Rory Williams
A nurse who waited two thousand years as a Roman soldier to save his wife.
Rory Arthur Williams is a fictional character portrayed by Arthur Darvill in Doctor Who, introduced in Series 5 as the fiancé of companion Amy Pond. Initially insecure and overshadowed by her stories of the "Raggedy Doctor," Rory joins the Eleventh Doctor (Matt Smith) intermittently before consolidating his role as a full companion in Series 6. He proves to be a hero in his own right, marrying Amy and conceiving a daughter, Melody Pond, aboard the TARDIS. Their journey is marked by tragedy when their baby is kidnapped at birth, only for them to discover that their time-travelling friend River Song is actually their child. Rory's tenure ends in "The Angels Take Manhattan," where he and Amy are sent back in time by a Weeping Angel, leading to their permanent departure from the series.
- Role:
- Companion / The Last Centurion
- Affiliation:
- The TARDIS Crew, Roman Army (Centurion)
- First Appears:
- The Eleventh Hour
- Species:
- Human
- Significant Relationships:
- Amy Pond (wife), The Doctor (friend)
Lore & Background
Rory's existence was first erased when he was shot dead by a Silurian in "Cold Blood" and absorbed by a crack in time, removing him from history and Amy's memory. However, he reappeared in "The Pandorica Opens" as an Auton with his memories, revealing he had been waiting since 102 C.E. to guard the Pandorica containing Amy. Known as "The Last Centurion," this duplicate watched over her for almost two millennia until the universe exploded and was rebooted by the Doctor, Amy, and River Song in "The Big Bang." Restored to his human timeline with memories of his Auton existence, Rory married Amy. In Series 6, he faced a space fleet of Cybermen dressed in centurion armor to locate Amy at Demon's Run and later learned their kidnapped daughter was River Song. His rational nature saved him from the creature feeding on faith in "The God Complex," distinguishing him from the Doctor and Amy.
In Their Own Story
In "Asylum of the Daleks," it is revealed that Amy and Rory are set to divorce because she has been infertile since their daughter's kidnapping, though the Doctor engineers a reconciliation. Their final adventure occurs in "The Angels Take Manhattan," where a Weeping Angel sends Rory back to 1930s New York. There, he becomes trapped in an Angel "battery farm," repeatedly sent back in time and dislocated until he dies of old age. Amy chooses to join him, creating a paradox so massive the Doctor can never reunite with them. A tombstone reveals Rory died at age 82 and Amy at 87. In the online minisode "P.S.," Rory writes a letter to his father Brian revealing that he and Amy adopted a son named Anthony Brian Williams in 1946. The found footage minisode "Rory's Story" depicts him living with Amy in 1946, dictating a book for their adopted son.
Reader's Guide
To understand Rory Williams, look to his evolution from the "sort of boyfriend" in "The Eleventh Hour" (2010) to the Last Centurion. He joined the TARDIS crew after the Doctor took him and Amy to 1580s Venice to repair their relationship. His character arc is defined by loyalty; he told a pregnant Amy with his dying breath in a dream sequence to look after their baby, causing her to realize her love for him. Key moments include his confrontation with his older self in the Angel battery farm and his role in assembling an army to rescue Melody Pond. Despite being 31 years old during "Dinosaurs on a Spaceship," his endurance as a guardian of time remains unmatched. The Doctor returned them to Earth in "The God Complex" but rejoined them two years later for Christmas dinner in "The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe."
Did You Know?
- Rory was known as 'The Last Centurion' for guarding the Pandorica for almost two millennia starting in 102 C.E.
- In Series 7, it is revealed that Rory and Amy adopted a son named Anthony Brian Williams in 1946.
- Rory is the only member of the TARDIS crew not hunted by the faith-feeding creature in 'The God Complex' due to his rational nature.
- A tombstone in 'The Angels Take Manhattan' states that Rory died at age 82 and Amy at age 87.
- Arthur Darvill previously worked with Matt Smith on a play called Swimming with Sharks before being cast as Rory.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Rory Williams?
He began as Amy Pond's nervous fiancé but evolved into a steadfast companion for the Eleventh Doctor. His character arc transforms an ordinary nurse into one of the series' most enduring heroes through sheer loyalty.
What special status does Rory hold in the timeline?
Due to time paradoxes, he was erased from reality only to return as 'The Last Centurion' after guarding Amy for two thousand years. This unique existence allowed him to survive centuries alone while keeping his promise to her.
How did Rory Williams die?
He sacrificed himself during the events of The Wedding of River Song to protect Amy from the Silence, initially causing a paradox that erased him. The Doctor later fixed this so Rory could live a full life and pass away naturally as an old man.
Why is Rory considered one of the best companions?
He serves as the emotional bedrock for the Eleventh Doctor's era, grounding their adventures with human resilience. His willingness to wait millennia demonstrates a level of devotion that defies the laws of physics and time.
What jobs did Rory hold before becoming a companion?
Prior to traveling in the TARDIS, he worked as a nurse at St. Luke's Hospital during his initial introduction. He also served as a Roman Centurion while waiting for Amy, which sharpened his combat skills for later adventures.
More in The Doctor & Companions
Related in Doctor Who
Links follow this subject's own source article.
Elsewhere in the Doctor Who universe
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record