[close] "Trevanian" was the pen name of American author Dr. Rodney William Whitaker (12 June 1931-14 Dec 2005). He wrote in a wide variety of genres, achieved best-seller status, and published under several names, of which the best known was Trevanian. From 1972 to 1983, five of his novels sold more than a million copies each. He was described as "the only writer of airport paperbacks to be compared to Zola, Ian Fleming, Poe and Chaucer."

Whitaker also published works as Nicholas Seare and Beñat Le Cagot. He published the non-fiction work The Language of Film under his own name

Born in Granville, New York, 12 June 1931, Rodney William Whitaker became enthralled with stories as a boy. His family struggled with poverty and he lived for several years in Albany, New York as a youth (a time portrayed in his last published work).

Whitaker earned bachelor's and master's degrees at the University of Washington. While there he wrote and directed his own three-act play Eve of the Bursting. Whitaker went on to earn a doctorate in communications and film at Northwestern University.

He taught at Dana College in Blair, Nebraska, where he was chairman of the communications division. He served in the US Navy during the Korean War, and later was awarded a Fullbright scholarship for study in England. When he wrote his first two novels, he was chairman of the Department of Radio, TV and Film at the University of Texas, Austin, where he continued to teach for many years.

Whitaker married the former Diane Brandon, and they had four children: sons Lance and Christian, and daughters Alexandra and Tomasin. They lived for years in the Basque country of France.

Whitaker died December 14, 2005 in the English West Country. He was survived by his wife and four grown children.

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