Sylvester McCoy
Actor
London, UK
Biography:
Sylvester McCoy was born on 20 August 1943, in Dunoon, Scotland. His father was killed in the Second World War a couple of months before he was born, and he was brought up by his mother, his grandmother, and aunts.
He attended St. Mun's, a local Dunoon school. McCoy expressed an interest in every job, and as a result, eventually found himself given an afternoon off school to go to see a local priest about entering the priesthood. He joined Blair's College, a seminary in Aberdeen, and between the ages of twelve and sixteen trained to be a priest.
It was while at Blair's College that he realized that there was more to life than could be found in Dunoon. He discovered classical music and history, which fascinated him. He eventually decided to become a monk and applied to join a Dominican order, but his application was rejected as he was too young. He went instead to Dunoon grammar school, where he discovered that he didn't want to be a priest or a monk after all.
With the help of a cook at London's Roundhouse Theatre, McCoy gained a job there selling tickets and keeping the books in the box office. Eventually, he joined the Ken Campbell Roadshow. Along with Bob Hoskins, Jane Wood, and Dave Hill, McCoy started performing a range of sketches with the umbrella theme of "modern myths." McCoy found himself for a while in a double-act with Hoskins before Hoskins left to pursue his film career.
During a break from one of their UK engagements, the Roadshow team was discovered busking on the street by Joan Littlewood, who invited them to go on stage as a curtain up before her production of The Hostage. Littlewood invited McCoy to join her world-renowned Theatre Workshop. Numerous engagements followed.
McCoy was starring at the National Theatre in The Pied Piper, a musical play written especially for him when he learned that the BBC was looking for a new lead actor to replace Colin Baker in Doctor Who. He later won the role as the Seventh Doctor.
Following Doctor Who, McCoy continues to work extensively in theatre, films (including The Hobbit trilogy), radio, opera, and on television.
He continues to portray the Seventh Doctor in various Big Finish Production audio adventures.
Convention Guest Appearances
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2025
- Gallifrey One 2025 - February 14-16, 2025 in Los Angeles, CA, USA 2024
- The Sci-Fi Sea Cruise 2024 - December 5-15, 2024 in Departing from Miami, FL, USA
- Chicago TARDIS 2024 - November 29 - December 1, 2024 in Lombard, IL, USA
- Film & Comic Con Glasgow 2024 - August 24-25, 2024 in Glasgow, UK
- TerrifiCon 2024 - August 16-18, 2024 in Uncasville, CT, USA
- Smoky Mountain Fan Fest 2024 - August 10-11, 2024 in Kingsport, TN, USA
- London Film & Comic Con 2024 - July 5-7, 2024 in London, UK
- Stars of Time Comic Con Swindon 2024 - June 22, 2024 in Swindon, UK
- Utopia 2024 - June 14-16, 2024 in Milton Keynes, UK
Niagara Falls Comic Con 2024 - June 7-9, 2024 in Niagara Falls, ONCancelled Appearance- Angels, Demons and Doctors 2024 - May 5, 2024 in Goch, Germany
- Yellow City Comic Convention 2024 - April 19-21, 2024 in Amarillo, TX, USA
- Albuquerque Comic Con 2024 - January 19-21, 2024 in Albuquerque, NM, USA
- CONsole Room 2024 - January 12-14, 2024 in Bloomington, MN, USA 2023
- Wintercon 2023 - December 2-3, 2023 in Jamaica, NY, USA
- Chicago TARDIS 2023 - November 24-26, 2023 in Lombard, IL, USA
- The Sci-Fi Sea Cruise 2023 - October 22-29, 2023 in Departing from Cape Canaveral, FL, USA
- London Film & Comic Con 2023 - July 7-9, 2023 in London, UK
- Austria Comic Con 2023 - June 3-4, 2023 in Wels, Austria
- Wales Comic Con: Telford Takeover 2023 - May 13-14, 2023 in Telford, UK
- Lexington Comic & Toy Convention 2023 - March 23-26, 2023 in Lexington, KY, USA
- Comic Con Scotland Aberdeen 2023 - March 18-19, 2023 in Aberdeen, UK
- Pensacon 2023 - February 24-26, 2023 in Pensacola, FL, USA
- MegaCon Live Dublin 2023 - January 21-22, 2023 in Dublin, Ireland 2022
- Wales Comic Con: Telford Takeover 2022 - December 3-4, 2022 in Telford, UK
- Chicago TARDIS 2022 - November 25-27, 2022 in Lombard, IL, USA
- MCM Comic Con London 2022 - October 28-30, 2022 in London, UK
- Rose City Comic Con 2022 - September 9-11, 2022 in Portland, OR, USA
- Film & Comic Con Birmingham 2022 - September 3-4, 2022 in Birmingham, UK
- MegaCon Live Manchester 2022 - July 30-31, 2022 in Manchester, UK
- London Film & Comic Con 2022 - July 8-10, 2022 in London, UK
- Awesome Con 2022 - June 3-5, 2022 in Washington, DC, USA
- The Sci-Fi Sea Cruise 2022 - April 18-29, 2022 in Departing from Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA
- SC Comicon 2022 - April 9-10, 2022 in Greenville, SC, USA
- Texas Pinball Festival 2022 - March 25-27, 2022 in Frisco, TX, USA
- Gallifrey One 2022 - February 18-20, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA, USA 2021
- German Comic Con Dortmund Winter 2021 - December 3-5, 2021 in Dortmund, Germany
- Wales Comic Con: Telford Takeover 2021 - November 20-21, 2021 in Telford, UK
- London Film & Comic Con 2021 - November 19-21, 2021 in London, UK
- EM-Con Nottingham 2021 - August 28-29, 2021 in Nottingham, UK
Film & Comic Con Glasgow 2021 - August 14-15, 2021 in Glasgow, UKConvention CancelledLondon Film & Comic Con 2021 - July 23-25, 2021 in London, UKConvention PostponedNiagara Falls Comic Con 2021 - June 4-6, 2021 in Niagara Falls, ONConvention CancelledEM-Con Nottingham 2021 - May 1-2, 2021 in Nottingham, UKConvention Postponed 2020London Film & Comic Con 2020 - November 20-21, 2020 in London, UKConvention CancelledNiagara Falls Comic Con 2020 - September 11-13, 2020 in Niagara Falls, ONConvention CancelledFilm & Comic Con Birmingham 2020 - September 5-6, 2020 in Birmingham, UKConvention CancelledFilm & Comic Con Glasgow 2020 - August 15-16, 2020 in Glasgow, UKConvention CancelledGerman Comic Con Dortmund Spring 2020 - August 1-2, 2020 in Dortmund, GermanyConvention CancelledLondon Film & Comic Con 2020 - July 24-26, 2020 in London, UKConvention PostponedNiagara Falls Comic Con 2020 - June 5-7, 2020 in Niagara Falls, ONConvention PostponedGerman Comic Con Dortmund Spring 2020 - May 2-3, 2020 in Dortmund, GermanyConvention PostponedWales Comic Con: Telford Takeover 2020 - April 25-26, 2020 in Telford, UKConvention PostponedThe Great Philadelphia Comic Con 2020 - April 3-5, 2020 in Oaks, PA, USAConvention PostponedTexas Pinball Festival 2020 - March 27-29, 2020 in Frisco, TX, USAConvention Cancelled 2019- The Sci-Fi Sea Cruise 2019 - December 13-22, 2019 in Departing from Miami, FL, USA
- Chicago TARDIS 2019 - November 29 - December 1, 2019 in Lombard, IL, USA
- L.I. Who 2019 - November 23-24, 2019 in Holtsville, NY, USA
- Nor-Con 2019 - September 28-29, 2019 in Norwich, UK
- Film & Comic Con Exeter 2019 - September 14-15, 2019 in Exeter, UK
- Warped Con 2019 - August 31 - September 1, 2019 in Doncaster, UK
- German Castle Con 2019 - August 24-25, 2019 in Solingen, Germany
- Film & Comic Con Sheffield 2019 - August 10-11, 2019 in Sheffield, UK
- London Film & Comic Con 2019 - July 26-28, 2019 in London, UK
Film & Comic Con Birmingham 2019 - June 1-2, 2019 in Birmingham, UKCancelled AppearanceEM-Con Nottingham 2019 - May 4-5, 2019 in Nottingham, UKCancelled Appearance(Re)Generation Who 2019 - March 29-31, 2019 in Rockville, MD, USAConvention Cancelled 2018- Vienna Comic Con 2018 - November 17-18, 2018 in Wien, Austria
- Island Con 2018 - October 20-21, 2018 in Cowes, Isle of Wight, UK
The Sci-Fi Sea Cruise 2018 - September 21-28, 2018 in Departing from Seattle, WA, USACancelled AppearanceFilm & Comic Con Glasgow 2018 - August 11-12, 2018 in Glasgow, UKCancelled AppearanceLondon Film & Comic Con 2018 - July 27-29, 2018 in London, UKCancelled Appearance- MCM London Comic Con 2018 - May 25-27, 2018 in London, UK
- East Coast Comicon 2018 - April 27-29, 2018 in Secaucus, NJ, USA
- Gallifrey One 2018 - February 16-18, 2018 in Los Angeles, CA, USA 2017
- Anglicon 2017 - December 8-9, 2017 in Seattle, WA, USA
- Chicago TARDIS 2017 - November 24-26, 2017 in Lombard, IL, USA
- L.I. Who 2017 - November 10-12, 2017 in Hauppauge, NY, USA
Time Eddy 2017 - October 20-22, 2017 in Wichita, KS, USACancelled AppearanceTime Lord Expo 2017 - October 13-15, 2017 in Fairborn, OH, USAConvention Cancelled- Film & Comic Con Cardiff 2017 - September 23-24, 2017 in Cardiff, UK
- London Film & Comic Con 2017 - July 28-30, 2017 in London, UK
- The Sci-Fi Sea Cruise 2017 - July 15-23, 2017 in Departing from Port Canaveral, FL, USA
- ConnectiCon 2017 - July 6-9, 2017 in Hartford, CT, USA
- Oz Comic-Con: Melbourne 2017 - July 1-2, 2017 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Film & Comic Con Newcastle 2017 - May 20-21, 2017 in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK
- (Re)Generation Who 2017 - March 24-26, 2017 in Baltimore, MD, USA
- Comic Con Rotterdam 2017 - March 4-5, 2017 in Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Pensacon 2017 - February 17-19, 2017 in Pensacola, FL, USA 2016
- Marvelous Nerd Year's Eve 2016 - December 29, 2016 - January 1, 2017 in Dallas, TX, USA
- F.A.C.T.S. 2016 - October 22-23, 2016 in Ghent, Belgium
- MCM Scotland Comic Con 2016 - September 24-25, 2016 in Glasgow, UK
- Geekinomicon: Oklahoma City 2016 - September 2-4, 2016 in Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- London Film & Comic Con 2016 - July 29-31, 2016 in London, UK
- MCM Ireland Comic Con 2016 - July 2-3, 2016 in Dublin, Ireland
MCM Belfast Comic Con 2016 - June 25-26, 2016 in Lisburn, UKCancelled Appearance- MCM Belgium Comic Con 2016 - June 11-12, 2016 in Brussels, Belgium
- EM-Con 2016 - April 30 - May 1, 2016 in Nottingham, UK
- Wales Comic Con 2016 - April 23-24, 2016 in Wrexham, UK
- Salt Lake Comic Con FanXperience 2016 - March 24-26, 2016 in Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- Lexington Comic & Toy Convention 2016 - March 11-13, 2016 in Lexington, KY, USA
- MCM Midlands Comic Con 2016 - February 13, 2016 in Telford, UK 2015
- Wales Comic Con 2015 - November 29, 2015 in Wrexham, UK
- Doctor Who Festival 2015 - November 21-22, 2015 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Central Canada Comic Con 2015 - October 30 - November 1, 2015 in Winnipeg, MB
- MCM London Comic Con 2015 - October 23-25, 2015 in London, UK
F.A.C.T.S. 2015 - September 26-27, 2015 in Ghent, BelgiumCancelled Appearance- Dragon Con 2015 - September 4-7, 2015 in Atlanta, GA, USA
- MCM Manchester Comic Con 2015 - July 25-26, 2015 in Manchester, UK
TARDIS Phoenix 2015 - July 10-12, 2015 in Phoenix, AZ, USAConvention Cancelled- Fan Expo Dallas 2015 - May 29-31, 2015 in Dallas, TX, USA
- MCM London Comic Con 2015 - May 22-24, 2015 in London, UK
- Wizard World Comic Con Minneapolis 2015 - May 1-3, 2015 in Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo 2015 - April 24-26, 2015 in Chicago, IL, USA
- Super MegaFest Comic Con 2015 - April 17-19, 2015 in Marlborough, MA, USA
- Wonderland Festival 2015 - April 11-12, 2015 in Winnipeg, MB
- (Re)Generation Who 2015 - March 27-29, 2015 in Cockeysville, MD, USA
- EM-Con 2015 - March 15, 2015 in Nottingham, UK 2014
- Wigan Comic Con 2014 - December 7, 2014 in Wigan, UK
- Malta Comics Expo 2014 - October 31 - November 2, 2014 in Valletta, Malta
- F.A.C.T.S. 2014 - October 18-19, 2014 in Ghent, Belgium
- Fandomfest 2014 - August 1-3, 2014 in Louisville, KY, USA
- Fantasycon 2014 - July 3-5, 2014 in Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- Denver Comic Con 2014 - June 13-15, 2014 in Denver, CO, USA
- Niagara Falls Comic Con 2014 - June 6-8, 2014 in Niagara Falls, ON
- Indy PopCon 2014 - May 30 - June 1, 2014 in Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Comicpalooza 2014 - May 23-25, 2014 in Houston, TX, USA
- Planet Comicon Kansas City 2014 - March 14-16, 2014 in Kansas City, MO, USA 2013
- Doctor Who 50th Celebration 2013 - November 22-24, 2013 in London, UK
- Long Island Doctor Who 2013 - November 8-10, 2013 in Ronkonkoma, NY, USA
- Dimensions 2013 - October 25-27, 2013 in Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
- Paris Manga & Sci-Fi Show 2013 - October 5-6, 2013 in Paris, France
- London Film & Comic Con 2013 - July 5-7, 2013 in London, UK
- Armageddon Expo Wellington 2013 - June 1-3, 2013 in Wellington, New Zealand
- Armageddon Expo Hamilton 2013 - May 25-26, 2013 in Hamilton, New Zealand
- ScreenCon 2013 - May 4, 2013 in North Shields, UK
- Lords of Time 2013 - April 13, 2013 in Auckland, New Zealand
I-Con 2013 - March 22-24, 2013 in Hempstead, NY, USAConvention Cancelled- All-Con Dallas 2013 - March 8-10, 2013 in Addison, TX, USA
MystiCon 2013 - February 22-24, 2013 in Roanoke, VA, USACancelled Appearance- Gallifrey One 2013 - February 15-17, 2013 in Los Angeles, CA, USA 2012
- Chicago TARDIS 2012 - November 23-25, 2012 in Lombard, IL, USA
- Dimensions 2012 - November 9-11, 2012 in Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
- Regenerations 2012 - September 22-23, 2012 in Swansea, UK
Nor-Con 2012 - September 2, 2012 in Norwich, UKCancelled Appearance- Dragon*Con 2012 - August 31 - September 3, 2012 in Atlanta, GA, USA
- The Greatest Show in the Galaxy 2012 - May 12-13, 2012 in Peterborough, UK
I-Con 2012 - March 30 - April 1, 2012 in Stony Brook, NY, USACancelled Appearance 2011- Dragon*Con 2011 - September 2-5, 2011 in Atlanta, GA, USA
- London Film & Comic Con 2011 - July 8-10, 2011 in London, UK 2008
- London Film & Comic Con 2008 - July 19-20, 2008 in London, UK
JumpCon Boston 2008 - July 18-20, 2008 in Boston, MA, USAConvention Cancelled- Gallifrey One 2008 - February 15-17, 2008 in Los Angeles, CA, USA 2006
- Chicago TARDIS 2006 - November 24-26, 2006 in Des Plaines, IL, USA 2004
- Gallifrey One 2004 - February 13-16, 2004 in Van Nuys, CA, USA 2000
- Chicago TARDIS 2000 - November 24-26, 2000 in Arlington Heights, IL, USA 1996
- Gallifrey One 1996 - February 16-19, 1996 in Van Nuys, CA, USA 1993
- ThunderCon 1993 - June 4-6, 1993 in Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- I-Con 1993 - April 16-18, 1993 in Stony Brook, NY, USA 1991
- Gallifrey One 1991 - May 3-5, 1991 in Pasadena, CA, USA 1989
- Magnum Opus Con 1989 - March 17-19, 1989 in Greenville, SC, USA
129 confirmed guest appearances