Leonard-Whiting
Leonard Whiting | Biography

Quick Wiki

  • Full Name Leonard Whiting
  • Occupation Actor & Singer
  • Nationality British
  • Birthplace London, England, UK
  • Birth Date May 30, 1950
  • Age 74 Years, 6 Months
Romeo In Zeffirelli's 1968 Film 'Romeo and Juliet'

Leonard Whiting | Biography

Also Acted In Romantic Thriller Movie 'Social Suicide' Alongside Hussey in 2015

Whiting and Hussey are both well-known for their performances as Romeo and Juliet in the 1986 production of 'Romeo and Juliet'. At the time of filming, Whiting was 17, whereas Hussey was 16. Their interpretation was so passionate that the audiences naturally assumed they were acting out their own emotions as Shakespeare's star-crossed ill-fated lovers.


Leonard Whiting is an actor well known for playing Romeo in Franco Zeffirelli's 1968 film adaptation of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.

Who is Leonard Whiting?

Leonard Whiting is a British singer and actor born on 30 June 1950 in London, England, UK. As of December 2021, he is 71 years old. Whiting was born to mother Peggy Joyce O'Sullivan, who worked in a telephone instrument factory, and father Arthur Leonard Whiting, who ran a store that sold exhibition materials. He has two younger sisters named Linda and Anne. Moreover, Whiting went to St. Richard of Chichester School in Camden.

Whiting first appeared in the 1965 movie The Legend of Young Dick Turpin. The same year, he starred in two TV series, Laughter from the Whitehall and A Poor Gentleman. Following that, he was on another TV series called The Magical World of Disney in 1966. 

His breakthrough role came in the 1968 adaptation of Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet, directed by Franco Zeffirelli. He played the role of Romeo alongside Olivia Hussey as Juliet. Other movies of Whiting include The Royal Hunt of the Sun (1969), Young Martin Say Hello to Yesterday (1971), as well as War is Hell (1972), and Rachel's Man (1975). Besides movies, he has also appeared in several TV shows like Love Story (1973) and The Dreamstone (1990-1995).

In 2015, Whiting starred in Social Suicide, a romantic thriller inspired by Romeo and Juliet, alongside Olivia Hussey after 46 years. Her on-screen daughter was played by her daughter, India Eisley. Besides his acting career, Whiting is also a singer and performed at various shows.

Leonard Whiting and Olivia Hussey 

Whiting and Hussey are both well-known for their performances as Romeo and Juliet in the 1986 production of Romeo and Juliet. At the time of filming, Whiting was 17, whereas Hussey was 16. Their interpretation was so passionate that the audiences naturally assumed they were acting out their own emotions as Shakespeare's star-crossed ill-fated lovers.

The film's color palette and Whiting and Hussey as the title character characters helped make Franco Zeffirelli's version of Romeo and Juliet a bright adaptation of Shakespeare's play. It has been described as the most faithful adaptation to the original text. In an interview with Fox News, Hussey mentioned that she and Whiting dated for a short time, but it didn't last long. However, she also said they remained friends, texting each other at least once every ten days.

Leonard Whiting and Olivia Hussey in Rome and Juliet
Leonard Whiting and Olivia Hussey in Romeo and Juliet (Photo: Pinterest)

Wife

Whiting has been married twice. He first married Catherine Helen (Cathee) Dahmen, a model, in 1971, but the couple divorced in 1977. Whiting's second marriage was with Lynn Presser from 1995 to 2011. Whiting has one daughter, Sarah Beth Whiting with Catherine Dahmen, and one with actress Valerie Tobin named Charlotte.

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