Image of James Whitmore

James Whitmore

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.


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Born:
Oct 1, 1921 In White Plains - New York - USA
Movie/TV Credits:
131
First Appeared:
In the series Studio One 1948-11-07
Latest Project:
Movie Arthur Miller: Writer 2017-12-08
Known For
Poster of The Majestic
Poster of The Shawshank Redemption
Poster of The Twilight Zone
Poster of Battleground
Filmography
Movie Arthur Miller: Writer Self (archive footage) 2017-12-08
Series Mister Sterling 2003-01-10
Series A Minute with Stan Hooper Unknown 2003-10-29
Movie A Ring of Endless Light Grandfather 2002-07-04
Movie The Majestic Stan Keller 2001-12-21
Series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Unknown 2000-10-06
Movie Swing Vote Daniel Morissey 1999-04-19
Series The Practice Unknown 1997-03-04
Movie The Relic Dr. Albert Frock 1997-01-10
Movie The Shawshank Redemption Brooks Hatlen 1994-09-23
Movie Old Explorers Leinen Roth 1990-09-28
Movie Glory! Glory! Lester Babbitt 1989-09-25
Series Favorite Son The President 1988-10-30
Movie Tricks of the Trade 1988-12-06
Movie All My Sons Joe Keller 1987-01-19
Movie Nuts Judge Stanley Murdoch 1987-11-20
Series The Ray Bradbury Theater Unknown 1985-05-21
Movie The Adventures of Mark Twain Mark Twain (voice) 1985-03-01
Series George Burns Comedy Week Unknown 1985-09-18
Movie Hail Columbia! Narrator 1982-06-15
Movie The Klan: A Legacy of Hate in America Narrator 1982-10-01
Movie Rage! Borski 1980-09-25
Movie The First Deadly Sin Dr. Sanford Ferguson 1980-10-03
Movie The Horror Show (archive footage) 1979-02-06
Movie Bully: An Adventure with Teddy Roosevelt Teddy Roosevelt 1978-09-29
Series The Word George Wheeler 1978-11-12
Series The White Shadow Unknown 1978-11-27
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 Give 'em Hell, Harry! Harry S. Truman 1975-09-17
Movie Where the Red Fern Grows Grandpa 1974-06-21
Movie The Canterville Ghost Hyram B. Otis 1974-12-31
Movie The Balloon Vendor Antonio 1974-12-21
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
Series Then Came Bronson Unknown 1969-09-17
Series My Friend Tony Prof. John Woodruff 1969-01-05
Movie Guns of the Magnificent Seven Levi 1969-07-14
Movie Madigan Chief Inspector Charles Kane 1968-03-29
Movie Nobody's Perfect Capt. Mike Riley 1968-01-12
Movie Planet of the Apes President of the Assembly 1968-02-07
Series The Name of the Game Unknown 1968-09-20
Movie The Split Herb Sutro 1968-11-04
Series Custer Unknown 1967-09-06
Series Judd for the Defense Unknown 1967-09-08
Movie Chuka Lou Trent 1967-07-23
Series Cowboy in Africa Unknown 1967-09-11
Movie Waterhole #3 Capt. Shipley 1967-10-10
Series The Danny Thomas Hour Unknown 1967-09-11
Series Tarzan Unknown 1966-09-08
Series The Monroes Unknown 1966-09-07
Series T.H.E. Cat Unknown 1966-09-16
Series For the People Unknown 1965-01-31
Series Run for Your Life Unknown 1965-09-13
Series The Big Valley Unknown 1965-09-15
Series The Loner Unknown 1965-09-18
Series 12 O'Clock High Unknown 1964-09-18
Movie Black Like Me John Finley Horton 1964-01-01
Series Slattery's People Unknown 1964-09-21
Movie The Tenderfoot Captain Ewell 1964-11-08
Series Arrest and Trial Unknown 1963-09-15
Series The Greatest Show on Earth Unknown 1963-09-17
Series Burke's Law Unknown 1963-09-20
Series Kraft Suspense Theatre Unknown 1963-10-10
Series The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters 1963-09-29
Movie Icarus Montgolfier Wright 1962-08-22
Series The Virginian Unknown 1962-09-19
Series Combat! Unknown 1962-10-02
Series Going My Way Unknown 1962-10-03
Series The Wonderful World of Disney Unknown 1961-09-24
Series Dr. Kildare Unknown 1961-09-27
Series Bus Stop Unknown 1961-10-01
Series Alcoa Premiere Unknown 1961-10-10
Series Ben Casey Unknown 1961-10-02
Movie Who Was That Lady? Harry Powell 1960-04-08
Series Checkmate Unknown 1960-09-17
Series Route 66 Unknown 1960-10-07
Series The Law and Mr. Jones Abraham Lincoln Jones 1960-10-07
Series Rawhide Unknown 1959-01-09
Movie Face of Fire Monk Johnson 1959-08-09
Series The Twilight Zone Unknown 1959-10-02
Series The Detectives Unknown 1959-10-16
Series Decision Unknown 1958-07-06
Movie The Deep Six Cmdr. Warren Meredith 1958-01-15
Series Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse Unknown 1958-10-06
Movie The Restless Years Ed Henderson 1958-12-01
Series Panic! Unknown 1957-03-05
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
Series Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre Unknown 1956-10-05
Movie The McConnell Story SSgt. / Maj . / Col. Ty 'Dad' Whitman 1955-09-29
Series Gunsmoke Unknown 1955-09-10
Movie Battle Cry MSgt. Mac 1955-02-02
Series Playwrights '56 Unknown 1955-10-04
Movie The Last Frontier Gus 1955-12-07
Series The 20th Century Fox Hour Unknown 1955-10-05
Movie Oklahoma! Mr. Carnes 1955-10-10
Series Crossroads Unknown 1955-10-07
Movie The Command Sgt. Elliott 1954-02-13
Movie The Great Diamond Robbery Mr. Remlick, Lawyer 1954-01-29
Movie Them! Sgt. Ben Peterson 1954-06-16
Series Climax! Unknown 1954-10-07
Series The Oscars Unknown 1953-03-19
Movie Above and Beyond Maj. William M. Uanna 1953-01-02
Movie The Girl Who Had Everything Charles "Chico" Menlow 1953-03-27
Series The United States Steel Hour Unknown 1953-10-27
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 The Hoaxters Narrator (voice) 1952-12-05
Series Schlitz Playhouse of Stars Unknown 1951-10-05
Movie Across the Wide Missouri Old Bill (uncredited) 1951-10-12
Movie It's a Big Country Mr. Stacey 1951-11-20
Movie Angels in the Outfield Angel (voice) (uncredited) 1951-10-19
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
Series Lux Video Theatre Unknown 1950-10-02
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
Series Studio One Unknown 1948-11-07