Who could play an American Doctor?

[TalkieToaster]

I'm not actually suggesting this be a real thing, but just for fun I'm wondering who people think would(or would have at any time over the last 50 years) make a good American version of the Doctor. Here's one take on the idea:

http://www.buzzfeed.com/newu456/what-if-doctor-who-was-american-5pxx

A couple suggestions I had were Christopher Lloyd and Robin Williams. Anyone have any other ideas?

 

[Mr. Adventure]

This subject has been broached a few times but there's been enough British actors on American TV and movies that it might need to happen someday just to correct the balance.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

American doctor? Hugh Laurie?

 

[auntiehill]

If The Doctor were to ever be American (which I hope never happens; he is intrinsically British), a good actor for the part would be:

Misha Collins. He's already used to playing an angelic figure in an overcoat.

Paul Giamatti. Odd looking but practically oozes pathos, and yet still does "scary-angry" quite well.

Connor Trinneer. Because, well, I just want to look at him.

Craig Ferguson. OK, he's from Scotland but he's an American citizen, so technically he counts.

Sam Rockwell. He's generally insane yet looks "mostly harmless" and can also pull off the Timelord ego.

Alan Tudyk. Charming, cute, can do multiple character voices--can be equally adorable and menacing (see his appearance on Justified).

 

[starsuperion]

Johnny Dep?? wasn't he reported to play the younger first doctor at some point?? or was that a rumor?

 

[Christopher]

If The Doctor were to ever be American (which I hope never happens; he is intrinsically British)

Yup, an intrinsically British series co-created by a Canadian, which had its theme music and its pilot written by Australians and whose first director was from India.

 

[Doctorwhovian]

Jeff Goldblum was reportedly a contender for the TV movie-he's got the eccentricity and very 'alien' look down at least.

 

[auntiehill]

If The Doctor were to ever be American (which I hope never happens; he is intrinsically British)

Yup, an intrinsically British series co-created by a Canadian, which had its theme music and its pilot written by Australians and whose first director was from India.

But Doctor Who itself is very, very British.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Vincent D'Onofrio

 

[auntiehill]

^I love him and think he's a great actor, but he's a little too scary to be The Doctor. He's like a polar bear in a cheap suit.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Donal Logue, then?

 

[od0_ital]

Rene Auberjonois!

 

[auntiehill]

Donal Logue, then?

*thinks for a moment*

Yeah, if he shaved, for once. I think he'd have potential.

 

[Starkers]

Not an American, but not British either, but if the US was gonna do Who Simon Baker would be my choice.

 

[Pindar]

He is not American but, David Hewlett

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

He is not American but, David Hewlett

I'LL TAKE IT!!

 

[Melakon]

Wallace Shawn, but he's 70 now.

Will Smith. He's already played an American Secret Service agent in the 1860s, so his Who would be just as believable.

Robert Picardo. Finally, he could really call himself The Doctor.

[mindless babble because I've been sitting here for about 13 solid hours: This new medical building only has 3 doctors. Each doctor is on a different floor. So in this building, Who's on first, What's on second, I Don't Know's on third...]

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

Okay Picardo. But I would do.. something wonderful.. if I could have Hewlett. He might suck, who knows, but I would still love it.

 

[Christopher]

I've tried to think of one, but when you get right down to it, one of the things that defines American TV is that when we cast actors to play wise, eccentric geniuses or aliens, most of the time we'll hire British or Australian actors anyway. When I think of the most Doctor-like characters in recent US television, I think of Hugh Laurie, John Noble, Jonny Lee Miller, Tom Mison, and the like.

Although... this is a rather obvious and fanboyish suggestion, but if you're going for an eccentric, unpredictable, often comic protagonist with great intelligence but a boyish and petulant streak, that's something Nathan Fillion has done well on Castle.

If you wanted a Doctor who was more in the Hartnell (and Capaldi??) vein, a mysterious elder and mentor figure with a dangerous streak rather than a boyish man of action, how about Michael Emerson?

 

[AgentCoop]

Robert Downey Jr. I thought his Sherlock Holmes portrayal was somewhat Doctor-like.