James Whitmore, the Emmy- and Tony-winning actor who starred in scores of movies, stage plays, and television dramas over more than half a century, died on Friday at his home in Malibu, Calif., the Associated Press reports. Best known to current audiences as the wise and lonely old librarian in The Shawshank Redemption, Whitmore was 87 years old and had been suffering from lung cancer.
Often appearing in historical dramas and Westerns, Whitmore was renowned for his one-man theater performances about Harry Truman, Theodore Roosevelt, and Will Rogers, and he won acclaim as an actor across all stages. He was twice nominated for Academy Awards, garnering a Best Actor nod for 1975′s Give ‘em Hell, Harry! and a Best Supporting Actor nomination for 1949′s Battleground. He took home an Emmy in 2000 for a guest-starring role on The Practice. And his Tony Award came in the late 1940s for the play Command Decision.
“Brooks was here” – R.I.P James.
He’ll probably be whirling in his urn for me to say this, but my strongest and fondest memory of him is from Temperatures Rising, his 1972 ABC sitcom with Cleavon Little. That’s where I first got to know him, and I always made a point to watch anything he did after that.
The last time I saw him was on The Practice, where he did his usual outstanding job. It will be sad to no longer be “watching out” for his next appearance, but I am happy to know he had a nice, long life and was surrounded by a loving family right to the end. How much more can anyone want out of life?
OMG – I was thinking about Temperatures Rising too! Glad I’m not the only one who remembers the show. And yes, heartbroken that such a great actor is gone.
Wow. What a love connection! I’m a big fan of Annie Hall! ;-D
Since no one else seems to have mentioned it, I thought I’d bring up the fact that he was also the grandfather of Matty Whitmore of the most recent Survivor.