Colin Baker
The brash, colorful Sixth Doctor whose tumultuous tenure on 'Doctor Who' belied a deep and enduring love for the role.
Born 1943 (age 83)·English actor·Birthday: June 8·The Silent Generation
Biography
Colin Baker's path to the TARDIS was anything but straightforward. Trained as a solicitor, he turned to acting and found early television success as the scheming Paul Merroney in 'The Brothers.' When he was cast as the Sixth Doctor in 1984, he envisioned a darker, more arrogant Time Lord, a deliberate contrast to his predecessor's amiability. Clad in a famously loud, multicolored coat, his Doctor was cerebral, argumentative, and fiercely moral. His era, however, was plagued by behind-the-scenes turmoil at the BBC, including an 18-month hiatus and his eventual, unceremonious dismissal from the role. Despite this bitter professional experience, Baker's commitment to the Doctor Who universe never wavered. He became a stalwart of the convention scene, displaying a generosity and wit that won over fans. For decades, he has enthusiastically embraced the audio drama medium, giving his Doctor the nuanced, expansive stories television often denied him, cementing a complex but beloved legacy.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Colin was born in 1943, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Colin Was Born
The biggest hits of 1943
#1 Movie
For Whom the Bell Tolls
Best Picture
Casablanca
Colin's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1943Born
Allies invade Sicily; Battle of Stalingrad ends
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,290Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I've Heard That Song Before" — Harry JamesBest Picture: Casablanca
1948Started school
Israel declares independence; Berlin Blockade begins
Gas: $0.26/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Twelfth Street Rag" — Pee Wee HuntBest Picture: Hamlet
1956Became a teenager
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1959Could drive
Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $12,400Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"The Battle of New Orleans" — Johnny HortonBest Picture: Ben-Hur
1961Could vote
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1964Turned 21
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1973Turned 30
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1983Turned 40
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1993Turned 50
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2003Turned 60
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2013Turned 70
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 80
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 83 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played the Sixth Doctor in the BBC series 'Doctor Who' from 1984 to 1986, bringing a more abrasive and intellectual edge to the character.
- Portrayed the villainous Paul Merroney in the BBC drama 'The Brothers,' a role that made him a household name in the UK in the 1970s.
- Has performed the role of the Sixth Doctor extensively in audio dramas for Big Finish Productions since 1999.
- Holds the record for the most appearances in the annual 'Doctor Who' television charity special 'The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot.'
Did You Know?
He is the only actor to have previously played a villain on 'Doctor Who' (Commander Maxil in 'Arc of Infinity') before being cast as the Doctor.
He suggested that his Doctor wear an outfit of mismatched, clashing colors to reflect the character's chaotic inner state.
He was a champion of the show's fans during its cancellation period in the late 1980s, attending countless events to keep interest alive.
Before acting, he was a qualified solicitor.
““The fans have kept Doctor Who alive. It's as simple as that.””
