Stuart Whitman facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Stuart Whitman
Whitman in The Longest Day (1962)
Born	Stuart Maxwell Whitman (1928-02-01)February 1, 1928 San Francisco, California, U.S.
Died	March 16, 2020(2020-03-16) (aged 92) Montecito, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1940–2000
Spouse(s)	Patricia LaLonde ​ ​ (m. 1952; div. 1966)​ Caroline Boubis ​ ​ (m. 1966; div. 1974)​ Julia Paradiz ​ (m. 2006)​
Children	5

Stuart Maxwell Whitman (born February 1, 1928 – died March 16, 2020) was an American actor. He had a very long career in movies and television shows.

Whitman was born in San Francisco and grew up in New York. When he was 12, his family moved to Los Angeles. After serving in the United States Army, he began studying acting. From 1951 to 1957, he had many small roles in films like When Worlds Collide and The Day the Earth Stood Still. He also appeared in TV shows such as The Roy Rogers Show.

His first main role was in the movie Johnny Trouble (1957). In the late 1950s, the film studio 20th Century Fox signed him to help him become a big star. He then starred in movies like The Comancheros (1961). He was even nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in The Mark (1961).

Stuart Whitman also appeared in famous films like The Longest Day (1962) and Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines (1965). He acted a lot on television too. He was in shows like Knight Rider, A-Team, and Murder, She Wrote. From 1988 to 1992, he played Jonathan Kent in the TV series Superboy. He stopped acting around the year 2000 and passed away in 2020.

Early Life and Army Days

Stuart Maxwell Whitman was born on February 1, 1928, in San Francisco, California. He was the older of two sons. His family was Jewish.

From a young age, Stuart was interested in acting. When he was five, his father worked at Tammany Hall, and Stuart sometimes got to watch plays there. His parents moved around a lot when he was a child. He went to many different schools, about 26 in total! He later said this made him feel like an outsider. When he was 12, he acted in three plays during the summer, but he said "nobody took that seriously."

His uncle thought he could be a boxer and secretly trained him. When World War II started, his family moved to Los Angeles. Stuart graduated from Hollywood High School in 1945.

After high school, he joined the United States Army. He served in the Corps of Engineers for three years. During this time, he boxed and won 31 out of 32 matches. He was honorably discharged from the Army in 1948.

Stuart first planned to become a lawyer, like his father. He used a special program called the G.I. Bill to go to Los Angeles City College. He also took drama classes. During his first year, he decided that law was "a real bore" and wanted to be an actor instead. His father didn't like this idea and told him he was on his own without financial help.

To support himself in college, Stuart bought a bulldozer. He would rent it out, along with himself, to clear land and level ground. This work earned him a good amount of money. He later even worked with his father in real estate development. Stuart also studied acting at the Michael Chekhov Stage Society and the Ben Bard Drama School in Hollywood. He made his stage debut in a play called Here Comes Mr Jordan.

Becoming an Actor

First Roles (1951-1959)

Stuart Whitman was noticed by a talent scout while he was at City College. He first appeared on screen in 1951 in small roles. He was credited as Kip Whitman in When Worlds Collide and The Day the Earth Stood Still.

In 1952, he continued to play small parts in movies like Barbed Wire. He signed a contract with Universal Studios and appeared in films such as All I Desire and The All American. He also had minor roles in movies like The Man from the Alamo and Appointment in Honduras in 1953.

In 1954, he continued with small film roles, including Rhapsody and Prisoner of War. He also acted in TV shows like Dr. Christian and The Roy Rogers Show.

Starting in 1956, he had a regular role as Sgt. Walters on the TV series Highway Patrol. He appeared in 16 episodes. Stuart said he became good friends with the show's star, Broderick Crawford.

In 1957, Stuart's movie roles started to get bigger. He had his first main role in Johnny Trouble. The Los Angeles Times newspaper said he reminded them of both Robert Ryan and James Dean. He also appeared in TV dramas like Harbor Command and The Silent Service.

Rising Star (1958-1961)

By the late 1950s, Stuart Whitman's real estate business was doing very well. He developed lots of land in places like Anaheim. He said this allowed him to choose his acting roles carefully and never take a job that didn't help his career.

20th Century Fox signed Stuart to a seven-year contract to help him become a major star. In 1958, he appeared in Darby's Rangers and Ten North Frederick. He also acted in China Doll and The Decks Ran Red. In The Decks Ran Red, he shared a kiss with Dorothy Dandridge, which was a rare thing to see in movies at that time.

In 1959, Stuart took on leading roles. He starred in the western These Thousand Hills and Hound-Dog Man. In 1960, he played Boaz in the Biblical movie The Story of Ruth. He also starred in the gangster film Murder, Inc..

In 1961, Stuart's performance in The Mark earned him great reviews and an Oscar nomination for Best Actor. He said this movie "doubled my rating as an actor." He then appeared in The Fiercest Heart and the epic film Francis of Assisi. Later that year, he starred with John Wayne in the western The Comancheros. Stuart played Paul Regret, a man on the run from the law.

Hollywood Leading Man (1962-1969)

In 1962, Stuart appeared in Convicts 4. He also had a role in the huge World War II movie The Longest Day, which featured many famous actors. Stuart got the part after delivering cigars to the producer, Darryl F. Zanuck, who then asked him to join the cast.

In 1963, Stuart played an American pilot in the French film The Day and the Hour, which was filmed in Paris. He enjoyed the experience and felt he was truly able to show honest emotions in his acting. He also appeared in an episode of Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre.

In 1964, Stuart starred in Shock Treatment and the western Rio Conchos. He didn't like the script for Rio Conchos, but producer Darryl F. Zanuck promised him a lead role in Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines if he took the part.

In 1965, Stuart starred in Signpost to Murder. He also took the lead role in Sands of the Kalahari after other famous actors dropped out. He found filming in Africa difficult because of the heat and untrained baboons he had to act with.

On June 16, 1965, Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines was released. This British comedy film was about early aviation around 1910. Stuart played Orvil Newton, the American pilot in an international air race from London to Paris. The film was very popular and is still considered a "classic" aviation movie.

In 1966, Stuart appeared in An American Dream. He also returned to Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre.

Stuart had turned down many TV show offers, but in 1967, he decided to star in the TV series Cimarron Strip. He played Marshal Jim Crown. The show was very expensive to make, but it had low ratings and was eventually canceled. In 1969, he acted in Sweet Hunters.

Later Career and Retirement

Projects (1970-1987)

In the early 1970s, Stuart Whitman started working more in Europe. He felt there were better roles for him outside of Hollywood. In 1970, he appeared in The Last Escape and The Invincible Six. He also made several appearances on The F.B.I..

In 1971, he was in Captain Apache and the TV film Revenge!. In 1972, he starred in the horror film Night of the Lepus, where he played a zoologist dealing with giant rabbits. Stuart said he thought the script was ridiculous and that the film hurt his career, but it later gained a cult status. He also appeared in Run, Cougar, Run and episodes of Night Gallery and Fantasy Island.

In 1973, he guest-starred in The Streets of San Francisco and the TV film The Man Who Died Twice. He also appeared in Love, American Style.

Stuart continued to work steadily through the 1970s and 1980s. He starred in the film Shatter (1974) and had a supporting role in Mean Johnny Barrows (1975). In 1976, he was the lead in the Italian action film Strange Shadows in an Empty Room. He also appeared in Las Vegas Lady.

In 1977, he guest-starred in Quincy, M.E. and Most Wanted. He appeared in the horror films Ruby and Eaten Alive. He also acted in a Romanian film called Oil – The Billion Dollar Fire.

In 1978, Stuart was in the TV miniseries The Pirate. In 1979, he shared the lead in the miniseries Women in White and had a supporting role in The Seekers.

In the 1980s, he appeared in films like Guyana: Cult of the Damned (1980) and Demonoid (1981). He also continued to appear in many TV shows, including Tales of the Unexpected, Fantasy Island, Simon & Simon, Knight Rider, The A-Team, Murder, She Wrote, and Matt Houston.

Later Career and Retirement (1988-2000)

In 1988, Stuart Whitman appeared in the TV film Once Upon a Texas Train. He also began playing Jonathan Kent, Superman's adoptive father, in the TV series Superboy. He continued in this role until 1992.

While on Superboy, he also worked on other projects. In 1989, he was in Deadly Reactor. In 1990, he had a recurring role on Knots Landing and appeared in films like Omega Cop and Mob Boss.

In 1991, he narrated the Japanese film Heaven & Earth. He also acted in the play The Country Girl. Stuart said in an interview that actors need to keep working to support their families.

In 1992, he was in another episode of Murder, She Wrote and the films Smooth Talker and Sandman. In 1993, he guest-starred in Time Trax and the special debut of The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr..

In 1994, Stuart was a guest on Walker, Texas Ranger and appeared in the films Improper Conduct and Trial by Jury. He continued to appear in TV films and series like Wounded Heart (1995) and Courthouse (1995).

In 1996, he was in the film Land of Milk & Honey and the TV film Shaughnessy: The Iron Marshal. In 1997, he voiced a character in the children's cartoon Aaahh!!! Real Monsters.

On February 1, 1998, Stuart Whitman received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He also appeared in the film Second Chances that year. His final film role was in the TV film The President's Man in 2000.

After 2000, Stuart Whitman was reported to be retired. He had become financially independent from his acting and property development. He said he didn't need to act for money, but he loved it.

Personal Life

Family

Stuart Whitman was married three times. His first marriage was to Patricia LaLonde from 1952 to 1966. They had four children: Tony, Michael, Linda, and Scott.

He then married Caroline Boubis in 1966. They had one son, Justin, before divorcing in 1974. In 2006, he married Julia Paradiz, a Russian woman he had met in 1971.

Friendships

Stuart Whitman made many friends during his career. He became close with Broderick Crawford on the set of Highway Patrol. He also admired Dorothy Dandridge for her strength.

He became friends with Peter Falk after they worked together on Murder, Inc.. He also became good friends with director Guy Green after filming The Mark. On the set of Sands of the Kalahari, he became best friends with Stanley Baker and Theodore Bikel.

Stuart also said that Terry-Thomas was one of his best friends after they worked on Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines. They would often meet for drinks and swim at Stuart's beach house.

Death

Stuart Whitman passed away on March 16, 2020, from skin cancer at his home in Montecito, California. He was 92 years old.

He was survived by his wife, Julia; his five children; his brother, Kipp Whitman; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Awards and Honors

• Nominated for Best Actor Academy Award – The Mark (1961)
• Winner (as a cast member) Western Heritage Awards – The Comancheros (1961)
• Included on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (1998)

Filmography

Images for kids

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  Whitman and Ina Balin in The Comancheros (1961)

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  Whitman and Victoria Shaw in Cimarron Strip (1967)

See also

In Spanish: Stuart Whitman para niños