Actor James Whitmore Dies at 87

[Gaybutton]

(CNN) -- Craggy-faced film, television and stage actor James Whitmore has died at 87, the Los Angeles County, California, Sheriff's Department confirmed Saturday.

 

Details of his death and funeral arrangements were not available.

 

Whitmore notably portrayed Harry Truman, Will Rogers and Theodore Roosevelt in one-man stage shows and created memorable characters in many movies and TV shows, including "The Twilight Zone."

 

According to entertainment Web site IMBd.com, Whitmore won a Tony award in 1948 for his gritty Broadway portrayal of an Army sergeant in "Command Decision," but was replaced by Van Johnson in the film version.

 

Whitmore won a Golden Globe and was nominated for an Oscar for his performance in the 1949 film "Battleground." He was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar in 1976 for "Give 'Em Hell, Harry," the film version of his one-man show about Truman.

 

The actor won an Emmy in 2000 for his performance as Raymond Oz in a three-episode arc on the ABC legal drama "The Practice," according to IMDb.com.

 

Movie fans may remember his subtle portrayal of aging prison inmate Brooks Hatlen in 1994's "The Shawshank Redemption" with Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman.

 

He played U.S. Navy Adm. William F. Halsey in the World War II epic "Tora! Tora! Tora!" and was an imperious ape in the 1968 classic "Planet of the Apes."

 

Whitmore looked natural in cowboy boots and hat, appearing in such TV series as "Bonanza," "The Virginian" and "Gunsmoke."

 

He also did commercials for Miracle-Gro plant foods.

 

According to IMDb.com, Whitmore was born in 1921 in White Plains, New York. He was married four times -- twice to Nancy Mygatt, for four years in the '70s to actress Audra Lindley, and since 2001 to actress Noreen Nash. He was the father of three children, including actor-director James Whitmore Jr.

[Guest laurence]

(CNN) -- Craggy-faced film, television and stage actor James Whitmore has died at 87, the Los Angeles County, California, Sheriff's Department confirmed Saturday.

He also did commercials for Miracle-Gro plant foods.

 

Maybe he should have used some of that Miracle-Gro in his food. He was looking a bit worn out in those commercials and did not inspire much confidence. Kind of like those old geezers (no offense GEEZER), like Lawrence Welk ,who pushed Geritol for the geriatric crowd. I have a few extra bottles of that GB if you are interested.

 

[Gaybutton]

I have a few extra bottles of that GB if you are interested.

I already tried it. Between the geritol and Miracle Gro, it did wonders for making my girth grow, but that's about it . . .

[Guest laurence]

I already tried it. Between the geritol and Miracle Gro, it did wonders for making my girth grow, but that's about it . . .

 

Poor you. I thought it was to make your root grow. That is what I read between the lines. A big bush and a strong root and lots of fruit.

 

But I will admit, when I was a lad, I loved his performance in some sort of SiFi about giant spiders or whatever in the sewer systems of LA or ???

 

[Gaybutton]

But I will admit, when I was a lad, I loved his performance in some sort of SiFi about giant spiders or whatever in the sewer systems of LA or ???

I remember that movie too. It was entitled "Them". I found the following synopsis on the Internet:

_____

 

Police Sgt. Ben Peterson finds a little girl wandering aimlessly in the New Mexico desert and they trace her to the family's camping trailer a few miles away. There is no sign of her parents and the trailer itself has been badly damaged. Soon after, Peterson's partner and the owner of a general store are also killed. They're not sure what they have on their hands but are soon joined by FBI Agent Robert Graham and two doctors from the Department of Agriculture, Harold Medford and his daughter Pat. They discover that there is a nest of giant mutated ants resulting from the atomic tests in the desert 10 years before. They don't quite manage to kill all of them however and the ants migrate to Los Angeles and establish a nest in the vast subterranean sewer system.