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James Whitmore was a television actor, film actor and military officer. James Whitmore was born in White Plains, New York, United States on October 1, 1921. Death is recorded on February 6, 2009, at the age of 87. Education on record includes Amherst Central High School and Yale University. Listed accolades include Theatre World Award (1948), Tony Award for Best Newcomer (1948), Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series (2000) and 3 more.
My Take
Whitmore is my kind of actor: never the marquee name, but the man who quietly stole scenes across 150 roles in fifty years. What impresses me is the range of validation he earned, an Emmy, a Tony, a Golden Globe, two Oscar nominations, without ever chasing stardom. A Yale-educated, military-shaped craftsman who treated character work as a calling rather than a consolation prize. I have always trusted performers like him more than the leads they supported; they carry the texture of a film. He died in 2009, but in my book he remains a permanent fixture of American screen acting, the dependable soul of every ensemble.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- James Whitmore
- Name (Japanese)
- ジェームズ・ホイットモア
- Reading
- じぇーむず・ほいっともあ
- Born
- October 1, 1921 – February 6, 2009
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Libra / Rooster
- Origin
- White Plains, New York, United States
- Occupation
- television actor / film actor / military officer / character actor / stage actor
2. Background
- High school
- Amherst Central High School
- University
- Yale University
Awards & achievements
- 1948 Theatre World Award
- 1948 Tony Award for Best Newcomer
- 2000 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series
- star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
- 1950 Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture
- Donaldson Awards
3. Links
4. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-17
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was James Whitmore born?
Born October 1, 1921.
When did James Whitmore die?
Died February 6, 2009, aged 87.
Where was James Whitmore from?
James Whitmore was from White Plains, New York, United States.
What did James Whitmore do?
James Whitmore worked as television actor, film actor, military officer, character actor, stage actor.
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