An Outrageous send off

Shane Cortese and Antony Starr attend Frank Whitten's funeral. Photo / Jason Dorday

Outrageous Fortune stars Antonia Prebble and Shane Cortese were among the actors who gathered this week to remember Frank Whitten.

The 68-year-old, best known as Grandpa West in the hit TV3 show, died on February 12 after a battle with cancer.

Prebble spoke on behalf of the team during the service at Auckland's St-Matthew-in-the-City church on Thursday.

Whitten also appeared in 1984 film Vigil and was a fixture in the Speight's "Southern Man" television commercials.

But Cortese said friends knew his passion was live theatre.

"He would have been incredibly embarrassed by all the kerfuffle, but bugger him - he was one of our most talented but underrated actors."

Film greats Vincent Ward, Ian Mune and Elizabeth McRae also paid tribute and a telegram from Hollywood star and Sydney Theatre Company artistic director Cate Blanchett was read out.

It explained how Frank had worked for the company for 20 years and was a loved and highly regarded member.

Outrageous Fortune star Robyn Malcolm was unable to attend after flying to Christchurch to be with her mother, Anne, who was injured after getting trapped in a building during Tuesday's earthquake.