James Whitmore, 'An Actor's Actor', Dead at 87

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 Friday. He was 87 years old.

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

In 1948, Whitmore won a Tony Award for outstanding performance by a newcomer in the Broadway production of "Command Decision" in the role comically cynical Air Force sergeant.

The actor received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his second movie, the 1949 World War II drama "Battleground". The 1975 film of his stage performance in "Give 'em Hell, Harry!" earned Whitmore a Best Actor Oscar nomination.

He appeared in over 50 films in as man years including "The Asphalt Jungle," "Them!," "Kiss Me Kate," "Battle Cry," "Oklahoma!," "Planet of the Apes," "Tora! Tora! Tora!," "The Serpent's Egg," "Nuts," "The Shawshank Redemption" and a quiet turn in the "The Majestic."

The actor won an Emmy Award for outstanding guest actor in a drama series for "The Practice," and he received a 2003 Emmy nomination in the same category for "Mister Sterling."

Whitmore was perhaps best known to TV viewers as the longtime pitchman for Miracle-Gro garden products.

On the stage he starred in productions of plays such as "Our Town," "Inherit the Wind" and "Death of a Salesman," The acclaimed actor was best known for his three one-man shows: as Truman in "Give 'em Hell, Harry!," as Roosevelt in "Bully" and as Rogers in "Will Rogers' U.S.A."

He married Nancy Mygatt in 1947, and the couple had three sons, James, Steven and Daniel. They later divorced, and in 1971 he married an actress, Audra Lindley. They often appeared in plays together, even after their 1979 divorce. He remarried his first wife in the 1980s, but another divorce ensued. Nearing 80 in 2001, Whitmore married actress-writer Noreen Nash.

Besides Steve Whitmore, Whitmore is survived by his third wife, Noreen; sons James Jr. and Dan and eight grandchildren.