Cast & creator
Nabil Shaban
Best known for Doctor Who, Children of Men, Tales of the Tardis
Nabil Shaban (1953-2025) was born in Amman, Jordan and arrived in England when he was three for treatment for his osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle-bone disease). He spent the next six years in hospital and seven in a children's home. In 1980, he and Richard Tomlinson founded Graeae (pronounced Grey Eye), a professional theatre company of disabled performers. A writer and performer with many film and television credits, he was probably best known to television viewers for his role as ruthless businessman Sil in the Doctor Who stories 'Vengeance on Varos' and 'The Trial of a Time Lord' (BBC, 1985 + 1986).
31
film credits
5
television credits
30
1963–2023 · acting roles
6.7
average across scored titles
Signature credits
Known for
Across film & television
Filmography (36)
Showing 36 of 36 credits
Doctor Who
Sil
1963
Children of Men
Bexhill Market Hustler
2006
Tales of the Tardis
Sil
2023
South of the Border
Prosecuting Counsel
19884 Play
George
1989
City of Joy
Anouar
1992
Sil and the Devil Seeds of Arodor
Sil
2019
Doctor Who: Vengeance on Varos
Sil
1985
The Story of Doctor Who
2003
Doctor Who: Mindwarp
Sil
1986
Wittgenstein
Martian
1993
Billy's Christmas Angels
Charlie
1988
Walter
Ben Gunn
1982
Born of Fire
The Silent One
1987
Sil and the Devil Seeds of Arodor
Sil
2019
Sorry About Last Night
Lawyer
1995
Slave of Dreams
Soothsayer
1995
Deptford Graffiti
George
1991
Skallagrigg
Alan
1994
Raspberry Ripple
Bill
1986
The Doctors: More Monsters!
2019
A Different Hand
The Best Friend
1992A Different Hand
Writer
1992Getting Away From Sidney
1981Vote Sil
Sil
Trouble Sleeping
Lawyer
2008
Iranian Nights
Caliph
1989
The Fifth Gospel
The Laternist
1990The Fifth Gospel
Writer
1990
The Strangest Viking
2003The Strangest Viking
Director
2003
The Skin Horse
Narrator
1983
Morticia
Dr. Moores
2009Morticia
Producer
2009Morticia
Writer
2009Morticia
Director
2009