Brenton Whittle is an Australian actor, TV presenter, playwright and director.

Career Whittle's acting career began on stage, with a 1969 production of Boeing-Boeing, in Adelaide. He first appeared on screen alongside Jenny Agutter, in 1981 supernatural horror film The Survivor, in the role of Thornton. The following year, he played convict overseer Jeremy Hogan in Sara Dane, winning the 1983 Logie Award for Best Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Telemovie for his performance.

In 1987, Whittle had a role in war drama film The Lighthorsemen, opposite Peter Phelps, Gary Sweet and Bill Kerr. Then in 1991, Whittle began a ten year co-hosting role, together with Lyn Weston, for children's series The Book Place, which lasted ten years. During this time he voiced several animal characters in 1995 family film Napoleon. He also had a role in 1996 Academy Award-nominated biographical drama film Shine alongside Noah Taylor, which featured Geoffrey Rush in his Academy Award-winning performance as David Helfgott.

In 2007, Whittle guested in a season 7 episode of drama series McLeod's Daughters. That same year, he appeared with Rachel Ward in six-part drama miniseries Rain Shadow, playing the role of Kenneth Blake.

Whittle has also had an extensive career in theatre, with a vast history performing with and directing for Adelaide Repertory Theatre. Additionally, he has narrated numerous productions for Australian Classical Youth Ballet. He most recently played Mr Stanley in The Man Who Came to Dinner at Adelaide Repertory Theatre in July 2026.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes Ref 1981 The Survivor Thornton 1987 The Lighthorsemen Padre 1988 The Dreaming Barrister Sebastian and the Sparrow 1990 Call Me Mr. Brown Qantas Official 2 1995 Napoleon Owl / Frog / Wombat / Other Wallaby / Desert Mouse (voices) 1996 Shine Announcer

Television Year Title Role Notes Ref 1982 Sara Dane Jeremy Hogan Miniseries, 8 episodes 1983 For the Term of His Natural Life Captain Best Miniseries, 1 episode 1984 Special Squad Jeff Finnegan 1 episode 1988 Dusty Miniseries 1991–2001 The Book Place Co-host 2006 Constructing Australia Mr Glyde 1 episode 2007 McLeod's Daughters James Hall 1 episode Rain Shadow Kenneth Blake Miniseries, 3 episodes

Theatre

As actor Year Title Role Notes Ref 1969 Boeing-Boeing Pioneer Memorial Hall, Adelaide with Pioneer Players 1970 A Hatful of Rain Willard Hall, Adelaide with Therry Dramatic Society The Devil's Advocate Arts Theatre, Adelaide with Adelaide Repertory Theatre A Man for All Seasons Willard Hall, Adelaide with Therry Dramatic Society 1972 Son of God Maughan Church, Adelaide Ballet Season: Giselle Act I / Peter and the Wolf / Le Jardin du Craie / Grand Pas de Deux from Swan Lake / La Danse Des Bouffants Dancer Arts Theatre, Adelaide with South Australian National Ballet Company 1973 The Chocolate Frog and The Old Familiar Juice University of Adelaide with Stable Productions Anne of the Thousand Days Arts Theatre, Adelaide with Adelaide Repertory Theatre 1974 All in Good Time Arts Theatre, Adelaide with Adelaide Repertory Theatre 1976 Mary of Scotland Earl of Bothwell Arts Theatre, Adelaide with Adelaide Repertory Theatre 1979 Hang Your Clothes on Yonder Bush Arts Theatre, Adelaide with Adelaide Repertory Theatre 1982 Only An Orphan Girl Arts Theatre, Adelaide with Adelaide Repertory Theatre 1983 Gulls Space Theatre, Adelaide with The Stage Company 2001 The Night Before Christmas Carnival of the Animals Triple Bill Narrator Her Majesty's Theatre, Adelaide with Australian Classical Youth Ballet 2002 Alice in Wonderland Narrator Dunstan Playhouse, Adelaide with Australian Classical Youth Ballet The Nutcracker Narrator Festival Theatre, Adelaide with Australian Classical Youth Ballet 2003 Mary Poppins Narrator Festival Theatre, Adelaide with Australian Classical Youth Ballet Peter Pan Narrator Her Majesty's Theatre, Adelaide with Australian Classical Youth Ballet 2004 The Perfect Murder Arts Theatre, Adelaide with Adelaide Repertory Theatre 2007 A Christmas Carol – The Story of Scrooge Festival Theatre, Adelaide with Australian Classical Youth Ballet 2020 A Woman of No Importance Archdeacon Daubeny Online – Australia with Adelaide Repertory Theatre 2026 The Man Who Came to Dinner Mr Stanley Adelaide Repertory Theatre

As director/writer Year Title Role Notes Ref 1971 Schmirz: Boris Vian's Empire Builders Assistant Stage Manager Sheridan Theatre, Adelaide with Adelaide Theatre Group 1975 Who Killed Santa Claus? Director Arts Theatre, Adelaide with Adelaide Repertory Theatre 1976 The Prisoner of Second Avenue Director Arts Theatre, Adelaide with Adelaide Repertory Theatre 6 Rms Riv Vu Director Arts Theatre, Adelaide with Adelaide Repertory Theatre 2005 The Tower Director Arts Theatre, Adelaide with Adelaide Repertory Theatre 2019 Well, Shut My Mouth Writer Arts Theatre, Adelaide with Adelaide Repertory Theatre

Radio Year Title Role Notes Ref 2020 The Mystic Dr Drake Shamus Edgeley Online with Adelaide Repertory Theatre

Awards Year Work Award Category Result Ref 1983 Sara Dane Logie Award Best Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Telemovie

References

External links