Editing Trevanian (section)

==Life==
Born in [[Granville, New York]], Whitaker became enthralled with stories as a boy. His family struggled with poverty. 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 in drama at the [[University of Washington]].<ref name="Myrna Oliver">[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-dec-19-me-whitaker19-story.html  Myrna Oliver, "Rodney Whitaker, a.k.a. Trevanian, 74; Author Wrote 'Eiger Sanction'", ''Los Angeles Times'', 19 Dec 2005], accessed 15 Nov 2008</ref>  While there, he wrote and directed his three-act play ''Eve of the Bursting'', which was his master's thesis production in the UW Playhouse.  The company manager and assistant director of the production was [[Jerry Pournelle]]. Whitaker went on to earn a doctorate in communications and film at [[Northwestern University]].<ref name="Myrna Oliver" />

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]]. Later, he was awarded a [[Fulbright Program|Fulbright scholarship]] for study in England.<ref name="Douglas Martin">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/17/arts/17trevanian.html?ex=1292475600&en=c16b76176fd66e09&ei=5090|author=Douglas Martin|title=Rodney Whitaker, Writer, Is Dead at 74; Best Known as Trevanian|date=December 17, 2005|work=The New York Times| accessdate = 15 Nov 2008}}</ref>

When Whitaker wrote his first two novels, he was chairman of the Department of Radio, TV, and Film at the [[University of Texas at Austin]], where he continued to teach for many years.<ref name="Douglas Martin"/>

Whitaker married the former Diane Brandon, and they had three children: Christian, and daughters Alexandra and Tomasin. They lived for years in the [[Basque Country (greater region)|Basque]] countryside of France.<ref name="Douglas Martin"/> He had a son, Lance, from a previous marriage. 

Whitaker died December 14, 2005, in [[Somerset, England]]. He was survived by his wife and grown children.