Frank Whitten is a veteran of stage and screen in New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom.

In 2007, Frank was awarded the Air New Zealand Screen Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Grandpa Ted West on OUTRAGEOUS FORTUNE.

Series five explores Ted’s new life as a married man, having tied the knot with Ngaire (Elizabeth Hawthorne) at the end of series four. “Ted and Ngaire’s marriage is one based on lust, crime and mutual caution – in other words pretty average.
“We are doing our utmost to wriggle further up the family pecking order – to modest success,” Frank explains.
Shortly after finishing production on series five of OUTRAGEOUS FORTUNE, Frank landed a role in the Sydney Theatre Company play, Elling, directed by Pamela Rabe. The play kicks off in June 2009.

Between series three and four of OUTRAGEOUS FORTUNE, Frank also starred alongside Robyn Malcolm (who plays Cheryl West) in the SiLo Theatre’s production of The Cut.

Frank has appeared in numerous feature films in both New Zealand and Australia as well as several films for the National Film School in the UK. His credits include: Vigil, Arriving Tuesday, The Man Who Sued God, Me Myself I, The Shrimp on the Barbie, Peter Pan and Waiting. During the production of the first series of OUTRAGEOUS FORTUNE, Frank also had a role in Peter Jackson’s King Kong.

In addition to appearing in productions for Thames and the BBC in the UK, Frank’s New Zealand television credits include: Heroes (which OUTRAGEOUS FORTUNE series one producer Mike Smith and co-creator James Griffin were also involved in), Open House, Funny Business, Mortimer’s Patch, Betty’s Bunch, Ray Bradbury Theatre, Erebus: the Aftermath, The Chosen, City Life, Gloss and Black Beauty.

In Australia, Frank has appeared in several more television productions, including: Hell Has Harbour Views, Changi, The Clean Machine, All Saints, Murder Call, Police Rescue, Good Buys Bad Guys and Love My Way.

Frank’s theatre credits are extensive and he’s worked with many of the major theatre companies in New Zealand and Australia. He was a founding member of the Common Stock Theatre Company in Britain and worked at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art for five years as a Director and Acting Tutor.

After filming wrapped on the first series of OUTRAGEOUS FORTUNE in mid-2005, Frank returned to Australia where he performed in two Sydney Theatre Company plays – Julius Caesar and Festen. He also featured on stage in a performance art piece for the first time in his extensive career.

Frank Whitten plays Ted West.