Francis Edward Paxton Whitehead (born 17 October 1937) is an English actor, theatre director and playwright.^[1] He was nominated for a Tony Award and a Drama Desk Award for his performance as Pellinore in the 1980 revival of Camelot.

Early life

Paxton was born in East Malling and Larkfield, Kent, the son of Louise (née Hunt) and Charles Parkin Whitehead. His father was a lawyer. He trained at London's Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art beginning when he was 17 years old.

Career

Paxton worked in repertory, small touring companies that rehearsed and performed a new play each week. In 1958, he was signed by the Royal Shakespeare Company.^[2]

In 1961, Whitehead directed Doric Wilson's first play to be performed, And He Made a Her, a comedy, was an off-off-Broadway production at the Caffe Cino.^[3] He made his Broadway debut in The Affair (1962) after appearing in Canadian stage and TV productions.^[4][5]

Whitehead replaced Jonathan Miller in the Broadway production of Beyond the Fringe in 1964 and appeared on the LP recording of the show, Beyond the Fringe '64.^[4][6] He went on to appear with the American Shakespeare Company to direct in regional repertory.^[5]

Whitehead succeeded Barry Morse as Artistic Director of the Shaw Festival, the only repertory company dedicated to the works of George Bernard Shaw. Under his leadership, it continued to develop into an international event. During his tenure he was able to push through a plan of building the purpose-built 869 seat state-of-the-art Festival Theatre to expand considerably the capacity for audiences at Niagara-on-the-Lake.^{[citation needed]}

Queen Elizabeth II, Indira Gandhi and Pierre Trudeau were among those who attended performances at the Shaw Festival Theatre during its inaugural season in 1973. He served until 1977 and appeared in productions as actor. His notable appearances included The Apple Cart, Major Barbara, The Philanderer, Arms and the Man, Misalliance and Heartbreak House with Jessica Tandy. Whitehead and Suzanne Grossman adapted Georges Feydeau's plays There's One in Every Marriage for the Broadway stage in 1971, and Chemin de Fer in 1974.^[7]

Whitehead received an honorary degree in arts from Trent University in 1978 and earned an Antoinette Perry "Tony" Award nomination for Camelot in 1980. He has appeared in numerous Broadway productions including My Fair Lady with Richard Chamberlain, The Harlequin Studies with Bill Irwin, Noël Coward's Suite in Two Keys, Peter Shaffer's Lettice and Lovage, London Suite by Neil Simon and as Sherlock Holmes in The Crucifer of Blood.^{[citation needed]}

In recent years, Whitehead has continued to work in regional theatre and on Broadway. In 2007, he made a cameo in Desperate Housewives as the father of Susan Mayer's fiancée, Ian.^[8] Whitehead appeared in the role of Phil at the Westport Country Playhouse in Westport, Connecticut from 12–27 July 2007 in Relatively Speaking, a comedy.^[9][10][11]

Whitehead began previews of The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde on Broadway at the American Airlines Theatre on 17 December 2010 in the role of Reverend Canon Chasuble. The show opened on 13 January 2011 and was filmed live on 11/12 March 2011 for broadcast in June 2011.^[12] He played the role of George Bernard Shaw in Anthony Wynn's Bernard and Bosie: A Most Unlikely Friendship in a benefit performance for the Episcopal Actors' Guild on 5 May 2011.

Whitehead is an Associate Artist of the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego. He performs on recordings of Shaw's The Doctor's Dilemma and Harley Granville-Barker's The Voysey Inheritance.^{[citation needed]}

Work

• 12 November – 21 December 2014: Plays opposite Frances Barber and Charles Shaughnessy in What the Butler Saw (play) play by Joe Orton (Mark Taper Forum at the Los Angeles Music Center, Los Angeles, California)^[13]
• 27 July – 7 August 2011: Plays opposite Richard Easton in She Stoops to Conquer play by Oliver Goldsmith (Williamstown Theatre Festival, Williamstown, Massachusetts)^[14]
• 7 June 2011: Plays Lord Champion-Cheney opposite Marsha Mason in The Circle play by W. Somerset Maugham (Westport Country Playhouse, Westport, Connecticut)^[15]
• 13 January 2011: Plays Reverend Canon Chasuble opposite Dana Ivey, Santino Fontana, Tim MacDonald, and Paul O'Brien in The Importance of Being Earnest play by Oscar Wilde (Roundabout Theatre Company, American Airlines Theatre, New York City)^[16][17][18]
• 15 November 2010: Plays opposite Geneva Carr, Cecilia Hart and James Waterston in A Song at Twilight play by Noël Coward (Westport Country Playhouse, Westport, Connecticut)^[19]
• 4 October 2010: Plays opposite Geneva Carr, Cecilia Hart and James Waterston in Bedroom Farce play by Alan Ayckbourn (Westport Country Playhouse, Westport, Connecticut)^[19]
• 7 September – 24 October 2010: Plays Lafeau opposite Marsha Mason in All's Well That Ends Well play by William Shakespeare (Lansburgh Theatre, Washington, D.C.)^[20]
• 15 April – 16 May 2010: Plays Gerry in Time of My Life play by Alan Ayckbourn (O'Reilly Theater, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)^[21]
• 16 October – 1 November 2009: Plays Mr. Hardcastle in She Stoops to Conquer play by Oliver Goldsmith (Matthews Theatre, New York City)^[22][23][24]
• 28 July – 15 August 2009: Plays Frank Foster opposite Geneva Carr and Cecilia Hart in How the Other Half Loves play by Alan Ayckbourn (Westport Country Playhouse, Westport, Connecticut)^{[25][26][27][28]}
• 13–24 August 2008: Plays opposite Richard Easton and Dana Ivey in Home play by David Storey (Williamstown Theatre Festival, Williamstown, Massachusetts).^{[29][30][31][32]}
• 1–26 April 2008: Plays Gerry Stanton opposite Cecilia Hart in Time of My Life play by Alan Ayckbourn (Westport Country Playhouse, Westport, Connecticut).^[33][34][35]
• 12–27 July 2007: Plays Phil opposite Cecilia Hart and James Waterston in Relatively Speaking play by Alan Ayckbourn (Westport Country Playhouse, Westport, Connecticut)^[9][10][11]
• 23 September – 9 November 2003: Plays Pantalone opposite Bill Irwin in The Harlequin Studies play by Bill Irwin (Peter Norton Space, New York City)^[36][37]
• 10–16 April 2000: Plays George Hilgay/Sir Hugo Latymer opposite Judith Ivey and Hayley Mills in A Suite in Two Keys play by Noël Coward (Lucille Lortel Theatre, New York City)^[38]
• 28 March – 3 September 1995: Plays Billy/Sidney/Dr. McMerlin opposite Kate Burton, Jeffrey Jones and Carole Shelley in London Suite play by Neil Simon (Union Square Theatre, New York City)^[39][40]
• 5–14 November 1969: Plays opposite Shawn Elliott, Barbara Lang and Peter York in Rondelay play by Jerry Douglas (Hudson West Theatre, New York City)^[41]
• 2 February – 31 March 1963: Plays Torvald Helmer opposite Alice Drummond, Barnard Hughes and Richard Waring in A Doll's House play by Henrik Ibsen (Theatre Four, New York City)^[42]
• 18 September 1961: Plays Prosecuting Counsel opposite Joel Fabiani, James Kenny, John Milligan and Anna Russell in One Way Pendulum play by N.F. Simpson (East 74th Street Theatre, New York City)^[43]

Stage productions

Actor

• Kentish Colt, The Epilogue, The Old Stagers Theatre, Canterbury, England, UK, 1949
• Alphonse, All for Mary, Devonshire Park, Eastbourne, England, UK, 1956
• Francisco, Hamlet, Royal Shakespeare Company, Stratford-upon-Avon, England, UK, 1958
• Sellars, The Grass is Greener, Theatre Royal, Bath, England, UK, 1960
• Gallows Humor, Gramercy Arts Theatre, New York City, 1961
• Prosecuting counsel, One Way Pendulum, East 74th Street Theatre, New York City, 1961
• Gilbert Dawson-Hill, The Affair, Henry Miller's Theatre, 1962
• Torvald Helmer, A Doll's House, Theatre Four, New York City, 1963
• Gower, Henry V, American Shakespeare Festival, Stratford, CT, USA, 1963
• King of France, King Lear, American Shakespeare Festival, Stratford, England, UK, 1963
• Horner, The Country Wife, Front Street Theatre, Memphis, TN, USA, 1964
• Henry Higgins, My Fair Lady, Front Street Theatre, 1964
• Jack Absolute, The Rivals, Charles Playhouse, Boston, MA, USA, 1964
• Archie Rice, The Entertainer, Hartford Stage Company, Hartford, CT, USA, 1965
• Adolphus Cusins, Major Barbara, Playhouse in the Park, Cincinnati, OH, USA, 1965
• Randall Underwood, Heartbreak House, Manitoba Theatre Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, 1965
• Christoforou, The Public Eye, Manitoba Theatre Centre, 1965
• Algernon, The Importance of Being Earnest, Manitoba Theatre Centre, 1965
• John Worthing, The Importance of Being Earnest, Canadian Players, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 1966
• Lord Summerhays, Misalliance, Shaw Festival, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada, 1966
• Magnus, The Apple Cart, Shaw Festival, 1966
• Sergius, Arms and the Man, Shaw Festival, 1967
• Adolphus Cusins, Major Barbara, Shaw Festival, 1967
• Hector Hushabye, Heartbreak House, Shaw Festival, 1968
• Coustilliou, The Chemmy Circle, Shaw Festival, 1968
• Charley's Aunt, Studio Arena Theatre, Buffalo, NY, USA, 1968
• Chemin de Fer, Mark Taper Forum, Los Angeles, USA, 1969
• Rondelay, Hudson West Theatre, New York City, 1969
• Dubedat, The Doctor's Dilemma, Shaw Festival, 1969
• The actor, The Guardsman, Shaw Festival, 1969
• Tempest, Forty Years On, Shaw Festival, 1970
• The Chemmy Circle, Arena Stage, Washington, D.C., USA, 1970
• Hector Hushabye, Heartbreak House, Goodman Memorial Theatre, Chicago, IL., USA, 1970
• The Emperor, The Brass Butterfly, Chelsea Theatre Center, New York City, 1970
• Reverend Alexander Mill, Candida, Longacre Theatre, New York City, 1970
• Canon Throbbing, Habeas Corpus, Martin Beck Theatre, New York City, 1975
• Charteris, The Philanderer, Shaw Festival, 1971
• Lead roles, Tonight at 8:30, Shaw Festival, 1971
• Valentine, You Never Can Tell, Shaw Festival, 1973
• Savoyard, Fanny's First Play, Shaw Festival, 1973
• Fancourt Babberley, Charley's Aunt, Shaw Festival, 1974
• Burgoyne, The Devil's Disciple, Shaw Festival, 1975
• Sergius, Arms and the Man, Shaw Festival, 1976
• Magnus, The Apple Cart, Shaw Festival, 1976
• Adrian, The Millionairess, Shaw Festival, 1976
• Ronnie Gamble, Thark, Shaw Festival, 1977
• Sherlock Holmes, The Crucifer of Blood, Helen Hayes Theatre, New York City, 1978
• Henry Carr, Travesties, Manitoba Theatre Centre, Canada, 1979
• Sherlock Holmes, The Crucifer of Blood, Elitch Gardens Theatre, Denver, Colorado, USA, 1979
• Title role, The Trials of Oscar Wilde, The Citadel Theatre, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, 1980
• Ronnie Gamble, Thark, Philadelphia Drama Guild, USA, 1980
• Malvolio, Twelfth Night, Philadelphia Drama Guild, USA, 1980
• Pellinore, Camelot, State Theatre, New York City, 1980
• Sergeant of police, The Pirates of Penzance, Ahmanson Theatre, Los Angeles, USA, 1981
• Harpagon, The Miser, Old Globe Theatre, San Diego, CA, USA, 1982
• Hector, Heartbreak House, Theatre Royal, London, UK, 1983
• Anthony Absolute, The Rivals, Old Globe Theatre, San Diego, USA, 1983
• Freddy, Noises Off, Brooks Atkinson Theatre, New York City, 1983–85
• Title role, Richard III, Old Globe Theatre, San Diego, USA, 1985
• Benedick, Much Ado About Nothing, Old Globe Theatre, San Diego, USA, 1986
• Richard Willey, Out of Order, Paper Mill Playhouse, Millburn, NJ, USA, 1997
• Sherlock Holmes, The Mask of Moriarty, Paper Mill Playhouse, 1998
• Narrator, Rocky Horror Show, Tiffany Theater, Hollywood, CA, USA, 1998
• Sir Hugo Latymer, A Song at Twilight, Mirage Theater Company, Lucille Lortel Theatre, New York City, 2000
• George Hilgay, Shadows of the Evening, Mirage Theater Company, Lucille Lortel Theater, USA, 2000
• Xanadu Live, Male, The Gascon Center Theatre, Culver City, CA, USA, 2001
• Twelfth Night, Malvolio, Old Globe Theatre, San Diego, CA, USA, 2001
• The Circle, Clive Champion-Cheney, South Coast Repertory, Costa Mesa, CA, USA, 2001
• Where's Charley, Mr. Spettigue, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Williamstown, MA, USA, 2002
• The Voysey Inheritance, Mr. Voysey, Walnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia, PA, USA, 2003
• The Harlequin Studies, Pantalone, Peter Norton Space (Off-Broadway), USA, 2003
• What the Butler Saw, Dr. Rance, Boston University Theatre, Boston, MA, USA, 2004
• Absurd Person Singular, Ronald, Biltmore Theatre (Broadway), USA, 2005
• Also appeared in A Little Hotel on the Side; King Lear, Manitoba Theatre Centre; Neil Simon's London Suite.

Tour History

• Francisco, Hamlet, Royal Shakespeare Company, Moscow and Leningrad, Soviet Union, 1958
• Lead role, The Grass Is Greener, Royal Shakespeare Company, UK cities, 1959
• Freddie, Pygmalion, Royal Shakespeare Company, UK cities, 1960
• Beyond the Fringe, US cities, 1963
• The Bed Before Yesterday, US cities, 1976
• Pellinore, Camelot, US cities, 1980–81
• Also toured with the Andrew McMaster Company, UK cities, 1957.

Director

• The Circle, Shaw Festival, 1967
• The Chemmy Circle, Shaw Festival, 1968
• A Flea in Her Ear, Charles Playhouse, 1969
• Forty Years On, Shaw Festival, 1970
• The Secretary Bird, Main Stage, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, 1970
• The Chemmy Circle, Main Stage, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, 1971
• The Sorrows of Frederick, Main Stage, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, 1971
• Misalliance, Shaw Festival, 1972
• Getting Married, Shaw Festival, 1972
• Charley's Aunt, Shaw Festival, 1972
• Widowers' Houses, Shaw Festival, 1973
• Arms and the Man, Main Stage, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, 1973
• The Crucifer of Blood, Elitch Gardens Theatre, Denver, Colorado, USA, 1979
• Misalliance, Walnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia, PA, then Old Globe Theatre, San Diego, USA, 1982
• The Real Thing, Seattle Repertory Theatre, WA, USA, 1986
• Beyond the Fringe, Old Globe Theatre, San Diego, transferring to the Los Angeles Theatre Centre, USA, 1986

Writer

• Feydeau, Georges (1968). Grossmann, Suzanne; Whitehead, Paxton (eds.). Chemin de Fer; a play in four acts [The Chemmy Circle] (play). London: Samuel French, Inc. ISBN 978-0-573-60694-6. OCLC 317851280.
• Feydeau, Georges (1973). Grossmann, Suzanne; Whitehead, Paxton (eds.). There's One in Every Marriage (play). Kroll. LCCN 72050652.
• Feydeau, Georges (27 May 1982). Grossmann, Suzanne; Whitehead, Paxton (eds.). La Puce à l'oreille [A Flea in Her Ear] (play). London: Kroll.^[44]

Filmography

Film

Television