Stephen Whittaker

Known for DirectingBorn 1947-06-28Died 2003-02-07London, England, UK

Stephen Whittaker (28 June 1947 – 7 February 2003) was a British actor and director. He worked largely in British film and television, 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. 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." In 2001, he filmed his final project, The Rocket Post, a romantic drama set on a remote Scottish island. The film had severe funding problems and was eventually released in 2006, three years after his death. The credits bear a dedication to his memory. Whittaker died following complications from a routine surgery.Read more

Movies & web series

Stone, Scissors, Paper

Champion House

Agatha Christie's Poirot

A Life for a Life

Inspector Morse

Hearts and Minds

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby

Doctor Who

I Dream of Jeannie

Bewitched

Doctor Who: The Web of Fear

The Legend of Robin Hood

To Sir, with Love

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby

Screen Two

Z-Cars

Out of the Unknown

Scene

Eurocops

Dalziel and Pascoe

Sons & Lovers

Portrait of a Marriage

Up the Junction

Yanks

Sanctuary

Armchair Theatre

The Rocket Post

The Keep

Crown Court

Crossroads

Bury Me an Angel

BBC Play of the Month

The Wednesday Play

I Escaped from Devil's Island

Closing Numbers

Grafters

Killing Me Softly

Thirty-Minute Theatre

Stone Cold

Tangier Cop

ITV Play of the Week

Runaway, Runaway

Love Birds

What If It's Raining

Only a Game

The One and Only Phyllis Dixey

The Paradise Run

Countercrime