John Whitaker, stage actor/director, 75, of Berwick and Chicago, known on stage as David Whitaker, died in Chicago on October 13, 2012, following a courageous battle with cancer.
John was the son of the late Raymond L. and Alice (McKone) Whitaker of Berwick, Maine.
John graduated from Berwick High School in 1954 and immediately joined the U.S. Army under their new Army Active Duty Program, whereby he served six months active duty and 7 and half years in the Army Reserves.
He graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 1960 with a degree in Psychology, but by that time knew that acting was his love, having started in High School Drama Club, continuing in the Drama Program at UNH and his participation in the Beaver Dam Little Theater in North Berwick, Maine. After graduation from UNH, he and friends operated a non-profit summer theater in Keene. He worked for a year in New York, but events led him to Chicago and the start of his professional career.
He attended Goodman Theatrical night school for two years, studying acting and directing. In several mid-western states, he directed plays starring such notables as Chuck Connors, William Shatner, Forrest Tucker, and Bob Denver. He also acted alongside Lynn Redgrave, Cesar Romero, Rita Moreno, Vivian Vance, Dody Goodman, Larry Hagman and others.
John appeared on the Goodman Stage and at Hull House, where he starred in "The Devil." He was featured in television commercials and educational films and had parts in several television shows produced in the Chicago area.
At one time, he was described as the "workingest" actor in Chicago. He co-founded the Goose Island Theater in Chicago and directed such hits there as "Emily" and "Nuts", among others. He was also the spokesperson for "The Suitery" in their television commercials.
In his retirement years, John became very involved in several senior ballroom dancing clubs and thoroughly enjoyed this great past-time. He also took piano lessons and purchased an electric keyboard for practice at home.
He was predeceased by his sister, Joan Dearden of Hampton, and is survived by his brother, Thomas Whitaker and his sister, Barbara Martin and her husband Wilfred Martin, all from Berwick, Maine; and a niece and several nephews.
Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday, October 24 from 10-12noon at Laing-Bibber Funeral Chapel, 36 Rochester Street, Berwick, Maine. A Memorial Service will be held there at noon. Interment will follow at Evergreen Cemetery.
Arrangements are in care of Laing- Bibber Funeral Chapel, www.bibberfuneral.com. Visit www.fosters.com/obits for an online guest book. Published in Fosters from October 19 to October 20, 2012
John was the son of the late Raymond L. and Alice (McKone) Whitaker of Berwick, Maine.
John graduated from Berwick High School in 1954 and immediately joined the U.S. Army under their new Army Active Duty Program, whereby he served six months active duty and 7 and half years in the Army Reserves.
He graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 1960 with a degree in Psychology, but by that time knew that acting was his love, having started in High School Drama Club, continuing in the Drama Program at UNH and his participation in the Beaver Dam Little Theater in North Berwick, Maine. After graduation from UNH, he and friends operated a non-profit summer theater in Keene. He worked for a year in New York, but events led him to Chicago and the start of his professional career.
He attended Goodman Theatrical night school for two years, studying acting and directing. In several mid-western states, he directed plays starring such notables as Chuck Connors, William Shatner, Forrest Tucker, and Bob Denver. He also acted alongside Lynn Redgrave, Cesar Romero, Rita Moreno, Vivian Vance, Dody Goodman, Larry Hagman and others.
John appeared on the Goodman Stage and at Hull House, where he starred in "The Devil." He was featured in television commercials and educational films and had parts in several television shows produced in the Chicago area.
At one time, he was described as the "workingest" actor in Chicago. He co-founded the Goose Island Theater in Chicago and directed such hits there as "Emily" and "Nuts", among others. He was also the spokesperson for "The Suitery" in their television commercials.
In his retirement years, John became very involved in several senior ballroom dancing clubs and thoroughly enjoyed this great past-time. He also took piano lessons and purchased an electric keyboard for practice at home.
He was predeceased by his sister, Joan Dearden of Hampton, and is survived by his brother, Thomas Whitaker and his sister, Barbara Martin and her husband Wilfred Martin, all from Berwick, Maine; and a niece and several nephews.
Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday, October 24 from 10-12noon at Laing-Bibber Funeral Chapel, 36 Rochester Street, Berwick, Maine. A Memorial Service will be held there at noon. Interment will follow at Evergreen Cemetery.
Arrangements are in care of Laing- Bibber Funeral Chapel, www.bibberfuneral.com. Visit www.fosters.com/obits for an online guest book. Published in Fosters from October 19 to October 20, 2012
John Whitaker, stage actor/director, 75, of Berwick and Chicago, known on stage as David Whitaker, died in Chicago on October 13, 2012, following a courageous battle with cancer.
John was the son of the late Raymond L. and Alice (McKone) Whitaker of Berwick, Maine.
John graduated from Berwick High School in 1954 and immediately joined the U.S. Army under their new Army Active Duty Program, whereby he served six months active duty and 7 and half years in the Army Reserves.
He graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 1960 with a degree in Psychology, but by that time knew that acting was his love, having started in High School Drama Club, continuing in the Drama Program at UNH and his participation in the Beaver Dam Little Theater in North Berwick, Maine. After graduation from UNH, he and friends operated a non-profit summer theater in Keene. He worked for a year in New York, but events led him to Chicago and the start of his professional career.
He attended Goodman Theatrical night school for two years, studying acting and directing. In several mid-western states, he directed plays starring such notables as Chuck Connors, William Shatner, Forrest Tucker, and Bob Denver. He also acted alongside Lynn Redgrave, Cesar Romero, Rita Moreno, Vivian Vance, Dody Goodman, Larry Hagman and others.
John appeared on the Goodman Stage and at Hull House, where he starred in "The Devil." He was featured in television commercials and educational films and had parts in several television shows produced in the Chicago area.
At one time, he was described as the "workingest" actor in Chicago. He co-founded the Goose Island Theater in Chicago and directed such hits there as "Emily" and "Nuts", among others. He was also the spokesperson for "The Suitery" in their television commercials.
In his retirement years, John became very involved in several senior ballroom dancing clubs and thoroughly enjoyed this great past-time. He also took piano lessons and purchased an electric keyboard for practice at home.
He was predeceased by his sister, Joan Dearden of Hampton, and is survived by his brother, Thomas Whitaker and his sister, Barbara Martin and her husband Wilfred Martin, all from Berwick, Maine; and a niece and several nephews.
Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday, October 24 from 10-12noon at Laing-Bibber Funeral Chapel, 36 Rochester Street, Berwick, Maine. A Memorial Service will be held there at noon. Interment will follow at Evergreen Cemetery.
Arrangements are in care of Laing- Bibber Funeral Chapel, www.bibberfuneral.com. Visit www.fosters.com/obits for an online guest book. Published in Fosters from October 19 to October 20, 2012
John was the son of the late Raymond L. and Alice (McKone) Whitaker of Berwick, Maine.
John graduated from Berwick High School in 1954 and immediately joined the U.S. Army under their new Army Active Duty Program, whereby he served six months active duty and 7 and half years in the Army Reserves.
He graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 1960 with a degree in Psychology, but by that time knew that acting was his love, having started in High School Drama Club, continuing in the Drama Program at UNH and his participation in the Beaver Dam Little Theater in North Berwick, Maine. After graduation from UNH, he and friends operated a non-profit summer theater in Keene. He worked for a year in New York, but events led him to Chicago and the start of his professional career.
He attended Goodman Theatrical night school for two years, studying acting and directing. In several mid-western states, he directed plays starring such notables as Chuck Connors, William Shatner, Forrest Tucker, and Bob Denver. He also acted alongside Lynn Redgrave, Cesar Romero, Rita Moreno, Vivian Vance, Dody Goodman, Larry Hagman and others.
John appeared on the Goodman Stage and at Hull House, where he starred in "The Devil." He was featured in television commercials and educational films and had parts in several television shows produced in the Chicago area.
At one time, he was described as the "workingest" actor in Chicago. He co-founded the Goose Island Theater in Chicago and directed such hits there as "Emily" and "Nuts", among others. He was also the spokesperson for "The Suitery" in their television commercials.
In his retirement years, John became very involved in several senior ballroom dancing clubs and thoroughly enjoyed this great past-time. He also took piano lessons and purchased an electric keyboard for practice at home.
He was predeceased by his sister, Joan Dearden of Hampton, and is survived by his brother, Thomas Whitaker and his sister, Barbara Martin and her husband Wilfred Martin, all from Berwick, Maine; and a niece and several nephews.
Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday, October 24 from 10-12noon at Laing-Bibber Funeral Chapel, 36 Rochester Street, Berwick, Maine. A Memorial Service will be held there at noon. Interment will follow at Evergreen Cemetery.
Arrangements are in care of Laing- Bibber Funeral Chapel, www.bibberfuneral.com. Visit www.fosters.com/obits for an online guest book. Published in Fosters from October 19 to October 20, 2012
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