Ian Whyte was born in Bangor, North Wales and brought up in Brighton. He received athletic scholarships to Iona College in New York and Clarion University in Pennsylvania as a basketball player and later distinguished himself with 80 caps for England over a nine year international basketball career. In 2004 his physical attributes, his mental toughness and flair for the theatrical made him the perfect man to play the part of the iconic Predator in Paul W. Anderson's Sci Fi action film Alien Vs. Predator, to critical acclaim. Ian went on to develop his reputation as a talented physical actor by performing stunts for Francis De La Tour as the 8' 6" tall Madame Maxime, Head Mistress of the Beauxbatons Academy in Harry Potter and Goblet of Fire. In 2007 Ian reprised the role of the Predator in AVP: Requiem, again to critical acclaim and in 2010 the character of Madame Maxime in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1.
Ian continues to play fearsome horror, fantasy and science fiction characters created by the most talented industry designers and is highly regarded as one of the finest, most talented and dedicated costume actors in the business. He has also recently come to prominence playing dramatic parts, most notable in the as yet unreleased Harrigan directed by Vince Woods. A stylish, gritty police drama set against the dark backdrop of 1970's Britain and as the fearsome and sinister Gregor Clegane, "The Mountain that Rides" in the second season of HBO's award winning fantasy drama: Game of Thrones.
