Over
the years Hollywood has given us many outstanding male and female
actors. Performers like John Wayne, Lauren Bacall, Charles Bronson,
Richard Boone, Barbara Stanwyck, and Burt Lancaster are just a
few examples of some of the top-ranked movie stars that have contributed
to the prosperity and history of "Tinsel Town" and the
Hollywood film industry.
One such other individual who has stood (and is still standing) high among the ranks of the Hollywood giants, and who has made outstanding contributions to both television and film for over the past 47-years, is legendary film star Stuart Whitman.
Being the eldest of two sons, to Joseph and Cecelia Whitman, Stuart Maxwell Whitman was born on Feb. 1, 1928 at Childrens Hospital in San Francisco. As a young boy, Stuart and his family moved around the country living in various cities throughout the East, while during his teen years they ultimately moved to California and settled in Los Angeles.
Mr. Whitman began his education in the state of New York, attending schools in such cities as Manhattan, Poughkeepsie, and Wappingers Falls. He later lived in Atlanta, Ga. and then eventually moved back to California where he finished his education at Hollywood High School. Upon graduating, Mr. Whitman enlisted in the military and served three years (1945-1948) with the Army Corp of Engineers.
After finishing his military duty, Stuart decided to utilize the G.I. Bill and enroll in Hollywood's famous Ben Bard Drama School. His initial dramatic role came in the stage production of Heaven Can Wait. Stuart's convincing portrayal of a boxer earned him excellent reviews wand a six-month extended run. It also helped him launch his legendary Hollywood career. While continuing on and studying drama at L.A. City College, Mr. Whitman also became a member of Michael Chekhov's Stage Society and the distinguished Arthur Kennedy Group.
During the peaceful years following World War II, Mr. Whitman was able to find small parts in such movies as the 1951 production of Rudolph Mate's When Worlds Collide and the 1951 Science Fiction thriller The Day The Earth Stood Still. Stuart possessed all of the characteristics of a promising young actor; good looks, a well developed physique, a sensitive but charismatic demeanor, a distinguished strut, and a voice to remember. With such attributes came recognition. In 1957, he earned his first leading role in John Auger's Johnny Trouble. Since then, Stuart Whitman has appeared in over 103 motion pictures; with one, Guy Green's The Mark, earning him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor in 1961.
While talking with Mr. Whitman, I asked him share and categorize (best, worst, etc.) his thoughts about some of his past motion picture experiences. His reply was, "Well, I remember the toughest picture that I ever made was Rio Conchos; the most fun and enjoyable picture that I ever made was Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines; and the most challenging picture that I ever made was The Mark". Some of Stuart Whitman's other memorable movies include Darby's Rangers, Ten North Frederick, The Sound and The Fury, The Story of Ruth, The Longest Day, Signpost to Murder, and The Sands of the Kalahari (click here to go to Stuart Whitman's filmography).
Stuart Whitman has also left his signature on television as well as film. He appeared in four different television series, with his biggest accomplishment coming from his lead role as U.S. Marshal Jim Crown in the sprawling epic Western series: Cimarron Strip. The other television programs that Mr. Whitman appeared on were Highway Patrol (1956), where he portrayed Broderick Crawford's deputy; Union Pacific (1958), as a scout for the railroad; and The Adventures of Superboy (1988-92), where he portrayed Superboy's father; Jonathan Kent. Mr Whitman's role as a guest star dates back from 1952 to the present, where he has appeared on many popular shows like The Roy Rogers Show, Gunsmoke, Have Gun Will Travel, The F.B.I., Fantasy Island, Murder She Wrote, and Walker Texas Ranger. In addition, his previous voice work in various commercials and documentaries have kept his services still very much high in demand. In his most recent documentary work, which is called Portrait of A Cowboy Artist, Mr. Whitman narrates the story of cowboy/sculptor Mehl Lawson.
Even with his busy film career, Stuart Whitman has always been a proud and loving father. He is a man who is extremely close to his five kids: Tony, Mike, Linda, Scott, and Justin. "My dad has always been a very warm and loving man", comments his daughter Linda. "It was truly an amazing but fun time for me as I grew up around my father and his acting career". Family get-togethers during the Holidays are always enjoyable at the Whitman Ranch, as Stuart loves being together with all of his kids, as well as his five grandchildren.
One of Stuart Whitman's favorite roles was that of U.S. Marshal Jim Crown in Cimarron Strip. "I loved the part!" said Whitman, "I was extremely disappointed when I found out that the series had been cancelled; it was devastating". Two of his favorite episodes from the series were, the pilot episode, Battleground and The Roarer, in which Richard Boone guest starred. Whitman comments, "There was only one actor that I knew that could play the part of Sgt. Bill Disher, and that was Richard Boone". One one occasion, Stuart also incorporated one of his family members in the series. His younger brother Kip Whitman had a small part in the episode "The Judgement". After the Cimarron Strip series ended, Whitman left television and went back in films.
Today, Stuart Whitman remains a very active individual. He attributes his excellent health to weight-training and playing a lot of tennis. As an avid reader of various periodicals and publications, Stuart stays atop the news in the stock market, business world, and political arena. Mr. Whitman is also a very strong and active supporter of The Boys' Clubs of America, The John Wayne Cancer Society, Direct Relief, and a number of other health organizations.
Last of all, when I asked
Mr. Whitman if he had kept any of his costume from the Cimarron
Strip series, he stated "About the only piece of my costume
that I wound up keeping was the U.S. Marshal's badge". After
thinking about this, I thought to myself, "Wouldn't it be
nice if Stuart Whitman, after all of these years, decided to pin
that badge back on; just for one more ride to Cimarron"?