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Stephen Whittaker

Stephen Whittaker

Director · 1947 – 2003 · London, 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.

Series16

  • TV7.9

    Doctor Who

    1963 · 723 votes

  • TV7.9

    Bewitched

    1964 · 766 votes

  • TV5.7

    Crown Court

    1972 · 6 votes

  • TV5.2

    BBC Play of the Month

    1965 · 8 votes

  • TV5.5

    Crossroads

    1964 · 6 votes

  • TV7.8

    I Dream of Jeannie

    1965 · 845 votes

  • TV5.2

    The Wednesday Play

    1964 · 5 votes

  • TV7.3

    Z-Cars

    1962 · 7 votes

  • TV4.2

    Thirty-Minute Theatre

    1965 · 8 votes

  • TV4.0

    ITV Play of the Week

    1955 · 5 votes

  • TV7.1

    Out of the Unknown

    1965 · 8 votes

  • TV7.4
  • TV6.0

    Armchair Theatre

    1956 · 6 votes

  • TV6.0

    Sanctuary

    1967 · 3 votes

  • TV10.0

    Champion House

    1967 · 1 votes

  • TV

Movies10

  • Movie7.4

    To Sir, with Love

    1967 · 363 votes

  • Movie5.6

    The Keep

    1983 · 337 votes

  • Movie5.9

    Yanks

    1979 · 67 votes

  • Movie5.1
  • Movie5.2

    Bury Me an Angel

    1971 · 12 votes

  • Movie
  • Movie6.2

    Up the Junction

    1968 · 16 votes

  • Movie
  • Movie
  • Movie