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James Allen Whitmore Jr. (October 1, 1921 – February 6, 2009) was an American actor. He received numerous accolades, including a Golden Globe Award, a
Grammy Award The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pre ...
, a
Primetime Emmy Award The Primetime Emmy Awards, or Primetime Emmys, are part of the extensive range of Emmy Awards for artistic and technical merit for the American television industry. Bestowed by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS), the Primetime ...
, a
Theatre World Award The Theatre World Award is an American honor presented annually to actors and actresses in recognition of an outstanding New York City stage debut performance, either on Broadway or Off-Broadway. It was first awarded for the 1945–1946 theatre s ...
, and a
Tony Award The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ce ...
, plus two
Academy Award The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment in ...
nominations.


Biography


Early life and military service

Born in
White Plains, New York (Always Faithful) , image_seal = WhitePlainsSeal.png , seal_link = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = , subdivision_type1 = State , subdivision_name1 = , subdivisi ...
, to Florence Belle (née Crane) and James Allen Whitmore Sr., a park commission official, Whitmore attended Amherst Central High School in Snyder, New York, for three years, before transferring to the Choate School in
Wallingford, Connecticut Wallingford is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States, centrally located between New Haven and Hartford, and Boston and New York City. The population was 44,396 at the 2020 census. The community was named after Wallingford, in E ...
, on a football scholarship. He went on to study at
Yale University Yale University is a Private university, private research university in New Haven, Connecticut. Established in 1701 as the Collegiate School, it is the List of Colonial Colleges, third-oldest institution of higher education in the United Sta ...
, but he had to quit playing football after severely injuring his knees."James Whitmore dies at 87" by Dennis McLellan. Los Angeles Times, February 7, 2009. After giving up football, he turned to the Yale Dramatic Society and began acting. While at Yale, he was a member of Skull and Bones, and was among the founders of the Yale radio station (the student-run WOCD-AM, later renamed WYBC-AM). Whitmore planned on becoming a lawyer and graduated with a major in government from Yale University. After the outbreak of World War II, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve in 1942 while finishing his degree, which he completed in 1944. In the Marines, he trained at
Parris Island Parris is both a given name and surname. Notable people with the name include: Given name * Parris Afton Bonds, American novelist * Parris Campbell (born 1997), American football player * Parris Duffus (born 1970), retired American ice hockey goa ...
and
Quantico, Virginia Quantico ( or ; formerly Potomac) is a town in Prince William County, Virginia, United States. The population was 480 at the 2010 census. Quantico is approximately 35 miles southwest of Washington, DC, bordered by the Potomac River to the east a ...
, and
Officers Candidate School An officer candidate school (OCS) is a military school which trains civilians and enlisted personnel in order for them to gain a commission as officers in the armed forces of a country. How OCS is run differs between countries and services. Typi ...
, and was commissioned a
second lieutenant Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces, comparable to NATO OF-1 rank. Australia The rank of second lieutenant existed in the military forces of the Australian colonies and Australian Army until 1 ...
. After further training he was assigned to the 4th Marine Division on
Saipan Saipan ( ch, Sa’ipan, cal, Seipél, formerly in es, Saipán, and in ja, 彩帆島, Saipan-tō) is the largest island of the Northern Mariana Islands, a commonwealth of the United States in the western Pacific Ocean. According to 2020 est ...
in July 1944. While at Tinian, he contracted amoebic dysentery and was hospitalized. Following his hospitalization, he served guard duty at the
Panama Canal Zone The Panama Canal Zone ( es, Zona del Canal de Panamá), also simply known as the Canal Zone, was an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the Isthmus of Panama, that existed from 1903 to 1979. It was located within the terr ...
until his discharge in March 1946.


Marriage and later life

After World War II, Whitmore studied acting at the American Theatre Wing and the Actors Studio in New York. At this time, Whitmore met his first wife, Nancy Mygatt. They married in 1947, and the couple had three sons before their divorce in 1971. The eldest son, James III, found success as a television actor and director under the name James Whitmore Jr. The second son, Stephen, became the public spokesman for the
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD), officially the County of Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, is a law enforcement agency serving Los Angeles County, California. LASD is the largest sheriff's department in the United States a ...
.See the 2009 obituary on James Whitmore by The Associated Press, posted on www.legacy.com. The youngest son, Daniel, was a Forest Service Snow Ranger and firefighter before he launched his own construction company. In 1979, Whitmore and Mygatt remarried, but they divorced again after two years. Whitmore was married to actress Audra Lindley from 1972 until 1979. He co-starred in several stage performances with her both during and after their marriage. These included ''Elba'' (a play by Vaughn McBride about an elderly couple who escape from the nursing home); William Gibson's ''Handy Dandy'' (he as a conservative judge, she as a liberal nun); and Tom Cole's ''About Time'' (in which they played characters identified simply as the Old Man and the Old Woman). In 2001, he married actress and author Noreen Nash. Whitmore is the grandfather of '' Survivor: Gabon'' contestant Matty Whitmore. In 2010, James Whitmore Jr., and his two children (grandchildren of James Whitmore), actress-director Aliah Whitmore and artist-production designer Jacob Whitmore, formed the theatre group Whitmore Eclectic. They perform in Los Angeles, California."The Whitmore Family Will Never Grow out of This Stage" by Susan King. ''Los Angeles Times,'' May 7, 2013. In his later years, Whitmore spent his summers in Peterborough, New Hampshire, performing with the Peterborough Players. Although not always politically active, in 2007, Whitmore generated some publicity with his endorsement of
Barack Obama Barack Hussein Obama II ( ; born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, Obama was the first Af ...
for U.S. President. In January 2008, Whitmore appeared in television commercials for the First Freedom First campaign, which advocates preserving "the separation of church and state" and protecting religious liberty. "An avid flower and vegetable gardener, Whitmore was also known to TV viewers as the longtime commercial pitchman for Miracle-Gro garden products." A Democrat, he supported the campaign of
Adlai Stevenson Adlai Stevenson may refer to: * Adlai Stevenson I (1835–1914), U.S. Vice President (1893–1897) and Congressman (1879–1881) * Adlai Stevenson II (1900–1965), Governor of Illinois (1949–1953), U.S. presidential candida ...
during the 1952 presidential election.


Career


Film and television

Following World War II, Whitmore appeared on Broadway in the role of the sergeant in '' Command Decision.''
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and abbreviated as MGM, is an American film, television production, distribution and media company owned by Amazon through MGM Holdings, founded on April 17, 1924 ...
gave Whitmore a contract, but his role in the film adaptation was played by Van Johnson. His first major picture for MGM was ''
Battleground A battlefield, battleground, or field of battle is the location of a present or historic battle involving ground warfare. It is commonly understood to be limited to the point of contact between opposing forces, though battles may involve troops ...
,'' in a role that was turned down by Spencer Tracy, to whom Whitmore bore a noted physical resemblance. He was nominated for the
Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor The Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor is an award presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). It is given in honor of an actor who has delivered an outstanding performance in a supporting role while work ...
for this role, and won the Golden Globe Award as Best Performance by an Actor In A Supporting Role. Other major films included '' Angels in the Outfield,'' '' The Asphalt Jungle'', '' The Next Voice You Hear'', '' Above and Beyond'', '' Kiss Me, Kate'', '' Them!'', ''
Oklahoma! ''Oklahoma!'' is the first musical written by the duo of Rodgers and Hammerstein. The musical is based on Lynn Riggs' 1931 play, ''Green Grow the Lilacs''. Set in farm country outside the town of Claremore, Indian Territory, in 1906, it tells ...
'', ''
Black Like Me ''Black Like Me'', first published in 1961, is a nonfiction book by journalist John Howard Griffin recounting his journey in the Deep South of the United States, at a time when African-Americans lived under racial segregation. Griffin was a n ...
'', '' Guns of the Magnificent Seven'', '' Tora! Tora! Tora!'', and '' Give 'em Hell, Harry!'', a one-man show for which Whitmore was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of former U.S. President Harry S Truman. In the film ''Tora! Tora! Tora!'', he played Admiral William F. "Bull" Halsey. Whitmore appeared during the 1950s on many television
anthology series An anthology series is a radio, television, video game or film series that spans different genres and presents a different story and a different set of characters in each different episode, season, segment, or short. These usually have a di ...
. He was cast as Father
Emil Kapaun Emil Joseph Kapaun (April 20, 1916 – May 23, 1951) was a Roman Catholic priest and United States Army captain who served as a United States Army chaplain during World War II and the Korean War. Kapaun was a chaplain in the Burma Theater ...
in the 1955 episode "The Good Thief" in the ABC religion
anthology series An anthology series is a radio, television, video game or film series that spans different genres and presents a different story and a different set of characters in each different episode, season, segment, or short. These usually have a di ...
'' Crossroads''. Other roles followed on '' Jane Wyman Presents the Fireside Theater'', '' Lux Video Theatre'', '' Kraft Theatre'', '' Studio One in Hollywood'', '' Schlitz Playhouse'', '' Matinee Theatre'', and the '' Ford Television Theatre.'' In 1958, he carried the lead in "The Gabe Carswell Story" of NBC's ''
Wagon Train ''Wagon Train'' is an American Western series that aired 8 seasons: first on the NBC television network (1957–1962), and then on ABC (1962–1965). ''Wagon Train'' debuted on September 18, 1957, and became number one in the Nielsen ratings ...
'', with Ward Bond. In the 1960–1961 television season, Whitmore starred in his own ABC
crime drama Crime films, in the broadest sense, is a film genre inspired by and analogous to the crime fiction literary genre. Films of this genre generally involve various aspects of crime and its detection. Stylistically, the genre may overlap and combine ...
, '' The Law and Mr. Jones'', in the title role, with Conlan Carter as legal assistant C.E. Carruthers and
Janet De Gore Janet De Gore (November 19, 1930 – June 11, 2022) was an American television and theatre actress. Born in Larchmont, New York, De Gore began her career in 1950 starring as Janice in the Broadway play '' The Member of the Wedding''. De Gore ...
as Jones' secretary. The program ran in the 10:30 pm Eastern half-hour slot on Friday. It was cancelled after one year, but returned in April 1962 for 13 additional episodes on Thursdays. In 1963, Whitmore played Captain William Benteen in '' The Twilight Zone'' episode " On Thursday We Leave for Home". Whitmore also appeared in Route 66 on January 18, 1963, as Ralph Vincent in “A Gift for a Warrior.” He appeared twice in '' Twelve O'Clock High''. In 1965, Whitmore guest-starred as Col. Paul "Pappy" Hartley in Season 1, Episode 32 "The Hero" and as Col. Harry Connelly in 1966 Season 3, Episode 12 "The Ace". He also appeared in an episode of '' Combat!'' titled "The Cassock", as a German officer masquerading as a Catholic priest. In 1967, he guest-starred as a security guard in '' The Invaders'' episode, "Quantity: Unknown". That same year, Whitmore also appeared on an episode of ABC's '' Custer'' starring Wayne Maunder in the title role. In 1968, he appeared as head of the Simian Assembly in the ''
Planet of the Apes ''Planet of the Apes'' is an American science fiction media franchise consisting of films, books, television series, comics, and other media about a world in which humans and intelligent apes clash for control. The franchise is based on Frenc ...
.'' In 1969, he played the leading character of Professor Woodruff in the TV series '' My Friend Tony,'' produced by NBC. Whitmore also made several memorable appearances on the classic ABC Western '' The Big Valley'' starring Barbara Stanwyck, and the classic NBC Western '' The Virginian'' starring
James Drury James Child Drury Jr. (April 18, 1934 – April 6, 2020) was an American actor. He is best known for having played the title role in the 90-minute weekly Western television series '' The Virginian'', which was broadcast on NBC from 1962 ...
, during the second half of the 1960s. From 1972 to 1973, Whitmore played Dr. Vincent Campanelli in the short-lived ABC medical sitcom '' Temperatures Rising.'' Whitmore appeared as General
Oliver O. Howard Oliver Otis Howard (November 8, 1830 – October 26, 1909) was a career United States Army officer and a Union general in the Civil War. As a brigade commander in the Army of the Potomac, Howard lost his right arm while leading his men against ...
in the 1975 television film '' I Will Fight No More Forever'', based on the 1877 conflict between the United States Army and the Nez Percé tribe, led by Chief Joseph. In 1979, Whitmore hosted a talk show of 22 episodes called simply ''Comeback.'' One of those segments focuses on the helicopter inventor
Igor Sikorsky Igor Ivanovich Sikorsky (russian: И́горь Ива́нович Сико́рский, p=ˈiɡərʲ ɪˈvanəvitʃ sʲɪˈkorskʲɪj, a=Ru-Igor Sikorsky.ogg, tr. ''Ígor' Ivánovich Sikórskiy''; May 25, 1889 – October 26, 1972)Fortie ...
. In 1980 he starred as Borski, a therapist treating imprisoned sex-offenders, in the made-for-television movie ''Rage!'' directed by William A. Graham. In 1980 Whitmore appeared as Jake Reeves the terminally ill father of coach Reeves in a two episode arc of the television series ''White Shadow.'' In 1986, Whitmore voiced
Mark Twain Samuel Langhorne Clemens (November 30, 1835 – April 21, 1910), known by his pen name Mark Twain, was an American writer, humorist, entrepreneur, publisher, and lecturer. He was praised as the "greatest humorist the United States has p ...
in the first
claymation Clay animation or claymation, sometimes plasticine animation, is one of many forms of stop-motion animation. Each animated piece, either character or background, is "deformable"—made of a malleable substance, usually plasticine clay. Tr ...
feature film '' The Adventures of Mark Twain.'' In 1994, Whitmore played the role of prison librarian Brooks Hatlen in the critically acclaimed and
Academy Award The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment in ...
-nominated 1994 Frank Darabont film '' The Shawshank Redemption'', starring Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman; Whitmore received much praise for his poignant portrayal of Brooks, the old con and the role won him a legion of new fans. Two years later, he co-starred in the 1996 horror/sci-fi film '' The Relic.'' In 1999, he played Raymond Oz in two episodes of '' The Practice,'' earning an Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series. In 2002, Whitmore played the role of the grandfather in the Disney Channel original film ''
A Ring of Endless Light ''A Ring of Endless Light'' is a 1980 novel by Madeleine L'Engle. The book tells of teenager Vicky Austin and her struggle to understand life and significance in the universe as she deals with her dying grandfather, while at the same time findin ...
.'' Also in 2002, Whitmore played a supporting role in '' The Majestic,'' a film that starred Jim Carrey. In 2003, Whitmore appeared as Josh Brolin's father on the short-lived NBC drama series '' Mister Sterling'', for which he was nominated for an Emmy Award. In April 2007, he made his last screen appearance in a '' C.S.I.'' episode titled " Ending Happy" as Milton, an elderly man.


Theatre work

"Whitmore often said he found acting in films and television boring because of the long waits between scenes; his passion was for the theater, and he continued to act on stage throughout his long career." Whitmore first ventured into acting at Yale University – severe knee injuries sidelined him from football, so he turned to the Yale Dramatic Society. After serving in the Marines he toured the South Pacific in a USO tour, then returned to America, where he studied acting for six months at the American Theatre Wing in New York and the Actors Studio. Afterward, he was hired by a summer stock company in Peterborough, New Hampshire – The Peterborough Players. In 1947 he was selected to appear in a production of ''
All My Sons ''All My Sons'' is a three-act play written in 1946 by Arthur Miller. It opened on Broadway at the Coronet Theatre in New York City on January 29, 1947, closed on November 8, 1949, and ran for 328 performances. It was directed by Elia Kazan (t ...
'', representing the U.S. at the World Youth Festival in Prague. His first play on Broadway – ''Command Decision'' – in which Whitmore played the part of Tech Sergeant Harold Evans, was the smash hit of 1947, and Whitmore received a non-competitive Special Tony Award for "Best Newcomer of the Season". Whitmore continued to be active in the theatre for all of his career, performing on Broadway, at Ford's Theatre in Washington DC, and on tour. He later won the title "King of the One Man Show" after appearing in the solo vehicles '' Will Rogers' USA'' (1970) (repeating the role for TV in 1972); as
Harry Truman Harry S. Truman (May 8, 1884December 26, 1972) was the 33rd president of the United States, serving from 1945 to 1953. A leader of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the 34th vice president from January to April 1945 under Frankli ...
in '' Give 'em Hell, Harry!'' (1975) (repeating the role in the film version, for which he was nominated for an Oscar); and as
Theodore Roosevelt Theodore Roosevelt Jr. ( ; October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919), often referred to as Teddy or by his initials, T. R., was an American politician, statesman, soldier, conservationist, naturalist, historian, and writer who served as the 26t ...
in ''Bully'' (1977), although the latter production did not repeat the success of the first two. "Whitmore, who was an early student at the Actors Studio in New York in the late '40s, taught an acting workshop after moving to Hollywood. Among his students in the early '50s was young James Dean, whom Whitmore advised to go to New York. 'I owe a lot to Whitmore,' Dean told ''Seventeen'' magazine in 1955. 'One thing he said helped more than anything. He told me I didn't know the difference between acting as a soft job and acting as a difficult art.'" Whitmore often returned to New Hampshire to the Peterborough Players, where he got his start in summer stock – in 2008 he played the stage manager in ''Our Town.'' Each year the Peterborough Players award the "James Whitmore Award" to an excellent intern at the theatre.


Death

Whitmore was diagnosed with lung cancer in November 2008. He died from the disease at the age of 87 on February 6, 2009, at his
Malibu, California Malibu ( ; es, Malibú; Chumash: ) is a beach city in the Santa Monica Mountains region of Los Angeles County, California, situated about west of Downtown Los Angeles. It is known for its Mediterranean climate and its strip of the Mali ...
home.


Work


Partial filmography

1940s *'' The Undercover Man'' (1949) as George Pappas *''
Battleground A battlefield, battleground, or field of battle is the location of a present or historic battle involving ground warfare. It is commonly understood to be limited to the point of contact between opposing forces, though battles may involve troops ...
'' (1949) as Kinnie 1950s * ''
The Outriders ''The Outriders'' is a 1950 American Western film directed by Roy Rowland and starring Joel McCrea. Plot With the Civil War nearing an end, rebel soldiers Will Owen, Jesse Wallace, and Clint Priest escape from a Union stockade in Missouri. ...
'' (1950) as Clint Priest * '' Please Believe Me'' (1950) as Vincent Maran * '' The Asphalt Jungle'' (1950) as Gus Minissi * '' The Next Voice You Hear...'' (1950) as Joe Smith, American * '' Mrs. O'Malley and Mr. Malone'' (1950) as John J. Malone * '' The Red Badge of Courage'' (1951) as Narrator (voice, uncredited) * '' Angels in the Outfield'' (1951) as Angel voice (voice, uncredited) * '' Across the Wide Missouri'' (1951) as Old Bill (uncredited) * '' It's a Big Country'' (1951) as Mr. Stacey * '' Shadow in the Sky'' (1952) as Lou Hopke * '' Because You're Mine'' (1952) as Sergeant 'Bat' Batterson * '' Above and Beyond'' (1952) as Maj. William 'Bill' M. Uanna – Security Officer, Operation Silverplate * '' The Girl Who Had Everything'' (1953) as Charles 'Chico' Menlow * '' Kiss Me Kate'' (1953) as Slug * ''
All the Brothers Were Valiant ''All the Brothers Were Valiant'' is a 1953 Technicolor adventure drama film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and directed by Richard Thorpe. The film's screenplay was written by Harry Brown and based on the 1919 novel '' All the Brothers Were Va ...
'' (1953) as Fetcher * '' The Great Diamond Robbery'' (1954) as Mr. Remlick, Lawyer * '' The Command'' (1954) as Sgt. Elliott * '' Them!'' (1954) as Police Sgt. Ben Peterson * '' Battle Cry'' (1955) as MSgt. Mac / Narrator * '' The McConnell Story'' (1955) as SSgt. / Maj. / Col. Ty 'Dad' Whitman * ''
Oklahoma! ''Oklahoma!'' is the first musical written by the duo of Rodgers and Hammerstein. The musical is based on Lynn Riggs' 1931 play, ''Green Grow the Lilacs''. Set in farm country outside the town of Claremore, Indian Territory, in 1906, it tells ...
'' (1955) as Mr. Carnes * '' The Last Frontier'' (1955) as Gus * '' The Eddy Duchin Story'' (1956) as Lou Sherwood * '' Crime in the Streets'' (1956) as Ben Wagner * '' The Young Don't Cry'' (1957) as Rudy Krist * '' The Deep Six'' (1958) as Commander Warren Meredith * ''
The Restless Years ''The Restless Years'' is an Australian soap opera which followed the lives of several Sydney school-leavers and the drama and relationships faced by young adults. It was created by Reg Watson and produced by the Reg Grundy Organisation for N ...
'' (1958) as Ed Henderson * '' Face of Fire'' (1959) as Monk Johnson 1960s *'' Who Was That Lady?'' (1960) as Harry Powell *’’Rawhide 1962 Incident of the Dog Faces as Sgt. Joe Duclos *'' Going My Way'' as Dr. Corden in "Tell Me When You Get to Heaven" (1963) as Dr. Corden *'' The Twilight Zone'', " On Thursday We Leave for Home" (TV Series) (1963) as Captain Benteen *''
Black Like Me ''Black Like Me'', first published in 1961, is a nonfiction book by journalist John Howard Griffin recounting his journey in the Deep South of the United States, at a time when African-Americans lived under racial segregation. Griffin was a n ...
'' (1964) as John Finley Horton *'' The Tenderfoot'' (1964), '' Disney's The Wonderful World of Color'' as Captain Ewell *''Gunsmoke'' (1965) "The Reward" as Jim Forbes *'' Combat!'' "The Cassock" (TV Series) (1965) as Hertzbrun *'' The Big Valley'' "The Death Merchant" (1966) as Handy Random *'' The Big Valley'' "Target" (1966) as Joshua "Josh" Adam Hawks *'' Chuka'' (1967) as Lou Trent *'' Waterhole #3'' (1967) as Capt. Shipley *'' The Big Valley'' "Night In a Small Town" (1967) as Tom Willis *'' The Invaders'' "Quantity: Unknown" (1967) as Harry Swain *''
Nobody's Perfect ''NoBody's Perfect'' is a 2008 feature documentary produced and directed by Niko von Glasow. The film won the German Film Award for Best Documentary Film at the Deutscher Filmpreis in 2009, and has gone on to receive worldwide acclaim, resulting ...
'' (1968) as Capt. Mike Riley *''
Planet of the Apes ''Planet of the Apes'' is an American science fiction media franchise consisting of films, books, television series, comics, and other media about a world in which humans and intelligent apes clash for control. The franchise is based on Frenc ...
'' (1968) as President of the Assembly *'' Madigan'' (1968) as Chief Insp. Charles Kane *'' The Split'' (1968) as Herb Sutro *''
Bonanza ''Bonanza'' is an American Western television series that ran on NBC from September 13, 1959, to January 16, 1973. Lasting 14 seasons and 432 episodes, ''Bonanza'' is NBC's longest-running western, the second-longest-running western series on ...
'' (TV) Episode – "To Die in Darkness" (1968) as John Postley *'' The Big Valley'' "Shadow of a Giant" (1968) as Marshal Seth Campbell *'' Guns of the Magnificent Seven'' (1969) as Levi 1970s *'' The Challenge'' (1970) (TV) as Overman *'' Tora! Tora! Tora!'' (1970) as Vice Admiral William F. Halsey *'' Chato's Land'' (1972) as Joshua Everette *'' The Harrad Experiment'' (1973) as Philip Tenhausen *'' High Crime'' (1973) as Commissioner Aldo Scavino *'' Where the Red Fern Grows'' (1974) (TV) as Grandpa *'' The Balloon Vendor'' (1974) as Antonio *'' I Will Fight No More Forever'' (1975) (TV) as General Oliver O. Howard *'' Give 'em Hell, Harry!'' (1975) as Harry S Truman *'' The Serpent's Egg'' (1977) as The Priest *'' The Word'' (TV) (1978) as George Wheeler 1980s *'' The First Deadly Sin'' (1980) as Dr. Sanford Ferguson *''Rage!'' (1980) as rBorski *'' The White Shadow'' (1980) as Jake Reeves *'' Hail Columbia!'' (1982) narrator *'' The Adventures of Mark Twain'' (1985) as
Mark Twain Samuel Langhorne Clemens (November 30, 1835 – April 21, 1910), known by his pen name Mark Twain, was an American writer, humorist, entrepreneur, publisher, and lecturer. He was praised as the "greatest humorist the United States has p ...
(voice) *''Zoo Ship'' (1985) (voice) *''
All My Sons ''All My Sons'' is a three-act play written in 1946 by Arthur Miller. It opened on Broadway at the Coronet Theatre in New York City on January 29, 1947, closed on November 8, 1949, and ran for 328 performances. It was directed by Elia Kazan (t ...
'' (1987) (TV) as Joe Keller *''
Nuts Nut often refers to: * Nut (fruit), fruit composed of a hard shell and a seed, or a collective noun for dry and edible fruits or seeds * Nut (hardware), fastener used with a bolt Nut or Nuts may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Com ...
'' (1987) as Judge Stanley Murdoch *'' Glory! Glory!'' (1989) (TV) as Lester Babbitt 1990s *''Sky High'' (1990) as Gus Johnson *'' Old Explorers'' (1990) as Leinen Roth *'' The Shawshank Redemption'' (1994) as Brooks Hatlen *'' The Relic'' (1997) as Dr. Albert Frock *''
Swing Vote A swing vote is a vote that is seen as potentially going to any of a number of candidates in an election, or, in a two-party system, may go to either of the two dominant political parties. Such votes are usually sought after in election campaign ...
'' (1999) as Daniel Morissey 2000s *''Here's to Life!'' (2000) as Gus Corley *'' The Majestic'' (2001) as Stan Keller *''
A Ring of Endless Light ''A Ring of Endless Light'' is a 1980 novel by Madeleine L'Engle. The book tells of teenager Vicky Austin and her struggle to understand life and significance in the universe as she deals with her dying grandfather, while at the same time findin ...
'' (2002) as Grandfather *'' Fun with Dick and Jane'' (2005) as Toy Store Security Guard (uncredited) *'' CSI: Crime Scene Investigation'' (2007) (TV) as Milton (final appearance)


Stage

James Whitmore's theatre roles included: * '' Command Decision'' – as Tech Sergeant Harold Evans – Fulton Theatre, New York, NY – (October 1, 1947 – September 18, 1948). ::Whitmore received a 1948 Tony Award for this role. The category was "Outstanding Performance by a Newcomer". * ''Winesburg, Ohio'' – as Tom Willard – National Theatre, New York, NY – (Feb 5 – 15, 1958). * ''Inquest'' – as Emanuel Bloch – Music Box Theatre, New York, NY – (Apr 23 – May 16, 1970). * ''Will Rogers' USA'' – Solo Performance as Will Rogers – Helen Hayes Theatre, New York, NY – (May 6–11, 1974). * '' Give 'Em Hell, Harry!'' – Solo Performance as Harry Truman – Ford's Theatre, Washington, DC – (April 15 – May 4, 1975). ::After the world premiere at the Ford's Theatre, the play went on to a six-city tour, during which it was videotaped for film at the Moore Theater, Seattle, Washington. * ''Bully'' – Solo Performance as Theodore Roosevelt – 46th Street Theatre, New York, NY – (November 1, 1977 – November 6, 1977). * ''Almost an Eagle'' – as The Colonel – Longacre Theatre, New York, NY – (December 16, 1982 – December 19, 1982). * ''Inherit the Wind'' – as Henry Drummond – Ford's Theatre, Washington, DC – (Sep 26 – November 5, 2000).


Radio

* '' Family Theater'' – episode "The Visitor" (1952)


Accolades

Whitmore has a star on the
Hollywood Walk of Fame The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a historic landmark which consists of more than 2,700 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, Calif ...
at 6611 Hollywood Boulevard. The ceremony was held on February 8, 1960."James Whitmore"
Hollywood Walk of Fame The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a historic landmark which consists of more than 2,700 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, Calif ...
. Retrieved April 9, 2016.


See also

* List of people from California * List of people from New York City * List of Yale University people


Notes


References


External links

* * * *
Actors Master Class: James Whitmore in How To Steal A Scene
* . * Staff (undated; copyright 2009).
"James Whitmore Obituary"
Associated Press The Associated Press (AP) is an American non-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association. It produces news reports that are distributed to its members, U.S. n ...
(via the ''
Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' (abbreviated as ''LA Times'') is a daily newspaper that started publishing in Los Angeles in 1881. Based in the LA-adjacent suburb of El Segundo since 2018, it is the sixth-largest newspaper by circulation in the ...
'' module at
Legacy.com Legacy.com is a United States-based website founded in 1998, the world's largest commercial provider of online memorials. The Web site hosts obituaries and memorials for more than 70 percent of all U.S. deaths.Keagle, Lauri Harvey"Death in the ...
). Retrieved October 14, 2012.
Steven Ameche: Remembering James Whitmore At The Market
{{DEFAULTSORT:Whitmore, James 1921 births 2009 deaths 20th-century American male actors 21st-century American male actors Male actors from California Male actors from Connecticut Male actors from New Hampshire Male actors from New York City American male film actors United States Marine Corps reservists United States Marine Corps personnel of World War II American male stage actors American male television actors American television talk show hosts Best Supporting Actor Golden Globe (film) winners Choate Rosemary Hall alumni Deaths from lung cancer in California Donaldson Award winners Primetime Emmy Award winners Grammy Award winners Male actors from Buffalo, New York People from Malibu, California People from Peterborough, New Hampshire People from Wallingford, Connecticut People from White Plains, New York Special Tony Award recipients Military personnel from New York (state) United States Marines Yale University alumni United States Marine Corps officers California Democrats New York (state) Democrats Connecticut Democrats New Hampshire Democrats Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer contract players Military personnel from California Amherst Central High School Alumni