Stephen Whittaker

Stephen Whittaker
In The Web of Fear (1968)
Born
Stephen John Whittaker

(1947-06-28)28 June 1947
London, England, United Kingdom
Died7 February 2003(2003-02-07) (aged 55)
London, England
Occupation(s)Actor and director
Years active1966-2003
Spouse(s)Wife, Ann.
ChildrenA son and daughter

Stephen Whittaker (28 June 1947 – 7 February 2003) was a British actor and director.[1] He worked largely in British film and television,[2] and attended Henley-in-Arden School in Warwickshire before further training as an actor at London's Corona Academy. He began his career aged 17, as a "bad boy" in the film To Sir With Love (1966), and in the classic BBC Doctor Who adventure The Web of Fear, as a soldier battling Yeti in the London Underground.[3]

In 1985 Whittaker took a director's training course, and directed a short training film which he sent to John Schlesinger (who had directed him in Yanks). Schlesinger suggested him to producer Mark Shivas as director for Channel 4's drama trilogy What If It's Raining?, written by Anthony Minghella. This was the beginning of a directing career of prestigious TV and film work. Shortly before Whittaker's death, writer Julian Fellowes spoke of him as, "the most exciting director in the industry."[4]

In 2001 he filmed his final project The Rocket Post, a romantic drama set on a remote Scottish island.[5] The film had severe funding problems, and was eventually released in 2006, three years after his death.[6] The credits bear a dedication to his memory.[7] Whittaker died following complications from a routine surgery.[8]

  1. ^ "Stephen Whittaker". BFI. Archived from the original on 15 July 2012.
  2. ^ "Stephen Whittaker". IMDb.
  3. ^ "Doctor Who: Lost episodes Enemy Of The World and Web of Fear discovered". The Independent. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022.
  4. ^ "Obituary: Stephen Whittaker". The Guardian.
  5. ^ robert-temple-1 (24 November 2006). "The Rocket Post (2004)". IMDb.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ "Film Network". BBC. 1 January 1970. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  7. ^ "Stephen Whittaker". BFI. Archived from the original on 15 July 2012.
  8. ^ "2AM MOURNS WHITTAKER". shots. Retrieved 5 July 2021.