# Benjamin Whitrow
**Benjamin Whitrow** (Benjamin John Whitrow; 17 February 1937 – 28 September 2017) was an English actor, RADA-trained and active on stage from 1959, best remembered for his BAFTA-nominated performance as Mr. Bennet in the BBC's 1995 adaptation of *Pride and Prejudice* and for voicing Fowler in the animated film *Chicken Run* (2000).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0926368/) • [3](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/benjamin-whitrow/credits/3000474593/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born / died | 17 February 1937, Oxford, England; 28 September 2017, Wimbledon, London (brain hemorrhage)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0926368/) |
| Training and stage start | Trained at RADA; first job at the Liverpool Playhouse in 1959[7](https://www.infotextmanuscripts.org/webb/webb_noises_off.pdf) |
| National Theatre | Joined the National Theatre at the Old Vic in 1967; performed in over 40 plays with the National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company[7](https://www.infotextmanuscripts.org/webb/webb_noises_off.pdf) • [6](https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.filmtrackonline.com/mongrelmedia/starcm_vault_root/images%2Ffiles%2Fe2%2Fe254f9a6-5ecf-4b7f-ac45-dc7a2b8accab.pdf) |
| Signature screen role | Mr. Bennet in *Pride and Prejudice* (BBC, 1995), BAFTA-nominated[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0926368/) |
| Voice work | Fowler in *Chicken Run* (2000)[4](https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/benjamin_whitrow/) |
| Final appearance | Sir Samuel Hoare in *Darkest Hour* (2017)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0926368/) |
| Family | Married Catherine Cook from 1972 until his death, two children; father of actor Angus Imrie, whose mother is actress Celia Imrie[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0926368/) |
## Stage career
Whitrow trained at RADA and joined the Liverpool Playhouse for his first job in 1959. After two seasons there he moved to the Haymarket Theatre to play in [John Gielgud](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-gielgud)'s production of *The School for Scandal*, followed by five years in repertory at Bristol and [Birmingham](https://www.edgepedia.org/birmingham). In 1967 he joined the National Theatre at the Old Vic.[7](https://www.infotextmanuscripts.org/webb/webb_noises_off.pdf) IMDb records that he worked for seven years in the 1960s under the direction of [Laurence Olivier](https://www.edgepedia.org/laurence-olivier) at the National Theatre.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0926368/)
His stage work was extensive. A promotional biography counts over 40 plays with the National Theatre and the [Royal Shakespeare Company](https://www.edgepedia.org/royal-shakespeare-company), among others, with credits including *The Rivals*, *Loot*, *The Merry Wives of Windsor*, *The Winter's Tale*, *Uncle Vanya*, *A Man for All Seasons*, *Noises Off*, *The Cherry Orchard*, *What the Butler Saw*, and *School for Scandal*.[6](https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.filmtrackonline.com/mongrelmedia/starcm_vault_root/images%2Ffiles%2Fe2%2Fe254f9a6-5ecf-4b7f-ac45-dc7a2b8accab.pdf) In the West End he appeared in [Simon Gray](https://www.edgepedia.org/simon-gray)'s *Otherwise Engaged*, Tom Stoppard's *Dirty Linen*, Alan Ayckbourn's *Ten Times Table*, and Peter Nichols's *Passion Play*.[7](https://www.infotextmanuscripts.org/webb/webb_noises_off.pdf) He also acted in Michael Frayn's *Noises Off* at the Savoy Theatre in London, in a cast with [Phyllida Law](https://www.edgepedia.org/phyllida-law), Robert Flemyng, and Gabrielle Drake, directed by Michael Blakemore.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0926368/)
## Television and film
After a series of one-off television appearances in the 1960s and early 1970s, Whitrow broke through with recurring roles in the 1978 drama *Armchair Thriller* and the comedic drama *Bognor*.[2](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/benjamin-whitrow/) Early film credits include *Quadrophenia* (1979) and *Brimstone & Treacle* (1982), the latter one of the supporting roles that first brought him notice on the big screen, along with the satire *The New Statesman*.[5](https://www.cinnamondb.com/person/benjamin-whitrow) • [2](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/benjamin-whitrow/)
**Mr. Bennet.** The role for which he is best remembered is Mr. Bennet in the BBC's acclaimed six-part *Pride and Prejudice* (1995), adapted by Andrew Davies and directed by Simon Langton, which aired on [BBC One](https://www.edgepedia.org/bbc-one) from 24 September to 29 October 1995.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0926368/) • [8](https://firth.com/darcy/) The performance brought him a BAFTA nomination.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0926368/) In the same year he appeared in Michael Hoffman's *Restoration*, and in 1992 he had played opposite [Jeremy Irons](https://www.edgepedia.org/jeremy-irons) in [Louis Malle](https://www.edgepedia.org/louis-malle)'s *Damage*.[5](https://www.cinnamondb.com/person/benjamin-whitrow) • [2](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/benjamin-whitrow/)
**Later work.** Whitrow was usually cast in avuncular roles on screen.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0926368/) He voiced the elderly Fowler in Aardman's *Chicken Run* (2000)[4](https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/benjamin_whitrow/) and in 2009 took a rare starring role in the indie film *Bomber*, about an 83-year-old man returning to Germany on a journey of atonement.[2](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/benjamin-whitrow/) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0926368/) [Television](https://www.edgepedia.org/television) appearances through the 2000s and 2010s included *Doc Martin*, *Midsomer Murders*, *Monarch of the Glen*, *Toast of London* (as Ken Suggestion), and *Man Down*.[4](https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/benjamin_whitrow/) He played Archbishop Warham in *Wolf Hall* (2015) and made his final screen appearance as Sir Samuel Hoare in [Gary Oldman](https://www.edgepedia.org/gary-oldman)'s Churchill film *Darkest Hour* (2017).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0926368/)
## Personal life
Whitrow married Catherine Cook in 1972, and the marriage lasted until his death; the couple had two children, including daughter Hannah Mary Whitrow.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0926368/) He had a son, the actor [Angus Imrie](https://www.edgepedia.org/angus-imrie), with actress [Celia Imrie](https://www.edgepedia.org/celia-imrie).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0926368/) His personal interests included wild orchids, golf, bridge, and collecting books.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0926368/) He died on 28 September 2017 at [Wimbledon, London](https://www.edgepedia.org/wimbledon-london), of a brain hemorrhage, aged 80.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0926368/) • [2](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/benjamin-whitrow/)
## References
1. [Benjamin Whitrow, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0926368/)
2. [Benjamin Whitrow, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/benjamin-whitrow/)
3. [Benjamin Whitrow List of Movies and TV Shows, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/benjamin-whitrow/credits/3000474593/)
4. [Benjamin Whitrow, British Comedy Guide](https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/benjamin_whitrow/)
5. [Benjamin Whitrow, Cinnamon DB](https://www.cinnamondb.com/person/benjamin-whitrow)
6. [Benjamin Whitrow biography (Lilting press materials), Filmtrack](https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.filmtrackonline.com/mongrelmedia/starcm_vault_root/images%2Ffiles%2Fe2%2Fe254f9a6-5ecf-4b7f-ac45-dc7a2b8accab.pdf)
7. [Noises Off cast biographies, Infotext Manuscripts](https://www.infotextmanuscripts.org/webb/webb_noises_off.pdf)
8. [Pride and Prejudice (1995), Firth.com](https://firth.com/darcy/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › English actors: 1970s to 1990s › Surnames U to Y*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license