104 Facts About Stuart Whitman

Stuart Maxwell Whitman was an American actor, known for his lengthy career in film and television.

In 1948, Stuart Whitman was discharged from the Corps of Engineers in the US Army and started to study acting and appear in plays.

From 1951 to 1957, Stuart Whitman had a streak working in mostly bit parts in films, including When Worlds Collide, The Day the Earth Stood Still, Barbed Wire and The Man from the Alamo.

On television, Stuart Whitman guest-starred in series such as Dr Christian, The Roy Rogers Show, and Death Valley Days, and had a recurring role on Highway Patrol.

Stuart Whitman was seen in projects until 2000, after which he was reported to be retired, and died in 2020.

Stuart Maxwell Whitman was born on February 1,1928, in San Francisco, California, the elder of two sons of Cecilia and Joseph Whitman.

Stuart Whitman's mother was a Russian Jewish immigrant, while his paternal grandparents were Polish Jews.

Stuart Whitman was interested in acting from the age of five.

Stuart Whitman started his education in New York, in Manhattan and Poughkeepsie.

Stuart Whitman's uncle thought he had potential as a boxer, and secretly trained him.

When World War II broke out, Joseph Stuart Whitman moved to Los Angeles to run oil-cracking plants for the government.

Stuart Whitman's family settled in Los Angeles, and Whitman graduated from Hollywood High School in 1945.

Stuart Whitman was a lightweight boxer for the Army during his tenure.

Stuart Whitman was honorably discharged from the Army in 1948, while his close friend, Scott, completed officer candidate school the following year, ending his service with the rank of colonel.

Stuart Whitman said, 'If that's the case, you're on your own.

Stuart Whitman's father did sell Whitman a bulldozer, which his son used to support himself in college.

Stuart Whitman would hire it out to others to clear lots, uproot trees, and level off rugged terrain.

Stuart Whitman joined the Michael Chekhov Stage Society, and studied with them at night for four years.

Stuart Whitman was considering a career in professional football, but injured his leg at college.

Stuart Whitman joined the Ben Bard Drama School in Hollywood, and debuted in the school's production of Here Comes Mr Jordan, which ran for six months.

Stuart Whitman was spotted by a talent scout while at City College.

Stuart Whitman made his screen debut, credited as Kip Whitman, in a bit part in Rudolph Mate's When Worlds Collide, which was released in November 1951.

In 1952, Stuart Whitman continued playing small roles, starting with George Archainbaud's Barbed Wire, released in July, and Tay Garnett's One Minute to Zero, released in August.

Stuart Whitman was still cast in small parts in features premiering in 1953.

In 1954, Stuart Whitman continued to be seen in minor film roles.

Stuart Whitman starred on stage in Christopher Fry's Venus Observed at the Coast Theatre in 1954.

On television, Stuart Whitman acted in episodes of Dr Christian, The Roy Rogers Show, and Death Valley Days.

On July 1,1955, Stuart Whitman appeared as a man on the beach in Curtis Bernhardt's Interrupted Melody.

Also that year, Stuart Whitman had a minor role in the serial King of the Carnival.

In 1956, Stuart Whitman continued with the same types of roles, starting with Allan Dwan's Hold Back the Night on July 29, followed by Budd Boetticher's Seven Men from Now on August 4.

Stuart Whitman explained that, at the time, he was working part-time in a slaughterhouse, and when he got the role, he and its star Broderick Crawford got along immediately and became friends.

From that point on, whenever Stuart Whitman was low on cash, he would call Crawford who would gladly invite him to appear in another episode, on the premise that he could drink while Stuart Whitman handled most of the dialogue.

Around that time, Stuart Whitman acted in "Until the Man Dies", episode 16 of the first season of Zane Grey Theater.

Stuart Whitman developed hundreds of acres in such places as Anaheim, Benedict Canyon, and Panorama City, often in partnership with his father.

Stuart Whitman was one of several actors who tested for the role of Bart Maverick In March 1958, the contract with FOX became exclusive.

Stuart Whitman later said he did this to get a choice small part and "many good things came from that".

At that time, director Andrew L Stone wanted Whitman to appear in The Last Voyage, but the role went to Robert Stack instead.

In 1958, Hedda Hopper wrote a piece on Stuart Whitman which said he could be the "new Clark Gable":.

The premiere of Henry Koster's Biblical drama The Story of Ruth, in which Stuart Whitman had replaced Stephen Boyd as Boaz, was in June 1960.

Additionally, director Stuart Whitman Rosenberg was fired by the studio because they felt he was taking too much time setting up shots.

The role came about when Stuart Whitman was frustrated with the sort of roles he was getting.

When Richard Burton turned down the role of a child molester in The Mark to do Camelot on stage, Stuart Whitman said that he was asked by his agent to fly to Ireland to act in the film, without his agent telling him what it was about.

Stuart Whitman didn't know the controversial nature of the role until he read the script on location.

Stuart Whitman's performance earned him rave reviews and an Oscar nomination for Best Actor.

Stuart Whitman said the film "doubled my rating as an actor".

Stuart Whitman loved the idea, but was booked by the studio elsewhere.

The only way to rectify this was for Stuart Whitman to talk with the film's star John Wayne, as only Wayne could ask the studio heads to arrange for Stuart Whitman to play the part.

Stuart Whitman went and introduced himself to Wayne and convinced him to do this.

Stuart Whitman lobbied unsuccessfully to play the lead in Sanctuary.

Also that year, Stuart Whitman announced that he might do Mandrake Root, The Victors, or a film with either Marilyn Monroe or Lewis Milestone.

However, in 1963, instead of choosing any of these roles, Stuart Whitman played an American pilot in the French film The Day and the Hour, directed by Rene Clement, shot in Paris and set during World War II.

Stuart Whitman described Clement as one of the finest French directors.

Also that year, Stuart Whitman acted in the second episode of the first season of Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre, called "Killing at Sundial".

Also at that time, Whitman was announced as the lead in Cardinal, and he lobbied to play Jimmy Hoffa in an adaptation of The Enemy Within by Robert F Kennedy; however, the first role was lost to Tom Tryon and the second film was never made.

Stuart Whitman then adjusted his contract with Fox to stipulate one film a year for five years.

On February 19,1964, Stuart Whitman acted in Shock Treatment, which opened in Los Angeles.

Stuart Whitman went on to have a meeting with actor Boone and director Douglas.

Annakin had to accept the studio's wishes, and despite Stuart Whitman not being his first choice, Annakin was very happy with Stuart Whitman's performance.

Stuart Whitman became the lead after the production company courted many actors such as Richard Burton, Robert Mitchum, Albert Finney, Marlon Brando and Warren Beatty.

Stuart Whitman said that he won the role after reading in Variety about the departure of Peppard; he went to the Beverly Hills Hotel and bumped into the producer, to whom he jokingly suggested himself for the role.

Stuart Whitman found the shoot difficult, due to the hot weather and the fact that the baboons, with whom he had fight scenes, were not properly trained and lived in decrepit conditions, as well as having no animal control.

Stuart Whitman appears as the American entrant, one of its top participants.

In 1966, Stuart Whitman appeared in Robert Gist's An American Dream, based on a novel by Norman Mailer.

Around this time, Stuart Whitman returned to Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre in the episode "The Highest Fall of All", in which he played a suicidal stuntman who is willing to do an extremely dangerous fall for a director.

Stuart Whitman had turned down a number of offers to star on television series over the years, including Mannix and Judd for the Defense.

On September 25,1970, Stuart Whitman was seen in the Bracken's World episode "Murder Off-Camera".

Also that year, Stuart Whitman appeared in the films The Last Escape and The Invincible Six.

Stuart Whitman said that he ended up with the role because at the time he was working with Lee Remick on a film called The Candy Man, which was cancelled.

Stuart Whitman went on to say that the film damaged his reputation and wasn't bankable.

That same month, on the 10th, Stuart Whitman made a second appearance on Night Gallery in an episode titled Fright Night.

On January 25,1973, Stuart Whitman guest starred in an episode of The Streets of San Francisco titled "The Set Up".

In 1974, Stuart Whitman acted in the horror movie Welcome to Arrow Beach.

Also that year, Stuart Whitman acted in Jonathan Demme's Crazy Mama.

Also that year, the film The Treasure Seekers wrapped, where Stuart Whitman played a role.

Stuart Whitman said that he found shooting a Romanian film problematic because extras would talk during rehearsals and takes.

When Stuart Whitman complained to the assistant director, who then reported the issue to the director, he returned telling him to continue or they would shoot him.

In 1978, Stuart Whitman acted in a television miniseries directed by Ken Annakin called The Pirate.

On February 8,1979, the three-part mini-series Women in White first aired, and Stuart Whitman shared the lead with Susan Flannery.

On November 14 and 15,1979, the four-hour, two-part mini-series The Seekers aired, in which Stuart Whitman played a supporting role.

Stuart Whitman appeared in the season 5 episode of Fantasy Island called "The Lady and the Monster; The Last Cowboy".

In 1985, Stuart Whitman appeared in Deadly Intruder and Rene Cardona Jr.

On January 22,1986, Stuart Whitman was a guest star on Blacke's Magic.

On February 10,1987, CBS first aired the television-film adaptation of Mary Higgins Clark's novel Stillwatch, where Stuart Whitman played a supporting role.

Also that year, Stuart Whitman appeared in one episode of Jack and Mike.

In 1988, Stuart Whitman appeared in the television-film Once Upon a Texas Train and an episode of JJ Starbuck.

In 1990, Stuart Whitman started to play a recurring character on Knots Landing.

Also that year, Stuart Whitman played supporting roles in Moving Target, Omega Cop, and Mob Boss.

In 1992, Stuart Whitman appeared in an episode of Murder, She Wrote.

That year, Stuart Whitman had supporting roles in the films Smooth Talker and Sandman.

In 1993, Stuart Whitman appeared in an episode of the TV show Time Trax.

Stuart Whitman guest starred in the two-hour special debut of the TV series The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.

In 1994, Stuart Whitman was a guest on the television show Walker, Texas Ranger.

In 1995, Stuart Whitman appeared in the television film Wounded Heart and an episode of the TV series Courthouse.

Also that year, Stuart Whitman appeared in the television film Shaughnessy: The Iron Marshal, an adaptation of the Louis L'Amour novel Shaughnessy.

On February 1,1998, Stuart Whitman was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Also that year, Stuart Whitman appeared in the film Second Chances.

In 2000, Stuart Whitman appeared in the television film The President's Man.

Stuart Whitman became financially independent through a combination of property developments and his acting income.

Whenever Stuart Whitman was low on cash, he would tell Crawford, who continued to re-invite him.

Later, Stuart Whitman helped Crawford to be cast in The Decks Ran Red.

Stuart Whitman was impressed with her strength and described her as a goddess.

Stuart Whitman said that when he first met Peter Falk on the set of Murder, Inc.

Stuart Whitman found The Mark director Guy Green difficult to work with, finding him demanding and too strict, but they became good friends afterwards.

Stuart Whitman died on March 16,2020, from skin cancer at his Montecito, California home.