Frank Edgar Richard Whitten (15 November 1942 – 12 February 2011) was a New Zealand television actor. He was more recently known for playing Ted "Grandpa" West in the New Zealand television show Outrageous Fortune.Megahey, Leslie: Esteemed drama teacher and actor who was prominent in radical theatre, The Age, 11 April 2011.
Early life and education Whitten was born in Te Aroha and grew up in the Waikato region in the 1940s and 50s. Around 1963, "with very little experience and even less money", he left for England to become an actor. He also spent time as an improvisational tutor at leading British drama school the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, and by 1970 was the school's vice-principal. Over the next eighteen years, Whitten worked in a children's community theatre company he co-founded called Common Stock, which developed plays with, and for, working-class children.
Career In 1982 Whitten returned to New Zealand and began acting in theatre. Two years later, he appeared as an exploitative guru of a commune in Trespasses, the movie spin off of police show Mortimer's Patch. The same year, Whitten played the enigmatic farmer who strides into the isolated rural world of a young child in Vigil, the first feature directed by Vincent Ward. In the mid-1980s he joined the serial Heroes, playing roadie to a group of young musicians. He followed this role by playing one of the main roles on historical drama Heart of the High Country, based on the novel by English author Elizabeth Gowans.Frank Whitten Biography, NZ On Screen.
Whitten had a role in the short film Accidents, and small roles in the romance Arriving Tuesday, Zilch!, The Returning, and two international thrillers, Chill Factor and Hot Target. In 2003, he appeared in P.J. Hogan's live action remake of Peter Pan.
On television, he made guest appearances on Erebus: The Aftermath, Gloss, The Chosen, Ray Bradbury Theatre and Mysterious Island, and a lead role in the award-winning miniseries The Leaving of Liverpool.
In 2007, his ongoing role on as "Grandpa" Ted West on Outrageous Fortune won him a best supporting actor award at the New Zealand Screen Awards.
For twelve years, he played the older man in the Speight's "Southern Man" series of television commercials, well known for his character's catchphrase, "Good on ya, mate!"
Theatre Whitten penned the stage drama Trifecta.
Death Whitten died on 12 February 2011, aged 68. The official media statement stated that "[he] died peacefully in his sleep" following a short battle with cancer.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1984 Vigil Ethan Ruir 1984 Trespasses Stan Gubbins 1985 Hot Target Apartment owner 1986 Arriving Tuesday Farmer 1988 The Clean Machine Premier John Morgan TV movie 1989 Zilch! Engineer 1989 Chill Factor Frank Robertson 1990 The Shrimp on the Barbie Blue 1991 The Returning Mr. Spiggs 1991 Ring of Scorpio John Walker Drama, TV movie 1991 Waiting Michael 1992 Greenkeeping Dad 1994 The Roly Poly Man Dr. Henderson Comedy 1995 Napoleon Koala Voice 1995 Dad and Dave: On Our Selection The Swagman 1997 Doing Time for Patsy Cline Watson 1997 The Ripper Dr. Pearce Thriller, TV movie 1998 The Chosen Eddie O'Connor Drama, TV movie 1999 Me Myself I Charlie 1999 Airtight Escher Action / Drama / Romance / Sci-Fi / Thriller, TV movie 2001 The Man Who Sued God Primate 2003 Peter Pan Starkey 2004 Floodhouse Manaroan in Aviator Hat 2005 Hell Has Harbour Views Giles Taffy QC Drama / Comedy, TV movie
Television Year Title Role Notes 1984 Heroes Leslie Series regular, 9 episodes 1985 Hanlon Charles Clements 1985 Heart of the High Country Reg Bowen Main role 1986 Open House Tony Van Der Berg "Happy Birthday" (S01E01) 1989 The Brotherhood of the Rose unknown Miniseries 1989 The Shadow Trader Kevin McCarthy Episode 1 1990 The New Adventures of Black Beauty Gilbert de Mauria "Deceptive Appearances" (S01E05) 1990 The Ray Bradbury Theater Mr. Cooger "The Black Ferris" (S04E04) 1992 The Leaving of Liverpool Brother Jerome unknown 1992 The Ray Bradbury Theater Odd Martin "The Dead Man" (S06E07) 1992 The Ray Bradbury Theater Mailman "Great Wide World Over There" (S06E14) 1993 Phoenix Stan Cutler "In on the Joke" (S02E08) 1993 Police Rescue Glasel "Speeding" (S03E08) 1993-1994 Secrets Tom Jacobs Main role 1995 Heartbreak High Bob Season 2, Episode 5 1995 Mysterious Island Ayrton Main role 1996 Naked: Stories of Men Father Dunfree "Coral Island" (S01E01) 1996 Sun on the Stubble Pastor Miniseries, unknown episodes 1996 City Life Carl Jones Season 1, Episodes 7 & 8 1997 Murder Call Blackie "Heartstopper" (S01E16) 1998 Good Guys, Bad Guys Beau Kinsella "100% Proof" (S02E09) 1999 All Saints Ken Burns "If These Walls Could Talk" (S02E05) 2001 Changi Dr. Potter "Private Bill" (S01E03) 2003 All Saints Albert Tolz "Destiny's Child" (S06E03) 2004 All Saints Joe McLean "When Worlds Collide" (S07E24) 2004 Love My Way Kel "Stick Sisters" (S01E05) 2005-2010 Outrageous Fortune Ted West Main role, (final appearance)
References
External links
Frank Whitten biography/filmography at NZ On Screen