Peter Dougan Capaldi (born April 14, 1958) is one of the most prolific Scottish actors one could name. Boasting an extensive film career, he became a household name as the foul-mouthed Malcolm Tucker in The Thick of It which proved his most noteworthy role before 2013.
For in 2013, he was cast as the Twelfth Doctor in Doctor Who. First cameoing in the 50th anniversary special, he later debuted at Christmas and was the show's leading man from 2014 to 2017 before he was replaced by Jodie Whittaker.
- Big Ol' Eyebrows: They're Attack Eyebrows!
- The Cast Showoff: Starting in Series 9, Capaldi's guitar skills were incorporated into the Twelfth Doctor's persona.
- Cool Old Guy: Exhibit A. That's really him playing the guitar.
- Girly Run: In the immortal words of Pearl Mackie: "Like a penguin with its arse on fire."
- Hopeless with Tech: "Smile" was partly inspired by his inability to grasp the emojis that Jenna texted him with and he once spent about ten minutes looking for a text to take her down a peg.
- I Am Not Shazam: Averted. He does call himself "Doctor Who" to increase the mystique.
- Promoted Fanboy: The ultimate example. He grew up watching the First Doctor and was not only cast as the Doctor, but got to end his run alongside the First Doctor.
- Shipper on Deck: Along with Jenna Coleman, he's quite a big pusher for Doctor/Clara.
- Sir Swearsalot: Codified by his time as Malcolm Tucker. He downplayed during his run as the Doctor but has since brought it back.
- Vitriolic Best Buds: With Jenna Coleman.
- What Could Have Been:
- Turned down an audition for the role of the Eighth Doctor.
- Auditioned for the role of Sisko in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
- Steven Moffat briefly considered casting him as the Eleventh Doctor but decided that the timing wasn't right.
- Considered staying on for Series 11 of Doctor Who but decided against it.