Ian Whyte (actor)
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 | |
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Whyte in 2018 | |
Born | |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 2004–present |
Height | 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) |
Career
Whyte began his career a professional basketball player for the Newcastle Eagles. He also collected 80 caps for the England national team.[1] After his retirement from basketball he began his second career as a stuntman and actor.[2]
Whyte is best known for portraying Predators in the movies Alien vs. Predator and Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem.[3]
Whyte portrayed one of the "Engineer" aliens seen in Ridley Scott's 2012 science fiction film, Prometheus.[4]
In 2010, Whyte played Sheikh Sulieman in Clash of the Titans.[5]
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.[6] In season 5 and season 6, Whyte portrayed the giant Wun Wun.[7] He later played a giant wight in episode 3 of Season 8.
Personal life
Whyte was born in Bangor, Gwynedd, Wales. He is 7 ft 1 in (216 cm) tall. Whyte is married to Amy,[8] a business development manager for the Gordon Brown Law Firm. They have one daughter.
Filmography
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 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[4] | |
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 |
References
- Administrator, journallive. "Face to Face: Ian Whyte - The Journal". www.thejournal.co.uk.
- "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.
- "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.
- Ford, Coreena (7 March 2010). "Basketball star Ian Whyte nets leading role". chroniclelive.co.uk. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
- "Ian Whyte on Melting the Iron Throne & Becoming The Mountain". flicksandthecity.com. 24 July 2013. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
- "We spoke to Game of Thrones giant Wun Wun about his death". The Independent. 23 June 2016. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
- "Face to Face: Ian Whyte". ChronicleLive. 29 March 2005. Retrieved 10 August 2015.