Whit Whitman
- Producer
- Writer
- Director
Ken Whitman, born in Fort Knox, Kentucky, and raised in the small town of Brandenburg (population 2,400), grew up as the son of a military sergeant and Ruth (Benham), a community-minded mother known for her Christmas baking traditions. In Brandenburg, Ruth would bake cakes every Christmas for over 50 neighbors along Gumwell Road, instilling in Ken a sense of community that would later influence his career choices.
At age 14, Whitman discovered Dungeons & Dragons, a pivotal moment that would shape his future career path. This early exposure to role-playing games combined with his creative interests led him to Murray State University (1985-1991), where he earned a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design while playing defensive end for the Racers on a full football scholarship. During his college years, Whitman demonstrated his leadership abilities as a Hall President and helped establish the university's chapter of Sigma Tau Gamma Fraternity.
While still a student in 1989, Whitman launched his first company, Whit Productions, publishing the post-apocalyptic role-playing game "Mutazoids." The game received positive reviews, with critics praising its "attractively chaotic RPG environment." This success led to the formation of Whit Publications in the early 1990s, where he secured notable licenses including Ralph Bakshi's Wizards and the WWF Basic Adventure Game.
In 1994, Whitman joined TSR (creators of Dungeons & Dragons) as Gen Con Convention Coordinator, where he ambitiously expanded their convention presence. This experience led to his co-founding of Imperium Games with Marc Miller in 1996, publishing a new edition of the classic science fiction RPG Traveller. Throughout the late 1990s, he continued to lead several gaming companies including Archangel Entertainment and Dynasty Presentations, launching Games Unplugged magazine and publishing various successful games including Groo: The Game.
The 2000s marked a period of business diversification for Whitman. From 2000 to 2013, he managed Larry Elmore's art company, Elmore Productions, where he developed licensed materials and produced over fifty products in just two years. During this time, he also ventured into printing services, founding Rapid POD (2005-2007) and later Sidekick Printing.
A new creative chapter began in 2008 when Whitman started performing in community theater with his children. This experience sparked a passion for performance that led him to Atlanta, Georgia in 2011, where he began pursuing acting professionally. His screen career includes appearances in major productions such as The Walking Dead (Pick Axe Savior), Baby Driver (Prison Guard), and The Fate of the Furious (Stand-in for Dwayne Johnson), along with roles in numerous other films and television shows including The Haves and the Have Nots and Star.
While building his acting career, Whitman continued his entrepreneurial ventures, notably creating Brothers Barbarian (2011-2013), a television series where he both starred as Russ and served as writer for eleven episodes. In 2013, he launched d20 Entertainment, though the company faced challenges with its Kickstarter projects.
By 2016, Whitman had begun transitioning into directing, taking on the role of President of the Atlanta Actors Co-Op and developing his skills behind the camera. In 2018, he founded Little Monster Entertainment, establishing himself as CEO and focusing on independent film distribution.
In 2022 marked Whitman's return to Kentucky, drawn back by the state's new film incentives. There, he launched several educational initiatives, including the Community Film Collaborative and School of Cinematic Arts LLC, dedicated to teaching underprivileged young adults the art of filmmaking and storytelling.
Whitman serves as director and writer for multiple projects, including "Unnatural" (2024), "12 Till Dawn," and "Eating Each Other." His development slate includes fourteen additional projects ranging from feature films to TV mini-series, including sequels to "Unnatural" and various genre productions. Through Little Monster Entertainment, he continues to connect independent filmmakers with distribution opportunities while nurturing the next generation of film industry professionals in his home state. Throughout his career, Whitman has demonstrated remarkable adaptability, successfully transitioning from tabletop gaming publishing to printing services, acting, and ultimately film production and education. His journey reflects not only the evolution of entertainment media over three decades but also his commitment to creative entrepreneurship and community development. Today, he combines his experience in multiple entertainment industries with a dedication to education, bringing his career full circle by developing new talent in Kentucky, where his journey began.
At age 14, Whitman discovered Dungeons & Dragons, a pivotal moment that would shape his future career path. This early exposure to role-playing games combined with his creative interests led him to Murray State University (1985-1991), where he earned a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design while playing defensive end for the Racers on a full football scholarship. During his college years, Whitman demonstrated his leadership abilities as a Hall President and helped establish the university's chapter of Sigma Tau Gamma Fraternity.
While still a student in 1989, Whitman launched his first company, Whit Productions, publishing the post-apocalyptic role-playing game "Mutazoids." The game received positive reviews, with critics praising its "attractively chaotic RPG environment." This success led to the formation of Whit Publications in the early 1990s, where he secured notable licenses including Ralph Bakshi's Wizards and the WWF Basic Adventure Game.
In 1994, Whitman joined TSR (creators of Dungeons & Dragons) as Gen Con Convention Coordinator, where he ambitiously expanded their convention presence. This experience led to his co-founding of Imperium Games with Marc Miller in 1996, publishing a new edition of the classic science fiction RPG Traveller. Throughout the late 1990s, he continued to lead several gaming companies including Archangel Entertainment and Dynasty Presentations, launching Games Unplugged magazine and publishing various successful games including Groo: The Game.
The 2000s marked a period of business diversification for Whitman. From 2000 to 2013, he managed Larry Elmore's art company, Elmore Productions, where he developed licensed materials and produced over fifty products in just two years. During this time, he also ventured into printing services, founding Rapid POD (2005-2007) and later Sidekick Printing.
A new creative chapter began in 2008 when Whitman started performing in community theater with his children. This experience sparked a passion for performance that led him to Atlanta, Georgia in 2011, where he began pursuing acting professionally. His screen career includes appearances in major productions such as The Walking Dead (Pick Axe Savior), Baby Driver (Prison Guard), and The Fate of the Furious (Stand-in for Dwayne Johnson), along with roles in numerous other films and television shows including The Haves and the Have Nots and Star.
While building his acting career, Whitman continued his entrepreneurial ventures, notably creating Brothers Barbarian (2011-2013), a television series where he both starred as Russ and served as writer for eleven episodes. In 2013, he launched d20 Entertainment, though the company faced challenges with its Kickstarter projects.
By 2016, Whitman had begun transitioning into directing, taking on the role of President of the Atlanta Actors Co-Op and developing his skills behind the camera. In 2018, he founded Little Monster Entertainment, establishing himself as CEO and focusing on independent film distribution.
In 2022 marked Whitman's return to Kentucky, drawn back by the state's new film incentives. There, he launched several educational initiatives, including the Community Film Collaborative and School of Cinematic Arts LLC, dedicated to teaching underprivileged young adults the art of filmmaking and storytelling.
Whitman serves as director and writer for multiple projects, including "Unnatural" (2024), "12 Till Dawn," and "Eating Each Other." His development slate includes fourteen additional projects ranging from feature films to TV mini-series, including sequels to "Unnatural" and various genre productions. Through Little Monster Entertainment, he continues to connect independent filmmakers with distribution opportunities while nurturing the next generation of film industry professionals in his home state. Throughout his career, Whitman has demonstrated remarkable adaptability, successfully transitioning from tabletop gaming publishing to printing services, acting, and ultimately film production and education. His journey reflects not only the evolution of entertainment media over three decades but also his commitment to creative entrepreneurship and community development. Today, he combines his experience in multiple entertainment industries with a dedication to education, bringing his career full circle by developing new talent in Kentucky, where his journey began.
