Ian Stuart Whyte (born 17 September 1971) is a Welsh actor, stuntman and former professional basketball player. He is best known for his roles as Predators in the Alien vs. Predator film series, Sheikh Suleiman in the 2010 remake of Clash of the Titans, The Last Engineer in Prometheus, as well as various characters in the HBO fantasy series Game of Thrones.
Ian Whyte | |
|---|---|
 Whyte in 2018 | |
| Born | 17 September 1971 |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2004–present |
| Height | 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) |
Career
editRaised in Brighton, Whyte began his career a professional basketball player with clubs in several countries, including FC Porto where he was a Portuguese champion in 1996–97, and culminating in a six-year spell with the Newcastle Eagles.[1] He also collected 80 caps for the England national team.[2]
After his retirement from basketball in 2003 he began his second career as a stuntman and actor.[3]
Whyte is best known for portraying Predators in the movies Alien vs. Predator and Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem, in particular Wolf in the latter.[4]
In 2010, Whyte played Sheikh Sulieman in Clash of the Titans.[5]
Whyte portrayed one of the "Engineer" aliens seen in Ridley Scott's 2012 science fiction film, Prometheus.[6]
He has portrayed various characters requiring a physically tall actor in the HBO series Game of Thrones, including White Walkers in season 1 and season 2 and a giant in the opening episode of season 3. For these roles he was unrecognisable under make-up and computer effects. In season 2, he also had a speaking role as Gregor Clegane.[7] In season 5 and season 6, Whyte portrayed the giant Wun Wun.[8] He later played a giant wight in episode 3 of Season 8.
Personal life
editWhyte was born in Bangor, Gwynedd, Wales. He is 7 ft 1 in (216 cm) tall.[5][8] Whyte is married and has one son.[9]
Filmography
edit| Year | Film/Television show | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Alien vs. Predator | Scar Celtic Chopper Ancient Predator |
|
| 2005 | Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire | Olympe Maxime | with Frances de la Tour |
| 2007 | Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem | Wolf | |
| 2009 | Solomon Kane | The Devil's Reaper | |
| 2009 | Dragonball Evolution | Oozaru | |
| 2010 | Outcast | The Beast | |
| 2010 | Clash of the Titans | Sheikh Suleiman | |
| 2011–2019 | Game of Thrones | White Walker | Episodes "Winter Is Coming", "The Night Lands" |
| Gregor Clegane | Episodes "Garden of Bones", "A Man Without Honor", "The Prince of Winterfell" | ||
| Dongo the Doomed | Episodes "Valar Dohaeris", "The Watchers on the Wall", "The Children" | ||
| Wun Weg Wun Dar Wun | Episodes "Hardhome", "The Dance of Dragons", "Home", "The Broken Man", "Battle of the Bastards" | ||
| Giant Wights | Episodes "Dragonstone", "The Dragon and the Wolf", "The Long Night" | ||
| 2012 | Prometheus | Last Engineer[6] | |
| 2013 | Don't Move | The Demon | Short film |
| 2013 | The Beachcomber | Cluny Barr | |
| 2013 | Harrigan | Ronnie | |
| 2014 | Blood Moon | Skinwalker | |
| 2014 | The Scorpion King 4: Quest for Power | Prince Duan | |
| 2014 | Hercules | Bessi Warrior Leader | |
| 2015 | Star Wars: The Force Awakens | Crusher Roodown, Bollie Prindel | Also Peter Mayhew's stunt double |
| 2016 | Rogue One | Moroff | |
| 2017 | Star Wars: The Last Jedi | Bollie Prindel | |
| 2020 | The Reckoning | Lucifer | |
| 2021 | The Irregulars | Plague Doctor | |
| 2022 | The Northman | The Mound Dweller | |
| 2022 | Andor | Vetch | |
| 2024 | Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire | Garraka (puppeteer) |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Ian Whyte, DaveOwenBasketball
- ^ John Gibson (29 March 2005). "Face to Face: Ian Whyte". The Chronicle.
- ^ "Former Newcastle Eagles' basketball star Ian Whyte on his life onscreen". northeastlifemag.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2 October 2016. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
- ^ "Strange Shapes Interviews Ian Whyte". Strange Shapes. 15 August 2013. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
- ^ a b Ford, Coreena (7 March 2010). "Basketball star Ian Whyte nets leading role". chroniclelive.co.uk. Archived from the original on 10 September 2017. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
- ^ a b "20th Century Fox Official Credits List". Prometheus Full Credits List. 1 May 2012. Archived from the original on 9 May 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
- ^ "Ian Whyte on Melting the Iron Throne & Becoming The Mountain". flicksandthecity.com. 24 July 2013. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
- ^ a b "We spoke to Game of Thrones giant Wun Wun about his death". The Independent. 23 June 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
- ^ "Face to Face: Ian Whyte". ChronicleLive. 29 March 2005. Retrieved 10 August 2015.