for Target Books
Target Books
Target Books was a British publishing imprint, established in 1973 by Universal-Tandem Publishing Co Ltd, a paperback publishing company. The imprint was established as a children's imprint to complement the adult Tandem imprint, and became well known for their highly successful range of...
, penning nine adaptations in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Marter's novelisations were somewhat controversial, most notably for his use of the word 'bastard' in his novelization of the 1967 story The Enemy of the World
The Enemy of the World
The Enemy of the World is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which originally aired in six weekly parts from 23 December 1967 to 27 January 1968...
.
The last of Marter's Doctor Who novelisations was The Rescue, which had to be completed by range editor Nigel Robinson
Nigel Robinson
Nigel Robinson is an English author, known for such works as the First Contact series.Nigel was born in Preston, Lancashire and attended St Thomas More school....
due to Marter's unexpected death. Marter was one of a small group of Doctor Who actors to write licensed fiction based upon the series.
He also wrote an original spin-off novel for Target, Harry Sullivan's War, starring the character he had played on screen, which was published in 1985 (considered the first original Doctor Who-related novel). Marter was planning both a sequel to this and an adaptation of the unused Doctor Who Meets Scratchman script at the time of his death. In addition to his Doctor Who novelizations, he wrote adaptations of several 1980s American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
films such as Splash
Splash
Splash may refer to:* Splash , sudden disturbances on the surface of water* Splash, in erosion, is the detachment and airborne movement of small soil particles caused by the impact of raindrops on soils-Computing:...
and Down and Out in Beverly Hills
Down and Out in Beverly Hills
Down and Out in Beverly Hills is a 1986 American comedy film based on the French play Boudu sauvé des eaux, which had previously been adapted on film in 1932 by Jean Renoir. Down and Out in Beverly Hills was directed by Paul Mazursky, and starred Nick Nolte, Bette Midler and Richard Dreyfuss...
for Target and their Star Books imprint. Some of these books were published under the pen name 'Ian Don'.
Marter's acting career outside of Doctor Who consisted mainly of guest roles in episodes of series such as the BBC's Bergerac
Bergerac (TV series)
Bergerac was a British television show set on Jersey. Produced by the BBC in association with the Seven Network, and screened on BBC1, it starred John Nettles as the title character Detective Sergeant Jim Bergerac, a detective in "Le Bureau des Étrangers" Bergerac was a British television show...
(in 1981) and Granada Television
Granada Television
Granada Television is the ITV contractor for North West England. Based in Manchester since its inception, it is the only surviving original ITA franchisee from 1954 and is ITV's most successful....
's The Return of Sherlock Holmes
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (TV series)
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes is the name given to the TV series of Sherlock Holmes adaptations produced by British television company Granada Television between 1984 and 1994, although only the first two series bore that title on screen. The series was broadcast on the ITV network in the UK,...
(in 1986). He also had minor roles in several films, such as The Abominable Dr. Phibes
The Abominable Dr. Phibes
The Abominable Dr. Phibes is a 1971 horror film starring Vincent Price. Its art deco sets, dark humor and performance by Price has made the film and its sequel Dr. Phibes Rises Again classics.-Plot:...
(1971) and The Medusa Touch
The Medusa Touch (film)
The Medusa Touch is a 1978 British supernatural thriller film directed by Jack Gold. It starred Richard Burton, Lino Ventura, Lee Remick and Harry Andrews, with cameos by Alan Badel, Derek Jacobi, Gordon Jackson, Jeremy Brett and Michael Hordern...
(1978). He lived and worked in New Zealand in the early 1980s, appearing in the New Zealand soap opera Close to Home from 1982.
Marter was married, and had two sons. He died suddenly at his home in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
on his forty-second birthday in 1986, after suffering a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
brought on by complications of diabetes
Diabetes mellitus
Diabetes mellitus, often simply referred to as diabetes, is a group of metabolic diseases in which a person has high blood sugar, either because the body does not produce enough insulin, or because cells do not respond to the insulin that is produced...
.
Appearances
Doctor Who stories- Carnival of MonstersCarnival of MonstersCarnival of Monsters is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from 27 January to 17 February 1973....
(as John Andrews) - RobotRobot (Doctor Who)Robot is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from 28 December 1974 to 18 January 1975...
(as Harry Sullivan) - The Ark in SpaceThe Ark in SpaceThe Ark in Space is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from 25 January to 15 February 1975.-Plot:The TARDIS materialises in a darkened room on board the station...
(as Harry Sullivan) - The Sontaran ExperimentThe Sontaran ExperimentThe Sontaran Experiment is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was originally broadcast in two weekly parts on 22 February and 1 March 1975.-Synopsis:...
(as Harry Sullivan) - Genesis of the DaleksGenesis of the DaleksGenesis of the Daleks is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who that was originally broadcast in six weekly parts from 8 March to 12 April 1975. It marks the first appearance of Davros, the creator of the Daleks.-Plot:...
(as Harry Sullivan) - Revenge of the CybermenRevenge of the CybermenRevenge of the Cybermen is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from 19 April to 10 May 1975.-Synopsis:...
(as Harry Sullivan) - Terror of the ZygonsTerror of the ZygonsTerror of the Zygons is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from 30 August to 20 September 1975...
(as Harry Sullivan) - The Android InvasionThe Android InvasionThe Android Invasion is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from 22 November to 13 December 1975. It marks the last appearance of UNIT Character Sergeant Benton...
(Episodes 2–4) (as Harry Sullivan)