biography

1952 Universal photo of Stuart Whitman Born on February 1, 1928, in San Francisco to somewhat nomadic parents, actor Stuart Whitman spent part of his childhood in New York; his love for acting started when he worked in summer stock in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Whitman’s parents relocated to southern California at the beginning of the U.S. involvement in World War II, where he graduated from Hollywood High School in 1945. He spent a few years in the Army Corps of Engineers in Washington during which he was a successful boxer. After detaching in 1948, Whitman attended Los Angeles City College and studied law and drama while working as a bulldozer operator.

Stuart Whitman Drama won out; Whitman was spotted by a talent agent while appearing in a college play, and by the early 1950s, he began landing roles in early television and bit parts in such films as When Worlds Collide (1951; with Barbara Rush) and All I Desire (1953; with Barbara Stanwyck and Richard Carlson). In 1952, Whitman married first wife Pat, and the couple began a family while he tried to build an acting career. Although initially put under contract by Universal in 1952, he wasn't cast in much more than supporting parts until signing with 20th Century Fox in early 1958, which is when Whitman's film career took off. His first starring role came in the 1959 film Hound-Dog Man (1959; with Fabian and Carol Lynley).

Stuart Whitman Whitman remained under contract with 20th Century Fox through the mid 1960s. Afterward, he freelanced and even formed his own production company, the Stuart Whitman Corporation, to produce his 1967-1968 CBS TV western Cimarron Strip. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Whitman found quite a bit of film work in Europe in such films as The Invincible Six (1970; with Elke Sommer) and Call Him Mr. Shatter (1974; with Peter Cushing).

the films of stuart whitman

Silver Lode (1954)

Alan Hale Jr., John Payne, Dan Duryea, Harry Carey Jr., and Stuart Whitman

From one of Whitman's first credited roles, the RKO western Silver Lode. Also pictured are Alan Hale Jr., John Payne, Dan Duryea, and Harry Carey Jr.

Hell Bound (1957)

June Blair and Stuart Whitman

Stuart Whitman's first starring role came in the independent crime drama Hell Bound. Also pictured is June Blair

Hound Dog Man (1959)

Stuart Whitman and Fabian

With Fabian in the 20th Century Fox release Hound Dog Man

Murder, Inc. (1960)

Peter Falk, May Britt, and Stuart Whitman

From the 20th Century Fox crime drama Murder, Inc. with Peter Falk and May Britt

The Comancheros (1961)

John Wayne, Ina Balin, and Stuart Whitman

With John Wayne and Ina Balin in the 20th Century Fox western The Comancheros

The Fiercest Heart (1961)

Stuart Whitman and Juliet Prowse

With Juliet Prowse in the 20th Century Fox adventure The Fiercest Heart

Francis of Assisi (1961)

Stuart Whitman, Dolores Hart, and Bradford Dillman

From the 20th Century Fox drama Francis of Assisi with Dolores Hart and Bradford Dillman

Convicts 4 (1962)

Stuart Whitman

From the Allied Artists drama Convicts 4

Signpost to Murder (1964)

Joanne Woodward and Stuart Whitman

With Joanne Woodward in the MGM thriller Signpost to Murder

Shock Treatment (1964)

Stuart Whitman and Carol Lynley

From the drama Shock Treatment with Carol Lynley

Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines (1965)

Sarah Miles and Stuart Whitman

With Sarah Miles in the much-loved 20th Century Fox comedy Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines

An American Dream (1966)

Janet Lee and Stuart Whitman

With Janet Leigh in the Warner Bros. drama An American Dream

The Last Escape (1970)

Stuart Whitman

From the war drama The Last Escape, released by United Artists

Deathwork (1971)

Stuart Whitman

As Griffin in the low-budget Euro western Deathwork

Night of the Lepus (1972)

Janet Lee and Stuart Whitman

Whitman and Janet Lee try to defeat giant rabbits in the campy MGM horror flick Night of the Lepus

Call Him Mr. Shatter (1974)

Peter Cushing and Stuart Whitman

Whitman as the title character holds a gun on Peter Cushing in the Hammer action flick Call Him Mr. Shatter

Ruby (1977)

Stuart Whitman and Piper Laurie

With Piper Laurie in the low-budget indie horror flick Ruby


Invaders of the Lost Gold (1982)

Stuart Whitman

From the Italian horror-adventure Invaders of the Lost Gold

later years

Although Stuart Whitman's star began to fade in the late 1960s, he remained a steadily employed actor through the 1990s. Always careful with money, he wisely invested his earnings, becoming a wealthy man; thus, he retired from acting in the late 1990s. Sadly, Stuart Whitman passed away following a battle with skin cancer on March 16, 2020, at the age of 92. He is survived by third wife Julia, a daughter, and four sons.

filmography

FILM
The President's Man (2000) with Chuck Norris, Dylan Neal, and Ralph Waite
Second Chances (1998) with Tom Amandes, Isabel Glasser, Terry Moore, Charles Shaughnessy, Theodore Bikel, and Grant Cramer
Shaughnessy (1996) with Matthew Settle and Bo Hopkins
Land of Milk & Honey (1996) with Huey Lewis
Wounded Heart (1995) with Paula Devicq
Improper Conduct (1994) with Steven Bauer, Tahnee Welch, Nia Peeples, Adrian Zmed, and Patsy Pease
Trial by Jury (1994) with Joanne Whalley, Armand Assante, Gabriel Byrne, William Hurt, and Kathleen Quinlan
The Color of Evening (1994) with Ellen Burstyn, Kyle Chandler, Andrea King, Martin Landau, Roddy McDowall, and Ione Skye
Walker Texas Ranger 3: Deadly Reunion (1994) with Chuck Norris
Private Wars (1993) with Steve Railsback, Michael Champion, and Brian Patrick Clarke
Lightning in a Bottle (1993) with Lynda Carter, Dee Wallace, Martin Kove, and Margaret Avery
Sandman (1993) with Dedee Pfeiffer, Robert Wuhl, Rose Marie, Morey Amsterdam, and Philip McKeon
Smoothtalker (1990) with Joe Guzaldo and Paul Raci
Mob Boss (1990) with William Hickey, Morgan Fairchild, Eddie Deezen, Don Stroud, Brinke Stevens, and Dick Miller
Omega Cop (1990) with Ron Marchini, Adam West, and Troy Donahue
Deadly Reactor (1989) with David Heavener
Once Upon a Texas Train (1988) with Willie Nelson, Richard Widmark, Shaun Cassidy, Chuck Connors, Ken Curtis, Royal Dano, Jack Elam, Kevin McCarthy, Dub Taylor, and Angie Dickinson
Bersaglio sull'autostrada (1988) with Ernest Borgnine and Linda Blair
Stillwatch (1987) with Lynda Carter, Angie Dickinson, and Don Murray
Beverly Hills Cowgirl Blues (1985) with Lisa Hartman, David Hemmings, and James Brolin
The Treasure of the Amazon (1985) with Donald Pleasence, Bradford Dillman, and John Ireland
First Strike (1985) with Leon Askin, Bart Braverman, Robert Clarke, Persis Khambatta, and Paul Mantee
Deadly Intruder (1985) with Danny Bonaduce
Vultures (1983) with Yvonne De Carlo, Aldo Ray, Greg Mullavey, and Meredith MacRae
Invaders of the Lost Gold (1982) with Edmund Purdom, Woody Strode, and Harold Sakata
Butterfly (1982) with Stacy Keach, Pia Zadora, Orson Welles, Lois Nettleton, Edward Albert, James Franciscus, June Lockhart, Ed McMahon, and George 'Buck' Flower
Demonoid: Messenger of Death (1981) with Samantha Eggar and Haji
When I Am King (1981) with Aldo Ray
Condominium (1980) with Barbara Eden, Dan Haggerty, Steve Forrest, Richard Anderson, Ralph Bellamy, Macdonald Carey, Dane Clark, Linda Cristal, Elinor Donahue, and Don Galloway
Under Siege (1980) with Marisa Mell
The Monster Club (1980) with Vincent Price, Donald Pleasence, John Carradine, Richard Johnson, and Britt Ekland
Kill Castro (1980) with Robert Vaughn, Woody Strode, Albert Salmi, Sybil Danning, and Caren Kaye
The Seekers (1979) with Randolph Mantooth, Edie Adams, Neville Brand, Delta Burke, John Carradine, Martin Milner, Brian Keith, Barbara Rush, and Gary Merrill
Delta Fox (1979) with John Ireland, Richard Jaeckel, Richard Lynch, and Priscilla Barnes
Guyana: Cult of the Damned (1979) with Gene Barry, John Ireland, Joseph Cotten, Bradford Dillman, and Yvonne De Carlo
Women in White (1979) with Susan Flannery, Sheree North, David Ackroyd, Patty Duke, Robert Culp, Gerald McRaney, and Aldo Ray
Jamaican Gold (1979) with Rod Taylor, Elke Sommer, and Keenan Wynn
The Pirate (1978) with Franco Nero, Anne Archer, Olivia Hussey, Ian McShane, Christopher Lee, James Franciscus, and Marjorie Lord
Fury (1978) with Laura Gemser
Go West, Young Girl (1978) with Karen Valentine, Richard Jaeckel, and Gregg Palmer
The Ransom (1977) with Oliver Reed, Deborah Raffin, James Mitchum, and John Ireland
Run for the Roses (1977) with Vera Miles and Sam Groom
Ruby (1977) with Piper Laurie
Eaten Alive (1977) with Neville Brand, Mel Ferrer, Carolyn Jones, Marilyn Burns, Kyle Richards, and Robert Englund
The White Buffalo (1977) with Charles Bronson, Jack Warden, Clint Walker, Slim Pickens, Kim Novak, and John Carradine
A Special Magnum for Tony Saitta (1976) with John Saxon, Martin Landau, Tisa Farrow, Jean LeClerc, and Gayle Hunnicutt
Mean Johnny Barrows (1976) with Fred Williamson, Roddy McDowall, R.G. Armstrong, Elliott Gould, and Mike Henry
The Billion Dollar Fire (1976) with Woody Strode, Tony Kendall, and Gordon Mitchell
Crazy Mama (1975) with Cloris Leachman, Ann Sothern, Jim Backus, Donny Most, Linda Purl, and Sally Kirkland
Las Vegas Lady (1975) with Stella Stevens, Lynne Moody, Andrew Stevens, and Frank Bonner
Welcome to Arrow Beach (1974) with Laurence Harvey, Joanna Pettet, John Ireland, and Meg Foster
Call Him Mr. Shatter (1974) with Peter Cushing and Anton Diffring
The Cat Creature (1973) with Meredith Baxter, David Hedison, Gale Sondergaard, John Carradine, and Keye Luke
The Man Who Died Twice (1973) with Jeremy Slate, Bernard Lee, and Severn Darden
Intertect (1973) with Pamela Franklin, David Soul, Bernard Fox, Eric Braeden, and Robert Reed
Run, Cougar, Run (1972) with Frank Aletter
Night of the Lepus (1972) with Janet Leigh, Rory Calhoun, and DeForest Kelley
The Woman Hunter (1972) with Barbara Eden, Robert Vaughn, Sydney Chaplin, and Larry Storch
Revenge (1971) with Shelley Winters, Bradford Dillman, Roger Perry, Gary Clarke, and Leslie Charleson
Deathwork (1971) with Lee Van Cleef and Carroll Baker
City Beneath the Sea (1971) with Robert Wagner, Rosemary Forsyth, Richard Basehart, Joseph Cotten, James Darren, Whit Bissell, and Larry Pennell
The Man Who Wanted to Live Forever (1970) with Sandy Dennis and Burl Ives
The Invincible Six (1970) with Elke Sommer and Curd Jurgens
The Last Escape (1970) with John Collin
Jailbird (1969) with Sterling Hayden and Susan Strasberg
An American Dream (1966) with Janet Leigh, Eleanor Parker, Barry Sullivan, Lloyd Nolan, Les Crane, Warren Stevens, Stacy Harris, Paul Mantee, Harold Gould, and George Takei
Sands of the Kalahari (1965) with Susannah York and Theodore Bikel
Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines (1965) with Robert Morley, Gert Frobe, Red Skelton, and Terry-Thomas
Signpost to Murder (1964) with Joanne Woodward, Edward Mulhare, and Alan Napier
Rio Conchos (1964) with Richard Boone, Anthony Franciosa, Jim Brown, Wende Wagner, Kevin Hagen, and Edmond O'Brien
Shock Treatment (1964) with Carol Lynley, Roddy McDowall, Lauren Bacall, and Ossie Davis
The Day and the Hour (1963) with Simone Signoret
The Longest Day (1962) with an all-star cast
Convicts 4 (1962) with Ben Gazzara, Ray Walston, Vincent Price, Rod Steiger, Broderick Crawford, Sammy Davis Jr., and Naomi Stevens
The Comancheros (1961) with John Wayne, Lee Marvin, Michael Ansara, Patrick Wayne, Bruce Cabot, Joan O'Brien, Jack Elam, and Edgar Buchanan
Francis of Assisi (1961) with Bradford Dillman, Dolores Hart, and Cecil Kellaway
The Mark (1961) with Maria Schell and Rod Steiger
The Fiercest Heart (1961) with Juliet Prowse, Ken Scott, Raymond Massey, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Edward Platt, and William Kerwin
Murder, Inc. (1960) with May Britt, Henry Morgan, Peter Falk, Simon Oakland, Sarah Vaughan, and Morey Amsterdam
The Story of Ruth (1960) with Tom Tryon, Viveca Lindfors, Jeff Morrow, Les Tremayne, John Gabriel, Ziva Rodann, and John Banner
Hound-Dog Man (1959) with Fabian, Carol Lynley, Arthur O'Connell, Claude Akins, Edgar Buchanan, Jane Darwell, L.Q. Jones, and Virginia Gregg
These Thousand Hills (1959) with Don Murray, Richard Egan, Lee Remick, Patricia Owens, and Albert Dekker
The Sound and the Fury (1959) with Yul Brynner, Joanne Woodward, Margaret Leighton, Ethel Waters, Jack Warden, and Albert Dekker
The Decks Ran Red (1958) with James Mason, Dorothy Dandridge, and Broderick Crawford
China Doll (1958) with Victor Mature, Bob Mathias, Denver Pyle, and Don 'Red' Barry
Ten North Frederick (1958) with Gary Cooper, Diane Varsi, Suzy Parker, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Tom Tully, Philip Ober, and Barbara Nichols
Darby's Rangers (1958) with James Garner, Jack Warden, Edd Byrnes, Venetia Stevenson, Peter Brown, William Wellman Jr., and Andrea King
Hell Bound (1957) with John Russell and June Blair
Johnny Trouble (1957) with Ethel Barrymore, Cecil Kellaway, Carolyn Jones, Jesse White, and Edd Byrnes
The Girl in Black Stockings (1957) with Lex Barker, Anne Bancroft, Mamie Van Doren, Marie Windsor, and Diana Van der Vlis
Crime of Passion (1957) with Barbara Stanwyck, Sterling Hayden, Raymond Burr, Fay Wray, and Virginia Grey
Seven Men from Now (1956) with Randolph Scott, Gail Russell, Lee Marvin, John Larch, Don 'Red' Barry, and John Beradino
King of the Carnival (1955) with Robert Clarke
Silver Lode (1954) with John Payne, Lizabeth Scott, Dan Duryea, John Hudson, Alan Hale Jr., and Morris Ankrum
Rhapsody (1954) with Elizabeth Taylor, Vittorio Gassman, John Ericson, Louis Calhern, and Barbara Bates
The All American (1953) with Tony Curtis, Lori Nelson, Richard Long, Mamie Van Doren, Gregg Palmer, Frank Gifford, and Tom Harmon

TELEVISION SERIES
The Adventures of Superboy, 1988-1992 syndicated TV series. Whitman portrayed Jonathan Kent in a recurring role from 1988-1992
Cimarron Strip, 1967-1968 CBS TV series. Whitman portrayed Marshal Jim Crown
Highway Patrol, 1955-1959 syndicated TV series. Whitman portrayed Sergeant Walters during the 1956-1957 season

TELEVISION GUEST APPEARANCES
Courthouse, episode Child Support, originally aired October 18, 1995
Walker, Texas Ranger, episode Deadly Reunion, originally aired May 14, 1994
The Adventures of Brisco County Jr., episode Pilot, originally aired August 27, 1993
Time Trax, episode Showdown, originally aired February 15, 1993
Murder, She Wrote, episode Incident in Lot #7, originally aired January 19, 1992
Knots Landing, episode The Grim Reaper, originally aired February 15, 1990
Knots Landing, episode The Ripple Effect, originally aired February 8, 1990
Knots Landing, episode Out of Control, originally aired January 25, 1990
Knots Landing, episode My First Born, originally aired January 18, 1990
Knots Landing, episode Road Trip, originally aired January 11, 1990
J.J. Starbuck, episode Cactus Jack's Last Call, originally aired February 13, 1988
Murder, She Wrote, episode Trouble in Eden, originally aired November 22, 1987
Hotel, episode Past Tense, originally aired May 27, 1987
Jack and Mike, episode Quality of Mercy, originally aired January 1, 1987
Simon & Simon, episode Still Phil After All These Years, originally aired October 9, 1986
Hardcastle and McCormick, episode Round Up the Old Gang, originally aired February 17, 1986
Murder, She Wrote, episode Powder Keg, originally aired February 9, 1986
Blacke's Magic, episode The Revenge of the Esperanza, originally aired January 22, 1986
The A-Team, episode Blood, Sweat, and Cheers, originally aired November 19, 1985
Hunter, episode The Biggest Man in Town, originally aired October 5, 1985
Hotel, episode Hearts and Minds, originally aired August 21, 1985
Tales from the Darkside, episode The Madness Room, originally aired May 5, 1985
Finder of Lost Loves, episode Broken Promises, originally aired April 6, 1985
Cover Up, episode Midnight Highway, originally aired December 8, 1984
Matt Houston, episode Deadly Games, originally aired December 7, 1984
Murder, She Wrote, episode Hit, Run and Homicide, originally aired November 25, 1984
Knight Rider, episode Big Iron, originally aired May 27, 1984
Fantasy Island, episode Bojangles and the Dancer/Deuces Are Wild, originally aired May 12, 1984
The Master, episode Juggernaut, originally aired March 16, 1984
The A-Team, episode West Coast Turnaround, originally aired April 5, 1983
Simon & Simon, episode Rough Rider Rides Again, originally aired November 18, 1982
Fantasy Island, episode The Curse of the Moreaus/My Man Friday, originally aired October 16, 1982
Matt Houston, episode Stop the Presses, originally aired October 3, 1982
Fantasy Island, episode The Lady and the Monster/The Last Cowboy, originally aired October 31, 1981
Tales of the Unexpected, episode The Boy Who Talked with Animals, originally aired April 19, 1981
Fantasy Island, episode Chorus Girl/Surrogate Father, originally aired February 21, 1981
Fantasy Island, episode Spending Spree/The Hunted, originally aired February 24, 1979
Fantasy Island, episode Carnival/The Vaudevillians, originally aired December 2, 1978
Fantasy Island, episode Superstar/Salem, originally aired March 25, 1978
The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries, episode The Mystery of the African Safari, originally aired October 16, 1977
Most Wanted, episode The Tunnel Killer, originally aired February 19, 1977
Quincy M.E., episode Hot Ice, Cold Hearts, originally aired January 2, 1977
Harry O, episode The Mysterious Case of Lester and Dr. Fong, originally aired March 18, 1976
Ellery Queen, episode The Adventure of Caesar's Last Sleep, originally aired March 14, 1976
S.W.A.T., episode The Running Man: Parts 1 and 2, originally aired January 24, 1976
Cannon, episode Man in the Middle, originally aired October 29, 1975
Caribe, episode School for Killers, originally aired April 7, 1975
Police Story, episode Chain of Command, originally aired January 8, 1974
Hec Ramsey, episode A Hard Road to Vengeance, originally aired November 25, 1973
Love, American Style, episode Love and the Comedienne/Love and the Lie/Love and the Lifter/Love and the Suspicious Husband, originally aired September 21, 1973
The F.B.I., episode The Double Play, originally aired February 4, 1973
The Streets of San Francisco, episode The Set-Up, originally aired January 25, 1973
Night Gallery, episode Fright Night, originally aired October 15, 1972
Circle of Fear, episode The Concrete Captain, originally aired September 22, 1972
Night Gallery, episode Lindemann's Catch/A Feast of Blood/The Late Mr. Peddington, originally aired January 12, 1972
The F.B.I., episode The Watch Dog, originally aired October 31, 1971
The F.B.I., episode The Impersonator, originally aired November 22, 1970
Bracken's World, episode Murder Off Camera, originally aired September 25, 1970
ABC Stage 67, episode The People Trap, originally aired November 9, 1966
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre, episode Highest Fall of All, originally aired December 1, 1965
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre, episode A Killing at Sundial, originally aired October 4, 1963
Target, episode Murder Is a Bottomless Well, originally aired July 4, 1958
Have Gun - Will Travel, episode The Last Laugh, originally aired January 25, 1958
The Court of Last Resort, episode The Westover Case, originally aired January 3, 1958
Trackdown, episode The Town, originally aired December 13, 1957
Goodyear Theatre, episode The Crowd Pleaser, originally aired December 9, 1957
Harbor Command, episode The Bag, originally aired November 1, 1957
Alcoa Theatre, episode Encounter on a Second-Class Coach, originally aired October 21, 1957
Zane Grey Theater, episode Until the Man Dies, originally aired January 25, 1957
Gunsmoke, episode Cholera, originally aired December 29, 1956
Navy Log, episode The Death of Dillinger-San, originally aired October 17, 1956
Cavalcade of America, episode The Major of St. Lo, originally aired June 5, 1956
Four Star Playhouse, episode Desert Encounter, originally aired March 22, 1956
The Star and the Story, episode Act of Decision, originally aired March 10, 1956
Four Star Playhouse, episode Red Wine, originally aired March 8, 1956
Navy Log, episode Web Feet, originally aired February 21, 1956
Cavalcade of America, episode The Boy Who Walked to America, originally aired January 3, 1956
Dr. Christian, episode Cameraman, originally aired January 1, 1956
Navy Log, episode The Leave, originally aired October 4, 1955
The Roy Rogers Show, episode The Run-A-Round, originally aired February 22, 1953
The Roy Rogers Show, episode The Feud, originally aired October 12, 1952
The Roy Rogers Show, episode Dead Men's Hills, originally aired March 15, 1952
Boston Blackie, episode Bad Time Charlie, originally aired January 28, 1952
The Range Rider, episode Silver Blade, originally aired January 1, 1952

stuart whitman trailers showing

Watch the trailers for Stuart Whitman's 1974 actioner Shatter and 1979 thriller Guyana: Cult of the Damned

stuart whitman film now showing

Watch Stuart Whitman's 1973 made-for-TV horror film The Cat Creature
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