Known for his role in the British crime drama Inspector Morse, Kevin Whately has health with several rumors regarding his health, including ones about having a stroke. However, the actor has been an advocate for Alzheimer’s due to his family history with the condition.
The actor was born to mother, Mary, and father, Richard, both of whom held respectable jobs in the society as Mary was an English grammar school teacher, and Richard was a Royal Naval commander.
Moreover, Mary was enthusiastic as she participated in various activities, including learning Italian, running a musical society, and traveling the world.
However, darkness loomed on the Whately family when the actor lost his father to an undisclosed condition, and soon his mother started forgetting simple household chores.
Kevin thought that the memory loss was due to aging. Still, a consultation with their family doctor revealed that her mental strength had been deteriorating over the years, which ultimately led to Alzheimer’s.
After learning about her condition, Mary lost confidence in life and became depressed. She had regular mental tests with her specialist but often manipulated them into thinking she was a healthy individual.
As the years passed by, doctors suggested Kevin Whately put his mother in care homes as the conditions often led to stroke in the long run. However, after researching the market, the actor found flaws in the medical system and decided to keep his mother close.
The disease took a cruel toll on Kevin Whately and his siblings, as their mother needed constant supervision!
Throughout his career, Kevin has dedicated his fame and fortune to improving research and funding for the condition, and he often discusses the matter carefully.
While recalling his early years with his mother, the actor claimed that Mary once tried to wander outside their property in her night dress during Christmas and escaped the house, trying to walk back home to Northumberland, which was around 300 miles away.
During the difficult time, Kevin had a hard time finding a good care home for his mother as there weren’t enough centers to meet the burden of Britain’s aging population.
Such conditions forced the actor to talk about Alzheimer’s to a bigger audience. He urged the ministers to increase funds for the condition’s care and scientific studies.
Mary’s condition continued to worsen for years, and the actor described his situation in an interview with the Telegraph, “People say that you grieve because the person disappears in front of your eyes, and that is true. The character fades, and all you can catch are the little sparks that remind us of how she was.“
Kevin made time to visit his mother twice a week despite his busy schedule. However, most of the time, Mary didn’t remember her son and thought he was her father.
Meanwhile, on some of her better days, she called him Kev and treated him fondly as if the memory still lingered about her children and her family.
Additional Information
- Born on February 6, 2024, Kevin Whately began his career as a folk singer, performing at charity events. He got his breakthrough role in TV after appearing in Shoestring, Angels, and Juliet Bravo.
- Kevin Whately has been married to actress Madelaine Netwon and has two children: a daughter, Catherine, and a son, Kieran.
- As of 2024, Kevin Whatley has an estimated net worth of $10 million despite retiring from acting three years ago.
