Stuart Whitman

Early life

Stuart Maxwell Whitman was born on February 1, 1928, in San Francisco, California, the elder of two sons of Cecilia (née Gold) and Joseph Whitman. His family was Jewish. His mother was a Russian Jewish immigrant, while his paternal grandparents were Polish Jews. However, in the 1950s, Whitman described himself to Hedda Hopper as "a real American – have a little bit of English, Irish, Scotch, and Russian – so I get along with everyone."

Whitman was interested in acting from the age of five. His father at the time was working as a ticket collector at Tammany Hall, and he would sometimes be allowed to watch plays. His parents had married in their teens and traveled frequently during his childhood – his father became a lawyer who moved into property development. Whitman started his education in New York, in Manhattan and Poughkeepsie. "I went to so many schools—26 in all!—that I was always an outsider," he later recalled. "It wasn't until high school that I could really read ... I always sat in the back of the room." Whitman's early love for acting came through when he did three summer stock plays in New York when he was 12, but "nobody took that seriously," he said.

His uncle thought he had potential as a boxer, and secretly trained him. When World War II broke out, Joseph Whitman moved to Los Angeles to run oil-cracking plants for the government. His family settled in Los Angeles, and Whitman graduated from Hollywood High School in 1945.

After school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in the Corps of Engineers for three years at Fort Lewis, Washington. During this time, he occasionally boxed, winning 31 of his 32 bouts. Whitman was a lightweight boxer for the Army during his tenure. The boxing match for which he was most known was one where he had a difficult time against U.S. Army boxer Denny Dennison (né Archibald Dennison Scott III), against whom he had boxed at Hollywood High School. Denny, who had entered active duty in January 1944, after five months of the delayed-entry program, had defeated his third opponent, considered his toughest matchup. 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.

Whitman originally intended to follow his father into law and used the G.I. Bill to enroll in Los Angeles City College. He minored in drama. During his first year, he "figured that law was a real bore", and began to develop ambitions to be an actor.

Career

1951–1957: Early roles and first leads

Whitman was spotted by a talent scout while at City College. He made his screen debut, credited as Kip Whitman, in a bit part in Rudolph Maté's When Worlds Collide, which was released in November 1951. He followed this with another small part, using the same pseudonym, in Robert Wise's The Day the Earth Stood Still, released in September of that same year.

In 1952, 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. In December 1952, he signed a contract with Universal, which put him in Douglas Sirk's All I Desire, released in July 1953, and Jesse Hibbs's The All American, released in October.

Whitman was still cast in small parts in features premiering in 1953. This began with Budd Boetticher's The Man from the Alamo, released in August. Following this was Jacques Tourneur's Appointment in Honduras, which premiered on October 16. The next was George Sherman's The Veils of Bagdad, in November. Finally, Lloyd Bacon's Walking My Baby Back Home started its theatrical run in December.

In 1954, Whitman continued to be seen in minor film roles. First was Charles Vidor's Rhapsody at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), on April 16. On May 14, it was Andrew Marton's Prisoner of War, followed in June by Allan Dwan's Silver Lode. On July 25, it was Lesley Selander's Return from the Sea. Premiering on October 6 was Passion. He then appeared in Brigadoon on October 22. He starred on stage in Christopher Fry's Venus Observed at the Coast Theatre in 1954. On television, Whitman acted in episodes of Dr. Christian, The Roy Rogers Show, and Death Valley Days.

On July 1, 1955, Whitman appeared as a man on the beach in Curtis Bernhardt's Interrupted Melody. Also that year, Whitman had a minor role in the serial King of the Carnival.

In 1956, 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. Another acting credit was the Republic Pictures film Diane.

1958–1961: Success on and off the screen

By this time, Whitman's side career as a real estate developer was thriving. He developed hundreds of acres in such places as Anaheim, Benedict Canyon, and Panorama City, often in partnership with his father. "Because of it, I've never worked as an extra," he said in 1958. "I've never accepted a part that I wouldn't have thought advanced my career. I've never taken an acting job, in movies or TV, which paid less than $250 a week."

In the late 1950s, 20th Century Fox was on a drive to develop new talent. Head of production Buddy Adler said, "We must bring young people back into film theatres and the best way is to develop young stars as a magnet. While stories have become more important than ever, we must seek our fresh, youthful talent to perform in them." Whitman was one of a number of new names signed to Fox by Adler as part of a $3–4 million star-building program. Whitman's contract was for seven years.

In January 1958, William A. Wellman's Darby's Rangers premiered. During the film's production, roles fluctuated: the lead, Charlton Heston, left the film and James Garner was given the lead, while Whitman wound up with Garner's original role, which dominated the first half of the picture then barely appeared in the second half. Whitman was one of several actors who tested for the role of Bart Maverick In March 1958, the contract with FOX became exclusive. In June, production of Richard Fleischer's These Thousand Hills began. In May, Ten North Frederick began its theatrical run. Whitman later said he did this to get a choice small part and "many good things came from that". In August, Whitman appeared in China Doll.

In October, MGM's production of Andrew L. Stone's The Decks Ran Red, in which he was cast, was released. According to Whitman, he helped with the signing of his friend Broderick Crawford, promising the studio that Crawford would stay sober throughout the shoot. Crawford was hired and maintained his promise.

At that time, director Andrew L. Stone wanted Whitman to appear in The Last Voyage (1960), but the role went to Robert Stack instead. Fox granted him another role when he replaced Robert Wagner in The Sound and the Fury (1959). Also in 1959, Whitman acted in "The Last Laugh", the 20th episode of the first season of Have Gun – Will Travel. Another TV credit came with The Court of Last Resort, in an episode called "The Westover Case".

1962–1969: Hollywood leading man

On June 15, 1962, Millard Kaufman's Convicts 4 premiered, in which Whitman appeared. On October 11, Whitman appeared in the all-star World War II epic The Longest Day. It was directed by several major directors, and opened in Los Angeles on that day. Whitman was cast in the role after being asked to deliver a box of cigars to producer Darryl F. Zanuck at the time of shooting. Zanuck asked him to be part of it and Whitman agreed. Zanuck directed Whitman's segments. Also that year, Whitman announced that he might do Mandrake Root, The Victors (1963), or a film with either Marilyn Monroe or Lewis Milestone.

However, in 1963, instead of choosing any of these roles, Whitman played an American pilot in the French film The Day and the Hour, directed by René Clément, shot in Paris and set during World War II. As described by Whitman, he got the part through Alain Delon, who he bumped into in an elevator at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Delon invited him to meet the director, and eventually worked out a way to loan him out from his studio contract. During the production of the film, Whitman disagreed with Clément on the direction of a torture scene and swore to Clément that he himself could handle it. After coincidentally sitting on a plane next to Sidney Buchman, who co-wrote The Mark, they re-wrote the scene together. Whitman directed the scene but did not direct again. He described Clément as one of the finest French directors. He enjoyed the experience, saying, "I busted through at last and can now get an honest emotion, project it and make it real. You become egocentric when you involve yourself to such an extent in your role; your next problem is in learning how to turn it off and come home and live with society. It took a lot of time and energy to break through, so I could honestly feel and I'm reluctant to turn it off. Now I know why so many actors go to psychiatrists."

Also that year, Whitman acted in the second episode of the first season of Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre, called "Killing at Sundial". In it, Whitman plays a Native American who became wealthy throughout life and is now seeking to avenge the death of his father, who was lynched years prior. Also at that time, Whitman was announced as the lead in Cardinal (1963), 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. He then adjusted his contract with Fox to stipulate one film a year for five years. After several months off, Whitman announced plans to produce his own film, My Brother's Keeper, based on a novel about the Collyer brothers. However, he moved on to do other projects.

1970–1987: Subsequent projects

In 1967, Whitman admitted, "I'm the type who must work constantly." In the early 1970s, he worked increasingly in Europe. "I left Hollywood because it was getting to be a mad mess!" he said. "There are only about two really good scripts going around and they always go to the industry's two top stars. I thought that in Europe, something better might come my way—and it did! I've made mistakes in the past, but I kept bouncing back. I always thought that an actor is destined to act, but I now realize that if you do one role well, you get stuck with it!"

On September 25, 1970, Whitman was seen in the Bracken's World episode "Murder Off-Camera". Also that year, Whitman appeared in the films The Last Escape and The Invincible Six. He was also in an episode of The F.B.I., and appeared in several more.

On October 26, 1971, Whitman acted in Captain Apache, The City Beneath the Sea, and the television film Revenge!

On January 12, 1972, "Lindemann's Catch", an episode of Rod Serling's Night Gallery, aired, written by Rod Serling and directed by Jeff Corey. The story is about a cold hearted sea captain (Whitman) who captures a mermaid.

In July, Whitman acted in William F. Claxton's newly released horror film Night of the Lepus. In it, Whitman and Janet Leigh play a couple of zoologists who are looking for ways to reduce the rabbit population that has infested a nearby ranch. They test a serum on some rabbit specimens that would cause them birth defects, and hence reduce the population. One of them escapes, and soon after the area is infested and under attack by giant rabbits. The production was troubled and the film was critically lambasted upon release. 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. When he requested his salary and was turned down, he was told he would be compensated only if he took the lead in Night of the Lepus, the screenplay of which he found to be ridiculous right from the start. He went on to say that the film damaged his reputation and wasn't bankable. Despite its poor reputation, the film developed a cult status, but was retrospectively described by critics as ridiculous and unintentionally funny.

1988–2000: Later career and retirement

In 1988, Whitman appeared in the television-film Once Upon a Texas Train and an episode of J.J. Starbuck. On May 2, the first episode of Ernest Hemingway's biography miniseries called Hemingway premiered, in which Whitman played the subject's father. The first season of the series Superboy began that year, which focused on Superman/Clark Kent during his college years; Whitman played Jonathan Kent.

During his tenure on Superboy, Whitman appeared in other projects. In 1989, Whitman acted in Deadly Reactor and Gypsy.

In 1990, Whitman started to play a recurring character on Knots Landing. Also that year, Whitman played supporting roles in Moving Target, Omega Cop, and Mob Boss.

In 1991, Whitman provided the narration for the Japanese film Heaven & Earth and acted in The Color of Evening. On stage, Whitman acted in The Country Girl. In a 1991 interview with the Los Angeles Times, Whitman said, "I was bankable for a while, then I did a couple of shows that didn't make any money. Then I wasn’t bankable... As an actor, you've got to keep working. You've got to do something to feed the family, put the kids through school."

In 1992, Whitman appeared in an episode of Murder, She Wrote. That year, Whitman had supporting roles in the films Smooth Talker and Sandman.

In 1993, Whitman appeared in an episode of the TV show Time Trax. In films, Whitman appeared in Lightning in a Bottle and Private Wars. Whitman also guest starred in the two-hour special debut of the TV series The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr..

In 1994, Whitman was a guest on the television show Walker, Texas Ranger. In films, Whitman appeared in Improper Conduct and Trial by Jury.

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

Personal life

Family and relationships

Whitman's first marriage was to Patricia LaLonde (October 13, 1952 – 1966). They had four children—Tony (born 1953), Michael (born 1954), Linda (born 1956), and Scott (born 1958)—before getting divorced.

Stuart remarried in 1966, to French-born Caroline Boubis. They had one son together, Justin, before divorcing in 1974. In 2006, he wed Julia Paradiz, a Russian woman he met at a friend's wedding in St. Petersburg, Russia in 1971.

Friendships

In an interview, Whitman said that he and Broderick Crawford clicked upon meeting on the set of Highway Patrol. Whenever Whitman was low on cash, he would tell Crawford, who continued to re-invite him. Both would hang-out outside of the workplace. Later, Whitman helped Crawford to be cast in The Decks Ran Red.

Another The Decks Ran Red co-star Whitman commented on was Dorothy Dandridge, who was going through a divorce and had to institutionalize her mentally ill daughter. Whitman was impressed with her strength and described her as a goddess.

Whitman said that when he first met Peter Falk on the set of Murder, Inc., they had their differences but eventually became friends. Whitman found The Mark director Guy Green difficult to work with, finding him demanding and too strict, but they became good friends afterwards. On the set of Sands of the Kalahari, Whitman said he became best friends with fellow cast members Stanley Baker and Theodore Bikel. While he didn't click with Jim Brown at first, they too became friends.

In the same piece, Whitman said that Terry-Thomas was one of his best friends. After their collaboration on Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines, both would meet for drinks, visit one another, and swim in the ocean while on Whitman's beachfront home in Malibu.

Death

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

Survivors included his wife, Julia; four children from his first marriage, Linda Whitman van Hook and Anthony, Michael and Scott Whitman; a son from his second marriage, Justin Whitman; a brother, actor Kipp Whitman; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Awards and honors

Nominated for Best Actor Academy Award – The Mark (1961)

Winner (cast member) Western Heritage Awards – The Comancheros (1961)

Included on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (1998)