Born on October 1, 1921, just outside New York City in White Plains, New York, character veteran James Whitmore was well regarded in his early years for his award-winning dramatic capabilities on Broadway and in films. Later he conquered TV with the same trophy-winning results. Educated at Connecticut's Choate School after receiving a football scholarship, he later earned his BA from Yale University in 1944 before serving with the Marines in World War II. Following his discharge and study in the American Theatre Wing,he met first of four wives, Nancy Mygatt. In the summer of 1947, Whitmore's debuted on Broadway as Tech Sergeant Evans in "Command Decision". His gritty performance reaped the stage acting trifecta -- Tony, Donaldson and Theatre World awards --in one fell swoop. Following the release of the war picture Battleground (1949), earning himself both Golden Globe and an Oscar nominations for Best Supporting Actor. He went on to find a solid footing in films throughout the early part of the 1950s, before turning to television performances and only returning to film decades later. Earning distinction throughout his six-decade career, Whitmore showed worthy Oscar potential once again with his touching role as an aged, ill-fated prison parolee in The Shawshank Redemption (1994), and copped an Emmy for a recurring part on "The Practice" in the late 90s. A household face in commercials as well, one of his ultimate passions was gardening and he eventually became the commercial spokesman for Miracle-Gro plant food.
Movie | Arthur Miller: Writer | Self (archive footage) | 2017-12-08 |
Series | Mister Sterling | 2003-01-10 | |
Movie | A Ring of Endless Light | Grandfather | 2002-07-04 |
Movie | The Majestic | Stan Keller | 2001-12-21 |
Movie | Here's to Life! | Gus Corley | 2000-09-18 |
Movie | Swing Vote | Daniel Morissey | 1999-04-19 |
Movie | The Relic | Dr. Albert Frock | 1997-01-10 |
Movie | The Shawshank Redemption | Brooks Hatlen | 1994-09-23 |
Movie | Sky High | Gus Johnson | 1990-03-11 |
Movie | Glory! Glory! | Lester Babbitt | 1989-09-25 |
Series | Favorite Son | The President | 1988-10-30 |
Movie | All My Sons | Joe Keller | 1987-01-19 |
Movie | Nuts | Judge Stanley Murdoch | 1987-11-20 |
Movie | The Adventures of Mark Twain | Mark Twain (voice) | 1985-03-01 |
Series | Celebrity | Clifford Casey | 1984-02-12 |
Movie | The Golden Honeymoon | Charley Tate | 1980-02-04 |
Movie | The First Deadly Sin | Dr. Sanford Ferguson | 1980-10-03 |
Movie | Rage! | Borski | 1980-09-25 |
Movie | The Horror Show | (archive footage) | 1979-02-06 |
Series | The Word | George Wheeler | 1978-11-12 |
Movie | The Serpent's Egg | Priester | 1977-10-28 |
Movie | The Flying Misfits | Capt. James 'Jim' Gutterman | 1976-09-21 |
Movie | I Will Fight No More Forever | General Oliver O. Howard | 1975-04-13 |
Movie | Man Belongs to the Earth | Narrator | 1974-05-04 |
Movie | Where the Red Fern Grows | Grandpa | 1974-06-21 |
Movie | The Balloon Vendor | Antonio | 1974-12-21 |
Movie | The Canterville Ghost | Hyram B. Otis | 1974-12-31 |
Movie | The Harrad Experiment | Philip Tenhausen | 1973-05-11 |
Movie | High Crime | Commissioner Aldo Scavino | 1973-08-12 |
Movie | Chato's Land | Joshua Everette | 1972-05-25 |
Series | Temperatures Rising | 1972-09-12 | |
Movie | If Tomorrow Comes | Frank Phillips | 1971-12-07 |
Movie | Tora! Tora! Tora! | Vice Admiral William F. 'Bull' Halsey Jr. | 1970-01-26 |
Movie | The Challenge | Overman | 1970-02-10 |
Movie | Guns of the Magnificent Seven | Levi | 1969-07-14 |
Series | My Friend Tony | Prof. John Woodruff | 1969-01-05 |
Movie | Planet of the Apes | President of the Assembly | 1968-02-07 |
Movie | Nobody's Perfect | Capt. Mike Riley | 1968-01-12 |
Movie | Madigan | Chief Inspector Charles Kane | 1968-03-29 |
Movie | The Split | Herb Sutro | 1968-11-04 |
Movie | Chuka | Lou Trent | 1967-07-23 |
Movie | Waterhole #3 | Capt. Shipley | 1967-10-10 |
Movie | Black Like Me | John Finley Horton | 1964-01-01 |
Movie | The Tenderfoot | Captain Ewell | 1964-11-08 |
Movie | Icarus Montgolfier Wright | 1962-08-22 | |
Movie | Who Was That Lady? | Harry Powell | 1960-04-08 |
Movie | Face of Fire | Monk Johnson | 1959-08-09 |
Movie | The Deep Six | Cmdr. Warren Meredith | 1958-01-15 |
Movie | The Restless Years | Ed Henderson | 1958-12-01 |
Movie | The Young Don't Cry | Rudy Krist | 1957-07-26 |
Movie | The Eddy Duchin Story | Lou Sherwood | 1956-05-02 |
Movie | Crime in the Streets | Ben Wagner | 1956-06-10 |
Movie | Battle Cry | MSgt. Mac | 1955-02-02 |
Movie | The McConnell Story | SSgt. / Maj . / Col. Ty 'Dad' Whitman | 1955-09-29 |
Movie | The Last Frontier | Gus | 1955-12-07 |
Movie | Oklahoma! | Mr. Carnes | 1955-10-10 |
Movie | The Great Diamond Robbery | Mr. Remlick, Lawyer | 1954-01-29 |
Movie | Them! | Sgt. Ben Peterson | 1954-06-16 |
Movie | The Command | Sgt. Elliott | 1954-02-13 |
Movie | Above and Beyond | Maj. William M. Uanna | 1953-01-02 |
Movie | The Girl Who Had Everything | Charles "Chico" Menlow | 1953-03-27 |
Movie | All the Brothers Were Valiant | Fetcher | 1953-11-13 |
Movie | Kiss Me Kate | Slug | 1953-11-26 |
Movie | Shadow in the Sky | Lou Hopke | 1952-07-18 |
Movie | Because You're Mine | Sergeant 'Bat' Batterson | 1952-10-01 |
Movie | Across the Wide Missouri | Old Bill (uncredited) | 1951-10-12 |
Movie | Angels in the Outfield | Angel (voice) (uncredited) | 1951-10-19 |
Movie | It's a Big Country | Mr. Stacey | 1951-11-20 |
Movie | Please Believe Me | Vincent Maran | 1950-05-12 |
Movie | The Outriders | Clint Priest | 1950-03-01 |
Movie | The Asphalt Jungle | Gus Minissi | 1950-05-12 |
Movie | The Next Voice You Hear... | Joe Smith | 1950-06-29 |
Movie | Mrs. O'Malley and Mr. Malone | John Malone | 1950-12-08 |
Movie | The Undercover Man | George Pappas | 1949-03-21 |
Movie | Battleground | Kinnie | 1949-11-09 |