# Frank Whitten

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.

## 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.
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 | 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) |