James Whitmore dies at 87

[Dennis Donovan]

Source: LA Times

James Whitmore, the veteran Tony- and Emmy-winning actor who brought American icons Will Rogers, Harry Truman and Theodore Roosevelt to life in one-man shows, died today. He was 87.

Whitmore died of lung cancer at his home in Malibu, said his son, Steve. He was diagnosed with the disease a week before Thanksgiving.

"He cared about acting; his whole life was dedicated to the theater and to movies," said actor David Huddleston, a longtime friend who appeared in Whitmore's 1964 movie "Black Like Me" and did a couple of plays with him. "I asked James Cagney one time to tell me the best thing you can about acting. He said never to get caught at it. That's kind of how I'd sum up Jim Whitmore."

James Arness, who appeared with Whitmore in the movies "Battleground" and "Them!," said Whitmore was "an actor's actor," adding that " it was always a treat to work with him."

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-james-whitmore7-2009feb07,0,1015401.story

---

Cross gently, Mr Whitmore

[floridablue]

1. I loved him doing Truman.

[Sherman A1]

9. Agreed

I saw him doing the live show when I was a teenager and it was spectacular.

[MaineDem]

2. I always liked him

Condolences to his family.

[emilyg]

3. I liked him so very much. RIP

[bdamomma]

4. oh that is too bad.

He was a great actor, never forget him in Shawshank Redemption.

[Hawkeye-X]

5. RIP Brooks

[Burma Jones]

6. And he was a Marine in WWII

and endorsed Obama before it was all the rage.......

I saw him do Truman, TR and Will Rogers at the National Theatre in DC back in the 70s, he was very watchable in those one man shows. He was also a great ensemble actor.....

[pleah]

7. :(

[Starbucks Anarchist]

8. R.I.P., Brooks.

From "The Shawshank Redemption":

(SPOILER)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fBNZAvW0xY

[Lint Head]

10. James Whitmore was one of my very favorites.

He was ahead of his time. In 'Black Like Me' he played a reporter that went undercover as a black man. Very thought provoking and made a positive statement about racism.
:dem:

[ConcernedCanuk]

16. I read that book Black Like Me many years ago

.
.
.

And it's a TRUE story

That reporter/writer went through hell and back

at the hands of us white folk . . .

A preview of the BOOK

http://books.google.ca/books?id=ObTddfcqk2gC&printsec=frontcover&dq=%27Black+Like+Me%27#PPP1,M1

I never knew until today that they made a movie of it

RIP James

you are remembered,

and missed

[El Supremo]

11. One of my favorite actors.

He made a ton of movies, but I'll remember him most for 'I Will Fight No More Forever' and this, maybe his most important role:

[antimatter98]

12. R.I.P. Mr. Whitmore. n/t

[guruoo]

13. *...

[BumRushDaShow]

14. R.I.P.

[Hulk]

15. This world will miss him and his acting!

Seems the good die young. What a masterful artist. I know 87 isn't young...but this man made his mark on this earth.

God, take good care of this angel.

[Auggie]

17. One of the all time greats

He was fun to watch

[Joey Liberal]

18. He was a great actor - RIP

[no_hypocrisy]

19. I first saw James Whitmore on a short-lived sitcom, Temperature's Rising,

on ABC, co-starring Cleavon Little. I fell in love with him at first sight.

My sincere sympathy to his loved ones.

[Historic NY]

20. Great Great, character actor...I shall miss his talent.

[defendandprotect]

21. Sad news all the way around ---

and something odd from his bio -- graduated Yale just before WWII ...

"Is a member of Yale University's exclusive Skull & Bones club, an undergraduate secret society famous for the post-graduation accomplishments of its members. Other living members include President George W. Bush and his father, former President George Bush, Sen. John Kerry, political commentator William F. Buckley and Pulitzer-Prize winning historian David McCullough. Deceased members include President William Howard Taft and President Bush's own grandfather, Prescott Bush, a U.S. Senator and partner in the Wall St. white shoe brokerage firm of Brown Bros., Harriman."

And he supported Obama -- !!

[Ryano42]

22. Give em Hell, James...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4WnpgAzvpY

Take em off the line, Sarge...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDQvYE8sbc8

:patriot:

[The abyss]

23. The Asphalt Jungle

A societal milestone and a cultural commentary,

[Hardrada]

24. Always thought he was a fine fine actor. I miss those guys

who were in flicks when I was still in grade school.

[BuelahWitch]

25. Just got done watching him on the "Kiss Me Kate" DVD last weekend

The scenes with him and Keenan Wynn as the gangsters are some of the best parts of the movie. RIP Mr. Whitmore!

[man4allcats]

26. So long, Brooks.

RIP, and thanks for some great acting and really memorable roles. :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[Quiz Master]

27. Wonderful actor.

Always made me smile whenever he showed up on screen. I have a particular soft spot for him and Keenan Wynn doing "Brush Up Your Shakespeare" in "Kiss Me, Kate."

[Lydia Leftcoast]

28. I remember him from The Law and Mr. Jones

Talk about forgotten TV series!

What a wonderful actor.

[Hepburn]

34. I truly remember that series and...

...it was one of my favorites.

That was my first introduction to him!

[Dumak]

29. For some reason I remembered him the most for his

outstanding performance in Twilight Zone episode "On Thursday We Leave for Home". I'll never forget that expressive face of his.

[Crowman1979]

30. One of his last great roles was in "The Shawshank Redemption"

As one of the old prisoners.

[Earth Bound Misfit]

31. R.I.P. "Brooks"

A Great character actor, many memorable performances, but none more so than "Brooks Hatlen" in Shawshank Redemtion....

Brooks: Son, six wardens have been through here in my tenure, and I've learned one immutable, universal truth: Not one of them born whose asshole wouldn't pucker up tighter than a snare drum when you ask them for funds

Brooks: And then Andy says, "Mr. Dekins, do you want your sons to go to Harvard... or Yale?"
Floyd: He didn't say that!
Brooks: God is my witness! Dekins just looked at him a second and then he laughed himself silly and afterwards he actually shook Andy's hand.
Heywood: My ass.
Brooks: Shook his hand! I near soiled myself, I mean all Andy needed was a suit and a tie and a little jiggly hula gal on his desk and he woulda been *Mister* Dufresne, if you please.
Red: Making a few friends, huh Andy?
Andy Dufresne: I wouldn't say friends. I'm a convicted murderer who provides sound financial planning - it's a wonderful pet to have.


Brooks: Dear fellas, I can't believe how fast things move on the outside. I saw an automobile once when I was a kid but now they're everywhere. The world went and got itself in a big damn hurry. The parole board got me into this halfway house called "The Brewer". And a job bagging groceries at the Foodway. It's hard work and I try to keep up but my hands hurt most of the time. I don't think the store manager likes me very much. Sometimes after work I go to the park and feed the birds. I keep thinking Jake might just show up and say hello. But he never does. I hope wherever he is he's okay and makin' new friends. I have trouble sleepin' at night. I have bad dreams like I'm falling. I wake up scared. Sometimes it takes me a while to remember where I am. Maybe I should get me a gun, an, an rob the Foodway so they'd send me home. I could shoot the manager while I was at it, sort of like a bonus. I guess I'm too old for that sort of nonsense anymore. I don't like it here. I'm tired of being afraid all the time. I've decided not to stay. I doubt they'll kick up any fuss. Not for an old crook like me.


Best. Movie. Ever. IMHO

[Pryderi]

32. A great loss.

[Hepburn]

33. Oh, so sorry....

...one of my favorites! :cry:

[THUNDER HANDS]

35. he's the guy with bird from Shawshank Redemption, right?

[Crowman1979]

37. Yep, he played the old prisoner who was released.

and then hanged himself at an appartment.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

36. For those unfamiliar with Mr Whitmores brilliant film and stage career...

...This is also the guy in the Miracle Grow commercials.

PS: I like offbeat films. One strange one I like with James Whitmore was "The Next Voice You Hear."
Check it out.

[Desperadoe]

42. Miracle Grow Man

True that he was the long time spokesman for Miracle Grow but only after he tested and used it in his own extensive garden at his Malibu home. He wasn't just an outstanding character actor, he was also a man of outstanding character.

[chelsea0011]

38. "Them!"...It's the movie I always remember when I see his name.

[PlanetBev]

39. If anybody is from the Los Angeles area

Steve Whitmore is a spokesperson for the Sheriff's Department. You see him on TV from time to time. Absolute spitting image of his dad.

[Pastiche423]

40. Peaceful journey, Mr. Whitmore

[XanaDUer]

41. A good liberal and a great actor

May he RIP.

[gauguin57]

43. I hope Turner Classic Movies does a James Whitmore day/night soon

... he'd be a great subject for a retrospective, with lots of Robert Osborne commentary between! PLEASE OH PLEASE, TCM!

[Hawaii Hiker]

44. I'll always remember him in

"Tora, Tora, Tora" & "Shawshank Redemption"...

His role was more minimal in Tora, but he was still good in what I think was the best war movie....

[sutz12]

45. I swear....one of the best actors of the 20th Century.

RIP old friend.

:cry:

[crimsonblue]

46. goodbye MiracleGro man.

May the plants of your afterlife be thick and lush and free of pestilence.