Paxton Whitehead
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Paxton Whitehead (born October 17, 1937 in Kent, England) is an actor who made his professional debut in 1956. He trained at London's Webber-Douglas Academy of Dramatic Arts beginning when he was 17 years old. After attending the Academy he 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.
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. Queen Elizabeth II, Indira Gandhi, and Pierre Elliot Trudeau were among those who attended performances at the Shaw Festival Theatre during its inaugural season in 1973. He served until 1977 and also 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.
He 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, Noel Coward's Suite in Two Keys, Lettice and Lovage", and London Suite by Neil Simon.
Whitehead is an Associate Artist of the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego. He is co-author of the books The Doctor's Dilemma and The Voysey Inheritance.
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