Stuart Ullman is a minor yet pivotal antagonist of the Stephen King multiverse.
Serving as a minor antagonist of the novel The Shining, it’s film adaptation and miniseries of the same name, and a mentioned character in Doctor Sleep.
He was the general manager at the Overlook Hotel. After closing the hotel for the winter, with Jack Torrance serving as the caretaker, he was going to spend a night at the Boulderado Hotel. When Jack Torrance arrives at the Overlook Hotel to interview for the open position of winter caretaker, Stuart tells him the hotel itself is built on the site of an Indian burial ground and becomes completely snowbound during the long winters. He also warns him that a previous caretaker (Delbert Grady) got cabin fever and killed his family and himself.
The Shining (book)[]
In the book, Stuart Ullman is a snobby and rather rude man, described as plump and five-feet-five. All the staff seem to hate him, which he doesn't care about. He tells Jack that if it wasn't for higher authorities, he would've kicked Jack out. On Closing Day, the lobby is a flurry of activity as people check out and staff carry luggage and get ready to leave.
Mr Ullman is not pleased to see Jack and Wendy so early, expecting them a bit later when the hotel was a bit more calmer. He helps a woman, while Jack, Wendy and Danny admire the busy hotel and take a seat on one of the empty couches. After a tour of the kitchen and Danny's talk with Dick Hallorann, Stuart is counting the money from the guests with the desk clerk, while the chambermaids stand by the door waiting for their arrivals. Stuart calls the family over and gives them a grand tour, showing them the Presidential Suite and the family quarters.
When he is ready to leave, he is not happy to see Bill Watson still in the lobby, but Bill doesn't care about this. Stuart is the last to leave the hotel. A month later, Jack calls Stuart in the town on a pay phone and tells Stuart that he is planning to write a book about the Overlook's dirty past, which Stuart is both angry, shocked and surprised by. After Jack hangs up on him, he tries to convince Al to get Jack out of the hotel, but isn't successful. After that, Stuart Ullman is only mentioned and referenced a few times, but is never seen or heard from again.
The Shining (movie)[]
In the 1980 movie, Stuart Ullman is given a complete change from the novel. He is a polite, friendly man who is warm to Jack and his family. He warns Jack about the isolation and the incident that happened in the hotel with the Grady family, to which Jack brushes off. On Closing Day, Stuart and Bill Watson give Jack and Wendy a tour of the hotel and take them to their quarters. They meet Dick Hallorann in the Gold Ballroom and Stuart's secretary gives Danny back to his parents after finding him outside of the hotel. Stuart and Bill continue on with the tour with Jack, while Dick gives Wendy and Danny a tour of the kitchen. After the tour of the kitchen commences, he, Jack and Bill meet Wendy, Danny and Dick in the kitchen and asks to borrow Wendy to take her to the basement. Dick takes Danny to get some ice cream and the tour commences. Wendy tells Stuart that she is amazed by the amount of activity on a closing day. Stuart says that some of the staff and guests left the day before, but the last day is always hectic and that soon enough, the Torrances will hardly believe anyone was ever in the hotel. He is not seen again after this.
The Shining (miniseries)[]
Unlike the book and 1980 movie where Stuart is a frequent character, he plays an extremely minor role in the mini series. Like the book, he is a rude and snobby man, but is tall and lean. He seems to be more rude than in the book and criticizes Jack during the interview. After that, he is not seen again, but is mentioned a few times. It is unusual as to why he wasn't at the hotel during Closing Day, as he plays a rather important and major role in that category.
Doctor Sleep[]
Stuart Ullman does not appear in the book, and is only briefly referenced once. But giving his age, he likely passed away before the events of Doctor Sleep happened.
Appearances[]
Trivia[]
- Despite Ullman being referenced briefly in Doctor Sleep, he plays an important role in The Shining and would solely be the most important.
- Ullman’s role is very different in the film, than in the novel and the miniseries, since he is shown to be a more kind and friendly man. This makes him not a antagonist in the film.