Early life

Whitman was born in San Francisco, California, the elder of two sons. His parents, Cecilia (née Gold) and Joseph Whitman, traveled frequently during his childhood, and as a result, he attended over twenty schools. His family was Jewish. He graduated from high school and spent three years in the United States Army. After leaving the army, he enrolled in Los Angeles City College and the Los Angeles Academy of Dramatic Art.

Film career

Whitman was a supporting actor in When Worlds Collide, All American, Brigadoon, Silver Lode, Ten North Frederick, The Decks Ran Red starring Dorothy Dandridge (on whose face Whitman planted Hollywood's first interracial kiss), These Thousand Hills, and The Sound and the Fury.

When Charlton Heston, who had originally been signed to play the lead in 1958's Darby's Rangers left the film, James Garner was given the lead and Whitman wound up with Garner's original role in the film.

His first leading man role was in Murder, Inc. in 1960 with May Britt and Peter Falk. He was signed on as a contract star with 20th Century Fox.

In 1961, Whitman was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as a child molester in The Mark, a role many other reputable actors turned down. He has since appeared in starring and supporting roles in many films, including The Story of Ruth, Francis of Assisi, The Fiercest Heart, The Longest Day (with all his scenes opposite John Wayne), The Comancheros (sharing leading man status with Wayne), Convicts 4, The Day and the Hour, Signpost to Murder, Shock Treatment, Rio Conchos, Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines, Sands of the Kalahari, The City Beneath the Sea, An American Dream, The Last Escape, The Invincible Six, Night of the Lepus, Shatter, Captain Apache, Strange Shadows in an Empty Room, Guyana: Crime of the Century, Treasure Seekers and The White Buffalo.

Television

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In 1957, Whitman, who frequently appeared as police officer Sgt. Walters on the television series Highway Patrol, was seriously considered for the role of "Bart Maverick" in the smash hit television series Maverick. The studio needed another Maverick to rotate as the series lead with James Garner. Garner, who had filmed seven episodes, closely resembled Whitman at the time, but Jack Kelly was chosen for the part.

A decade later, Whitman played heroic Marshal Jim Crown in the lavish western TV series Cimarron Strip for a single season. The show, which ran 90 minutes per episode, was highly regarded for its theme music, production values, and Whitman's performance. His principal costars were Jill Townsend as Dulcey Coopersmith, proprietor of the local inn, and Randy Boone, who played the photographer Francis Wilder.

Later Whitman portrayed Clark Kent's father Jonathan Kent on the popular TV series Superboy.

Whitman made over two hundred appearances in various movies and television shows over a half-century span between 1951 and 2000. One of his early roles came in 1957 in the syndicated military dramas, Harbor Command, a drama about the United States Coast Guard, and The Silent Service, based on true stories of the submarine service of the United States Navy. Whitman's last credited role was in The President's Man, released in 2000 and starring Chuck Norris. He had previously appeared with Norris in a two-part episode of Walker, Texas Ranger.

He was also a guest on Murder, She Wrote appearing in four different episodes, "Hit, Run and Homicide" (1984), "Powder Keg" (1986), "Trouble in Eden" (1987), and "Incident in Lot 7" (1992). Whitman also appeared in an episode of the TV series Ghost Story ("The Concrete Captain", c. 1973). In "Blood Sweat and Cheers", Series 4, Episode 8 of The A-Team, Whitman played Jack Harman, a friend of Hannibal Smith.

Awards

• Nominated Best Actor Academy Award, The Mark (1961)
• Winner (Cast Member) Western Heritage Awards, The Comancheros (1961)

Personal life

His first marriage, to Patricia LaLonde (October 13, 1952 - 1966), ended in divorce. They had four children: Tony (b. 1953), Michael (b. 1954), Linda (b. 1956) and Scott (b. 1958). Stuart was married to the French-born Caroline Boubis (1966-1974). They had one son together, Justin. They divorced in 1974. Since 1993 he is married to Julia Vadimovna Paradiz.

Selected TV and filmography

• Rhapsody (1954)
• The Magnificent Matador (1955)
• Crime of Passion (1957)
• Hell Bound (1957)
• Hound-Dog Man (1959)
• These Thousand Hills (1959)
• The Story of Ruth (1960)
• Murder, Inc. (1960)
• Francis of Assisi (1961)
• The Comancheros (1961)
• The Mark (1961)
• The Longest Day (1962) - Lt. Sheen
• The Day and the Hour (1963) - Capt. Allan Morley
• Rio Conchos (1964)
• Shock Treatment (1964)
• Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines (1965) - Orvil Newton
• Sands of the Kalahari (1965)
• An American Dream (1966)
• Cimarron Strip (TV series) (1967-68)
• The Last Escape (1970)
• The Invincible Six (1970)
• The F.B.I. (TV series) (1970-73)
• Captain Apache (1971)
• The Woman Hunter (TV movie) (1972)
• Run, Cougar, Run (1972)
• Night of the Lepus (1972)
• Night Gallery (TV series appearance) (1972)
• The Streets of San Francisco (episode: "The Set-Up") (1973)
• Welcome to Arrow Beach (1974)
• Shatter (1974)
• Crazy Mama (1975)
• Strange Shadows in an Empty Room (1976)
• Mean Johnny Barrows (1976)
• The White Buffalo (1977)
• Oil! (1977)
• Eaten Alive (1977)
• Ruby (1977)
• The Treasure Seekers (1979)
• The Seekers (TV miniseries) (1979)
• Guyana: Crime of the Century (1979)
• The Monster Club (1980)
• Cuba Crossing (1980)
• Condominium (TV miniseries) (1980)
• Simon & Simon (1982) (TV series appearance)
• Mob Boss (1990)
• Murder, She Wrote (1984-92) (5 separate appearances)
• Second Chances (1998)

[ Source: Wikipedia ]