Benjamin John Whitrow (17 February 1937 – 28 September 2017) was an English actor. He was nominated for the BAFTA TV Award for Best Actor for his role as Mr Bennet in the 1995 BBC version of '' Pride and Prejudice'', and voiced the role of Fowler in the 2000 animated film '' Chicken Run''. His other film appearances include ''

Quadrophenia ''Quadrophenia'' is the sixth studio album by the English rock band the Who, released as a double album on 26 October 1973 by Track Records. It is the group's third rock opera, the two previous being the "mini-opera" song " A Quick One, Whil ...

'' (1979), ''

Personal Services ''Personal Services'' is a 1987 British comedy film directed by Terry Jones and written by David Leland, about the rise of a madam of a suburban brothel which caters to older men. The story is inspired by the real experiences of Cynthia Payne, ...

'' (1987) and ''

Bomber A bomber is a military combat aircraft designed to attack ground and naval targets by dropping air-to-ground weaponry (such as bombs), launching torpedoes, or deploying air-launched cruise missiles. The first use of bombs dropped from an aircraf ...

'' (2009).

Life and career

Whitrow was born on 17 February 1937 in

Oxford Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...

Oxfordshire Oxfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the north west of South East England. It is a mainly rural county, with its largest settlement being the city of Oxford. The county is a centre of research and development, primarily ...

, the son of Mary Alexandra (Flaunders) and Philip Whitrow, a teacher at

St Edward's School, Oxford St Edward's School is a public school (English independent day and boarding school) in Oxford, England. It is known informally as 'Teddies'. Approximately sixty pupils live in each of its thirteen houses. The school is a member of the Rugby ...

. He attended the

Dragon School ("Reach for the Sun") , established = 1877 , closed = , type = Preparatory day and boarding school and Pre-Prep school , religion = Church of England , president = , head_label = Head , head = Emma Goldsm ...

Tonbridge School (God Giveth the Increase) , established = , closed = , type = Public schoolIndependent day and boarding , religion = , president = , head_label ...

, and the

Royal Academy of Dramatic Art The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA; ) is a drama school in London, England, that provides vocational conservatoire training for theatre, film, television, and radio. It is based in the Bloomsbury area of Central London, close to the Sena ...

. He served in the King's Dragoon Guards during his national service from 1956 to 1958. He joined the

Royal Shakespeare Company The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) is a major British theatre company, based in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England. The company employs over 1,000 staff and produces around 20 productions a year. The RSC plays regularly in London, St ...

in 1981. He played Russell in the original radio version of '' After Henry'' by Simon Brett. A lifelong fan of the writings of the English author Denton Welch, he was instrumental in bringing the third, revised version of Welch's journals to print in 1984, having made the acquaintance of one of Welch's friends who had possessed the manuscript of the original editor's edition. In 1989, Whitrow appeared in episode four of the

BBC Two BBC Two is a British free-to-air public broadcast television network owned and operated by the BBC. It covers a wide range of subject matter, with a remit "to broadcast programmes of depth and substance" in contrast to the more mainstream a ...

sketch show ''

A Bit of Fry and Laurie ''A Bit of Fry & Laurie'' is a British sketch comedy television series written by and starring former Cambridge Footlights members Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie, broadcast on both BBC1 and BBC2 between 1989 and 1995. It ran for four series and t ...

'' (series one), playing an irate member of the audience who claimed that

Stephen Fry Stephen John Fry (born 24 August 1957) is an English actor, broadcaster, comedian, director and writer. He first came to prominence in the 1980s as one half of the comic double act Fry and Laurie, alongside Hugh Laurie, with the two starring ...

and

Hugh Laurie James Hugh Calum Laurie (; born 11 June 1959) is an English actor, comedian, writer, and musician. He first gained recognition for his work as one half of the comedy double act Fry and Laurie with Stephen Fry. The two men acted together in a ...

had stolen several of their sketches from him. Between 1990 and 1992, Whitrow appeared in the sitcom ''

The New Statesman The ''New Statesman'' is a British political and cultural magazine published in London. Founded as a weekly review of politics and literature on 12 April 1913, it was at first connected with Sidney and Beatrice Webb and other leading members o ...

'' as Paddy O'Rourke, a Labour shadow minister who feigned an Irish accent when in public to attract the working-class vote. Whitrow was nominated for the BAFTA TV Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Mr Bennet in the 1995 adaptation of '' Pride and Prejudice''. In the 2000 animated movie '' Chicken Run'' Whitrow voiced the character of Fowler, an old rooster who claims to have fought in World War II. Whitrow's last work was two plays for BBC Radio 4, in which he played the late

Poet Laureate A poet laureate (plural: poets laureate) is a poet officially appointed by a government or conferring institution, typically expected to compose poems for special events and occasions. Albertino Mussato of Padua and Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch) ...

Sir

John Betjeman Sir John Betjeman (; 28 August 190619 May 1984) was an English poet, writer, and broadcaster. He was Poet Laureate from 1972 until his death. He was a founding member of The Victorian Society and a passionate defender of Victorian architectu ...

. ''Mr Betjeman's Class'' was his last completed work; he died during the recording of ''Mr Betjeman Regrets'', with the voice work being completed by Robert Bathurst. Both plays were broadcast on BBC Radio 4 over Christmas 2017.

Personal life

Whitrow was married to Catherine Cook, with whom he had two children: Hannah Mary Whitrow (b. 1973) and Thomas George Whitrow (b. 1976). He also had a son, Angus Imrie (b. 1994) with actress

Celia Imrie Celia Diana Savile Imrie (born 15 July 1952) is an English actress and author. She was described in 2003 as one of the most successful British actresses of recent decades. She is best known for her film roles, including the ''Bridget Jones'' fi ...

. Whitrow died on 28 September 2017, aged 80.

Select filmography

Film

*1963: '' The Small World of Sammy Lee'' as Joan's Client (uncredited) *1963: '' West 11'' as Minor Role (uncredited) *1979: ''

'' as Mr. Fulford, Jimmy's Boss *1982: ''

Brimstone and Treacle ''Brimstone and Treacle'' is a 1976 BBC television play by Dennis Potter. Originally intended for broadcast as an episode of the series ''Play for Today'', it remained untransmitted until 1987. The play was made into a film version (released i ...

'' as Businessman *1986: ''

Clockwise Two-dimensional rotation can occur in two possible directions. Clockwise motion (abbreviated CW) proceeds in the same direction as a clock's hands: from the top to the right, then down and then to the left, and back up to the top. The opposite s ...

'' as Headmaster #1 *1987: ''

'' as Mr. Marsden *1988: ''

Hawks Hawks are birds of prey of the family Accipitridae. They are widely distributed and are found on all continents except Antarctica. * The subfamily Accipitrinae includes goshawks, sparrowhawks, sharp-shinned hawks and others. This subfamily ...

'' as Mr. Granger *1988: '' On the Black Hill'' as Arkwright *1988: '' A Man for All Seasons'' as Thomas Cromwell *1992: '' Damage'' as Civil Servant *1992: ''

Chaplin Chaplin may refer to: People * Charlie Chaplin (1889–1977), English comedy film actor and director * Chaplin (name), other people named Chaplin Films * '' Unknown Chaplin'' (1983) * ''Chaplin'' (film) (1992) * ''Chaplin'' (2011 film), Ben ...

'' as Station Master *1995: '' Restoration'' as Merivel's Father *1997: '' The Opium War'' as Lord Palmerston *1997: '' The Saint'' as Chairman at Oxford *1997: '' FairyTale: A True Story'' as Mr. Binley *1998: ''Jilting Joe'' as Arthur *2000: '' Chicken Run'' as Fowler (voice) *2006: '' Scenes of a Sexual Nature'' as Eddie Wright *2009: ''

'' as Alistar *2017: '' Darkest Hour'' as Sir Samuel Hoare (final film role)

Television

*1973: ''

The Merchant of Venice ''The Merchant of Venice'' is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1596 and 1598. A merchant in Venice named Antonio defaults on a large loan provided by a Jewish moneylender, Shylock. Although classified as a ...

'' (TV Movie) as the Duke of Venice (opposite

Laurence Olivier Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier (; 22 May 1907 – 11 July 1989) was an English actor and director who, along with his contemporaries Ralph Richardson and John Gielgud, was one of a trio of male actors who dominated the British stage ...

as Shylock) *1973: ''The Brontes of Haworth'' as Arthur Bell Nicholls *1975-1981: ''

Play for Today ''Play for Today'' is a British television anthology drama series, produced by the BBC and transmitted on BBC1 from 1970 to 1984. During the run, more than three hundred programmes, featuring original television plays, and adaptations of stag ...

'' as James Sellars / Phillips / Tom / House Master / Josh *1978: ''

The Sweeney ''The Sweeney'' is a 1970s British television police drama focusing on two members of the Flying Squad, a branch of the Metropolitan Police specialising in tackling armed robbery and violent crime in London. It stars John Thaw as Detective In ...

'' as Det. Chief Supt. Braithwaite *1981: '' Bognor'' as Eric Gringe *1981: ''

Troilus and Cressida ''Troilus and Cressida'' ( or ) is a play by William Shakespeare, probably written in 1602. At Troy during the Trojan War, Troilus and Cressida begin a love affair. Cressida is forced to leave Troy to join her father in the Greek camp. Meanw ...

'' (TV Movie) as Ulysses *1982: '' Tales of the Unexpected'' as Fergus Locke *1982: '' Harry's Game'' as Davidson *1983: '' Shackleton'' as Captain Scott *1983: '' Agatha Christie's Partners in Crime'' as Sir Arthur Merivale *1984: ''

Hay Fever Allergic rhinitis, of which the seasonal type is called hay fever, is a type of inflammation in the nose that occurs when the immune system overreacts to allergens in the air. Signs and symptoms include a runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, red, i ...

'' (TV Movie) as Richard Greatham *1985: '' Dempsey & Makepeace'' (TV Movie) as Lindsay *1985: '' Bergerac'' as B J Farrell *1990: ''

Chancer ''Chancer'' is a British television crime drama serial, produced by Central Television for ITV, that first broadcast on 6 March 1990. Starring Clive Owen in the title role of Stephen Crane, ''Chancer'' tells the story of a likable conman and r ...

'' as Robert Douglas *1991: ''

Rumpole of the Bailey ''Rumpole of the Bailey'' is a British television series created and written by the British writer and barrister John Mortimer. It starred Leo McKern as Horace Rumpole, a middle-aged London barrister who defended a broad variety of clients, of ...

'' as The Reverend Bill Britwell *1991-1992: ''

'' as Paddy O'Rourke *1995: '' Pride and Prejudice'' as Mr Bennet *1996: ''

Inspector Morse Detective Chief Inspector Endeavour Morse, GM, is the eponymous fictional character in the series of detective novels by British author Colin Dexter. On television, he appears in the 33-episode drama series ''Inspector Morse'' (1987–2000), ...

'' as Brownlee *1997: '' The History of Tom Jones: A Foundling'' as Squire Allworthy *2001-2009: ''

Midsomer Murders ''Midsomer Murders'' is a British crime drama television series, adapted by Anthony Horowitz and Douglas Watkinson from the novels in the '' Chief Inspector Barnaby'' book series (created by Caroline Graham), and broadcast on two channels o ...

'' as Sir Malcolm Frazer / Hugo Balcombe *2005: '' The Queen's Sister'' (TV Movie) as Cronin *2006: ''

Agatha Christie's Poirot ''Poirot'' (also known as ''Agatha Christie's Poirot'') is a British mystery drama television programme that aired on ITV from 8 January 1989 to 13 November 2013. David Suchet starred as the eponymous detective, Agatha Christie's fictional Her ...

'' (Episode: "

After the Funeral ''After the Funeral'' is a work of detective fiction by Agatha Christie and first published in the US by Dodd, Mead and Company in March 1953 under the title of ''Funerals are Fatal'' and in UK by the Collins Crime Club on 18 May of the same ...

") Timothy Abernathy *2014: ''

New Tricks ''New Tricks'' is a British television police procedural comedy drama, created by Nigel McCrery and Roy Mitchell, produced primarily by Wall to Wall Media (production company), Wall to Wall (until its final year, when it was handled by Head ...

'' as Edward Fraser *2015: '' Toast of London'' as Ken Suggestion *2015: '' Man Down'' as Tim

Radio

*1980: ''Unman, Wittering & Zigo'' as the headmaster; by Giles Cooper; BBC R4 7/8/1980. *1984: ''Dracula in White'' by

Peter Redgrove Peter William Redgrove (2 January 1932 – 16 June 2003) was a British poet, who also wrote prose, novels and plays with his second wife Penelope Shuttle. Life and career Redgrove was born in Kingston upon Thames, Surrey. He was educated at Ta ...

; BBC R4 7/3/1984. *1984: ''Tragedy at Law'' as the Judge; by Cyril Hare; BBC Radio 4 Saturday Night Theatre 7/4/1984. *1985–1989: '' After Henry'' as Russell; BBC Radio 4 series by Simon Brett. *1992: ''A Warden for All Saints'' as James Montague, by H.S. Bhabra; BBC R4 29 April 1992. *1995: ''In The Red'' as the bank manager murderer; by Mark Tavener; BBC Radio 4 series 5/1/1995-16/2/1995. *1997:

MR James Montague Rhodes James (1 August 1862 – 12 June 1936) was an English author, medievalist scholar and provost of King's College, Cambridge (1905–1918), and of Eton College (1918–1936). He was Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridg ...

Ghost story readings – The Late Book. *1999: ''Plum's War'' by Michael Butt, BBC R4 7/7/99. *2003: ''Brideshead Revisited'' by Evelyn Waugh, dramatised by Jeremy Front, BBC R4 8/3/2003. *2003: ''The Last Bark of the Bulldog'' by Jonathan Smith; Benjamin Whitrow portrays Winston Churchill; BBC R4 21 June 2003. *2011: ''Portrait of Winston'', by Jonathan Smith; sequel to ''The Last Bark of the Bulldog''; BBC R4 13 September 2011 *2017: ''Mr Betjeman's Class'' and ''Mr Betjeman Regrets'' both by Jonathan Smith; BBC R4 25 December 2017 and 26 December 2017

References

External links

Benjamin Whitrow
at

bbc.co.uk BBC Online, formerly known as BBCi, is the BBC's online service. It is a large network of websites including such high-profile sites as BBC News and BBC Sport, Sport, the on-demand video and radio services branded BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds, t ...

Drama * {{DEFAULTSORT:Whitrow, Benjamin 1937 births 2017 deaths 20th-century English male actors 21st-century English male actors Actors from Oxford Alumni of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art English male film actors English male stage actors English male Shakespearean actors English male radio actors English male television actors English male voice actors Male actors from Kent Male actors from Oxfordshire People educated at The Dragon School People educated at Tonbridge School 1st King's Dragoon Guards soldiers