Meet Jack Whitehall's Father (and Netflix Special Costar!) Michael Whitehall

Jack Whitehall's dad stars alongside him on Netflix’s 'Jack Whitehall: Fatherhood with My Father'

Jack Whitehall's father, Michael Whitehall, may not be the biggest name in Hollywood, but he is the man behind some of them.

From Colin Firth to Dame Judi Dench, Michael has been supporting actors for years as a talent agent. These days though, he’s supporting a talent even closer to his heart: son and famous comedian, Jack Whitehall.

In 2017, the pair made their first Netflix comedy documentary together, Jack Whitehall: Travels with My Father. The show followed the father-son duo as they traveled through southeast Asia, striving to “strengthen their bond,” per Netflix. Seven years later, in September 2024, the Whitehalls released another series, Jack Whitehall: Fatherhood with My Father, this time focusing on Jack becoming a dad.

Related: Who Is Jack Whitehall's Girlfriend? All About Roxy Horner

Jack and Michael said on The One Show that they enjoyed working together on their new series, even if their dynamic on-screen can occasionally be combative. "We loved working together ... We did have a really good time doing that," Jack said.

Michael agreed in an interview with School Notices, saying, "Working with Jack has been the absolutely special thing. I’m very lucky to have had my later years filled doing things with him which is a real treat."

From charting a storied path in the entertainment industry to maintaining a long marriage, here’s everything to know about Jack Whitehall’s father Michael Whitehall.

Michael is English

Michael was born in Exeter, England on Apr. 12, 1940.

During his upbringing, he attended a Catholic boarding school, Ampleforth College, in Yorkshire.

He began his career as a film reporter

Long before becoming a father, Michael kicked off his career in the world of entertainment as a reporter.

At the time, he wrote for a weekly newspaper called The Universe. Before becoming an agent, he had many other roles, including a schoolmaster, a legal clerk, a copywriter and a fundraiser, per the BBC.

Michael told School Notices that his family would have preferred he stay in law, but he didn't have the attention span for it. “My mother wanted me to be a doctor or barrister, and she had very grand plans for my career," he said.

Michael has been married to his wife, Hilary Gish Whitehall, for more than 35 years

On Apr. 12, 1986, Michael married his second wife, Hilary Gish. Previously, he had a four year marriage with Jane McIntosh, from 1969 to 1973.

Michael and Hilary had careers in common, as she was a television actor, and met when Michael started representing her. Now, the couple reside in London and co-host their podcast, The Wittering Whitehalls. In their free time, they love to attend soccer games.

He has three children

Along with Jack, Michael and Hillary share two more children, Molly and Barnaby “Barney” Whitehall.

Molly, born in 1989, was the director and founder of WDW Entertainment, an independent communications consultancy and now works as an awards consultant. While she leads a private life, she often shares photos of her family on Instagram. In April 2023, she shared a photo of Michael with his grandchild and wrote in the caption, “Happy Birthday to the greatest father and grandfather. We love you so much."

Barney, born in 1992, has followed in the family’s artistic footsteps, working as the creative director of Nearby Productions, a “team that specialise[s] in delivering unique content for brands and talent,” per his LinkedIn.

Michael has represented famous talent

In his career as a talent agent, Michael has represented famous actors. Among them are British Academy Film Award winner Edward Fox and Academy Award winners Colin Firth and Dame Judi Dench.

School Notices even credited Michael for discovering Daniel Day-Lewis and Michael Fassbender when they were in drama school.

He has produced a variety of TV projects

Along with his Netflix series with Jack, Michael has produced a variety of British television series including: A Perfect Hero (1991), The Good Guys (1992) and Noah’s Ark (1998). Likewise, he’s produced television films including the psychological thriller Element of Doubt (1996), which his son Barney acted in.

Beyond the screen, Michael is also an author. In 2007, he released his first book, Shark Infested Waters: Tales of an Actors' Agent, which Jack illustrated. In 2013, he debuted his second book Him & Me, which he co-wrote with Jack. Four years later, Michael published his memoir, Backing Into the Spotlight.

Michael stars in Jack Whitehall: Fatherhood with My Father

As Jack was preparing to become a father, he enlisted Michael's help. The resulting Netflix series, which premiered Sept. 10, 2024, follows the father-son duo as they take birth classes, contend with the future of tech in children's lives, and discuss mortality.

Jack welcomed his daughter Elsie with his girlfriend, Roxy Horner, in May 2023, which is also documented in the Netflix series.

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